MP SPEAKS | Barely have we recovered from the stab of loss felt over the passing of Kerk Kim Hock, the retired secretary general of the DAP, and now we learn of the passing of another stalwart Malaysian - Thasleem Ibrahim.

Thasleem left us at 10pm on Aug 23, 2017, at the relatively young age of 68. I mourn the loss of a good friend, a splendid citizen, and a highly community-minded person.

I went to see him at the hospital at 5.30pm. I spoke to his wife while she kept vigil at his bedside. The ward where Thasleem was admitted was crowded with people from all works of life.

I have known Thasleem for three decades. During that time I was fortunate to learn about aspects of his early life when his parents left for India, and he was brought up by a Hindu family.

Despite living with a Hindu family, Thasleem's faith as a Muslim was never compromised.

Thasleem's life and the causes for which he fought reflect the reality - that most people born into a faith do properly stand by it, while their eyes take in the surrounding world.

They become what we call "pluralistic personalities," ones who discover that learning comes by way of a certain humility, a hesitance to judge others too quickly, and even a generous watchfulness for possible errors in one's own perspectives.

Thasleem's personality and life reflected these strengths, even as these were perceived as weaknesses by others. He was undeterred by the narrow perceptions.

For him, religion was blind to differences of race and language. Thasleem was a Tamil who revelled in the language and the customs of this ethnic group.

He was a staunch Muslim. I attended many of his Hari Raya celebrations where he provided financial help to the downtrodden and marginalised who delighted in being hosted by a charitable man.

He was a rich man and generous in assisting the needy, especially students who required help to complete their education.

Thasleem will long be remembered for what he did in 2011 when the Ministry of Education introduced a book called 'Interlok' by the novelist Abdullah Hussain in the literature syllabus.

Readers found derogatory terms and references in the book on the Indian and Chinese communities of the country. Thasleem got involved in the process to obliterate the Ministry of Education’s argument that the novel inculcates "good" among students.

Thasleem pronounced the book as "haram" under the Islamic religion. After months of debate, the Ministry of Education eventually withdrew the book.

Many feel that had it not been for Thasleem's exertions, we would not have succeeded in having the book removed from the curriculum.

About two weeks ago, he telephoned me to express his dismay at the government’s failure to enact laws to prevent the unilateral conversion of minors by estranged and divorced spouses.

Thasleem was very involved in the Indira Gandhi unilateral conversion of minors issue from 2009 until the end of his life yesterday. He felt unilateral conversion of minors was contrary to his faith, and he spoke against it bravely and often.

We have lost a man who courageously stood by principles although it affected his position in society.

The people of Malaysia have lost a good man. He will be remembered for his contributions to the necessity of building a pluralistic Malaysia for many years to come.

For Thasleem, life has indeed come full circle

M KULA SEGARAN is Ipoh Barat MP and DAP vice chairman.