Media icon, Said Zahari, died at 12.30pm today. He was 88.

The sad news was revealed by his son, Norman Said, in a posting on his Facebook page.

“Innalillah. My father Said Zahari passed away at 12.30 in the afternoon," Norman said.

His eldest son, Roesman Mohd Said, told The Star Online that Said died in his sleep.

Said was a respected figure in the journalism world for his series of writings protesting against the British's rule in Tanah Melayu.

He was also previously detained under the Internal Security Act at the Changi Prison in Singapore for 17 years, during Lee Kuan Yew's tenure as prime minister.

The Singapore-born Said was also once the editor of Utusan Melayu, and led a journalists' strike against the takeover of the paper by political parties, particularly UMNO.

His writings usually focused on the people's struggles and the importance of upholding history.

He had also served as the chairman of Singapore People's Party.

Among his favourite writers were Ahmad Boestamam and Ishak Haji Muhammad, better known as Pak Sako.