Steven Sim Delivers Heartfelt Tribute to Late Headmaster Idrus Ibrahim, Elder Brother of PM Anwar

BUKIT MERTAJAM — The passing of a respected educator has drawn public reflection on the enduring influence that dedicated teachers leave on the lives of their students — including those who go on to hold the highest offices of government. In Malaysia, where the teaching profession carries deep cultural reverence, the death of a retired headmaster has prompted a senior Cabinet minister to speak openly about the formative lessons he received decades ago inside a primary school in Penang.

Reportedly, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim was among the first public figures to publicly mourn the passing of the late Idrus Ibrahim, 83 — a man remembered not only as a firm and principled school headmaster, but also as the elder brother of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Steven Sim Formally Pays Tribute to Late Headmaster Idrus Ibrahim at Cherok Tokun Residence

Seated beside the remains of his former headmaster at Idrus’ home in Cherok Tokun, Bukit Mertajam, Minister Steven Sim delivered a personal and deeply emotional tribute on September 25, 2026. The tribute drew on memories spanning more than three decades — from Sim’s primary school years under Idrus’ leadership, through to his tenure as a member of parliament and, later, as a Cabinet minister.

Sim recalled a vivid incident from approximately 35 years ago, when Idrus pulled his sideburns outside the headmaster’s office — a disciplinary act that left a lasting impression on the young student. “When you grow up, Cikgu Idrus told me, if you cannot manage small matters properly, you will end up being negligent when dealing with big and important responsibilities,” Sim stated during his tribute at the Cherok Tokun residence.

According to Sim, the guidance offered by Idrus did not end when he graduated from primary school. Idrus continued to offer counsel throughout Sim’s political career, mentoring the future minister even as he rose through the ranks of public life.

A Lifetime of Mentorship Across Decades — From Classroom Discipline to Cabinet-Level Counsel

Reportedly, the relationship between Steven Sim and the late Idrus Ibrahim extended well beyond the boundaries of formal schooling. According to Sim’s public remarks, Idrus maintained an active interest in Sim’s personal and professional development from his school days right through to his time serving as a Cabinet minister under the Anwar administration.

To students of the era, Idrus was widely perceived as strict and exacting in his standards. Sim, however, offered a reframing of that reputation. He stated that upon reflection, what appeared to students as severity was, in reality, a headmaster who held unusually high hopes for the personal growth and long-term success of every pupil in his care.

The tribute concluded with a formal classroom salutation — a deliberate and emotionally resonant choice. “Class, stand up. Thank you, Cikgu,” Sim said, addressing the late educator as though calling a lesson to order one final time. “You will always remain in our hearts, our Headmaster, sir.”

The gesture underscored the depth of respect that Idrus commanded among those he taught — a respect that, for at least one of his former students, translated into a guiding philosophy for decades of public service.

Tribute Arrives as Cherok Tokun Community Mourns the Loss of a Long-Serving Local Figure

Idrus Ibrahim, 83, died peacefully at his home in Cherok Tokun, in the Bukit Mertajam area of Penang. His passing marked the end of a long life spent in service to education and to the close-knit community in which he was raised and continued to reside.

According to accounts from those present, the Cherok Tokun community gathered in significant numbers to pay their respects, reflecting the esteem in which Idrus was held locally — independent of his family connection to the nation’s prime minister.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself arrived at his late brother’s residence at 11.05am on September 24, 2026, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. The prime minister was greeted by hundreds of people upon arrival as he paid his final respects to Idrus. Anwar subsequently expressed public gratitude to the Cherok Tokun community for their assistance with the funeral arrangements, and Idrus was later laid to rest in Cherok Tokun.

Frequently Asked Questions About Idrus Ibrahim and the Tribute by Steven Sim

Who was Idrus Ibrahim? Idrus Ibrahim was a retired primary school headmaster based in Cherok Tokun, Bukit Mertajam, Penang. He was 83 years old at the time of his passing on or around September 24–25, 2026. He is also widely recognised as the elder brother of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

What was the connection between Steven Sim and the late Idrus Ibrahim? Steven Sim, currently serving as Malaysia’s Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, was a former student at the primary school where Idrus Ibrahim served as headmaster. Idrus continued to guide and mentor Sim throughout his political career, including his time as a member of parliament and as a Cabinet minister.

What did Steven Sim say in his tribute to Idrus Ibrahim? During his tribute, delivered while seated beside Idrus’ remains at the Cherok Tokun home, Steven Sim recalled a lesson from approximately 35 years ago: that an inability to manage small matters properly leads to negligence in handling important responsibilities. Sim concluded his tribute with the words, “Class, stand up. Thank you, Cikgu. You will always remain in our hearts, our Headmaster, sir.”

Where did Idrus Ibrahim live and where was he laid to rest? Idrus Ibrahim lived in Cherok Tokun, Bukit Mertajam, Penang, where he spent most of his life and remained deeply embedded in the local community. He was subsequently laid to rest in Cherok Tokun following his passing.

Did Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attend the funeral of his brother Idrus? Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at his late brother’s residence in Cherok Tokun at 11.05am on September 24, 2026, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. He was greeted by hundreds of attendees and paid his final respects before Idrus was laid to rest.

How did the community respond to Idrus Ibrahim’s passing? The Cherok Tokun community turned out in large numbers to pay their respects to Idrus Ibrahim, reflecting the high regard in which he was held locally. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim publicly thanked the Cherok Tokun community for their support and assistance in organising the funeral arrangements.

What was the key lesson Steven Sim credited to Idrus Ibrahim? According to Steven Sim’s public remarks, the most lasting lesson imparted by Idrus Ibrahim was this: if a person cannot manage small matters with discipline and care, they risk becoming negligent when entrusted with larger and more consequential responsibilities. Sim credited this teaching as a guiding principle throughout his years in public service.

A Legacy That Extended From the Classroom to the Corridors of Government

The passing of Idrus Ibrahim, 83, has prompted public reflection on the lasting impact that educators carry beyond the classroom — particularly in shaping individuals who go on to serve in national leadership roles. For Minister Steven Sim, the late headmaster of Cherok Tokun represented not only a formative figure from his school years, but a lifelong mentor whose words continued to guide his conduct in public office.

The tribute delivered by Sim on September 25, 2026, stands as a record of one educator’s enduring influence — offered not through formal ceremony, but through the quiet discipline of a man who believed that character, built through the management of small things, was the foundation of every great responsibility.