Syed Husin bin Ali (23 September 1936 – 29 June 2024) was a Malaysian academic and politician who served as president of the left-wing Parti (Sosialis) Rakyat Malaysia.
[4] He had three older stepsiblings and three younger siblings including the activist/politician Syed Hamid Ali who was formerly head of PKR’s Batu Pahat division.
[7] As a scholar, he constantly stressed the need to revisit Malaysia's official history, which he said was very often about individuals and groups in the elite strata of society.
[11] In 1974, Syed Husin was detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA) following protests by farmers in Baling and students in Kuala Lumpur.
[12] During the initial stages of his detention in both the police lockup and at the notorious Kamunting camp, Syed Husin was often housed with then student leader Anwar Ibrahim.
[citation needed] Syed Husin and lawyer Abdul Razak Ahmad were among the key figures who kept the party alive at this time.
[citation needed] In 1995 and 1999, he ran in the Petaling Jaya Selatan (federal constituency) parliamentary race, losing on both occasions to Barisan Nasional's Donald Lim Siang Chai.
[citation needed] In 2004, his name was proposed as a Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidate for Kota Bharu, but this was rejected by PAS spiritual adviser and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat as well as PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang both of whom cited Syed Husin's socialist background as objectionable.
His son Muhammad Ali Syed Husin (spelled Hussein) is an academic at the Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah.