Tunku - towering warrior for democracy and human rights
Although the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi started his premiership with the pledge to hear the people’s voices, Malaysians are again witnesses to the gross abuses of media monopoly, particularly the radio and television channels, where only “One Voice” is allowed with no room whatsoever for the people’s different or alternative opinions and views.
What I said two days ago, for instance, about the DAP’s honouring of Tunku Abdul Rahman as Bapa Merdeka and Bapa Malaysia as far back as 20 years ago during the 28th National Day Celebrations in Malacca on August 30, 1985 was completely blacked out in the “official” mainstream media, both printed and electronic.
Tunku is not only Bapa Merdeka and Bapa Malaysia, he was also a towering warrior for democracy and human rights in the fourth phase of his public life from 1970 to 1990.
On 2nd November 1985, Tunku officiated the opening ceremony of the two-day DAP Human Rights Convention at Merlin Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Among the speakers were Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, G. Sri Ram, Tommy Thomas, Karpal Singh, Sulaiman Abdullah, Dr. Tan Seng Giaw, Abdul Razak Ahmad, Dr. Paul Tan, Sim Kwang Yang and Bob Teoh.
Malaysians will never forget that during the dark days of Operation Lalang in 1987, when fear stalked the land after the mass arrest of 106 opposition leaders, government critics and social activists, Tunku was a tower of strength in his denunciation of the crackdown and the attempt to create a police state where people could be arrested at will without giving any reason so long as the government thought they were a security risk.
Tunku condemned the use of the Internal Security Act under the Operation Lalang, declaring that the ISA when introduced in 1960 was designed and meant to be used solely against the communists and that he and his Cabinet had given a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the ISA would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silence lawful dissent.
During the first crisis of the judiciary in 1988, which saw the sacking of Tun Salleh Abas as Lord President and two supreme court judges, Tunku described this as taking the country towards full dictatorship. As the Tunku said at the time: “To be a complete dictatorship, you’ve got to take control of everything. There’s only one thing blocking his (Dr. Mahathir) way, the independent judiciary. Now he wants to compromise that independence.”
Despite his advanced years and not too good health, Tunku plunged into the mission to save democracy and human rights in Malaysia in his final years with a zeal, tenacity and commitment which put to shame many much younger and healthier.
The Tunku was so concerned about democracy and human rights that he was utterly heedless of his own comfort and health, as well as his own safety and liberty. He was prepared to be detained under the ISA although he did not believe Dr. Mahathir would dare to use the ISA against him.
He was solicitous about the welfare and position of others. In April 1990, he wrote to me urging that I should slow down my political activities until after dissolution of Parliament and Nomination Day in the impending general elections so as not to give Dr. Mahathir the excuse to take pre-emptive action to consolidate his power position by again using the ISA against me. I had been released from my second ISA detention under Operation Lalang in the previous year. Guan Eng and I were among the first to be detained under the Operation Lalang dragnet but the last two to be released!
In honouring Tunku, let us honour Tunku as Bapa Merdeka, Bapa Malaysia and a towering warrior for democracy and human rights which was the hallmark of the final phase of his remarkable and memorable public life.
What I said two days ago, for instance, about the DAP’s honouring of Tunku Abdul Rahman as Bapa Merdeka and Bapa Malaysia as far back as 20 years ago during the 28th National Day Celebrations in Malacca on August 30, 1985 was completely blacked out in the “official” mainstream media, both printed and electronic.
Tunku is not only Bapa Merdeka and Bapa Malaysia, he was also a towering warrior for democracy and human rights in the fourth phase of his public life from 1970 to 1990.
On 2nd November 1985, Tunku officiated the opening ceremony of the two-day DAP Human Rights Convention at Merlin Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Among the speakers were Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, G. Sri Ram, Tommy Thomas, Karpal Singh, Sulaiman Abdullah, Dr. Tan Seng Giaw, Abdul Razak Ahmad, Dr. Paul Tan, Sim Kwang Yang and Bob Teoh.
Malaysians will never forget that during the dark days of Operation Lalang in 1987, when fear stalked the land after the mass arrest of 106 opposition leaders, government critics and social activists, Tunku was a tower of strength in his denunciation of the crackdown and the attempt to create a police state where people could be arrested at will without giving any reason so long as the government thought they were a security risk.
Tunku condemned the use of the Internal Security Act under the Operation Lalang, declaring that the ISA when introduced in 1960 was designed and meant to be used solely against the communists and that he and his Cabinet had given a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the ISA would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silence lawful dissent.
During the first crisis of the judiciary in 1988, which saw the sacking of Tun Salleh Abas as Lord President and two supreme court judges, Tunku described this as taking the country towards full dictatorship. As the Tunku said at the time: “To be a complete dictatorship, you’ve got to take control of everything. There’s only one thing blocking his (Dr. Mahathir) way, the independent judiciary. Now he wants to compromise that independence.”
Despite his advanced years and not too good health, Tunku plunged into the mission to save democracy and human rights in Malaysia in his final years with a zeal, tenacity and commitment which put to shame many much younger and healthier.
The Tunku was so concerned about democracy and human rights that he was utterly heedless of his own comfort and health, as well as his own safety and liberty. He was prepared to be detained under the ISA although he did not believe Dr. Mahathir would dare to use the ISA against him.
He was solicitous about the welfare and position of others. In April 1990, he wrote to me urging that I should slow down my political activities until after dissolution of Parliament and Nomination Day in the impending general elections so as not to give Dr. Mahathir the excuse to take pre-emptive action to consolidate his power position by again using the ISA against me. I had been released from my second ISA detention under Operation Lalang in the previous year. Guan Eng and I were among the first to be detained under the Operation Lalang dragnet but the last two to be released!
In honouring Tunku, let us honour Tunku as Bapa Merdeka, Bapa Malaysia and a towering warrior for democracy and human rights which was the hallmark of the final phase of his remarkable and memorable public life.
<< Home