Salbiah’s funeral
Oct 12th, 2007 by Tian
Dr Wan Azizah and Syed Shahir’s daughter
Syed Shahir and Dr Azizah
Anwar and Syed Shahir
Syed Hamid riciting prayer for Salbiah
Accompanied President Dr Wan Azizah to visit Syed Shahir this morning (Oct 12). When we arrived at about 11:20hr, Salbiah’s body was being transported to Al Hidayat Mosque in Section 18 Shah Alam.
Most of the guests had left. As we came in Dr Syed Husin and Latifah were driving out. I also saw the whole contingent of unionists: Bruno, Soloman, Gopal, etc. Others there were: Sivarasa, Irene and Angie Fernandez, KeADILan members of Kelana Jaya division and so on.
Dr Azizah and I went over to the mosque to pay the last respect. Anwar joined us in the mosque and he stayed on for Friday prayer. Nik Nazmi and Din Merican arrived in the same car as Anwar.
Notably absent were Government officials or ruling politicians. Din Merican commented this very unhealthy trend in the country’s political circle. Holding position as MTUC president, Syed Shahir is a key person in our tripartite system. In such sad occasion, we still did not see any conciliatory gestures at the level of inter-human relationship. The Minister of Human Resources did not even send a message of condolence. Neither the Ministry delegated any representatives to the funeral.
It looks like the mentality of our ruling elites has been fossilized. They can only compute on simplistic divide: you are either with us, or you are enemy. There is no bridge even in the time of personal tragedy.
I am sad for Shahir losing his wife, but even more sad for our country.