Tunku’s invaluable legacy
> It’s only fitting to salute our Bapa Kemerdekaan on his birthday tomorrow as he was so instrumental in our nation’s birth
BORAK-BORAK
IF MALAYSIA’S first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj were still around, he would have turned 115 years old tomorrow. Bapa Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence), as he was often called, was indeed a gentleman. He led the country as its first chief minister in 1955, and later as its first prime minister from 1957 until 1970.
Much has been written about the Tunku, but I feel that there is still some information to be shared about this great man.
For a start, did you know that there is a memorial-turned-museum specially dedicated to the Tunku in Jalan Dato’ Onn, Kuala Lumpur, just a stone’s throw from Bank Negara Malaysia?
Did you know that you can see many original documents and artifacts associated with the Tunku in that building?
It’s a shame that nothing much has been done to publicise this treasure trove of our nation’s history. National history buffs can spend hours there. And, admission to this ‘historical wonderland’ is free!
The first thing that greets one at the entrance is an American-made limousine. Looking almost like something from the old 1960s puppet TV series, The Thunderbirds, the grand-looking, black 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood was once used by the Tunku.
Some employees there even call it the Batmobile, because of its protruding rear wing-tips.
Inside the sprawling complex are countless memorabilia related to the founding of Malaysia. There’s also an entire wooden building that houses the Tunku’s former office, including his desk, chair and fixed line telephones. Amazing.
There’s also a large round table with chairs used by Cabinet members at the start of independence.
As I gazed at the still sturdy furniture, I couldn’t help but wonder how nice if these antiques could talk, and repeat what was said by the Tunku and his colleagues then.
Other items on display include the Tunku’s tennis racquets, football boots, golf clubs, walking sticks, and cameras, as well as exquisite gifts presented to the Tunku when he was prime minister.
I especially liked pictures of personalities and places, vintage general election posters, and banners promoting the national language, with words spelt the oldfashioned way.
I had actually stumbled upon the memorial by chance.
Last November, I was invited to attend a forum on the Tunku by Tan Sri Yussof Latiff, the chairman of the Penang State Consultative Goodwill Council, and an ardent admirer of the prince from Kedah once described as the ‘happiest prime minister in the world’.
The fact that Yussof has managed to keep the council active speaks volumes of his cherished principle of unity, goodwill and kindliness among the country’s many races.
Yussof has even proposed that Feb 8 be declared Unity Day to better promote greater cohesion among Malaysians.
One speaker who spoke eloquently of the Tunku’s role in getting the Federal Constitution to adequately encompass all races in the country was Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, who is the holder of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Chair at Universiti Malaya as Professor of Constitutional Law.
Shad had examined the extent to which the Federal Constitution supplied the legal foundation for moderation, tolerance, harmony and national unity, and held that one of the Tunku’s proud legacies was that even ‘ethnic clauses’ reflected a remarkable spirit of compromise, compassion and moderation.
The well-known academician said although the actual drafting of the Constitution was undertaken by the Reid Commission, the framework assumptions of our ‘document of destiny’ were supplied by the ruling party under the leadership of the Tunku.
Therefore, he was the prime architect of our constitutional architecture. Terima kasih, Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku!
Jeff Yong, after making his mark in the twisty maze of mainstream journalism, has finally decided to enjoy what he does best – observing the unusual and recounting the gleeful. He can be contacted at lifestyle. borak@gmail.com.