Playwright in Malaysia

Syed Alwi Syed Hassan, 78, a playwright whose seminal plays shaped Malaysia’s theater scene after the country gained independence from Britain, was found dead Sunday at his bungalow on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. On Monday, authorities who investigated his death ruled out foul play.

Syed Alwi’s career spanned more than 50 years. He was believed to be the first known ethnic Malay to study theater at a foreign university, earning dual degrees in theater arts and journalism at the University of Minnesota in the 1950s.

After returning to Malaysia, Syed Alwi helped lead a 1967 coup against the Malayan Arts Theater Group, which was still run by expatriates 10 years after the country achieved independence from Britain. The action enabled Syed Alwi and his peers to popularize contemporary Malay-language plays steeped in local culture.

His 1974 play “Tok Perak,” which depicts the struggles of an aged medicine man who roams the country, became one of Malaysia’ most respected modern theater works. He won the National Arts Award in 2002 from the government for his contribution to the country’s culture.