Farewell,Warrior: Tan Soi Kow @ Umar Tan Abdullah

Unbeknownst to most Malaysians, even those who unabashedly wear the velveteen tag of “human rights activists”, Tan was without doubt one of the most committed fighters for democracy and human rights in this country.
But one would be hard pressed to find a feature on him or read his words laid out on glossy magazines. We would find Tan present in almost every protest. He’d be there, helping to carry banners, sometimes delivering materials or bottles of water, making sure we were alright.
He didn’t begin this way. Tan wasn’t born into an illustrious family nor was he chauffeured down the Ivy-league trail. He wasn’t one of those garden-variety ‘activists’. He worked hard to earn his keep. He kept only one bank account. He went around his trusty little motorbike, more Brando than Bogart, on a Honda kapchai. He collected chunky watches that looked like weapons of mass destruction.
He was hardly different from you and me. A Commoner. A Citizen.

Then September 2, 1998 came and changed everything.
His name first appeared on our long list of arrestees who bravely reclaimed the streets of Kuala Lumpur and demanded the resignation of then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad. Over time, as the protests became more frequent and the lists piled, it seemed as if his name never left the pages.
His passion scorched and burnt through our flesh and bones, putting the best of us to shame. Berani kerana benar - ‘Courage because of Truth ‘. He lived, walked, breathed this motto and asked nothing in return – no honours, no rewards, no acknowledgement, save, that we should never give up; that we must believe our victory is close and within sight.
The measure of a man is by his true friends.
Judging from those who called him friend and comrade when he was alive, those who were at the hospital, Pak Lang’s house and the cemetery, those who called, sent SMSs and emails, Tan was a giant who towered well above us.
Ah Tan.
Reformist. Activist. Former political prisoner. Teacher. Friend. Brother.
Comrade.
Farewell for now.