Has Tunku’s spirit and legacy died with him?

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial in Jalan Dato’ Onn, Kuala Lumpur, was set up in honour of Malaysia’s first prime minister. Tunku would have been disappointed that his legacy of a united Malaysia is being dismantled by some self-serving Malaysians. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, December 6, 2014.

The 24th death anniversary of Malaysia's founding prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj today is timely to take stock whether his spirit and legacy endures in the national leadership.

The Tunku, as he was fondly known, once said of multiracial Malaysia: "In such a country, what would one expect of a leader? One and all would say, the leader must be one who can mould a nation out of these characteristics into a united whole, for out of our diversities a
united Malaysian people can emerge."

A prince of the Kedah royal household who died at 87, Tunku envisaged a Malaya, and later a Malaysia, of multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities living in peace and harmony, striving together for the Southeast Asian nation.

He knew the fragility of a pluralistic society and he knew the kind of leadership it needed.

He knew that diversity was Malaysia's strength, and sought to celebrate it.

"We are all Malaysians. This is the bond that unites us. Let us always remember that unity is our fundamental strength as a people and as a nation," was another of his famous quotes.

But from the Umno general assembly last week, it is clear that the statesmanship Tunku had in leading Malaya to independence and in the formation of Malaysia with three other sovereign states was missing from the country's current crop of top leaders, who have only parochial views centred on themselves and their hold on power.

Where Tunku wanted unity and mutual respect among Malaysians of different ethnic groups, Umno leaders today perpetuate the fear that Malays, Islam and the royals are under siege although the Federal Constitution protects these things, relying on the Sedition Act as its security blanket.

Where Tunku saw himself as a leader for all Malaysians regardless of race or creed, Umno delegates' speech at the assembly showed a party fixated on itself, striving for greater conservatism in its bid to regain its diminishing share of the popular vote.

Even former Umno president and prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took his own party to task for failing to discuss issues that affected the country, such as the scandal-ridden sovereign fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

Described as a prime minister for all Malaysians, Tunku made Islam the official religion of the federation in 1960, but also firmly ensured that those professing other religions had the freedom to worship as and how they pleased.

"Everyone must respect these promises and the agreement arrived at. No one must assume that they were greater or could ignore these promises. If the promises are kept, I am sure Malaysia will continue to be a peaceful land.

"Let us never allow disunity to divide or disrupt us, for if we do, we fail. Let us always remember that with each passing year, we must ensure that the bonds of unity and goodwill, of tolerance and harmony, grow stronger and stronger," he had said.

In contrast, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak appears to have little political will to quash extremist voices spewing racial and religious remarks that further divide Malaysians.

Najib chose to retain the Sedition Act, reneging on his promise to repeal it, saying it will protect all Malaysians but the government's use of the law against lawyers, opposition politicians and academics has proven otherwise.

And in defending Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali from being charged with sedition after calling for Bahasa Malaysia Bibles with the word "Allah" to be burnt, Putrajaya has proven critics right in saying that the law was used selectively.

Tunku, who was prime minister from Malaya's independence in 1957 through Malaysia's formation in 1963 and until 970, had warned that a divided country could only spell trouble.

“The last thing people in this country want to see is a Malaysia divided into political extremes, for a nation divided against itself can only invite trouble."

The country's well-respected and beloved statesman would have never imagined that those responsible for the Malaysia today would be his successors.

At a forum in February this year to commemorate Tunku's 111th birthday, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said previously that all Tunku had dreamt for this country was peace, love and harmony, but in the last year, it was evident that Malaysia had lost that vision.

"Never before has Malaysia been so divided and polarised. Tunku would want to see a united country. Is Malaysia more united or divided now? Has the issue of race and religion become more polarising?" Lim had asked.

"He would (have been) disappointed at attempts to divide us. He hated racism, as shown by his vocal views against apartheid," said former Bersih co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan at the same forum in February.

"At that time, the spirit of nationalism was reigning high but what inspired people to work for the country was Tunku – he made everyone feel they belonged and that was crucial to build and develop the country," she had said.

- TMI