Written by Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi
Tunku Abdul Rahman Chair, Faculty of Law. Universiti Malaya
Originally published in The Star, Monday, 10 February 2025
FEB 8 was the 122nd birth anniversary of our nation's founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang paid warm tributes and reminded the nation that Tunku's vision of peace, progress and unity still remains relevant.
Tunku was the driving force behind the peaceful transition of power from British colonialism to Malayan independence. Unlike many other nations of Asia and Africa where the tree of liberty had to be watered with the blood of martyrs, Malaya gained independence peacefully due to Tunku’s wise leadership of the independence struggle.
The socio-political and economic system that Tunku and his colleagues in the Alliance forged sought to reconcile the indigenous and the imported. Unlike the UK, a written Constitution was adopted as the chart and compass and sail and anchor of our nation. The supreme Constitution provided for a constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy, guarantees for human rights, and a strong federal government but with special autonomy for Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore when they federated with Malaya to form Malaysia. Islam was given an exalted position but with freedom of religion for all others. The special position of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak was recognised. At the same time, there were many safeguards for the rights of racial, religious and linguistic minorities.
Tunku was a mediator and reconciler par excellence in bringing diverse people together in 1955, 1957 and again in 1963. He recognised our nation’s glittering diversity. On interethnic issues, he walked the middle path of moderation, accommodation and compromise. Inter-ethnic cooperation was his dream and mission and his greatest challenge. Though he was the head of an ethnic party with a clear agenda for affirmative action and social engineering, he was a visionary with a noble dream of “unity in diversity” for our beloved land.
The political Alliance that Tunku forged in 1955 lasted for six decades and was built on an overwhelming spirit of accommodation between the races, a moderateness of spirit and an absence of the kind of passions, zeal and ideological convictions that in other plural societies have left a heritage of bitterness.
Tunku’s vision of inter-ethnic unity was far ahead of its time. The world now recognises that in any nation with diversity, the litmus test of success and stability is the ability to live and thrive together in peace and harmony. Unity in diversity and justice for all are the mark of a great civilisation.
As we contemplate Tunku’s life and sterling leadership, let us revisit his vision for our nation – the vision of a mosaic and not a melting pot. To Tunku, unity did not require uniformity. Unity was possible if there is a sharing of commonalities and a respectful acceptance of differences. In remembering Tunku, let us join hands to build bridges of understanding, tear down the walls of separation, and stem the tides of racial, religious and regional extremism that are buffeting our shores.
This is not the responsibility of the government alone. We all have a role to play to return to our winning way.