COMMENT The name Kassim Ahmad first appeared in my mental radar screen back in my school and college days in the fifties and sixties. He had been branded as a socialist and communist at the time when either philosophy was taken as akin to communism. Communism in turn was taken to be anti-god, godlessness, atheism and as a political ideology practicing terrorism.

At the same time and secondly, Kassim was also known to be critical of the Malay hero Hang Tuah, not in him as a person surely, but as the gallant warrior who showed blind and unflinching loyalty to the Sultan - even if he had to kill his closest friend Hang Jebat. Just how could a super hero kill his bosom friend, his own close buddy? Kassim asked in effect, who is the real hero here, Hang Tuah or Hang Jebat?

Thirdly, in the mid-eighties Kassim Ahmad again appeared as the writer of " Hadith Satu Pernilaian Semula " (Hadith a re-evaluation). Here he questioned the veracity, authenticity and accuracy of the compilations of the Hadith (the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad) made nearly 300 years after the prophet's demise (in 632 AD).