[5] He became involved in trade union activities and labour movement in Malaysia, and represented the country in various forums, conferences and seminars at the national and international levels.
As MTUC president, he recognised that many traditional working-class jobs were going to migrant labourers and called for greater solidarity among the international workers' movements.
[8] On 7 May 2008, Syed Shahir led hundreds of MTUC members in a demonstration at the Parliament building in Kuala Lumpur to send a memorandum to Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam.
[11] In his first election in 1974 he represented PSRM and lost in the contest for the Batu Talam (state constituency) to Umno/BN’s Abdul Rahman Ismail.
[13] In the 2008 Malaysian General Election, Syed Shahir again represented PKR and was defeated by Ong Tee Keat from MCA/BN in the Pandan (federal constituency).