Salahuddin Ayub: the gentleman of Malaysian politics 

ALOR STAR – Hundreds of people or even more are expected to pay their respects to the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub – whose untimely death in a hospital here last night has those on both sides of the political divide in mourning. 

Salahuddin, who was Amanah deputy president and domestic trade and cost of living minister before his sudden passing, was a rare gem in Malaysian politics for his gentleness, humility and amiability to everyone, even rivals.

The Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief, aged 61, leaves behind his wife Fatimah Taha and six children – four boys and two girls. He died after surgery on Friday for a brain haemorrhage.

Din, as he was fondly called by friends and political comrades, never raised his voice but knew how to get his message across by articulating facts and not raw emotions.

“He simply never shouted,” said Kedah PH chairman Datuk Wira Mahfuz Omar. 

“You know, we were in jail together, as we were arrested during a protest. We were in the PAS Youth then. Even then, he spoke gently,” he added. 

Mahfuz posted a heartfelt tribute on social media, noting that Allah was kind, as Din only suffered for two days before he passed on. 

“It was an honourable way to go. We will miss him dearly, but we will also carry on his struggle for a better country,” Mahfuz told The Vibes while holding back his tears. 

Throughout his career, Din modelled his style after the late PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan menteri besar Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, tempering his political approach with moderation, friendly advice and goodwill. 

Most importantly, Salahuddin embodied these values through his actions. 

Social media is now flooded with emotional condolences, tributes, and various video clips capturing memories of Salahuddin’s impactful career in politics from 2004 when he was first elected as Kubang Kerian MP while with PAS. 

In many of these memories, the common description of the Johor-born Salahuddin is that he was a “gentleman of Malaysian politics”. 

‘Political son’

In Kelantan, Salahuddin was regarded as one of two “political sons” of the late Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.  

In 2004, Nik Abdul Aziz’s administration was under siege, as it was clinging to a one-seat majority in Kelantan’s 45-member state legislative assembly. 

Barisan Nasional held 22 seats and PAS 23. 

Salahuddin and the other “political son” Datuk Husam Musa orchestrated various strategies to defend the state, a PAS fortress. 

To complicate matters, Nik Abdul Aziz suffered a heart attack then and was mainly ailing until his demise in 2015, so it was left to these two “sons” to manage the state. 

Then the head of PAS Youth, Salahuddin would often return to Kota Baru every weekend to brief Husam and Nik Abdul Aziz of his battles in Parliament to keep PAS, an opposition party, relevant. 

It is said by those who have observed Salahuddin’s progress that he honed his skills as a politician by observing Nik Abdul Aziz up close. 

And he was transparent in his dealings, often allowing journalists to sit in and listen as he huddled with Husam and then PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan when planning strategies to counter Barisan Nasional (BN)’s offensive in Kelantan. 

He also took up the party mantle to relocate back from his comfort zone in Kelantan to Johor, his birth state, in 2013 to make an impact on the BN stronghold. 

He did this in the 2018 general election, wresting the Pulai parliamentary seat from BN in a landslide victory. 

Salahuddin’s remains are now back in his birth state, at the residence of Salahuddin’s mother, Aminah Abdullah, 83, in Kg Serkat (Kopi Tenggek), Tg Piai in Pontian. 

The hearse, draped with the Malaysian flag, was escorted by his immediate family and Salahuddin’s party colleague – a sombre-looking Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamed Sabu, was seen teary-eyed. 

Salahuddin’s remains will then be brought to his residence in Jalan Adil, and to Masjid Jamek Datuk Haji Noh Gadot in Serkat thereafter for prayers and the burial ritual. 

Sinar Harian reports that he will be laid to rest next to the graves of his father, Ayub Umar, and grandfather, Awang Abdul Hamid, at the cemetery in Kg Serkat later today. 

‘No empty stomachs’

Salahuddin was a man of action, notable as perhaps the first minister in the unity government after the November general election to come out with a concrete programme that directly impacted the masses. 

This was the Menu Rahmah initiative – to offer a complete meal plus drink for RM5 –  which even global fast-food giants such as McDonald’s emulated. 

In Parliament, Salahuddin told lawmakers that Malaysia would be a better place if all businesses mandatorily set aside a portion of their profits to help or feed the poor. 

The Payung Rahmah initiative has since been expanded to other goods and services to make everyday essentials accessible to the poor. 

“Do not let a single person go with an empty stomach,” he said when rallying the cause for food eateries to produce meals under Menu Rahmah.

Even a fierce rival like Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor paid tribute to him, saying that they go a long way back when Din was in the PAS Youth wing. 

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin captured one of Salahuddin’s finest moments: his advice to the younger PKR politician to forgive his enemies before he sleeps every night. 

It captured why Salahuddin was never sued nor belittled whether by foes or friends, even after he and others dubbed the “progressives” in PAS quit the party to form Amanah after a fallout with party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang in 2015. 

His immediate legacy, the Rahmah initiative, means “grace” when translated into English.

It is a fitting gift to Malaysia and a reminder that politics can be attuned to be sensible, subtle and constructive, the way Din did it. – The Vibes, July 24, 2023