Tun Razak, statesman

“A politician thinks of the next election and a statesman thinks of the next generation… not only do they think of the next generation, but they think, from day to day, of the next opportunity, when they can give unselfish service to Malaysia.” I beg you to do the right thing.” – Tun Abdul Razak, second prime minister of Malaysia

“When I was prime minister, all I did was formulate plans and my ministers would carry them out. Tun Razak in particular could always be depended upon to execute most assiduously all the work assigned and entrusted to him... for myself the less work I did the better it was for me. So I took a lot of time off for my own pleasure, such as playing golf, race going, or other extra mural activities. But Razak loved to work, always attending to everything himself, and now the poor fellow is no more.” – Tunku Abdul Rahman, first prime minister of Malaysia

Tun Razak passed away on 14 January 1976. His reign as prime minister lasted less than six years, but the impact he had on the nation, and the lives of the individuals whom he touched, outlived him.

At the age of just 29, he was nominated to become president of Umno when Datuk Onn Jaafar resigned in 1951. Tun Razak not only turned down the nomination, he suggested someone else who, in his opinion, is more fit to lead the party than him, Tunku Abdul Rahman. The friendship between the two giants in Malaysian and Southeast Asian history goes back to their student days in London.

One striking thing about his reputation is that everyone seems to have admirable things to say about Tun Razak. Even people who are staunch enemies – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Musa Hitam, Tengku Razaleigh, Lim Kit Siang – could reach a consensus on this matter and agree that Tun Razak is a man of impeccable integrity.

Some stories which are commonly shared among his circle of friends and admirers were from his early days in the kampung. Although Tun Razak was born into an aristocratic family, he was sent to live with his grandfather in the rural village.

He would walk nearly 6km everyday to and from his school. Legend has it that he walked barefooted – not because his family couldn’t afford shoes, but because he wants to live like his friends.

Many years later as prime minister, his upbringing is still reflected in his values. When his sons requested a swimming pool to be built in the prime minister’s residence, he shot down the request, stating that the house belonged to the government, and hence to the people.

He reminded his sons, “What will the people think, if their leaders live luxuriously and use public funds for personal benefits?”

Tun Razak declared war on poverty. He did not chase away the homeless from the streets or declared war on the poor people. Instead of burdening the people, he tried to lift their burden.

Whether in good times or bad, Tun Razak would be the first to step up and take responsibility. He was not an armchair leader, and would often personally visit project sites and criss-crossed the country. The country felt a sense of leadership, and his presence was always visible.

In the aftermath of May 13, he called for a grand national consultative council to keep the country together. He listened to the views from everyone; not just those in his circle but including those from the civil societies and the ppposition.

In contrast with Suharto who held near absolute power for nearly three decades in Indonesia, Tun Razak gave up absolute power after two years as the head of the National Operations Council, during which Parliament was suspended.

He restored democratic elections and gave the power back to parliament, stating that no man should have this much power and that he himself was afraid to hold this much power.

It would not be too difficult to imagine how Tun Razak would react if he had seen the concentration, and subsequently abuse, of power in the hands of the executive in Malaysia today.

After the riot, he invited all political parties to put aside partisan differences and work towards keeping the nation together. The politics of consensus resulted in the formation of Barisan Nasional, the Rukun Negara, and the NEP.

Tun Razak made it very clear when the NEP was formulated that the aim of this policy is not racial preference, but to reduce inequality. No one, he says, shall face deprivation as a result of this policy. The NEP was an imperative for economic reasons (wealth distribution and equality), not racial.

He kept the disease secret which was affecting him since September 1969. He was a man in a hurry, fighting against turbulent external problems, a terminal internal enemy, and most of all, time.

He did not live to see the fruits of his policies and ideas. He led the nation to a brighter future, one which he knows that he will not live to see. Indeed, a society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

It is sad that our society lacks these men nowadays. Where did all the statesmen go?

Knowing that he lived on a borrowed time, Tun Razak was constantly scouting for talented young leaders and allowed them to grow and shine. He surrounded himself with the best men, regardless of race and creed.

It was their intent to serve the nation that matters, not blind loyalty. Today, our leaders are more keen to preserve their position, power, and money than to build and give way to those after them.

Tun Razak would not even allow the construction of a swimming pool in his house when he was prime minister. Today, we are talking about millions and billions of dubious deals and mismanagement.

He only had six years as the leader, but he ensured that he left behind something that can be built by and for the people after him. He passed away in the service of the nation.

To our leaders today, what legacies are you leaving behind? If you die today, would people remember and respect you?

Great men exist in our country. Some are unsung ordinary heroes, some are statesmen on the frontline. I am proud to call Tun Razak a leader of our country.

He makes me proud to be a Malaysian. I wish I could say the same about our leaders today. Statesmen like Tun Razak are dearly missed.

References/Suggested readings:

Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz, Pembangunan 1960-an: Daripada Kata-kata Tun Abdul Razak Hussein. Kuala Lumpur : Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia, 2014.

“My Father Would Be Shocked, Says Nazir Razak”, The Malaysian Insider. 14 January 2014.

Nik Anuar Nik Mahmud, Muhammad Haji Salleh, and Abd. Ghapa Harun. Biografi Tun Abdul Razak: Negarawan dan Patriot. Bangi, Selangor: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia dan Yayasan Tun Razak, 2011.

Paridah Abdul Samad, Tun Abdul Razak, A Phenomenon in Malaysian Politics: A Political Biography. Affluent Master, 1998.

William Shaw, Tun Razak: His Life and Times. Longman, Kuala Lumpur, 1976. – August 15, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.