Downloaded from: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83904

MalaysiaKini.com
4 June 2008

Women's activist Toni Kasim dies

Well-known women’s activist Zaitun ‘Toni’ Kasim passed away this morning at the age of 41. She had been suffering from duodenal cancer for several months.

Zaitun Kasim

She died at 5am at her sister’s house at Taman Mesra, Batu Tiga in Shah Alam, Selangor. Zaitun had, over the years, advocated reform in laws that discriminated against women and had held key positions in a number of women's organisations. She was also an educator on HIV/Aids. Her uncle Mohamad Ismail Daud said she had undergone duodenum surgery two weeks ago. “She was recovering, but at the same time she looked very weak,” he said today. He said she was the second - and brightest - child in the family.

“She was good at playing the guitar and loved to entertain us. Her death is a blow to us,” he added. Close friend Shannon Shah, who was at the funeral, said he had visited Zaitun yesterday at her home in Brickfields and that she was “in deep pain”. “She was getting ready to leave for her sister’s house at the time. As she left, she smiled and blew me a kiss. That was my last image of her,” he said. Shannon, a singer-songwriter who has known her for six years, said news of her death still came as a shock because he thought she had a chance. “She was a fighter and I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. (But) at least, she’s no longer in pain,” he said.

About 100 people attended the funeral which began at 11.30am. Prayers were held at the Jame' Fastabiqul Khayrat mosque in Shah Alam before the burial at the nearby Pusara Kenangan Abadi Muslim cemetery at 12.30pm.

Great strength of character

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, met at the mosque, expressed sadness at “losing Zaitun at such a young age".

It's a loss for all of us. She was a strong advocate for women's rights," she added. Irene Fernandez, director of migrant rights group Tenaganita, also expressed sorrow, saying “she was a great person with strong beliefs and firm principles". Lawyer and political activist Lateefah Koya described Zaitun as someone who had strong opinions on issues: “She’s a real mentor for human rights and women’s issues.” Selangor Friends of Women Organisation (PSWS) president Irene Xavier said: “It’s a pity that she left so soon...she was fighting to live.”

PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali, who has known Zaitun for 20 years, said he had lost “a good friend and an activist”.

Others at the funeral included WAO executive director Ivy Josiah, human rights lawyer and PKR vice-president R Sivarasa, Kota Damansara state assemblyperson Dr Nasir Hashim, and Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng. Seputeh parliamentarian and Selangor executive councillor Teresa Kok offered condolences on behalf of DAP Wanita. "We greatly admired her commitment and dedication to her field of work...she commanded huge respect from all those who knew her," said Kok in a statement.

"Toni worked hard to create awareness of the need for recognising elements of human rights in the context of women in Islam.

"A tireless believer in the principles of justice and equality for all, she was also actively involved in poverty alleviation and sustainable
development programmes while working for NGOs and aid agencies locally and abroad."

Kok also referred to DAP's "brief, direct working relationship" with Zaitun in the 1999 general election.

She had contested as an independent candidate supported by the Women’s Candidacy Initiative (WCI).

Zaitun stood on a DAP ticket in the Selayang parliamentary seat against Barisan Nasional’s Chan Kong Choy, then MCA Youth chief.

She bagged 26,144 votes, or 43 percent, slashing the incumbent’s margin from 38,627 to 8,835.

WCI did not field a candidate in the 2004 elections but Zaitun was widely expected to run again for the second time in the 12th general election held on March 8.

However, due to worsening health, she pulled out of the contest.