Kuwait loses veteran liberal politician

Dubai: Kuwait has lost one of its intellectual pillars and veteran liberal politician with the death of Ahmad Al Rubei.

His death was announced through the official Kuwait News Agency, late on Wednesday, while reports said he battled brain cancer for two years before losing his fight against the disease.

His 59 years of life was rich in events and writings. He was not an ordinary politician or a writer. He was an incisive and prolific writer. Many of his articles were published in Kuwaiti and pan-Arab newspapers, including Al Sharq Al Awsat.

Sharq Al Awsat described Al Rubei, in their obituary as a “master writer.. the mischievous politician, and the spiritual patron of a whole young generation.''

The obituary added that Al Rubei “maintained his optimism and stood among them to challenge and instruct a generation that was burdened with defeat, religious extremism and terrorism.''

Al Rubei, who graduated from Harvard University, taught philosophy at Kuwait University. He was also a veteran, liberal and widely-respected politician inside Kuwait and abroad.

In the mid-eighties, he was elected to parliament for the first time as one of the leading opposition figures. in 1992, he won the second term. Between 1992 and 1996, Rubei was appointed education minister. After winning a second term in parliament in 1992, Rubei was appointed education minister until 1996.

He served his third and final term in parliament between 1999 and 2003. During his election campaign that year, he used the slogan “be optimistic, Kuwait is still pretty'', reports noted, referring to his ongoing optimism thoughts.

He was known for his openness, articulation, precise timing, courageous stands, and moreover, down-to-earth approach to others, and his love of poetry.

Two years ago, he read some of his “sad'' writings to a journalist who was interviewing him and told a few jokes before starting to talk about his children in a proud tone. Only then, did he get down to discussing politics.

Rubei, whose personality was a unique mix, is survived by his wife and four children, three sons and one daughter.