Haris Ibrahim

"The other was a more firebrand activist, Haris Ibrahim who died in August. From him i received key lessons in understanding that achieving reform often requires pressure from a variety of stakeholders to be effective. Intellectual advocacy needs to be complemented by a lot of shouting and street fighting especially if there are no inroads to established institutions."

Extract from article entitled 'Remembering the departed' by Tunku Zain Al-Abidin, The Star, 29 December 2023

Activists these days seem divorced from the issues they claim to advocate and it has become a circle jerk of mutual admiration and fundraising.

Haris though harkened back to an earlier form of political and social activism; a complicated endeavour populated by flawed people scrambling to make a difference.

Haris was always for the people and when he stumbled and made wrong choices, he was never shy to admit it publicly.

His passing affected me deeply. His passing is epochal in the sense that the language and symbols we use as a shorthand for dissent, like ABU (anything but Umno) for instance, sprung from his ingenuity when dealing with a hegemon with vast propaganda organs.

Here is a snippet of a conversation (“conversation, commander, not interview”, he reminded me) we had some time ago.

“Almost all of us have racist tendencies to varying degrees which, wittingly or otherwise, we picked up from our elders and we, in turn, pass down to the next generation. A race relations act which criminalises acts seen as 'racist' will help to, in time, weed these tendencies out from our society.

“An example might help. We still see coffee shops with signage announcing, 'Please do not spit', even in this day and age. A law to criminalise spitting in any public place, and effectively policed and enforced through prosecution through our courts, may one day see those signage become redundant.

“Similarly, if it was the law that if a child below say, age 15, was heard uttering ‘keling’, ‘malai quai’, or ‘cina babi’, the parent would be charged with an offence, and this law was effectively policed and enforced, I dare say we would hear less and less of these utterances from future generations.

“So, yes, we need a race relations act.”

Extract from MKINI article by S THAYAPARAN, Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy dated 28 December 2023

Haris – an entrepreneur, salesman, prominently known as a successful lawyer, political activist, human rights defender … most of all, he is a selfless human being.  He left a successful legal practice to fight for us ordinary Malaysians.  To Haris, we Malaysians are one and his religion is love - love for the human race. 

In forums and Bersih protests, Haris does not mince his words.  His ABU movement stands for Anything but Umno or Asalkan bukan Umno, how brilliant is that!  ABU has educated us on our rights as fellow Malaysians that change is indeed possible -  to fight the injustice, corruption, a broken system and a badly divided nation.  I personally think it was Haris that was instrumental in directing this wind of change in GE14, the fall of BN after 60 years grip in Malaysia. 

When I knew about Haris health battle with lung cancer, I have hope that he will fight and win another battle in his life or at least extend his life for a few years so that he will live to see a better Malaysia. 

Haris, you planted that seed in us. We will not let you down and will remember you each time we cast that vote.  Needless to say, we miss your loud presence in those forums and your ever so fearless articles. 

Let us keep Haris spirit alive.  We Malaysians are as One. And don’t forget ABU. 

We have lost a Malaysian son who worked for a Malaysia Malaysians can all call our home regardles of ethnicity. Yet we must keep his spirit alive in the things we think, speak and live. Thank you Haris for caring so much.

Haris never sought recognition but the People gave him the accolades that he appreciated but never let it go to his head!

Two things I owe him (1) overcoming the fear of the powers that be and (2) No such thing as sacrifice for the Rakyat (am doing this for myself!

With a grateful heart.....you remain our guiding light, you showed the way, fearless and dedicated till your last breath.

Thank you Haris.

The memorial hall had too much air-conditioning but not for a moment was I not warm in the heart being reminded of so much that you had selflessly with no holds barred driven and given to make our Malaysia better. They were just highlights though as to cover your brilliance, boldness, persistence and wittiness would have taken days. Thank you Haris for being you, for sharing perhaps too much of yourself, not forgetting your organic produce that I had enjoyed, the enlightening SABM Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia lecture series and RUEP Rural Urban Exchange Programme endearing journey. We know you will continue to shine for eternity.

We all loved and followed the late Haris Ibrahim's credo"We are many colours but we are One"His was the all important reminder/teaching that we are all born,seeing the first light of day with our God given human rights tucked tight in our baby fists!!. Not for giving away easily or being unnaturally denied these rights,as we still are. Therefore if these rights are denied us we cannot truly be Anak2 Bangsa Malaysia nor can we be full-fledged citizens calling Malaysia our home our Native Land. We can nurture Haris Ibrahim's dream and realize our rights by getting to know and participating in SABM. It is the easiest thing to become an SABMer. Why not think of becoming one today?The more voices the better the chances of becoming true blue Malaysians!!!🤣🤗

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Haris woke up the activist in me. Knowing him made me a better person. I'm glad he gave me many opportunities to play my part in making our nation a better place.