Tunku Abdul Rahman is widely celebrated as the architect of Malaya's independence and the founding father of Malaysia. Now, a group of authors are attempting to ensure that his thoughts, too, transcends through time.
The group are among 23 authors who wrote essays and stories in response to selected quotes by the Tunku, compiled in the new book titled "Dialog - Thoughts on the Tunku's Timeless Thinking".
"The Tunku's wisdom is not dead history, we want to keep his values alive," said Shahrifah Menyalara Hussein, who is the Tunku's granddaughter.
Shahrifah's chapter told a lesser known story of Tunku's early years, beginning as a district officer in Kulim, Kedah and how he had helped develop Langkawi.
"Many people don't know that his patriotism actually started way back, not only when he was prime minister.
"We hope through this book, young Malaysians will come to understand the values of our founding father," she said during the launch of the book in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Tunku values freedom
Law professor Azmi Sharom, who contributed an essay titled "Happiness", said Malaysia needs to return to values the nation was founded upon.
"Values like freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly and what democracy truly means," he elaborated.
He said that the Tunku understood the need to protect the people's individual rights and liberties, and that his essay was on how the Federal Constitution was supposed to provide Malaysians with freedoms to seek their own happiness, without harassment from the state.
"But when you have leaders who don't appreciate those values (anymore), that's when abuse can happen.
"I imagine Tunku would be quite upset with how things are (in Malaysia) now," he said.
Other contributors to the book include former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, former Asian Football Federation general secretary Peter Velappan, comedian Harith Iskander, Ideas chief operating officer Tricia Yeoh, rapper Altimet, The Rojak Projek's Faye Lim, Projek 57’s Collin Swee, Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Albar and PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The book is priced at RM110 and is currently available at Kinokuniya and Gerakbudaya bookstores. Gerakbudaya members are entitled to a 25 percent discount.
The book is published by the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) in collaboration with Gerakbudaya.- Mkini
Hi Syed Sadiq Albar is from Projek57, co-founder with Collin Swee and not Bersatu Youth chief.
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