KUALA LUMPUR: Former Home Minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar shared a key lesson instilled in him by his late father regarding integrity in politics.
"I was taught by my father: in politics, criticise the leader as a check and balance.
"But don't do it with a grudge or with malice," he said at the launch of the book 'Idealis: Syed Hamid Albar' today.
He said that his principles are rooted in "being brave enough to tell the truth and not mistreating others because we dislike them."
Hamid's speech recounted stories of his political journey within Umno and as a minister in former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's cabinet, some of which are now immortalised in the book.
The former Kota Tinggi member of parliament recalled that he was a constant critic within the party, even of then-chairman Mahathir, which made him respect the latter's decision to include him in his cabinet all the more.
Reflecting on his family legacy, Syed Hamid shared the origins of his name, Albar, which has been passed down through generations.
"People might not know the meaning of the name 'Albar.'
"It dates back many generations. My ancestors used the name 'Albar' too.
"The first who was famous for it was Ali bin Ali Albar.
"Ali's mother gave him his father's name.
"His father was also known as a man entirely loyal to his mother, his religion, and the truth.
"If I am loyal, it is because of my family heritage," he said.
Written by Noor Hasilah Ismail and Firdaus Zainal, 'Idealis: Syed Hamid Albar' was launched by Mahathir at the Royal Lake Club. Hamid noted that the term "idealist" in the title reflects his tendency to hold high hopes for achieving the best outcomes.
He said the book adopts a casual storytelling approach to make it accessible to readers.
"The relaxed delivery makes it easier for people to understand the essence of the story.
"Through this book, I hope people can draw lessons, connect the issues discussed with their own lives, and understand the traits and character of an individual," he said.