Belasungkawa - Rustam Sani (1944 - 2008)

At the time of this writing many must have read about the passing of Rustam A. Sani, a great intellectual scholar. I had the chance to read his thoughts once through his book 'Ke Mana Nasionalisme Melayu (2004)' in which he explains academically about the failure of the Malay (or UMNO) nationalisme.

In the meanwhile, Johan Jaafar has written a good piece of article in his weekly Saturday column in the NST (See excerpts below). Allahyarham Rustam A. Sani is also supposed to launch his new book 'Failed Nation?: Concerns of a Malaysian Nationalist' and 'Social Roots of the Malay Left' today, but as fate has it, god has other plan for him. Al-fatihah.

JOHAN JAAFFAR: Rustam A. Sani, a scholar and an intellectual
By Johan Jaaffar
2008/04/26
HE lived in the shadow of his famous father, Ahmad Sani Kecil, better known as Ahmad Boestamam. To the literary community he was Ruhi Hayat -- poet, novelist, essayist. He was a journalist with Utusan Melayu and later Warta Malaya but more importantly he was a nationalist and freedom fighter. He was imprisoned many times for his beliefs.

Rustam Abdullah Sani, who used the name Rustam A. Sani, was brought up in a household where perjuangan (struggle) meant everything. He, his sister and their mother endured difficult times.

Rustam, born in August 1944, knew what his father stood for. In fact, his views were moulded by his father's struggles. Understandably, he was attracted to politics.

His leftist leaning was no secret. He was involved with his father's party, Parti Rakyat Malaya. But whatever principles he stood for, he was a fair man with a penchant for objectivity.

He had reasons to use his writings to pursue his political objectives, but Rustam knew the limits. He was an intellectual first, a politician last.. [full article]

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