I refer to the malaysiakini article Azmin perlu lebih ikhlas menyokong Dr Syed Husin .

I have known and observed Prof Syed Husin Ali since the 1970s including when he was detained for six years under the ISA. When I first got to know of him, I was secretary of the Bar Council Human Rights Committee, and we collected information on all ISA detainees in our efforts to get them released.

Before I even met him, from what I read of him including appeals from various persons on his behalf to the committee asking the committee to intercede with the Home Ministry, I distinctly remember feeling great respect, humility and wonder for a person who had been unjustly detained for six long years (he became the longest in detention by the time I became secretary) could still remain so unvindictive, forgiving and at peace with himself and the world.

When I finally met him after he was released, I also learnt he had a perennial sense of humour including at his own expense which I thought showed great self-confidence and stature. I now believe that he is the quintessential 'intellectual politician' which Confucius said should be involved in leading any government.

He is the only living politician in whose hands I would be prepared to put my life in and that is saying a lot. It means I view him as a person with no barrier of race, religion or creed and someone I can absolutely trust to make judgment calls based only on unshakeable ethics, good principles and wisdom.

God knows the world today needs more of such intellectual giants in politics - not the present lot of political dwarfs including those in the US and Great Britain.

Keadilan is indeed fortunate to have such a rare entity in their midst. Syed Husin Ali is not only an asset to his party but also a tremendous role model for not only Azmin Ali but also for Anwar Ibrahim.