Tunku Abdul Rahman

Yang Teramat Mulia Abdul Rahman AC CH
First Prime Minister of Malaysia
In office 31 August 1957 – 22 September 1970
Monarchs	Abdul Rahman Hisamuddin Putra Ismail Nasiruddin
Deputy	Abdul Razak
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Abdul Razak
Personal details
Born	(1903-02-08)8 February 1903 Alor Star, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died	6 December 1990(1990-12-06) (aged 87) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Political party	United Malays National Organisation
Spouse(s)	Meriam Chong (1933–1935) Violet Coulson (1935–1946) Sharifah Rodziah Alwi Barakbah (1939–1990)
Alma mater	St Catharine's College, Cambridge Inner Temple
Profession	Lawyer

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH (February 8, 1903 – December 6, 1990) was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the federation in 1963 to form Malaysia. He is widely known simply as "Tunku" or "The Tunku" (a princely title in Malaysia) and also called Bapa Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence) or Bapa Malaysia (Father of Malaysia),

Early life

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj was born on February 8, 1903, in Alor Setar, Kedah. Tunku was the twentieth child of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, the twenty-fifth ruler of Kedah. Tunku's mother was Che Manjalara, the fourth wife of Sultan Abdul Hamid . Together with his mother and her other children, Tunku lived in the pagoda. As soon as he was old enough, Tunku ran outside the palace enclosure to play with boys of his own age who lived in the town. His mother strongly disapproved of it but she was too preoccupied with caring for the Sultan and Tunku's nurses were unable to control him . At that time, cholera and malaria disease were very common all over Kedah and at least two of Tunku's brothers and elderly sister died from cholera while Tunku himself suffered from intermittent attacks of malaria until he left for London in 1920 .

When Tunku was four years old, he was vaccinated . Although he tried to elude his mother's servants, he was finally caught and taken to his grandmother's room where the painful inoculation. When Tunku was about six years old, one day, as he was toasting keropok, (Fish fritters) in his mother's kitchen, a lit fragment of firewood fell on his left ankle and burnt him. It was extremely painful. Tunku wishing to conceal the accident from his mother, wrapped a cloth around his ankle and hoped that it would heal. But the wound turned septic and it was three years before it healed completely and Tunku was able to resume his football games outside the palace.

When Tunku was nine years old, He was circumcised together with seven other boys who were his playmates from town. The event took place in a room in the palace complex. The Royal Circumciser performed the minor operation in only a few seconds, but the healing was slow . All the patients, including Tunku remained in the palace for three weeks. Malay and Javanese shadow plays were performed nightly for their entertainment.

Tunku's formal education started when he was about six years old at the only Malay elementary school in Alor Setar . His mother had hoped that the school would keep him out of mischief but he often ran away from class. When a small English Medium school was opened by a teacher named Mohamad Iskandar, Tunku's mother sent him there instead. In the afternoon, Tunku was taught to read the Al-Quran. When Tunku's eldest brother, Tunku Yusuf returned to Alor Setar from England, he realised that Tunku was not making any progress in his studies. He decided to take Tunku with him to Bangkok by sea from Singapore in 1913. In Bangkok, Tunku was admitted to the Debsirin School, where lessons were taught in Siamese. Tunku was never lonely because he possessed an unrivaled capacity of making friends with people of all communities. His best friend was Tavil Guptarak. They attended the same school and were inseparable. Tunku Yusuf spent his time on military operations against bandits. In 1915, he contracted pneumonia in the jungle and died on his return to the Siamese capital. Tunku then returned to Kedah accompanied by his brother's widow. His mother sent him to study in the Penang Free School. it was here that Tunku began to developed a keen interest in his studies and twice obtained a double promotion.

Scholarship

When Tunku was 16 years old, he was awarded a scholarship which allowed him to further his studies at Cambridge University. He managed to get a seat on-board an old 9,000-ton cargo ship which carried only 12 people. Tunku boarded the vessel in Singapore. When the ship loaded cargo in the Klang River, Tunku contracted a fresh infection of malaria. He had a high fever during the voyage and barely recovered when the ship arrived at Tilbury on June 1, 1920. Here a representative named Eccles met him to take him to his temporary new home in Little Stukeley near Huntingdon. The Rev. Edgar Vigers, the elderly Rector of the parish, lived in a brick Rectory which was three storeys high. He supplemented his income by tutoring teenage boys who needed coaching before they sat for a variety of minor examinations. He head registered his name with the Crown Agents, and they sent his home students, including Tunku. Most of the boys were English but when Tunku arrived, there were three Siamese boys. Living in an English village was a totally new experience for Tunku. At first, he spent most of his time in the company of the Siamese. Soon, he bought a bicycle and made his friends with some youths who played football in the evenings. They were more heavily built and slower, and Tunku could kick a football accurately and run faster than any of them. Soon, Tunku played regularly on the Right Wing position for Little Stukeley. No one in the village had ever heard of Malaya or the Malays, and they nicknamed Tunku 'Bobby' .

After about a year, Tunku realised that he was making very little progress in his studies. He took a train from Huntingdon to London and went to see Mr. Ezekiel, his guardian, in the office of the Crown Agents. Ezekiel arranged for Tunku to move to Cambridge and to be taught by and live with a Mr Basil Atkinson. Atkinson was an experienced tutor and he prepared Tunku to sit for the examinations known as 'Littlego' to enable him to enter the university. An Indian student taught Tunku geometry. Tunku worked hard and prepared himself for the examinations that took place late in summer the following year. When the results were published, Tunku obtained high marks for all his papers and was allowed a Pass for the whole examination. He had been accepted as undergraduate at one of the collages that formed the University of Cambridge. He was also allotted a sitting room and bedroom in one of the college's registered lodging houses at 11, Grande Road.

The Kedah Regent had instructed Tunku to study Law at Cambridge so that he could make use of it in the civil service when he returned . But after reading the syllabus for an Honours Degree in Law, Tunku decided to enter his name for a Pass Degree instead . There were no other Malay students at Cambridge in 1922, Tunku's friends were English and Siamese students. he also befriended the head cook in his college kitchen and taught him how to prepare rice and curry in the Malay style. He met undergraduates from India, but they were too absorbed with politics in the home country. In football, Tunku played right wing for his college. In the summer, he played tennis. Like every other undergraduates, Tunku moved about the town on a bicycle. Later he bought the latest Riley sports car with the money his mother cabled him. Few undergraduates owned cars in 1923 and Tunku became widely known both to University officials . In 1924, Tunku sat for his examinations at the end of his second year. he obtained a pass in all subjects and was entitled to place the letters BA after his name.

Five years had passed since Tunku set sail from Singapore. He now decided to sail home. The Crown agents secured Tunku a berth in a passenger ship, which stopped at Penang. Tunku was now 23 years old. He met his eldest brother and explained why he had taken a Pass Degree in Law and History instead of an Honours Degree. Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, listened without comment and after a short silence, He ordered Tunku to returned to England to be admitted to the English Bar. Although Tunku wanted to remain in Kedah, the Regent, despite his mild manner, was all-powerful. Tunku had no choice but to return to London and continued his study of law at the Inner Temple as a regular student. It was now 1926 and many other Malays had been sent to England to study Law. On Sundays, Tunku cooked curries in his flat and invited all the Malay students. On Tunku's initiative, the Malay Society of Great Britain was formed, with Tunku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan as President and Tunku Abdul Rahman of Kedah as Honorary Secretary and the driving force. It was in his second year as a law student in London that Tunku met Violet Coulson, an attractive lady . She managed a restaurant where many Malayan students had their meals. When Tunku got tired of his law studies, he and Violet sometimes went dancing together . In May 1930, Tunku sat for Part One of the Bar examination. Although he managed to pass three papers, his failure in one paper resulted in him failing the whole examinations in Part One . Tunku set sail for Penang in January 1931. Since Tunku was on a State scholarship, he was automatically a government servant when he returned. His eldest brother, Tunku Ibrahim, was still the regent and he told Tunku that he was in disgrace for failing to pass the Bar examinations in London.

Career in Kedah

Kulim

A few days later on January 1931, Tunku was appointed a Cadet in the Kedah Civil Service. Later, He was transferred to Kulim as Assistant District Officer. In Kulim Tunku devoted much of his time touring the district and getting to know the problems of the peasants who made up 90% of the population. It was in Kulim that Tunku married Miss Chong Ah Yong, a friend's daughter who converted to Islam and became Meriam. They were married by the local Kadi in Tunku's government quarters. Soon after Meriam's conversion to Islam she learnt to pray and when the fasting month began, she persuaded Tunku to do so too. A year after marriage, Tunku's daughter was born. He named her Khadijah. A year later, a son was born and named Ahmad Nerang. Tunku also devoted some of his time to prepare for Cadet's Law exam in order to qualify for promotion. He took the exams and passed it at the first attempt.

Padang Terap

About a year later, Tunku was promoted to be District Officer of Padang Terap. The post of District Officer Padang Terap was an unpopular one. Kuala Nerang was notoriously unhealthy owning to the prevalence of malaria. As soon as Tunku took over the district, he gave orders for a survey to be made of the swamps which bordered the town obtained an estimate for draining them and applied for the State Secretariat for the necessary funds . Sadly, Tunku's plea for funds were rejected.

A month after Meriam gave birth to her second child, she contracted a severe attack of malaria. Although Tunku gave her the best remedies that he could obtain from Penang, and Meriam made a little progress. An English doctor from Alor Setar who visited her mistakenly gave her an injection of undiluted quinine that killed her instantly, It was tragic misadventure for Tunku made no attempt to lodge an official report. Instead, he wrote again to the State Secretariat, asking that funds be made available to drain the swamp and to rid Kuala Nerang of the main breeding place of the carriers of malaria. This time the money has provided and the work has carried out under Tunku's supervision.

When news of Meriam's death reached Violet she handed over the management of her restaurant and sailed for Singapore without Tunku's knowledge. Once she arrived in Singapore, she wrote to Tunku, informing him of her arrival. Tunku immediately took the train to Singapore and net Violet at her hotel. Together they talked about old times and their long friendship. Tunku and Violet Coulson were later married by the Kadi in the Malay mosque in Arab Street according to Muslim rites.

Langkawi

Tunku and Violet Coulson were married. Then arranged for Violet to live in Penang for there was a law in Kedah which forbade members of the royal family to marry non-Malays without the prior approval of the Ruler or Regent. Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, was known to be strongly opposed to mixed marriages, but he died unexpectedly in 1934 and was succeeded as Regent by Tunku Mahmud, the Sultan's younger, who was more broad-minded and gave consent of the marriage . This enabled Violet to move to Kuala Nerang, but the Secretary to the Government showed his disapproval by transferring Tunku to the isolated post of District Officer Langkawi.

The district consisted of a group of islands, thinly populated, sparsely cultivated and without roads. And it was the object of a legendary curse on a term of seven generations which had not yet expired. When Tunku applied for government funds to develop Langkawi his application was rejected. But Tunku's genius in winning co-operation from members of the public of all communities led to the construction of a much needed jetty and later to the opening of several earth roads using money and material which he had collected.

Tunku also gathered information on the old legends which still haunted Langkawi and pieced together the tragic story of the beautiful Mahsuri, who had been unjustly sentenced to a cruel death, and who had cursed the islands as she died. Tunku caused a search to be made for her grave, and when it was found, totally neglected, he collected to meet the cost of providing a white marble covering and an inscribed headstone. New life returned to Langkawi, and Tunku declared that the period of Mahsuri's curse had expired.

Sungai Petani

S.W Jones M.C.S, who has acting British Advisor, Kedah visited Langkawi and was so impressed by initiative shown by Tunku that he persuaded the Council of State to transfer Tunku and to promote him to the post of District Officer Sungai Petani, the most second most important district in Kedah. Langkawi has been a Shangri-La for Violet. But Sungai Petani was a busy town and the centre of a large district, in which Tunku's every moment was occupied. Violet was no longer happy and Tunku had little time to spare to search for a remedy. Tunku soon became the most popular District Officer Sungai Petani had ever known.

As District Officer, Tunku received instructions from the State Secretariat to implement official decision. Sometimes, Tunku disagreed with the instructions and wrote to Secretary to the Government expressing his views, although, he anticipated, they were ignored. After some time, Tunku was summoned to an interview in Alor Setar and he was threatened with disciplinary action if he continued to oppose decisions taken by the state government. The warning only served to stiffen Tunku's resolve. Not long later, all district officers were ordered to enforced a new scheme involving taxi drivers . Tunku received complaints from taxi drivers in Sungai Petani who protested against the new scheme. Tunku then advised them to continue to operate their taxis, and to reject the new scheme. When some of the taxi drivers brought to the Magistrates' Court, where Tunku was on the bench he cautioned and discharged them in spite of vigorous protest from the Officer-in-Charge of the Police District.

The Commissioner of Police Kedah then called on the Secretary to the Government to complain about Tunku. This caused Tunku to be transferred with 24 hours' notice to Kulim as District Officer. The next morning, a convoy of about 40 taxis escorted Tunku to Kulim, which has about 40 miles away from Sungai Petani. In Kulim, Tunku's predecessor had already enforced the government order and there was nothing Tunku could do to help. Sensing that his prospects for advancement were quite limited.

Tunku applied for long leave and left for England together with Violet . In London, Tunku and Violet decided on an amicable divorce. Violet then resumed the management of her restaurant in London. She later married an American who served in the United States armed forces as Judge Advocate in England.

World War II and the Japanese Occupation

See also: Japanese occupation of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak

World War II

In London, Tunku sat once more for the Bar Examinations. He planned to leave the Civil Service and to enter private practice as soon as he had qualified as an advocate and solicitor. In his first year in London in 1939, Tunku succeeded in passing the Part One Examination. At the same time, Hitler invaded Poland and Britain declared war on Germany. Tunku was recalled to Malaya and ordered to resume duty as District Officer in Kulim, where he remained for the next three years.

Tunku's mother renewed her appeals to him to get married and with her blessings he married Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah, the daughter of Syed Alwi Barakhbar of Alor Setar.

With the war brewing in Europe, Civil Defence schemes were prepared and implemented by district officers. Tunku was appointed Deputy Director of Air Raid Precautions for South Kedah. Tunku recognized the need to prepare for the evacuation of civilians in the event of invasion and in 1941 he gave orders for the constructions of six "Long Houses" made of round timber and with attap roofs on a low hill about two miles away from the town. Funds for this work had been refused by the State Secretariat and Tunku therefore invited donations from local town dwellers who would benefit if evacuations became necessary. Japanese intelligence agents posing as photographers and hairdressers had been feature of every sizeable town in the peninsular for the past three years. In Kedah they moved about freely on second-hand bicycles and sent their photos and sketch maps of local area for the Japanese Consuls for onward transmission to Tokyo.

Evacuation of Sultan Kedah

By October 1941, British troops had prepared defensive positions in North Kedah. Air fields at Sungai Petani and Butterworth were alive with fighters and bombers. The war would be between Titans-Great British and Japan. On the morning of December 8, 1941, Tunku received a telephone call in his house in Kulim. It was from a friend in Sungai Petani. The Invasion by the Japanese army had begun. The attack was quickly followed by the advance of General Yamashita's army which had landed unopposed on beaches near Songkla the previous night. A second assault force came ashore, unopposed, on the coast of Petani and advanced towards Betong and Kroh. A third but smaller force landed close to Kota Bharu in Kelantan despite vigorous opposition.

Unaware of the extent of the Japanese attack, Tunku went to his office and ordered general alert for his air wardens. Later that morning, he met the leading shopkeepers and advised them to evacuate their families to the "Long House". Apart from these precautions, life in Kulim was business as usual. But in Alor Setar, work came to a standstill. Shops and office were closed, and town dwellers hurried to nearby kampungs. The Regent. the British Advisor and a few senior officials met immediately in the Balai Besar for urgent discussions.

Tunku's eldest surviving brother, Tunku Badlishah, had succeeded Tunku Mahmud as Regent in 1937 when the latter died. He was now in control, since Sultan Abdul Hamid, although still alive, was a total invalid. At about 9 o'clock on the night of invasion, Syed Omar telephoned Tunku and told him that the Regent had decided to evacuate the 77 year-old Sultan to Penang, and thence to Singapore. Strangely, three nights earlier, Tunku had a dream where he saw his father sitting in his room and calling out to him.

Disagreeing with the decisions to evacuate the Sultan, Tunku telephoned the Regent and urged him to cancel the order. Tunku argued that the Sultan should remain with his people, though not necessarily to Alor Setar. His brother replied curtly that the decision had been taken and could not be altered. Frustrated but defiant, Tunku thought about the whole situation. A plan began to form in his mind, and half an hour later he telephoned Syed Omar. He then got into his car and drove rapidly to a little village called Sidim, 20 miles away.

On arrival, he met and told the Penghulu to prepare to receive the Sultan the very next day. On his return to Kulim, he contracted his friend, a District Health Inspector, and asked him to come to his house immediately. Tunku then explained what he intended to do and asked for his friend's assistance. Very early the next morning, Syed Omar called Tunku to inform him about the latest developments. The main roads south from Alor Setar ran through limitless acres of paddy land, before reaching Butterworth and Penang ferry.

Fifty miles from the capital there was a junction where a road led east to Kulim, 12 miles away. With his friend Tunku drove to the junction soon after seven o'clock in the morning, and parked his car along the road to Kulim. They then stood just inside an empty hut at the end junction and waited. Before long, two police jeeps drove past. They were the head of the convoy. Luckily for Tunku, all vehicles in the convoy had been directed to space out at two-minute intervals to avoid attracting the attention of Japanese war planes, armed with machine guns, which were patrolling the sky over North Kedah. Without his directive, Tunku's plan not might not have succeeded.

The next car that appeared were occupied by senior civil servants. The Regent followed two minutes later. His car had just disappeared down the road to Butterworth when the Rolls-Royce came into view. Tunku walked quickly to the centre of the road help up his right hand like a traffic constable, and stopped the yellow Rolls-Royce. Opening the door nearest to the Sultan, Tunku removed his helmet and made himself known to his father. He then told the Sultan that there had been a sudden change of plans and that the Sultan was to come to Kulim. Without saying a word, the Sultan nodded his approval. Tunku then told Syed Abu Bakar to drive ahead to Kulim, while he accompanied his father in the Rolls-Royce.

Just as the yellow car turned into the road leading to Kulim, the next vehicle in the extended column appeared in the distance, and drove straight on to Penang. When the rest of the convoy reached the Butterworth ferry, they discovered that the Sultan was not with them. Japanese planes were not far away and it was decided that they would proceed at once to Penang. Meanwhile, Tunku took his father to his house and made him comfortable in a large armchair. He then confessed that he had abducted his father so that he could remain with his people. Tunku said that he believed this would be Sultan's own wish, to which his father nodded. Soon afterwards, the Regent telephoned the Kulim Police Station from Penang.

The police station told the Regent that the Sultan was in Tunku's house. He then telephoned Tunku and ordered him to bring the Sultan to Penang immediately. But Tunku was adamant and disobey the Regent's order. The Regent was very angry and he threatened to arrest Tunku, Tunku will be arrested on 4 o'clock in the evening. It was midday. Tunku said nothing of the conversation with the Regent to his father of his wife. His wife served lunch and immediately after the meal Tunku took his father to Sidim. Penghulu Manap of Sidim had assembled all the young men of the neighborhood and they were waiting outside his house when two cars drove up. All the men carried spears, keris or long parang, one or two had brought single-barreled shotguns. Tunku then helped his father to step down from the car and to enter the house, where a bed, screened by a curtain been prepared.

Tunku then told the villagers that the Japanese army had invaded Kedah and had occupied Alor Setar. Tunku then returned to Kulim, but he left Tunku Yahaya at Sidim to keep his father accompanied. Meanwhile, news of the Regent's order for Tunku to be arrested by the police had spread through the town. A crowd of Tunku's friends had been surrounded his office and made it known that they would only allow Tunku in, and no one else. When Tunku returned to his house, he was greeted by his latest news. Asking his friend, Syed Abu Bakar, to stay with his wife, Tunku then drove to his office. When Tunku arrived at his office, he was greeted by a group of his friends. Tunku then explained the situation briefly to those present. After that, he went into his office and sat down alone. By then it was half-past three. At a quarter to four, the telephone on his desk rang. The Regent spoke again, but this time his voice had changed. He told Tunku that the Japanese are bombing Penang. As soon as the air raid has ceased, the Regent and his family require accommodation somewhere in Kulim. He told Tunku that he had cancelled the previous order by arresting him.

Invasion in Penang

The Japanese had perpetrated indiscrimate bombing of civilians in Penang. It was repeated with greater destruction and loss of lives the following day. Later that evening, the Regent and his family arrived, visibly shaken. They were given accommodation in Tunku's house. The next morning, Tunku took the Regent and his family to Sidim where they were given accommodation in other small houses. They were all in Sidim when the second and more severe bombing of Penang town took place on December 11, 1941, which caused hundreds of civilians to be killed. Tunku's kidnapping operation turned out to be a very wise move indeed.

Upon returning, to Kulim later, Tunku found out that all the Police had taken off their uniforms and were no longer on duty. Tunku's first concern was to prevent looting and he called all members of the disbanded Kedah Volunteer Force in Kulim to come to his assistance. These men formed a vigilante corps and Tunku arranged for them to patrol the town at night. When night fell, Kulim was in total darkness. Before the British withdrew to Penang, they had destroyed the power station. In the course of his tour of the town, Tunku discovered that the rice stocks in the shops were very low.

The next morning, Tunku sent a lorry to the Government Rice Mill at Bagan Serai in Perak to bring back a full load of rice. To add Tunku's responsibilities, officials in State Secretariat had withdrawn from Alor Setar just before the Japanese army entered the town, and they came to Kulim to seek temporary accommodation. Fierce fighting took place between the British and the Japanese and by December 16, 1941, the Japanese army had occupied the west coast of Kedah, including all the main towns. The Japanese Military Governor of Kedah an assuming office appointed another of Tunku's brothers, Tunku Mohamed Jewa, to be a temporary Regent until the Sultan returned to Alor Setar.

On December 14, 1941, a Japanese Intelligence Officer met Tunku and began to make arrangements to the Sultan's returned to Alor Setar. Tunku took Lieutenant Nakamiai to Sidim the next day and the situation was explained to the Sultan. On December 17, the Sultan, the Regent and his family and senior officers of the State Government set off for Alor Setar with a military escort. They drove along the roads which had been shelled and bombed and over the bridges which were still wrecked, continued for 11 hours, and the old Sultan was completely exhausted when he finally arrived at his palace at Anak Bukit. In Kulim, Tunku relucantly remained as District Officer for another year as a servant to the Japanese Military Administration.

Friction between Tunku and the Japanese officials were frequent. When Tunku heard that the bungalows of several British rubber planters had been looted, he ordered his volunteers to collect all the looted articles and bring them to his house. When they arrived at the house, they were carefully listed and sent in a light lorry to be appropriate Japanese official in Alor Setar. The next day, Tunku was told to come to Alor Setar, but instead of receiving congratulations for his devotion to duty, the Japanese Custodian of Enemy Property accused Tunku of stealing nine knives which appeared in the list, but could not be found when the lorry arrived in Alor Setar. Tunku had never been called a thief, and it required exceptional self-control to resist the temptation to tell the Japanese official that only a fool would make such an accusation.

Early in 1943, a senior Japanese official in Alor Setar sent orders to Tunku to have all the trees on a rubber estate felled and have to the land planted with cotton, using forced labour. Tunku informed the official that cotton would not grow on the soil and furthermore he refused to force people in his district to work without pay on a project that could not possibly succeed. Tunku's blunt refusal brought speedy and vicious retribution. He was ordered to vacate his District Officer post and to proceed to report to work in Alor Setar next day.

In Alor Setar, Tunku was not given any position at the State Audit office. He was not given any government quarters to stay in and his house in Alor Setar had been taken over by the Japanese military. Finally, Tunku and his wife managed to stay with a friend who occupied a very small house. For more than a month, Tunku put up with the humiliation and discomfort under the Japanese administration. Then suddenly, the responsibility of the civil administration of Kedah was transferred to the Siamese. Among the Siamese officials who sent to Kedah was Tunku's boyhood friend, Travil. Soon after the takeover by the Siamese, Tunku was appointed the Superintendent of Education. With the appointment, Tunku's status was restored together with his house. During the Japanese occupation, all the English schools were closed while the Malay medium schools were without textbooks. Tunku decided to fill part of this vacuum by preparing a manual on good manners. Together with a friend, Senu Abdul Rahman, Tunku prepared the manual and distributed it to schools in the state.

In May 1943, while Tunku was still in Kulim, the old sultan appeared in Tunku's dream, saying, "Putra, I am ill." . Tunku collected all the petrol he could buy in the black market and drove to Alor Setar the next day. He met his father who was able to recognise him. A few days later, the Sultan passed away.

Japanese surrender

In 1942, the Japanese transported thousands of young male Malayans, the majority of them Malays, to work on the construction of a railway from North Siam to Burma. The railway was to provide the Japanese with land access to South Burma where they were fighting the British. The mortality rate among these Malayan labourers, due to disease and malnutrition, was very high. Cholera was common and lethal. In Early 1943, after months of increasing mortality and brutality, some Malay labourers escaped from construction camp in North Siam, and began to make their way, painfully and slowly, southwards. If they were captured by the Japanese, they were executed.

Late in 1943, the first few living skeletons arrived in Alor Setar. Their bodies, and in particular their legs, were covered with ulcers which gave out repulsive stench. In Alor Setar, there was open-sided market building where villagers came to sell their fruits and vegetables. It was sometime known as Pasar Yacoob, because Tunku Yaacob, elder half-brother of Tunku, had founded it before the war. Other people called it Pasar Rabu. The refugees strayed into his market to beg for food. Since the market also provided them with shelter, the refugees were relucant to leave. But men with skin disease were not welcome even for a single night. Market officials applied to the State Secretariat, the District Officer and the Medical Department for help, but no one was willing to take any official notice of the problem.

When Tunku, who was famous sympathy for the distressed heard about this problem, he visited the market, talked to some of the refugees and called a meeting at his house. His "Young Men" came and agreed to help. The first priority was to locate a shelter where the refugees could be housed, isolated from the public. Tunku located a vacant space near a house belonging to the Religious Affairs department, and commission a carpenter to erect a shed with long sleeping platforms that could accommodate a hundred persons. Tunku paid for the building with his own money and called it "Rumah Miskin"-Poor Man's House. This building provided a place for refugees to heal and recuperate so they could continue their journey home while others took their place.

A regular supply of food was the next priority. Rice was always plentiful in Kedah. Vegetables and coconut oil could be purchased cheaply in the market. Fish, fresh or dried, was always available but funds were nevertheless needed. Tunku and his "Young Men" managed to get some donations of goods and money, but from the beginning, the major cost of the undertaking was borne by Tunku. The food was cooked in Tunku's house, under the supervision of Tunku's wife, and delivered to the refugees by rickshaw. Being in close contact with the refugees, Tunku and his helpers all contracted the highly contagious disease on their hands. Refugees continue to arrive in early in 1945, but it became increasingly difficult to obtain donations to support them.

To raise fund, Tunku and his "Young Men" decided to stage two plays. There was a company of professional actors and actresses who performed Bangawan-style entertainment several times a week in an amusement park in Alor Setar. Tunku's two plays were staged on nights when there was no Bangasawan performance. Tunku and his entire cast even travelled to Perlis by lorry for a repeat performance. Unfortunately, the lorry broke down during their return journey, forcing them to return to Alor Setar by train. It is doubtful whether the "Rumah Miskin" benefited financially from this theatrical enterprise. The cost of production consumed nearly all the income, but it encouraged other symphatisers to continue their support. Only the Secretary to the Governor persisted in ignoring the disagreeable reality. In September 1945, when the war ended, the Centre was still under Tunku's supervision.

One of the first British Civil Affairs Officer to arrive in Alor Setar was a Special Welfare Officer named Miss Blake. Although very busy, she asked the Secretary to the Government if she could visit the centre, of which she had heard good reports. The Secretary to the Government took Miss Blake on a surprise visit to the "Poor Men's Home" without first informing Tunku, and claimed all the credits for himself and his officers. Tunku was therefore never given any official recognition for his great personal intiative and individual generosity. It was also sad to note that not one out of all hundreds of refugees who benefited from Tunku's "Rumah Miskin" ever wrote to say thank you.

On August 6 and 9, 1945, atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively. A week later, the Japanese Imperial government in Tokyo agreed to an unconditional surrender.

Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army movement (MPAJA)

See also: Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army

When the Japanese surrender was announced over the wireless in mid-August, plans were hurriedly prepared in Ceylon for the dispatch of a British Military Administration. At the same time, the top Communist leaders in Malaya, Fong Chong Pik, who was nicknamed "the Plen" and a young Malayan named Chin Peng decided to try seize control of the civil administration in as many states as possible. The communists quickly spread propaganda from the jungle, opposing the return of the British, and they moved their armed forces nearer to centers of population. If they were successful, they were likely to victimise those they accused of collaborating with the Japanese.

In Alor Setar, members of the Malay public became increasingly worried as news spread about incidents in outlying villages involving Communist guerrillas which included the abduction of village headmen. The Japanese army commander in Kedah who remained in his headquarters told Malay leaders who went to consult him that he saw no reason to interfere in the internal affairs of the State. Siamese officials, who had taken over responsibility for the Civil administration of Kedah from the Japanese in 1943, were busy preparing to return to Bangkok, and were equally adamant that the activities of communists were no concern of theirs. Even the State Secretariat and several of the most senior officers were nowhere to be seen, and the Central Police Station in Kedah was evacuated one night and left empty. Although this crisis was no concern of Tunku who was the Superintendent of Education, he assembled some of his trusted friends and from and unofficial Vigilante to maintain law and order, and to reoccupy the police station. Neither he nor any of his volunteers possessed firearms.

In Alor Janggus, a little town about six miles from Alor Setar, a group of communists supporters surrounded the police station after dark and confined the police personnel and three prominent Malay civilians in the lockup. As soon as Tunku received news of the incident, about three hours after it occurred, he asked his "Young Men" to set off across the country to Alor Janggus and restore order. They arrived just before dawn and entered the police station. Khir Johari told the leader of the Chinese youths that he had been sent by Tunku, who ordered them to free the police and the local civilians and to leave the police station, and not to interfere with the lawful government. The leader was impressed by the name of Tunku, but he explained that he had consult with his leader before he could withdraw. Khir Johari agreed to return an hour later. They walked to the house of the penghulu. The penghulu told Khir Johari that he will get some people to come along with him to the police station. An hour later, the penghulu and a group of supporters went with Tunku's men to the police station and watched while the local police were freed and resumed control. Tunku's young men then returned to Alor Setar to report back to Tunku.

News of the Alor Janggus incident quickly spread through the State capital and that night, a crowd gathered at the open ground in front of the Balai Besar, calling for Tunku. When Tunku appeared, the spokesmen of the group approached him. The supporters believed that the Communist guerrillas are planning to enter Alor Setar and take control of government. The whole group wished to offer their services to fight off these guerrillas and defend the state capital. Tunku told the group to avoid bloodshed and violence. That same night, Tunku and Khir Johari drove to Kuala Nerang, 24 miles away. They were stopped at the roadblock in the little town of Pokok Sena, where the MPAJA had established their headquarters.

When Tunku identified himself to the young Chinese guard, they made no attempt to delay him further. In Kuala Nerang, Tunku drove to the police station and asked to see the OCPD. He was then taken to the Rest House, where Major Hasler had moved from the jungle after receiving news of the Japanese surrender. Tunku explained the explosive situation in Alor Setar, He then presented his plan to overcome this problem. Hasler readily agreed to cooperate, but since he had been ordered to remain at his headquarters, he sent Captain Burr instead.

After informing Captain Burr about the roadblock set up by communist guerrillas, Tunku and Khir Johari then returned to Alor Setar. Early in the morning, Captain Burr went to meet the Japanese commander in his office. Captain Burr told the commander that British troops were on their way to Penang by sea and would be arriving very soon. He then described the tense situation in Alor Setar, and the possibility of a communist invasion that would be resisted by Kedah Malays. Captain Burr continued almost word for word, as Tunku briefed him. The Colonel then stood up and marched stiffly out of the room, followed by the interpreter. A few minutes later, orders were shouted out loudly and echoed throughout the college buildings. Half an hour later, the interpreter came back into the room and asked Captain Burr to go to the front porch. At the front porch, Captain Burr watched three Japanese military lorried drives off each with a section of armed soldiers and a wooden barrier fitted with barbed wire. Captain Burr then drove to Tunku's house to describe the outcome of his visit.

Tunku's plan was completely successful. When a reconnaissance party of communist guerrillas found that all the roads leading to Alor Setar were blocked by well armed Japanese soldiers, the communist withdrew and made no further attempt to enter the capital as an organised body. As soon as it was known that the communist turned back and had not returned, Tunku was showered with expressions of admiration and gratitude from members of the public. IN every other district in Kedah, communist occupied district offices and police stations and organised public rallies at which they announced that Kedah had become a communist republican state. There can be no doubt that without Tunku's inspired intiative, there would have been bloodshed and Alor Setar would have been one of the worst catastrophes in the history of the Japanese Occupation. On August 19, the surrender of the Japanese army had became common knowledge in Alor Setar.

Formation of Malayan Union

See also: Malayan Union

On August 19, the surrender of the Japanese Army had became common knowledge in Alor Setar. With the Japanese surrender, several groups of people talked about Independence and discussed how it might be attained. Malay societies were formed all of the peninsular with similar objectives, but with no co-ordination. In Kedah, a body called "Saberkas" was the most active. Tunku's principal allies were all members of the society and he attended some of their discussions. But Tunku was already 40 years old and many of the members were only 20 or even younger and they grew impatient and hostile when Tunku cautioned them against trying to obtain Independence by force. After a time, Tunku resigned from active membership and continued only as their patron. On October 10, 1945, the Secretary of State for the Colonies issued his Policy Statement on a "Malayan Union." In Kedah, both the principal Malay organisations held protest meetings and rallies. Tunku spoke forcefully at these rallies, but he recommended opposition by peaceful means.

Sir Harold MacMichael, representing the British Government, arrived in Kuala Lumpur on October 11, 1945. he came to Alor Setar after visiting the Sultans of Johor, Selangor, Pahang, and Perak and securing their signatures to a new treaty. In Kedah, MacMichael was told that the Ruler would consult his Council of State before holding a discussion with him. With these consultations proceeded, rallies and processions in opposition to the treaty were held in every district and in the centre of Alor Setar. Tunku was one of the most popular speakers in Alor Setar, Sungai Petani, and Kulim, but he was not invited to take part in any of the discussions convened by his half-brother, Sultan Badlishah. After three days of negotiations the Sultan followed the example of his brother rulers. The Sultant's surrender was vigorously criticised by the public and by Tunku. MacMichael flew back to London after securing all the signatures from the rulers for the new treaty. Then the British Prime Minister announced that the Malayan Union would come into effect on April 1, 1946. Tunku was despondent.

A British officer who had held Tunku's post before the war was appointed Superintendent of Education, Kedah. The State Government did not give Tunku any new post, and he remained passenger in the Education office. Despite of his immense popularity as a Malay leader, Tunku held no office in any Malay organisation, at a time when far-sighted planning and balanced opinions were of vital importance.

Law Studies

Tunku applied for 18 months' study leave and arranged to return to England to resume his law studies. He disembarked in Liverpool on December 27, 1946 and traveled by train to London. He rented a small ground floor flat in Barkston Gardens, Earl's Court, and remained there for the next 18 months. At times, Tunku would cook Malay food for himself and his friends in his flat.

England was still suffering from severe post-war shortage of food, clothing and petrol. These could only be purchased if coupons and cash were available. But coupons were never sufficient and Tunku received food parcels regularly from his wife and friends in Malaya. Tunku's London room quickly became a magnet for Malayan students. The Malay Society of Great Britain, which Tunku had founded before the war, was revived. Tunku was promptly elected President, with Abdul Razak from Pahang as Vice President. As soon as Tunku had settled into his flat, he made from enquiries at the Inns of Court for a law tutor.

Hart chose from those who he had rejected many foreign students, but he accepted Tunku. Tunku was required to present himself at Hart's room punctually at nine o'clock in the morning. Hart then alloted Tunku specific sections or topic for study. Tunku worked diligently with Hart fives days a week. After a year, Tunku asked Hart if he was ready to sit for the Bar Finals, but he was advised to study for another six months. As the dates of the examinations approached, Tunku suffered tension, like most students.

The ordeal of uncertainly continued for another month after the exams, and then one morning, Daisy, Tunku's housekeeper, came to his room to bring his morning cup of tea. Daisy told Tunku that he passed all his law exams. Tunku was overcome with emotion, and tears trickled down his cheeks. By 10 o'clock that morning, many of Tunku's friends had arrived at his flat to congratulate him. Tunku sailed back to Malaya on the P.&.O. Corfu in January 1949. He was met by his wife, children and friends in Penang.

A few days later Tunku called on the Secretary to the Government. Tunku informed him that he was now a qualified advocate and solicitor. But the head of the Kedah Civil Service gave no indication that Tunku's success was welcome. Tunku was instructed to report to the State Legal Advisor for duty. Tunku's work was routine and he spent his days reading case files.

Political career

United Malay National Organisation (UMNO)

See also: United Malay National Organisation

Tunku was then invited to accept the chairmanship of the Kedah branch of UMNO. This premier political party, which had been formed by Dato' Onn Bin Jaafar had expanded, almost beyond recognition, while Tunku was away in London. But before long, the Attorney-General, Fosters-Sutton, visited Kedah and met Tunku in his office. He asked Tunku if he would like to take up a new appointment in Kuala Lumpur. Happily, Tunku accepted the offer. Secretly, the Secretary to the Government welcomed Tunku's departure from the state. Tunku's departure was an example of the skill which the Secretary to the Government disposed of any possible rival. In Kuala Lumpur, Tunku moved into one of a row of hurriedly constructed single-storey timber government quarters in Kia Peng Road. He was allotted an office in the Federal Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur, together with other Deputy Public Prosecutors. The work was totally unfamiliar to Tunku and he spent almost every night studying case files, and preparing to appear in Couty the next morning. Tunku's work received a favourable report and he was transferred with promotion, to the post of President of the Selangor Court. At the same time, political crisis was brewing in UMNO. When the Communist terrorists launched an armed rebellion from jungle bases, UMNO founder and president, Onn, felt the need for racial harmony and a non-communal political party.

In May 1949, he proposed that UMNO should create an Associated Membership and admit non-Malays into their organisation. His proposal was only relucantly accepted. When Onn asked another UMNO Assembly at a later date to agree to a form Malayan Nationality, he resigned as the President of UMNO when he failed to gain enough support for his proposal. The assembly, unprepared for these shock tactics, voted Onn back into office and accepted, relucantly his innovative proposal. In the months that followed, Onn started preparing his new proposals.

The next General Assembly was to be held in Kuala Lumpur in August 1951. Onn had made it known that if his proposals were not accepted in this meeting, he would resign, irrevocably. Early in August, Malay leaders discussed the crisis. They recognised that they must find a successor to Onn. Onn had set a phenomenally high standard of leadership and oratory skills. Other members of the Central Executive Committee compared notes, and admitted that none of them measured up to the national need. Captain Hussein Onn, the head of the youth section was certain to follow his father, Onn. It was at this point that the name of Tunku Abdul Rahman of Kedah was put forward. At that time, Tunku's qualities and ability as a leader were almost unknown outside Kedah. Finally, three candidates, including Tunku, were suggested to be nominated for the post of President if Onn stepped down. Abdul Razak, the State Secretary of Pahang and UMNO deputy president went to meet Tunku in his house, to ask him to agree to the nomination, but Tunku was relucant. Instead, Tunku replied that Razak himself was much better qualified to be nominated. But Razak convinced Tunku that he was much too young to gain the support of Malay masses.

After much persuasion, Tunku relucantly accepted the nomination. The UMNO Assembly met on August 23, 1951, on the roof garden of the Hotel Majestic, the most modern hotel in Kuala Lumpur at all time. The atmosphere at the roof garden was tense. Onn sat at a long table at one end of the hall, flanked by members of his executive committee. Delegates representing different State branches sat in groups. 75 members were eligible to vote. Onn made his farewell, inviting his audience to join him and his new party. He spoke for 45 minutes and reminded his audience that his resignation from UMNO was irrevocable. Nominations were called for. Three candidates were nominated for the post of President. Voting was by show of hands.

Tunku received 57 votes and his nearest rival had 11. The new President was then invited to address the members. In his speech, Tunku demanded that Independence should be granted to Malaya as soon as possible. His speech made a very favorable impression on his audience. The next day, Tunku's speech and news of his election was given prominence in the three Malay-language newspapers. Dr Ismail advised Tunku to study the art of public speaking. Sheikh Ahmad of Perlis urged him to read the world news and to become more familiar with current affairs, both local and international. He visited the UMNO headquarters in Johor Bahru and quickily realised that the staff and most of the members of the Executive Committee were still loyal to Onn. He therefore closed it. He then set up a skeleton headquarters in his own home in Telok Ayer Tawar, near Butterworth, and appointed clerk, whose salary he paid himself. Tunku was still President of the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur, with daily duties to perform drawing a government salary and living in government quarters. Tunku informed the Chief Justice of his intention to resign from the government service. Sir Henry Gurney, the High Commissioner, was informed of Tunku's decision. He realised how important it was for UMNO to continue to be in the hands of a responsible and enlightened leader.

A few days later, Tunku received an official latter from the High Commissioner. Apart from a modest monthly allowance from Kedah, that was Tunku's only regular income for many months to come. When Tunku closed the UMNO headquarters in Johor Bahru, party funds ceased to be available to the new President. Tunku sold two of his houses in Penang, and set off on a tour of State Branches, driving himself in his own car. He soon discovered that UMNO members at Branch and District levels had not yet influenced by Onn's final resignation or his call to them to join his new party. Onn had spoken to his audiences in Malay with polished fluency, at length and often in aggressive manner.

Tunku had none of Onn's fluency or oratorical talent. He studied for so many years in England and more recently had held appointments were English had spoken, so he was not fluent in Malay. But in the eyes of many kampung Malays, even this was not regarded as a serious disadvantage. Oratory skulls had never been a gift possessed by or required of Malay royalty. Tunku possessed certain assets which offset Onn's superior talents. In the eyes of the average UMNO member, Tunku was first and foremost the brother of the Sultan of Kedah, and a member of a royal house. In 1951, this still carried a lot of weight. Tunku possessed charisma that affected even those who were ready to be hostile. Tunku also had a great sense of humour and an infectious laugh and he had acquired a wealth of experience as a district officer in Kedah, which enable him to understand and symphatise with the problems of the rural population, who made up a large proportion of the UMNO membership.

Alliance Party

At the time of Onn's resignation from the presidency of UMNO, he had predicted that the party would disintegrate with in three months. But even before the end of that period, it became clear that although influential Chinese and some prominent Indians and Ceylonese had become members of Onn's new party, very few Malays had done so. Tunku held and expressed the view that Malayan communities could not be united within a single political party. He believed that each community need its own political party and its own political leaders, and he was proved to be right. The first trial of stenght between all the rival political parties took place in January 1952.

On October 6, 1951, Sir Henry Gurney was killed in an ambush by Communist terrorists. He was replaced by General Sir Gerald Templer who brought with him a new policy from the British Government in London. Templer was to guide the people of Malaya towards the attainment of a United Malayan Nation. The policy had also called for the partnership of all communities. To put this new policy into effect, the government had agreed to hold elections at the Municipal and Town Council level, as a first step towards a democratic government, and Kuala Lumpur was chosen as one of the venues for the experiment. All the existing political parties were prepared to contest.

One of these political organisation was the Malayan Chinese Association, or MCA. MCA was brought into existence in 1949 by tow far-sighted men , Colonel H.S Lee, the President of the Selangor Mining Association, and Tan Cheng Lock of Malacca, who had been recognised even before the war as a spokesmen for the Chinese of Malayan origin. Col. H.S Lee was the Chairman of the Selangor Branch of the MCA. It occurred to him that if MCA and UMNo formed an alliance at the municipal level, their chances of success would be greater. Together with his deputy, they met and sought the approval of Dato' Yahaya, the Chairman of UMNO in Kuala Lumpur. They quickly reached an agreement. Under the chairmanship of Col. H.S. Lee, a combined commitee from the MCA and UMNO was formed and 12 candidates were selected, one for each area, some Malays, some Chinese and one Indian. The commitee then began a vigorous campaign to enlist support for "The Alliance".

News of the venture appeared in all the leading newspapers. Tunku was in Province Wellesley when he read the news. He received a telephone call from an UMNO leader in Kuala Lumpur asking him to come back at once for a discussion. On his way to meet the UMNO leaders in Kuala Lumpur, he saw a leading member of Independence of Malayan Party , or IMP, and asked for his opinion of the "Alliance." Tunku was confronted by protesting political colleagues, but he told them that he supported the Alliance and Intended to help in the campaign in Kuala Lumpur.

Tan Cheng Lock was in a more delicate position. He was a founding member of IMP and also President of MCA. Many members of the Central Commitee of the MCA were also members of IMP and they strongly criticised Col. Lee. But Tunku's prompt public support for the Alliance helped Tan Cheng Lock to resist pressure from the other MCA leaders. He avoided making public statements for as long as he could. Eventually he gave the ALliance his belated blessings. At the counting of votes on February 16, 1952, the "Alliance" won nine seats, IMP, two and an Independent one. The success of UMNO-MCA alliance was repeated in other municipal and town council elections, starting in Johor Bahru, where, to the chargrin of Dato' Onn, the Alliance won all the seats.

Tunku followed up the Municipal elections by holding a 'Round Table Conference' on February 3, 1953, attended by leaders of the MCA and UMNO, in the Selangor Miner's Club, Kuala Lumpur. Everyone agreed to establish a permanent alliance of UMNO and MCA as a political body with Indenpendence for Malaya as its principal objective.

Road to independence

In 1954, Abdul Rahman led a delegation to London to seek independence for Malaya, but the trip proved to be unfruitful. The British were reluctant to grant independence, using the excuse that there needed to be evidence that the different races in Malaya were able to work together and cooperate before independence could be obtained.

Race relations was the cause of Onn Jaafar stepping down. He wanted UMNO to be open to the Chinese and Indians but UMNO members were not ready to accept this. His successor, Abdul Rahman saw a way around this by forming a political alliance with the Malayan Chinese Association called the Alliance Party. The coalition proved to be popular among the people. The Alliance was later joined by the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) in 1955, representing the Indian community.

In the same year, the first federal general election was held, and the Alliance Party (Perikatan) won fifty-one out of the fifty-two seats contested. Abdul Rahman was selected as Malaya's first Chief Minister.

Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaiming Malayan independence.

Later in 1955 Abdul Rahman, along with Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock and Tun V. T. Sambanthan, made a trip to London to negotiate Malayan independence, and 31 August 1957 was decided as the date for independence. When the British flag was lowered in Kuala Lumpur on independence day, Abdul Rahman led the crowd in announcing "Merdeka!" (independence). Photographs of Abdul Rahman raising his hand, and recordings of his emotional but determined voice leading the cheers, have become familiar icons of Malaysian independence.

Premiership

Abdul Rahman dominated the politics of independent Malaya (which became Malaysia in 1963), and led the Alliance to landslide wins in the 1959, and 1964 general elections.

The formation of Malaysia was one of Abdul Rahman's greatest achievements. In 1961 he made a speech at the Foreign Correspondents Association of Southeast Asia in Singapore, proposing a federation Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. On 16 September 1963, with the federation of all these states except Brunei, Abdul Rahman was formally restyled Prime Minister of Malaysia.

However, the racial factor was worsened with the inclusion of Singapore, which increased the Chinese proportion to more than 40%. Both UMNO and the MCA were nervous about the possible appeal of Lee Kuan Yew's People's Action Party (PAP, then seen as a radical socialist party) to voters in Malaya, and tried to organise a party in Singapore to challenge Lee's position there. Lee in turn threatened to run PAP candidates in Malaya at the 1964 federal elections, despite an earlier agreement that he would not do so (see PAP-UMNO relations). This provoked Abdul Rahman to demand that Singapore withdraw from Malaysia.

On 7 August 1965, Abdul Rahman announced to the Parliament of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur that it should vote yes on the resolution to have Singapore leave the Federation, choosing to "sever all ties with a State Government that showed no measure of loyalty to its Central Government" as opposed to the undesirable method of repressing the PAP for its actions. Singapore's secession and independence became official on 9 August 1965.

At the 1969 general election, the Alliance's majority was greatly reduced. Demonstrations following the elections sparked the May 13 racial riots in Kuala Lumpur. Some UMNO leaders led by Tun Abdul Razak were critical of Abdul Rahman's leadership during these events, and an emergency committee MAGERAN took power and declared a state of emergency.

Abdul Rahman's powers as Prime Minister were severely curtailed, and on 22 September 1970, he was forced to resign as Prime Minister in favour of Abdul Razak. He subsequently resigned as UMNO President in June 1971, in the midst of severe opposition of the 'Young Turks' comprising party rebels such as Mahathir Mohammad and Musa Hitam. The duo later became Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia respectively. thumb|left|200px|As a Prime Minister of Malaya.

Involvements in Islam

After making Islam the official religion in 1960, Abdul Rahman established the Islamic Welfare Organisation (PERKIM), an organisation to help Muslim converts adjust to new lives as Muslims. He was President of PERKIM until a year before his death. In 1961 Malaysia hosted the first International Qur'an Recital Competition, an event that developed from Abdul Rahman's idea when he organised the first state-level competition in Kedah in 1951.

On the occasion of his 80th birthday, Abdul Rahman stated in the 9 February 1983 edition of the newspaper The Star that the "country has a multi-racial population with various beliefs. Malaysia must continue as a secular State with Islam as the official religion." In the same issue of The Star, Abdul Rahman was supported by the third Malaysian Prime Minister, Hussein Onn, who stated that the "nation can still be functional as a secular state with Islam as the official religion."

Sports involvement

Being an avid sportsman, Tunku Abdul Rahman was a firm believer that sports can be a good catalyst in bringing about greater social unity among Malaysians of various races and religions. Therefore he supported and initiated many sports events. These included an international football tournament, the Pestabola Merdeka (Independence Football Festival) in 1957. The following year, he was elected as the first president of Asian Football Confederation (AFC), a post he held until 1976.

Tunku also loved horse racing and was a regular at the Selangor Turf Club. He claimed that his lucky number was 13, and that he would win horse races that were held on the 13th of the month, especially on Friday the 13th for him.

In 1977, having acquired substantial shares in The Star, a Penang-based newspaper, Abdul Rahman became the newspaper's Chairman. His columns, "Looking Back" and "As I See It", were critical of the government, and in 1987 Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad banned the newspaper. This led to a split in UMNO, with Abdul Rahman and another former Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn, setting up a new party called UMNO Malaysia, but its registration was quashed by Mahathir Mohamad, who set up his own UMNO Baru ("New UMNO"). Abdul Rahman later supported Semangat 46, a splinter group of UMNO led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. He campaigned actively for the latter in the General election of 1990, but was already in very poor health. The well-educated, visionary Tunku clashes with Mahathir's brand of nationalism that was meant to help the economically and socially stunted Malays of Malaysia (allegedly due to the effect of colonial British 'divide and rule' system).

Death

Tunku Abdul Rahman died on 6 December 1990 at the age of eighty-seven, and was laid to rest at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum in Alor Star. A religious person was heard saying, "Tunku whole-round in heaven with the righteous." This sums up what most people think about him.

Family

Tunku married at least four times. It was in Kulim that Tunku married his first wife, a Thai Chinese woman named Miss Chong Ah Yong, a friend's daughter who converted to Islam and became Meriam Chong, Soon after Meriam's conversion to Islam she learnt to pray, and when the fasting month began, she persuaded Tunku to do so too. A year fater their marriage, Tunku's duaghter was born. He named her Tunku Khadijah. A year later, a son was born and named Tunku Ahmad Nerang. A month after Meriam gave birth to her second child, she contracted a severe attack of malaria. Although Tunku gave her the best remedies that he could obtain from Penang, she made little progress.

An English doctor from Alor Setar who visited her mistakenly gave her an injection of undiluted quinine, that killed her instantly. It was tragic misadventure but Tunku made no attempt to lodge an official report. On Meriam's death, Tunku wrote a letter to his former landlady in England, Violet Coulson. When the news of Meriam's death reached Violet, she handed over her management of her restaurant and sailed for Singapore without Tunku's knowledge. Once she arrived in Singapore, she wrote to Tunku, informing him of her arrival.

Tunku immediately took the train to Singapore and met Violet at her hotel. Together they walked about old times and their long friendship. Tunku and Violet were later married by the Kadi in the Malay mosque in Arab Street according to Muslim rites, Violet's Muslim name is Puteh Bte Abdullah after the conversion. Tunku then arranged for Violet to live in Penang for there was a law in Kedah which forbade members of royal family to marry non-Malays without the prior approval of the Ruler or Regent. Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, was known to be strongly apposed to mixed marriages, but he died unexpectedly in 1934 and was succeeded as Regent by Tunku Mahmud, the Sultan's younger brother, who was more broad-minded and gave consent to the marriage.

Soon before the World War II, Tunku applied for long leave from District officer, and left for England together with Violet. In London, Tunku and Violet decided on an amicable divorce. Violet then resumed the management of her restaurant in London. She later married an American who served the United States armed forces as Judge Advocate in England.

He then married Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah, with whom he adopted four children, Sulaiman, Mariam, Sharifah Hanizah (granddaughter) and Faridah.

Wanting to have more children of his own, he secretly married another Chinese lady named Bibi Chong who converted upon marriage. He had two daughters with her, Tunku Noor Hayati and Tunku Mastura.

Awards and recognition

• Tunku Abdul Rahman was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1961.

• He was appointed an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia in 1987.

• Tunku Abdul Rahman Stamp Issues: In 1991, he adorned part of the collection of Past Prime Ministers of Malaysia stamps issue. In 2003, stamps of Tunku Abdul Rahman were issued to commemorate his 100th birthday anniversary and to pay tribute to him as he was the first prime minister of Malaysia since Malaysia became an independent nation in 1957.

References

• From playboy to Prime Minister of Malaya, The Straits Times, August 31, 1957. (Reprinted on August 31, 2007 by the New Straits Times)

External links

• tunkuabdulrahman.com
• The Tunku Abdul Rahman centennial PhD scholarship fund at Cambridge University