COMMENT | My first contact with Sim Kwang Yang (SKY) was when he wrote to me while I was detained under Operation Lalang at the Kamunting detention camp in 1988.

From his letter, I could sense his warmth and sincerity as a fighter for freedom and justice and a genuine human rights activist.

Later, when we became comrades in the DAP, I felt an instant affinity with SKY through his strong adherence to principles and deep commitment to intellectual integrity, a rare quality among Malaysian politicians indeed.

SKY was certainly different from the other Malaysian politicians, often rising above parochial and partisan concerns to take a bird’s eye view of most issues.

He would not take any bull from anyone, not even the leaders of his party and it was always a breath of fresh air to hear him speak...