Anwar: Tun M Failed to Patch Relationship with Tunku

KAJANG, 11 Feb: The relationship between the Father of Independence, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, with the former fourth Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, failed to be restored despite various efforts carried out by Tun Dr Mahathir when he was Prime Minister.

The PKR de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when recalling the incident, said that among the efforts carried out was to have a grand banquet to celebrate the first Prime Minister.

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“In the era of Tun Dr Mahathir, he tried (to patch the relationship) by holding a massive banquet to celebrate him in Kuala Lumpur, with Sharifah Aini singing ‘Kuda Ku Gagah Berani’ (My Horse is Strong and Brave) which was specially dedicated to Tunku Abdul Rahman as he was a fan of horse racing, but it was not the least bit successful in improving relations between the two.

“When I was the Umno Youth Chief, we led delegations many times to meet Tunku Abdul Rakhan and tried to provide explanation to relief his relationship with Tun Dr Mahathir, but it was in vain because Tunku still thought that the ways and thinking of Tun Dr Mahathir was far of track from what he considered to be Umno’s fight and a country based on the constitution,” Anwar said.

Anwar said this in his speech at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Legacy Forum which was held at the New Era University College Auditorium last night, to mark the 111th birthday of Tunku on 8 February.

Apart from that, the feud between Tunku and Tun Mahathir was also said to have started since Tun Mahathir initiated attacks against Tunku by penned an open letter to Tunku when he was still the Prime Minister.

When Anwar recollected his relationship with Tunku, he said that Tunku once jokingly said that he thought of him as a ‘great fighter’ but did not imagine that he would join Umno.

When Anwar concluded his speech, the said that the Legacy of Tunku Abdul Rahman is no 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.


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