Hu Sepang

Hu Sepang (1947-July 3, 2020) was a former Malaysian politician and political detainee. He represented the opposition Democratic Action Party, serving terms as state assemblyman and also a single term as Rasah MP.^[1]

He was also known for several highly publicised incidents during his career, which included campaigning on horseback.^[2]

Biography

Born in 1947, Hu studied political science in Perth, Australia. He joined the DAP in 1972 and became a stalwart of Negeri Sembilan DAP politics.^[2]

He was elected to the Negeri Sembilan state legislature in Sungei Ujong (1978-1982), Rahang (1982-1986) and Mambau (1986-1990). He was also voted in as Rasah MP for the 1986 to 1990 term.^[3]

Hu said that while recognising that his job was serious and involved debating important issues, he tried to do it with humour.^[4]

Among the many incidents he was known for was sitting in front of a bulldozer that was about to demolish a makeshift food stall in 1978 and wearing a Stetson hat to parliament after finding a loophole in its dress code.^[2]

He was also once ejected from the Dewan Rakyat during a debate over the OSA (Official Secrets Act) during which he brandished a National Union of Journalists leaflet at the speaker.^[4]

In 1987 when he was both Mambau assemblyman and Rasah MP, he was detained in Operation Lalang. It was a major crackdown undertaken by the Royal Malaysian Police from 27 October to 20 November 1987, ostensibly to prevent the occurrence of racial riots in Malaysia.^[2] 

The operation saw the arrest of at least 106 political activists, opposition politicians, intellectuals, students, artists, scientists and others who were detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA).^[2]

In 1990 when contesting the Bukit Pelanduk state seat, a supporter loaned him a retired racehorse to use for his campaign, and he famously fell when the horse was alarmed by the revving motorcycle engines of his supporters.^[5]

He was defeated in 1990 and was one of many well-known DAP MPs like Lee Lam Thye, Kua Kia Soong, Fan Yew Teng and Wee Choo Keong, who left the party after clashing with heavyweight Lim Kit Siang.^[5]

In his last years, Hu suffered from diabetes which resulted in the amputation of both legs in 2015.^[6]

In 2020, he suffered a heart attack at his home and died, leaving behind his wife Judy, three sons and six grandchildren.^[6]