Author Faisal Tehrani, whose books on Islam have been banned by the authorities, thanked Kassim for showing the way to him as a Muslim scholar.
“The banned author, Kassim Ahmad dies. His banned works remain in our mind. Thank you for opening the road to challenge the extreme rigid agamawan.
“His very last email to me, May 12, 2017, he recommended me to read his article; ‘The Rise and Fall of Islam’ (Sept 9, 1933 — Oct 10, 2017.] al Fatihah.”
Dr Mahathir Mohamad posted on his blog that he was saddened by Kassim’s passing.
Calling him a brave person who stuck to his principles no matter the consequences to his own well being, the PPBM chairman said he believes that Kassim did not get the justice that he deserved in the eyes of Islam.
“His mind was sharp and the Malays have lost an intellectual hero who could provide a lot of insight to their plight. We must read and understand his writings before punishing him,” Mahathir said.
Former minister Zaid Ibrahim tweeted: “Innalillah, pak kassim gone. One True Malay intellectual, with conviction and grit so few have. They harassed him and maligned him.”
“I m on the way to Kulim; to offer condolence and respect to this good Muslim, who all his life had wanted Muslims to be compassionate.”
Expressing his condolences to the family, Zaid called Kassim a true Muslim warrior.
“He wanted Muslims to be a great people of knowledge. He wanted Muslims to think about the religion, and use ‘akal’ or reason to overcome life’s problems.
“Yet he was harassed and called a deviant. Sad day as we have so few like him,” Zaid told FMT.
Marina Mahathir tweeted: “I am so so sad. He was a very brave man, fighting for his right to speak all the way to the end. I am distraught that I can’t attend his funeral because am out of the country, only arriving tomorrow morning.”
Human rights activist and lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan expressed her sadness, tweeting: “I remember him for his courage in facing the oppression and shameful treatment meted out to him. May he rest in peace.”
PKR’s Saifuddin Abdullah praised Kassim’s courage, posting a tweet which said: “Sedih mendengar berita Pak Kassim Ahmad meninggal dunia. Public intellectual yg berani. Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat pd rohnya. Al fatihah!”
Meanwhile, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, wrote: “Sad at news of passing of an intellectual giant Kassim Ahmad at Kulim Hospital after a coma since yesterday. Al Fatihah.”
Kassim, 84, died at the Kulim Hospital in Kedah this morning, less than 24 hours after he slipped into a coma yesterday. He had been hospitalised since Sept 16 for a lung infection and a blocked heart valve.