Remembering Tunku Abdul Rahman

KUALA LUMPUR: Several wellknown veteran figures recalled nostalgic moments with the country’s ‘Father of Independence’ and its first prime minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, and his endearing traits in conjunction with Tunku’s 114th birthday yesterday.

Penang Malay Association ( Pemenang) president, Tan Sri Yussof Latiff, who knew Tunku since he took over the Umno leadership from Datuk Onn Jaafar in 1951, said Tunku’s integrity was his most distinct personal trait.

“Tunku’s integrity had no compromise, could not be doubted or questioned. Tunku was honest and sincere. When he took over the Umno leadership, the party had no money, so Tunku sold his house in Penang to fund the running of Umno,” he told Bernama.

Besides that, Yussof who is now 86, said Tunku was like a father from whom people could seek ‘shelter’ under his leadership, and this regard for Tunku was not just among the Malays but nonMalays as well.

He said Tunku’s family and the staff at his residence were multiracial and multireligious.

“That was typically Tunku. His cook was a Malay, his driver an Indian and his domestic helper who washed the clothes and dishes was a Chinese.

“Tunku also adopted children, especially of Chinese descent, into the family. He raised five of them from small until they became adults and got married,” added Yussof.

He also regarded Tunku, who died in 1990 at age 87, as a gift from God to this country to lead the Malays and Umno, then obtained independence for the country and was a leader for all the races.

In remembrance of Tunku’s birthday, Yussof said he had organised a gathering of the Penang state muhibah consultative council comprising 16 ethnic bodies since 2003, while Feb 8 was made Unity Day for Penang. — Bernama