Journalist, Writer. Also known by the moniker Pak Samad, he promoted social causes within his writing in post-independence Malaysia, and called for the national standardisation of the Malay language. Born in Singapore to Javanese immigrant parents, he attended Victoria School. He completed a Senior Cambridge certificate as a reporter at the daily newspaper, Utusan Melayu, where he began his career in journalism. During the Japanese occupation of Malaya, he worked for the Japanese-supported newspaper, Berita Malai. After the British returned following the Japanese defeat, he was briefly imprisoned. He was released a short time later and returned to work at Utusan Melayu. He wrote extensively in support of Malaysian independence, and often met with supporters of independence. For this, he was again arrested by the British authorities in 1951. He returned to work at Utusan Melayu after his release in 1953. He was a founder of the People's Action Party (PAP). However, disagreements with Lee Kuan Yew and Utusan Melayu resulted in him moving to Kuala Lumpur. He then became the head of the Berita Harian newspaper and the managing editor of the New Straits Times Press. His writings on social issues, which were popular with the public, resulted in hin getting arrested yet again in 1976 under the Internal Security Act. He was released in 1981. He rejoined New Straits Times Press as an editorial adviser before retiring from full-time journalism in 1988. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communications Arts in 1994 for his efforts in support of Malaysian independence. He died of a severe lung infection and kidney failure in 2008.
Journalist, Writer. Also known by the moniker Pak Samad, he promoted social causes within his writing in post-independence Malaysia, and called for the national standardisation of the Malay language. Born in Singapore to Javanese immigrant parents, he attended Victoria School. He completed a Senior Cambridge certificate as a reporter at the daily newspaper, Utusan Melayu, where he began his career in journalism. During the Japanese occupation of Malaya, he worked for the Japanese-supported newspaper, Berita Malai. After the British returned following the Japanese defeat, he was briefly imprisoned. He was released a short time later and returned to work at Utusan Melayu. He wrote extensively in support of Malaysian independence, and often met with supporters of independence. For this, he was again arrested by the British authorities in 1951. He returned to work at Utusan Melayu after his release in 1953. He was a founder of the People's Action Party (PAP). However, disagreements with Lee Kuan Yew and Utusan Melayu resulted in him moving to Kuala Lumpur. He then became the head of the Berita Harian newspaper and the managing editor of the New Straits Times Press. His writings on social issues, which were popular with the public, resulted in hin getting arrested yet again in 1976 under the Internal Security Act. He was released in 1981. He rejoined New Straits Times Press as an editorial adviser before retiring from full-time journalism in 1988. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communications Arts in 1994 for his efforts in support of Malaysian independence. He died of a severe lung infection and kidney failure in 2008.
Bio by: Tasik Austin
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