Dr Syed Husin @ Hussein bin Ali was once the Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology in the University of Malaya and served as a Senator in 2009 to 2015. He is also the former President of Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) 1990-2003 and former deputy president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). Currently, he is the PKR advisory council deputy chairman.

In 1990, he was elected as the President of PRM. He was asked to quit his position as Professor in the University of Malaya after serving for almost 30 years. PRM and National Justice Party merged and launched the PKR in 2003, he was appointed to be the Deputy President until 2010.

Syed Husin has written and edited approximately 20 books and prepared more than 100 papers for journals and conferences, both international and local. Among the books written are: Pimpinan Masyarakat Kampung; Masalah dan Masa Depan Orang Melayu; Kemiskinan dan Kelaparan Tanah di Kelantan; Dua Wajah; Memoir Perjuangan Politik; Hubungan Kaum di Malaysia; Sejarah Rakyat Malaysia and etc.

He has involved as an expert for the United Nations University and UNESCO as well as prepared evaluation reports on workers’ and women’s movements for international bodies. As a social activist, he involved himself in various activities to promote human rights and has been a member of the Mission to Inquire Into Mass Killings in Bangkok, Panel of Judges for the People’s Permanent Tribunal on Industrial and Environmental Hazards in Bhopal, India, and the International Investigation on Displaced People in Sri Lanka.

In 1974, Syed Husin was detained under ISA for 6 years without trial following the demonstration by peasants in Baling. He served as a Senator, representing Selangor state in 2009 until 2015. He is now serve as the chairman of Usman Awang Foundation, chairman of board of directors of Pusat Sejarah Rakyat, and member of PKR’s political bureau.