Preserving the unique legacy of SM Idris
THERE is an old African proverb that says when a wise person dies, a whole library is burnt down. There can never be a better illustration of this than the recent demise of the legendary consumer-environment-people’s (the list goes on) advocate, the late SM Mohamed Idris (1926-2019), fondly known a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd
2019
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/72649/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/72649/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/72649/1/72649_Preserving%20the%20unique%20legacy.pdf |
| Summary: | THERE is an old African proverb that says when a wise person dies, a whole library is burnt down. There can never be a better illustration of this than the recent demise of the legendary consumer-environment-people’s (the list goes on) advocate, the late SM Mohamed Idris (1926-2019), fondly known as “uncle”.
A rare gem with a very human and humane heart. He could relate to all, but only if the other party is equally concerned and sincerely so. “Uncle” will not have it any other way as clear as it is in the following quote: “I do not seek any acknowledgement or praise for the work. It is a cause for bringing about change and improvement in society which should not be limited by one’s own desire for fame or self-glorification.”
I knew “uncle” since I was a student in Penang. Who would not, when his name was synonymous with CAP – the Consumers Association of Penang, otherwise known as the defender of the people’s rights. It is a household name where the rakyat went to in any confrontation with the powerful. That is how extensive the influence of CAP under the stewardship of Idris, who subsequently inspired the establishment of Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), and the Third World Network (TWN). The three completed the circle making the combination a global nexus of repute. |
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