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Friday, 05 September 2008
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) offer its deepest condolences to the family members of the late A. Samad Ismail, one of the earliest and most consistent advocate for press freedom and democratic values.

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A.Samad Ismail, 1925-2008
Samad Ismail passed away at a little before 6pm on September 4th, at the Pantai Medical Centre where he was admitted since August due to kidney ailment.

Samad, or Pak Samad as he is affectionately known, spoke up tirelessly for the issue of the times through journalism and literature. His career of 40 over years in journalism reflected a pattern of pendulum swing. His intellectual prowess made him rise rapidly to the position of editorial leadership in Berita Malai, Utusan Melayu, Berita Harian and the New Straits Times only to be penalized by both the British and the post Independence administration using the Sedition Act and the Internal Security Act for the issue he spoke up for - anti colonialism, left wing ideology and social equity. In 1976, the year he was detained under the ISA, the government also awarded him with "Pejuang Bahasa". In between his career highs and lows, Pak Samad received numerous accolades especially so towards his retirement. Among others he received the "Tokoh Wartawan" award from the Malaysian Press Institute in 1988 and the title "Tan Sri" in 1992 from the DYMM Yang DiPertuan Agong. In 1994 he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts.

Pak Samad did not live to see the end of the Sedition Act, ISA, and other laws that are the remnant of colonialism and against the democratic system he envisioned and fought for. Despites the consequences he paid for speaking up, he remained a vocal newsman. In 1987, while Pak Samad was in his last years with the New Straits Times as Editorial Adviser, the paper took a strong stance against the Operasi Lalang despite it being a government-linked paper.

Pak Samad's life reflected the sincerity of his vision for a better Malaysia. He was an inspiration that CIJ and WAMI would always remember and look up to.


 
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