The forgotten legacy

FEB 9 — It is unfortunate that in the last years of his life, all that Tunku Abdul Rahman stood for lived only in textbooks, history journals and other literature. And, of course, that statue outside Parliament House.

His contributions to the country were only remembered during official functions, and in the speeches of statesmen and politicians. Most Malaysians will know of Tunku as The Father of Independence for Malaya and later one of the architects of the formation of Malaysia together with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

They remember him when they study history and to pass exams, and from time to time, in National Day features published in the media, they glimpse at a life long gone, of a Malaya which had dancing girls, shots of whisky and gentleman politics. They see leaders who had one mission: to make this country realise its great potential.

If Tunku was alive today, one can only imagine his bewilderment, anger and disgust at seeing how it has turned out: a country with warring political parties, with only one agenda – to rule Malaysia at all costs. A divided country on on the lines of race and faith. The polarisation of minds, where debate is clamped down hard and fast.

Let us be honest: one hears of a people emigrating to other pastures because of a war, famine in their country. In Malaysia, its people leave because of an economic policy which has not benefited them, and the second-class citizenship and treatment the policy has awarded them. Even the Malays — the princes of the soil — talk about leaving, for a better future for their children. What about religion? Islam is everywhere, they say, so they look for opportunities in Europe, the Americas and Middle East.

One thing is clear: the late Tunku was a proponent of Malay unity, but it was in conjunction with Malayan and Malaysian unity.  In a speech by Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin Muhriz at the launch of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs today, he said “…Today, so many who champion “Malay unity” do so in opposition to perceived threats, for the purpose of intimidating others or for Machiavellian politics.  I fear that this important distinction has been lost as the term has bandied about by those with divisive agenda.”

Would a personality known and whispered about in hallowed circles for rather … un-Islamic practices understand the division among the Malays over faith, these days? The Malay unity he propagated then is no longer relevant in this day and age.

Perhaps, he would have put this all down to politics and personal agendas. Perhaps.

Our politicians would do well by abiding to the way Tunku led his life and pursued his ministerial career. It was never about Tunku and his colleagues. It was always about the rakyat and the country. The decisions that they made may not have been popular, but they were made collectively and democratically. In the more enlightened and modern, progressive Malaysia, it is all about the personality. And the lucrative lifestyles politics afford them. The rakyat is relegated to the backburner. This is a country for the moneyed and powerful. Not for the less and lesser.

Of course some politicians and the late Tunku’s detractors would find all that Tunku and his friend stood for laughable. Times have changed. What would a brandy-swirling-joget-dancing-football-loving photographer of a prime minister know of the harsh times we live in now? Tunku, if you can hear us, wake up and smell the coffee, they would say.

It is high time, but also a lofty proposition, to designate a day dedicated in his memory. Many ambitious projects in the name of someone illustrious have been mooted and languished. A lot of money are channelled into such initiatives. Save for the Perdana Leadership Foundation, and one or two more, have any become successful? Yes, there is that TAR College, started by MCA that became Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, (Utar). Of course, there is always Putrajaya.

Tunku in his later years saw that we were heading towards a great decline. He opposed it and supported Semangat 46 or Spirit of 46 to bring back Umno to its original aims. He believed in the power of the people, and had worked with an entire class of individuals schooled in the culture and practice of parliamentary democracy. This is a great lesson for all of us to remember and instil in ourselves and children. If Tunku was alive today, he would be working with the rakyat, and the rakyat would be supporting him in the governance and policing Malaysia. He would have helped us steer the country to greatness.

But he is not with us, at least for the past 20 years. So it is up to us now to do it.