KUALA LUMPUR – Today is the 118th birthday of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, and not many people know the personality of our beloved Bapa Kemerdekaan.
Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman board of trustees member Prof Datuk Shad Saleem Faruqi said those who knew Tunku well describe him as a person who was dedicated, humble, simple and incorruptible.
Shad Saleem said in his personal life, Tunku was not trapped by dogma, and did not allow the opinions of others to drown out his own inner voice.
“Tunku was a visionary with a noble dream of unity amid diversity for our beloved land – a dream that was ahead of its time.
“A great mediator and reconciler, Tunku brought diverse people together in 1957, when we gained independence, and again in 1963, when Malaysia was formed. Interracial peace and harmony were his legacies to the nation.”
Shad Saleem is a panellist in a webinar titled, “Tunku Abdul Rahman Enduring Legacy”, which is organised by the Constitutional Literacy Initiative, an initiative between The Malaysian Bar and University Malaya’s Faculty of Law.
The webinar also lines up two other panellists – Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights chief human rights strategist Firdaus Husni, and lawyer Kee Hui Yee.
Recalling the day before the country achieved independence, Firdaus said Tunku was happy and proud of the historic achievement.
He quoted Tunku’s words that day: “We have all work for this day, and we have won independence without any act of violence but through constitutional means, through mutual goodwill, understanding and trust.
“Let us not abuse this trust, but honour it so that others will honour us. A nation born of honour will create a path of glory.”
Firdaus said this proves that Tunku wanted to build this country based on tolerance, understanding and trust between all races in this country – a forward vision.
Kee said not many people know that the first line in the lyrics of the national anthem Negaraku was created by Tunku himself.
“Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku.”
Kee said it proves that Tunku wanted every citizen to dedicate themselves to the country, and love the nation unconditionally despite their varying backgrounds.
“Tunku once said that we are the luckiest country in the world because we have a plural society and live in harmony.” – The Vibes, February 8, 2021
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