The Sweet Rebel: Remembering Fan Yew Teng
By Tung Wan Qing
Before writing this
article, I did not know Mr Fan in person or any of his works. I was not
even born when he was charged under the infamous Sedition Act. His
crime? He published a speech in the second issue of The Rocket in 1975
by the then-Penang DAP chairman, Dr Ooi Kee Saik, in which Dr Ooi
welcomed Lim Kit Siang’s release from ISA.
But here I am,
sitting in a room beside the DAP headquarters, writing an article for
The Rocket in 2012, reading books and tributes about Fan’s life, his
ideas, and his stories.
What makes a hero a
hero? What makes a warrior a warrior? In films, we might be fascinated
by Thor who can use his extraordinary power to protect the world, or
Spiderman who has endless strength. But in reality, a hero in one’s
heart is always a humble and simple man.
Heroes are often
hopelessly idealistic, regardless of how many times have their ideas
been demonized and flung aside. They are morally principled enough to
strive their whole lives to uphold it, even at the cost of personal loss
and sacrifice.
A few descriptions
reoccur in “The Sweet Rebel: Remembering Fan Yew Teng”, a book edited by
his twin daughter Pauline and Lilianne Fan, to commemorate the first
anniversary of his passing. Fan was repeatedly described as the “Beacon
of Light”, grassroot leader, principled, intellectual, daring, fearless,
truly a simple man with a big heart.
Fan Yew Teng was a
two-term Member of Parliament in Kampar and Menglembu, as well as
Selangor assemblyman for Petaling Jaya. He was the editor of “The
Educator”, the official organ of the National Union of Teachers (NUT),
and later editor of The Rocket. He was also the co-organizer of the 1967
nationwide teachers' strike which demanded equal pay for female
teachers, better housing and medical benefits, and pension after
retirement for all teachers.
When Lim Kit Siang
was detained under the Internal Security Act in 1969, Fan served as
acting DAP Secretary-General, exercising the powers even before Lim, to
keep the party from falling apart in the post-May 13 climate.
Fan later left DAP
over differences in principle, yet he never turned his back on any
injustice happening in Malaysia. He participated in a 1998 international
forum against Lim Guan Eng’s unjust imprisonment.
When it came to
race, Fan was truly “color blind”. He was amongst the first people to
connect PAS to the Chinese community since the early eighties. He was
also a well-known columnist in Harakah and Aliran.
Internationally, he
founded Suaram and was concerned with many international issues,
including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. For him, human rights and the
dignity of humanity cut across race and religion.
According to
Petaling Jaya City Councillor Richard Yeoh, Fan’s victory over then
Education Minister Dr. Mahathir in the Great Economic Debate at
University Malaya in 1974, was probably the cause for Dr. Mahathir to
withdraw universities’ autonomy with the amended University and
University College Act (still in effect today).
Despite his huge
achievements and contributions, one of the deepest impressions that Mr.
Fan left to his beloved friends from all over the world, was his
fondness for his typewriter, pipe and bicycle.
How could such a
simple family man become a political target, be charged for an article
he published in The Rocket, removed as the Member of Parliament and
denied his parliamentary pension? I believe this was simply because Fan
was true to himself.
Fan’s legacy was
his big heart and his deep compassion to social justice. One does not
have to know him in person to feel his passion and his ideas for a
better Malaysia and a better world. This is what connected him and other
giants like Lim Kit Siang, who have been and are still working
selflessly for this cause.
Reading “The Sweet
Rebel” made me feel how many lives that Fan impacted. I remembered Lim
Kit Siang’s expression when he was sitting at the front row at the book
launch of The Sweet Rebel: Remembering Fan Yew Teng. He was ever so calm and composed.
Lim looked at Fan’s
face projected on the main screen backdrop, and he flipped through a
copy of the book displayed on the table. He listened attentively when
Pauline Fan and Ambiga gave their speeches; in the middle of the tribute
he took out his glasses and wiped his eyes. In those 5 seconds as the
camera focused on him, Lim raised his head up again as resolute as ever,
with his glasses perched on his nose. That was the face of a man who
lost a comrade and friend.
Fan
may have felt that he had not done enough to make the world a better
place. Even lying on the hospital bed, his concern was how to help
others escape from suffering. Malaysia would not have come this far
without the efforts and contributions by Fan and other first generation
Malaysian rebels.
What
makes a rebel a rebel? A strong, fearless, and principled soul. A great
mind, great heart, great vision. As much as we mourn for his soul,
Fan’s wishes for a better Malaysia are still valid today: “For how long
more are Malaysians to live with fear and loathing? Afraid about the
collapse of public safety even in broad daylight and disgusted by rising
inflation and galloping corruption. How much longer? Surely it is in
the hands of the Malaysian people themselves.” (in Harakah, December
2007).
I think that the
best and only way to remember Fan Yew Teng, is to continue his mission
to fulfil his dreams and ensure that the spirit of a Malaysian Malaysia
lives on.
This article was published at The Rocket, August 2012
Genta Media's official website - Editorial Diary 03/03
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