Published on: Sunday, August 05, 2007 |
Kuala Lumpur: Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah's glowing tribute to the late Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman is yet another stirring call from the prince for a more united and tolerant Malaysian society.
Raja Nazrin's profound respect and veneration for the man was most evident when he was overcome by emotion at the launch of the Malay version of a book on the country's second Deputy Prime Minister.
He had to take occasional pauses during the speech when talking of Tun Dr Ismail, a leader often referred to as a "reluctant politician".
Raja Nazrin said Tun Dr Ismail had already espoused the virtues of "leadership by example" even before the phrase was coined and that he preached and practised integrity even before the country's National Integrity Institute was set up.
Raja Nazrin, in his usual dignified manner, was in great awe of a man whose life was abruptly cut short by a heart attack at the prime age of 57 in 1973 when the nation was gradually being nursed back towards stability after the May 13, 1969 racial riots.
His rare bout of emotions in public for Tun Dr Ismail could also be translated as a cry for greater tolerance and unity among Malaysia's multi-racial society.
Raja Nazrin said: "As I read about Tun Dr Ismail, I realise more and more what an extraordinary person he was; a statesman, an inspirational leader and a visionary. Tun Dr Ismail envisaged a Malaysia for all without colour lines, without ethnic borders and without any one group feeling a sense of inferiority.
"He recognised the importance of open-mindedness in addressing day-to-day issues and problems; the importance of listening and learning from other."
It was a poignant statement from the prince who took the occasion to remind Malaysians that there was a need to strive towards this ideal.
The reminder was just all the more timely now that Malaysia is celebrating its 50th year of independence. It was also fitting that it came at a time when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently called on Malaysians to forge towards a "Bangsa Malaysia", an all inclusive identity for Malaysians, now that the nation had undergone 50 years of evolution.
Raja Nazrin also spoke of the need for Malaysians to not only safeguard what had been achieved by the country - peace, prosperity and success - but to strive to greater heights.
He stressed that the legacy of such successes would not sustain if the country was not administered efficiently, effectively, prudently, justly and equitably as the present generation of Malaysians were reaping from the seeds sown by past leaders like Tun Dr Ismail at a time when the country had only one university, compared to 20 public universities now.
Although the country had limited intellectual resources at that time, he said Malaysia succeeded because it possessed leaders who were full of integrity in their struggles, their steadfastness to principles and allegiance to their communities and country.
It was not too long ago when they were with us: Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Tun V.T. Sambanthan, Tun Temenggong Jugah and Tun Fuad Stephens.
"Although most of these leaders came from middle or upper class or even aristocratic families, they understood the problems of the poor and downtrodden and took the trouble to fight for their cause to enable Malaysia to emerge as a politically and economically stable country.
As he puts it, the first wave of the nation's leaders showed a high level of unquestionable integrity and loyalty to their principles and country.
"These leaders were the elite of their communities at that time, and most of them were from the aristocratic and upper middle class families but they always had the touch of the common people, feeling the sufferings and poverty of the farmers and labourers."
Raja Nazrin said these leaders fought for the people's cause and in the process made Malaysia a politically and economically stable country.
"It was this spirit that formed the main component that enabled the nation to become politically and economically stable," he said.
Raja Nazrin made yet another powerful call that the loyalty of the people towards their leaders should not be betrayed by the leaders' misconduct through greed for themselves and their families.
Although 50 years had passed, Raja Nazrin said the poor and the downtrodden still needed assistance and those holding positions of power should not distance themselves from them.
The prince spoke in a decorous manner. But his message was loud and clear: Malaysians must not lose sight of the need for greater tolerance and understanding. The aristocrat in him did not distance him from understanding the needs of the common man.
As Malaysia celebrates its 50th year of independence this year, it still needs more coherent voices like Raja Nazrin's to extol the virtues of a landscape without colour lines or ethnic borders.- Bernama
