PETALING JAYA: Former sub-editor of The Star Peter Kandiah has passed away. He was 74.
His daughter, Alisa Kaira Kandiah confirmed his passing yesterday at Hospital Cyberjaya due to old age.
Alisa, 37, said her father had always been passionate about labour rights issues and worked until last year to help out cases.
“My fondest memory was perhaps his passion for local rights and human rights as well as his journalistic background.
“Even after retirement, he was still actively involved in labour and industrial work. Up to earlier this year, he travelled to Labuan to assist in a case,” she said.
Peter was known for his activism in industrial labour rights issues since the 1980s.
He was the National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJ) deputy general secretary from 1986 to 1988.
Peter also served as the publication’s NUJ branch chairman from 1984 to 1986.
On Oct 20, 1987, Peter also wrote a statement as the NUJ acting general secretary, criticising the government’s move to revoke the publishing licences of four newspapers, namely The Star, The Sunday Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Watan during the Ops Lalang incident.
After Peter was forced to leave The Star due to the closure of the publication in 1987, he began to be more involved in activism work, largely focusing on trade and union issues.
He joined Malaysian Trades Union Congress as an advocate until early 2010s. He also served as an industrial union legal adviser and a former industrial relations director.
Peter is survived by his wife, Hoh Wai Cheng, 74, and daughter, Alisa.
The wake will be held at Hall 7, Gui Yuan Funeral Crematorium Petaling Jaya from 4pm today until tomorrow.
