Prime Minister Launches Landmark Book Celebrating Legacy of Social Activist S.M. Mohamed Idris
KUALA LUMPUR, 15 December 2025 – In a significant tribute to one of Malaysia’s most revered social advocates, the Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim, officiated the launch of the book, “The Man Who Could Move Mountains: Reflections on the Social Activism of S.M. Mohamed Idris,” edited by Claude Alvares, Shahridan Faiez and Lim Jee Yuan. The event was held at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) on Monday, 15 December 2025, at 11am.
The Prime Minister, who authored the foreword for this commemorative volume, delivered a keynote address reflecting on the enduring national legacy of the late S.M. Mohamed Idris, or fondly known as Uncle Idris, former President of the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM). The publication arrives as a powerful testament to Idris’s profound and far-reaching influence on the nation’s social, environmental, and consumer rights landscape.
Unique in its scope, the book features 21 chapters penned by 20 distinguished writers, each of whom was directly inspired, mentored, or shaped by their interactions with ‘Uncle Idris’. The contributors represent a remarkable cross-section of Malaysian and international society, including educationists, environmental activists, scholars, Islamic banking, sustainable farming advocates, public interest lawyers, former Ministers and our current Prime Minister. This diverse chorus of voices underscores his unique ability to build bridges across sectors and ignite a passion for justice in individuals who would go on to shape national policy and public discourse.
More than a memorial, the event is envisioned as a call to action. It aims not only to celebrate Uncle Idris’s extraordinary life and achievements but to galvanise a continued commitment to the causes he championed. The central message reinforces the critical role of civic activism as the indispensable third pillar of national development, working alongside the public and private sectors to safeguard democracy, prevent authoritarian drift, and ensure development is both equitable and sustainable.
“This book is not merely about the past; it is a blueprint for the future,” said Dr. Shahridan Faiez, co-editor of the book and assistant secretary of CAP. “By bringing together these 20 lives he touched, we see the living legacy of one man’s conviction. Our hope is to pass his torch to a new generation, emphasising that engaged, principled citizen action remains key to building the Malaysia we aspire to.”
The launch event was attended by students, social activists, senior government officials, diplomats, civil society leaders, academics, and members of the public whose lives were touched by Idris’s decades of work.
About S.M. Mohamed Idris:
S.M. Mohamed Idris (1926-2019) was a towering figure in Malaysian civil society. As a co-founder and long-time President of the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), he was a fearless advocate for environmental protection, consumer rights, and social justice for over five decades. He also helmed the Third World Network, founded in 1984, which is an independent non-profit international research and advocacy organisation involved in issues relating to development, developing countries and North-South affairs. His principled stands and relentless campaigns earned him national and international acclaim, solidifying his role as the moral conscience of the nation.
Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP)
Meenakshi Raman
President
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)