KAJANG, 11 Feb:The First Prime Minister of Malaysia, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, was a real leader, a gentleman and successfully developed Malaysia appropriately to a higher level post-independence.
The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that Tunku was also respected by many world leaders such as the King of Saudi Arabia at the time and also the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kwan Yew.
Abdul Khalid said that this can be seen when Tunku visited Saudi Arabia when he was the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
“Tunku also built the Islamic community. He visited Saudi Arabia and asked to the King of Saudi Arabia to build an Islamic community and the Kind of Saudi Arabia said, I will help you, and we know that he is a person who had initiative in the development of Muslims,” said Abdul Khalid.
He said this at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Legacy Forum which was held at the New Era University College Auditorium last night.
“There was a story he wrote in The Star. His story was about after he graduated from Cambridge and returned to Kedah to be the District Officer.
“The Tunku recounted that while he was working in Kulim, he met an Indian astrologer who told him he would be Malaya’s first Prime Minister. “Everybody laughed,” reported the Tunku in his column, “including myself.” said Abdul Khalid.
Abdul Khalid added that Tunku was also responsible for making the national football team a team to be feared among Asian countries at the time.
“Remember the Merdeka Cup? He founded it and he also had a role in building the Merdeka Stadium. The Malaysia Team at the time could beat Korea, it could beat Japan, but where are we now?” said Abdul Khalid.
Anwar, in his closing speech, said that Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Legacy is more than ensuring the safety of national unity in Malaysia is guaranteed based on the constitution.
Apart from Anwar, also delivering speeches at the forum, which was attended by about 200 people, was the Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim; DAP Advisor, Lim Kit Siang; PAS Election Machinery Director for the Kajang by-election, Dr Hatta Ramli, and the former Co-Chairman of Bersih 2.0, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.
