15 Facts About Kassim Ahmad

Kassim Ahmad was a Malaysian Muslim philosopher, intellectual, writer, poet and an educator.

Kassim Ahmad was a socialist politician in the early days of Malaya and later Malaysia and was detained without trial from 1976 to 1981 under Malaysia's Internal Security Act.

Kassim Ahmad's parents were Ahmad Ishaq and Ummi Kalthom Ahmad.

Kassim Ahmad's grandfather was a farmer and a religious teacher who lived in Perai, Penang.

Kassim Ahmad attended a Malay primary school in Bandar Baharu before attending Sultan Abdul Hamid College for his secondary education.

Kassim Ahmad later went to Singapore to enrol at the University of Malaya in the 1950s.

Kassim Ahmad instead argued that Hang Tuah's antagonist Hang Jebat was the hero.

Kassim Ahmad was preparing for his doctorate degree in political science in 1976 when the government detained him without trial for five years.

Kassim Ahmad was an active member of the University Socialist Club in the 1950s, a left-wing student body in Malaya and Singapore.

Kassim Ahmad was a member of Parti Rakyat Malaysia when Ahmad Boestamam was the president.

Kassim Ahmad later went on to lead the political body together with Syed Husin Ali from 1965 until 1980.

Kassim Ahmad ran unsuccessfully for Parliament as a PRSM leader on five occasions, losing in Perlis Utara in 1969, Kuala Terengganu in 1974, the Kemaman by-election in 1976, Kuala Terengganu again in 1978 when he contested while under detention, and finally in Balik Pulau in 1982.

Kassim Ahmad was arrested under the Internal Security Act for 5 years beginning 1976 for allegedly supporting a socialist-communist movement in Malaysia.

Kassim Ahmad was later released on 30 July 1981 after Mahathir Mohamad became the prime minister.

Kassim Ahmad died in Kulim, Kedah, on October 10,2017.