I lost a friend today. As did all of Anwar’s staff.
Md. Salman Nasaruddin, younger than me at only 24 years old, was the man behind the photos that shook Malaysia.
His keen camera gave confidence to millions that our message of hope was being heard by tens of thousands each night across the country.
Salman not only tirelessly followed DSAI on his impossible schedule, he took additional time to process many of the photos and videos that have been absolutely crucial to the campaign.
Salman was the warmest, most obliging guy you could imagine. He was a fountain of goodwill and cheer…
Walking from his house in Section 16 to our office in Phileo (where he has been spending entire nights regularly) at 10.20 last night in the rain, he was hit by a car which thereafter ran off.
The car only left behind some shattered glass and a car sticker that said Kelab Tentera Udara, with a license plate on it that was actually that of a motorcycle apparently owned by royalty.
Salman was rushed to the hospital but he had already sustained severe head injuries. He passed away at 1.50pm this afternoon.
A man has actually given his life for justice in these elections.
I miss him terribly.
Very sorry to hear about your friend Nat, indeed very sorry, although we are total strangers, please convey my heart-felt sympathies to his family and wherever he may be now, I pray and wish that he be happy and peaceful.
I have never met Salman personally. But when Nat told me about his loss, I suddenly had a terrible feeling, a sadness that somehow makes me feel like losing a very close friend. I was trying hard to comprehend this, and it leads me to the realisation that, having helped directly and indirectly on making the web content related to the people’s movement for democracy, I realise that many committed Malaysians are my dear comrades with one unifying aim – make Malaysia better. Salman is a little hero who has worked quietly behind the scene.
Coincidentally, I had a serious accident upon me and my family where my car was crushed behind and front. Fortunately, all three adults and two kids were unhurt. The trauma aside, I appreciate the pain of Salman and appreciate the loss of his family much more. May you rest in peace, my dear comrade.
How awful – my condolences to everyone, especially his family. I hope his work will not be in vain, and that there is someone ready to pick up where he left off.
My condolences to Salman’s family. I sincerely hope the police will investigate this hit and run fully and bring those responsible to justice.
I never knew that there is such a person behind the scene. I was immensely touch hearing the loss of a comrade who love peace and unity. Let us not waste his effort and sacrifices by continue to uphold our rights, our peace, our unity for the coming election. Deep condolences to Salman’s family. May peace be with him.
my condolences
a live taken is one too many
in respect for his endeavours we should continue on his course
nat i believe you have my email from this post, read one of your post saying you are looking for funds. mail me let me know how much you are short of to break even and i will see what can be done.
note
Malaysiakini goes free for one week
Mar 4, 08 2:02pm
In view that the country is going to the polls on Saturday, Malaysiakini has decided to make its website free beginning today for the next seven days
nat: heartfelt thanks sir, i haven’t had time to check recently, but will do so soon. thank you so much again.
May Allah give him His mercy. Al-fatihah.
I’m touched though I haven’t known him. It was a premature death but everything has its appointed term. Pliz pass my heartfelt condolence to his family and friends. Alla Yarham. Amin.
I was schooling with Salman for 5 years in Bukit Bintang Boys School in sec 14, PJ. I remember Salman very vividly! He one a good friend of mine and he is also a very humble guy..
I remember during the Reformasi rally in 1999(he was just 15 then), he was caught by the police for carry a knife. His pics were spalshed in every newspaper of the country. He was a treated like a war time hero when he came back to school..
I would never forget this humble n soft spoken guy who i have not seen angry..
Al-Fatihah.
I feel very sad reading about his demise in DSAI’s blog this afternoon. Such a great loss. May Allah Bless his soul. Reminds me of the sadness I felt when the late Christopher Fernando left us in January. My deepest condolences to Salman’s family.
Dear Nat,
My condolence to the passing of a colleague and friend. May his soul rest in peace.
Take care of yourself too. We will mourn him but for now let us focus on the task at hand.
I didn’t have chances to know Salman more but I knew him when he did his studies in photographing last time in France. He was and will always be a talented photographer. All my condolence for his family and friends.
My heart goes out to Salman’s family. My condolences.
The car only left behind some shattered glass and a car sticker that said Kelab Tentera Udara, with a license plate on it that was actually that of a motorcycle apparently owned by royalty.
THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE AN ACCIDENT MORE LIKE A PLANNED ACCIDENT!
I did not have the pleasure of knowing Md. Salman Nasaruddin, however he was a true patriot, a gentleman that each and every Malaysian and seekers of the truth everywhere should be deeply proud of.
His killer should be quickly apprehended and swiftly brought to justice.
Deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and friends.
May he rest in peace.
nat just mailed my email address to your tikus friend … contact me
al fatihah.
he will be missed dearly. i’d like to remember salman by as the guy who jokingly told me to that nat was overworking him in getting pictures and videos done up. and during that conversation, i took the opportunity to tell him how much i admired his wide angle shots that really captured the crowd.
i was at a ceramah tonight. and i thought of salman with every click of my little camera. may his soul rest in eternal peace.
A great people like Salman whose life was unduly terminated will get the fairest judgment at his ending, it is the perpetrator either by intention or accidental would suffer the consequences. Please don’t let his good work be forgotten.
[...] Please read it HERE [...]
Dear Nat,
I am sorry to have heard of your friend’s untimely and tragic passing. Based on what you have written, Md. Salman Nasaruddin has done more in his 24 years than I have in my own life time.
On behalf of KLConfidential and myself, please do accept sincerest and deepest condolences to you, his friends, and most of all his family.
He will be in our prayers tonight.
alFatihah for arwah Salman.
his picture here and what you have written about him – says a lot of a man who has given his ALL for justice.
My condolences to his family and dear friends.
We need more……people young and old who are courageous and dedicated towards a BETTERMALAYSIA.
idham
Hi Nat,
You better take care of yourself.
I mean …. Wattahack may have some basis there.
Condolences … A person has died in the perjuangan but his effort will never be forgotten.
Regards,
http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com
hopefully anwar goes to his funeral…..pay respects to this young boy.
Al-Fatihah buat allaahyarham..
walaupun saya tidak mengenali beliau secara terus , saya amat sedih atas kehilangan seorang anak bangsa yang mempunai nilai diri dan maruah diri yg tinggi…
kepada kawan2 yg megenali beliau…marilah kita teruskan perjuangan sahabat kita yg telah gugur ini. Anggaplah ini satu perjuangan, perjuangan yg mulia…
LAWAN tetap LAWAL …. people voice
I met Salman twice and from both meetings I can see his dedication to the cause and his work.
May his soul rest in peace and my condolences to his family.
Malaysians must vote for change on 8/3.
alFatihah
PKR will do ARWAH Md. Salman Nasaruddin right by serving the people no matter how difficult BN will try to make it in the next 5 years.
Make Md. Salman Nasaruddin and us proud, PKR!
Dear writer,
I would like to say thank you for your kind words. I am Sumayyah, Salman’s elder sister and me and my family appreciate your prayers for Salman.
Salman was a very special person, and he has shown such strong character event at a young age. He has fought for what he believed in, even to his last days. He was on the way to the office to continue his works for DSAI and that’s when the accident happened. Despite his young age, and againts all odds that he has been through, he managed to continue to strive to serve the country the best way he knew how. He believed that every little helps, and with that he has shown us so much determination for the freedom of Malaysia.
So let us remember Salman for his strength and as one of the many unsung heroes in Malaysia, who fought for a better country for all of us.
Your’s sincerely,
Sumayyah
I read all the comments but none says about what action taken to the guy who hit him…. is it royalty licence plate a tabboo?
He is a wonderful guy and say good thing about him, doesnt he deserve to be concern enough to ask who actually responsible for his death?
I am sure with the license plate as proof we the commoner can have justice….. please do something and dont let anyone get away with murder…. as hit and run is considered murder… you all say he is a good wonderful guy but you are all not concern who kill him… and you say about all this political justice and all but not law justice?…. so sad all talk but when comes to action you all dont do anything for this guy.
[...] with Adi, who reminds us that more than any attack or setback, it is losses such as these and Salman’s who really make recent progress seem hollow. May we ever only honour their memory in our [...]
Can someone ps. open a pre-meditated murder case for this poor chap? What’s the difference between a Mongolian girl being blown-up, and someone hit by a runaway car? Both are murders! Why is it that murderers are getting away scot free in this country??? Why was there even no publicity for this case, until RPK raised this in his website??? Please, is there no justice in this country anymore???? I am so angry, that a dedicated, passionate youth has been taken away from us, and worse still, no news about it, and his death goes away quietly just like this. No one cares, just because he’s a nobody. That about sums up Malaysia and Malaysians today. I’ve really give up hope for all of us already.
[...] Reading of Syukree’s passing, I couldn’t help but think of Salman. [...]
[...] it reminded me of Salman, whose demise last March from an accident prompted my comment that I reproduced [...]