Malaysian poet, literary activist, performance artist and actor Mohd Supyan Abdul Rahman, or better known as Pyanhabib, died in Kuala Lumpur earlier this evening (June 4). He was 66.
The news was confirmed by his wife Zurina Zakariya in an update on his Facebook page. The cause of the death is not known.
In a free-spirited career that spanned more than 50 years, the Taiping, Perak-born, Kuala Lumpur-based Pyanhabib established himself as one of the most beloved wordsmiths in the country, with his poetry – in Bahasa Malaysia – inspiring generations of readers and writers.
Pyanhabib, who suffered hearing loss when he was a teenager (because of a high fever), was known for his warm personality, sense of individuality and spoken word charm, capable of taking over a whole room or open field without even trying.
He started off his poetry career – and dabbled in theatre and literary work – through his association with the legendary Anak Alam arts collective in Kuala Lumpur in the mid-1970s. His early poetry collections include Suara and Saraf Dukaku.
Through the years, he created an array of poetic works, brimming with soul, rebellion and empathy, that always reflected the strength of human effort and determination. His "outsider" poetry, which he viewed as a form of "street drama" and performed under street lights ("tiang lampu") in Kuala Lumpur, also included observations on love, loneliness, social issues and politics.
In the 1980s, Pyanhabib also made a memorable run in the film world, with movies such as Kembara Seniman Jalanan (1986), Tsu Feh Sofiah (1986), Rozana Cinta 87 (1987), Tak Kisahlah Beb (1989) and Mat Som (1990).
As well as being a fixture in Kuala Lumpur's poetry scene and arts events, Pyanhabib put his creativity into other things in recent years, including music (video) collaborations, a video essay and even fashion (a limited edition sneaker series paying tribute to his Osman Tikus character in the Kembara Seniman Jalanan movie).
In July 2022, he was awarded the Anugerah Tokoh Puisi Kuala Lumpur 2022 (a poetry award) by local literary associations Gabungan Persatuan Persatuan Penulis Nasional Malaysia (GAPENA) and Persatuan Penulis Nasional Malaysia (PENA).
On social media, there has been a flood of tributes to Pyanhabib, including a condolence message from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This is a developing story.
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