Tun Dr. Ismail

Could it be that we live in different dimensions at the same time? Is there a sixth sense? Are there faculties in the human mind that may appear to be separate or strange, but they are in fact only a part of another stage of being? A twilight zone? I woke up one morning some time ago. The sun was just coming up. Three elderly gentlemen were in my bedroom. There were standing in a row in front of my bed. On the left, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, on the right the late Tun Abdul Razak and in the middle, the late Tun Dr Ismail. All three wore suits. The two TARs were looking sad and solemn. They remained silent. TDI was furious. He was animated and making a furious speech. His arms going and up and down, emphasizing points - what he was talking about, i do not know. It was as if it was from a silent movie. Then in another scene, i saw the stadium Merdeka come tumbling down. It was shocking. Like a scene from an earthquake movie. What still remains in my memory today is the manner in which TDI was acting. What was he so upset about?

I did not know much about the man before his visit to my bedroom. He passed away when i was only 7 years old. Not long after the visitation, a book was released - "The Reluctant Politician' by Ooi Kee Beng. As i remembered his visit to my bedroom, I thought fate wanted me to know the man better. So i bought the book and read all about the man. He was one of the founding fathers of this country together with Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak. He rose to be deputy prime minister and when he passed away he was acting prime minister. He was a doctor by profession, who had 'looked forward to become a millionaire' in his line of work but who became a politician only, reluctantly.

With the country facing issues of corruption, racial disharmony, a crisis hit judiciary, petrol price hikes, inflation, widening gap between the rich and the poor, political uncertainty, weak government, weak leaders, inefficient civil administration, poor implementation of the New Economic Policy (NEP), decline in morals, increase in crimes, etc. etc.- all causing a climate of anxiety, insecurity, fear, hopelessness, depression and hardship to the people, i now know why the man was so upset and could not rest in peace.

Perhaps a look at the man could be of assistance in solving the problems of the country in these trying, oppressive times. From the book, i learned that the man was short in temper but could calm down easily too. He was loyal and faithful. He was a good husband and an exemplary father. He was a highly principled man. He was a stickler for fair play and correctness and asking him to use his political power to help you was tantamount to be asking to be put in jail. He was like that all his life, clean as a whistle. He lived within his means. He did not like to use his 'connections' or political influence for personal matters. He was a man who lived a very correct life, a man of formidable reputation for integrity and talent in all communities with views more cautious and more sophisticated than those of his younger colleagues. Money favors, political hypocrisy or deceit, all those were anathema to him. TDI recognised corruption as a great ill but understood that for Malaysians of all races, going into government is one of the easiest ways to make money so they accept bribes and become corrupt. He was of the view that people should establish themselves in professions and the business world and then enter politics. His message to the youths - they should not enter politics until they are financially or professionally secure.

He was a gentle person capable of great warmth but he could quickly blow his top when faced with incompetence. He was a realist, aware of the prejudices of every community. He agreed with the slogan "Malaysia for Malaysians" but he did not agree with the way the slogan was to be translated into reality. He did not agree that it could be done overnight, but he knew that the inborn prejudice and resistance of millions will have to be worn down patiently, that the millions from every community have to be convinced slowly, and that they have to be persuaded steadily in the delicate process of uniting the various races in Malaysia. In short he was a diplomat ahead of his time. He believed in dialogue and consultation -skillful diplomacy and mutual understanding among leaders - to resolve problems. He rejected extremism and ultras in all its forms.

On the special privileges of the Malays, he was quoted to have said that the special position of the Malays under the Constitution is mainly intended to enable them - to borrow an expression from the game of golf - "to have a handicap" which would place them in a position for a fair competition with better players. Therefore like a golfer, it should not be the aim of the Malays to perpetuate this handicap but to strive to improve their game, and thereby reducing, and finally removing, their handicap completely. He said the biggest mistake that the Malays made was coining the term 'Bumiputra". He disliked the term as it tended to convey an entirely different meaning to what was intended for the Special Position of the Malays. By coining "Bumiputra" the non-Malays suspected the Malays of wanting to classify themselves as first class citizens while they were relegated to second-class citizens. TDI was against such classifications as it could lead to disharmony. Like Abraham Lincoln, he believed that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

He believed fully in the oneness of Malaysia and worked on this belief. He was absolutely neutral. When you dealt with him, you knew you would get fair treatment. He was a lovely man with strength of character, high principles and a great sense of fairness - probably the most non racial, non rascist Malay at the time.

Lee Kuan Yew, was quoted to have said about TDI - "I came to like and respect him for his direct and straightforward manner. As i got to know the Malayan ministers better, he was the one i trusted absolutely. He was honest and sincere in his dealings with me, and i believe he reciprocated my friendship and respect for him'.

TDI believed that the application of the New Economic Policy (NEP) will change from time to time to suit the situation and the circumstances and the geographical setting. But its aim and its fundamentals are the same and that is to close the gap between the rural and the urban, to destroy poverty without regard to background or race. He was an optimist who believed that under a pragmatic form of government, a "Malaysian Race" that was 'progressive' would develop.

At work, he pressed himself harder than anyone else. He expected accountability and integrity from those who worked under him. He deeply feared that Malaysia's development would be undermined not by communism, but by communalism and what he termed the 'tidak apa-ism' (nonchalance). He was a firm believer in efficiency and would not tolerate delays under his administration. He believed in clean, efficient and honest government and led by example to the end.

There is an incident where a Chinese peasant woman once came to his house in a truck filled with vegetables as gifts for him. She was hoping that TDI would help release her son who had recently been detained. TDI told her to take her gifts away or get thrown into jail as well.. This unwillingness to compromise on TDI's part left a strong impression on his colleagues, relatives and friends.

Perhaps if the leaders today would follow the way, the truth and the life of this great statesman, described as the "MAN WHO SAVED MALAYSIA" (recognising his role after the May 13 riots),- this country can be strong and harmonious again. After the man finished speaking to me in my bedroom, he called me to him. I went to him and he said something to me. Then another scene appears - the stadium Merdeka started to rise from the rumble and ashes and began rebuilding itself into a beautiful, more glorious and magnificient stadium. It was a stunning scene.