So Long, Syukree
Yesterday was an extremely hectic day. I was moving from my home for the last 4 years in Subang back to Petaling Jaya and had to deal with movers, packing et al. It didn’t help that I did not get any sleep at all the previous night.
It was therefore a very rude surprise to be informed by suarakeadilan.com journalist, Syafiq, about the premature demise of a fellow comrade and former Suara KeADILan journalist, Mohamad Syukree Hussain. He apparently died in his sleep yesterday morning. When I was informed of his death, it was with a great sense of appropriate irony that I still saw his status on Google Talk and Facebook as online.
Can’t say I know him very well except for our interactions in relation to Suara Keadilan and a few encounters in person but his reputation really preceded him. Syukree .. Syukree …
No stranger to controversy and general weirdness, Syukree was recently relieved of his duties at Suara Keadilan and was writing as a freelancer for Watan. In a sense, I can somehow identify. Some folks do not meet the general “criteria” of being “normal” and many people find it hard to fit in with them. In fact, the more we try to be “normal”, the more we screw up.
Syukree is fondly remembered by friends like Black, the folks at Ricecooker, Nat, Delcapo and Zorro (with a photo of the dude in his monster mask – something he’s had on for the last few days).
So long, mate. Rest in peace.
Here’s a video with Syukree in his monster mask (see 1:25 onwards ..)
And another one where he challenges the Ramlan and his pseudo-reformist gang to actually go naked as they threatened ..
How sleep the brave, who sink to rest
By all their country’s wishes blest!
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallow’d mould,
She there shall dress a sweeter sod
Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod.
By fairy hands their knell is rung;
By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
There Honour comes, a pilgrim grey,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell, a weeping hermit, there!
- William Collins (1721–1759)
