Photo: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The Father of Independence, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation, was a man who did not see races and always knew there was always someone better than him, says Tunku’s granddaughter Datin Seri Sharifah Menyalara Hussein.
She said this at a memorial held at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial here in conjunction with the 122nd birth anniversary of Malaysia’s first Prime Minister on Monday (Feb 17), graced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Recalling the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Sharifah Menyalara said that to her, her grandfather, whom she fondly called Tok Tam, was a man who breathed “unity”.
“For Tunku, that second line of ‘Negaraku’, was not a mere lyric. ‘Tanah tumpahnya darahku’ was his reason for being, his inspiration, his cause and his very life.
“Tunku was a steadfast champion of unity. He didn’t just talk about unity, he lived it. It wasn’t just part of his work as Prime Minister; it was woven into the way he lived every single day.
“For instance, the Residency we’re in today wasn’t just Tunku’s home—it was a home for everyone welcoming leaders from all over the world and people from all walks of life.
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“What truly brought Tunku joy wasn’t the grandeur of leadership, but the simple sound of children laughing and playing. These children weren’t just his grandchildren, but the children of his staff from all backgrounds. One visitor, seeing the diversity of children playing in the compound, asked, “Who are all these children? Why are they always here?”
“With his usual warmth and humour, Tunku simply smiled and replied, ‘They are all my cucu.’ To him, race and religion were never barriers; they were opportunities for understanding,” said Sharifah Menyalara.
She also talked of how her Tok Tam reminded her that one should always remember that “there is always someone better than you”.
“He was specially invited to a play at a theatre in London. As he arrived, he was absolutely thrilled - spotlights were flashing, photographers were snapping away, and for a brief, glorious moment, he thought, wow, they really know how to treat the Prime Minister of Malaysia. But just as he was basking in the moment, reality hit. The excitement, the flashing cameras, the eager paparazzi? Yeah... they weren’t for him. Behind him, stepping out in all her dazzling glory, was none other than the stunning British superstar, Elizabeth Taylor.
“With Tunku’s signature laugh, he concluded: ‘Never ever think you’re the best- because trust me, there’s always someone better!’” said Sharifah Menyalara, who is also on the Board of Trustees for Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR).
YTAR provides scholarships and development programmes to empower high-potential, deserving youth to build a better future for themselves and the nation.
At the same event, National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said that the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial was established to honour the contributions and services of the leader, as a distinguished statesman and Father of Independence.
“The Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation (YTAR) was established in 1966 as a statutory body to provide financial assistance to students who wish to pursue higher education. Since its establishment, YTAR has helped 9,500 students.
“Now, YTAR, under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Unity, will continue to focus on providing educational assistance through the Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarships, as well as implementing programs such as Closing The Gap and Future Ready, which will improve the employability of B40 graduates,” said Aro Dagang.
