Malaysia Day Formula For A Happy United Nation

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There are many Tengku in the country but only one Tunku – the man who was born on Feb 8, 1903, and died on Dec 6, 1990, at the age of 87. Although physically dead, he lives on in our memories and in the rich history of our nation which he helped build and steer.
If the Tunku had any simple formula for living, it must surely be this: live and let live. Bapa Malaysia said it many times, on many occasions. He repeated this life-enriching philosophy during a conversation I had with him, too, in the 1980s.
A few days before Merdeka in 1957, the Tunku said this: “I believe in allowing the people to have their own way so long as they observe the law and order of the country. I believe in allowing them to run their own lives and to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
“Let them wear what they want to wear; let them do what they want to do; let them go where they want to go. I do not think it is right to order their way of life.”
If the Tunku were alive today, he’d be shocked that some in authority think they know better what some or most of us should wear or do.
The nation’s first prime minister said if people wanted to have their own clubs for their own particular community, they should be allowed to do so because “clubs are made by a group or community of people for their social enjoyment.”
He added: “Let them have what they want so that they can have happiness and spread happiness in the country.”
Another example of his live and let live philosophy was made clear in a speech on Feb 8, 1967, the eve of Chinese New Year. It also demonstrated his practical mindedness. In wishing the Chinese Happy New Year, the Tunku noted: “There will be much firing of crackers as an expression of their joy, and those who live in the urban areas will no doubt be disturbed and perhaps lose a few hours of sleep.
“But what does it matter so long as it makes others happy. As I have said before, it is better to lose a little sleep through the firing of crackers than lose many lives through the firing of guns.
“Let everyone, therefore, take this noisy cracker-firing in the happy spirit of the joyous occasion. Chinese New Year, like our other great festivals, comes but once a year.”
The late historian and professor emeritus Khoo Kay Kim once recalled that when Tunku was the chancellor of the University of Malaya, some students held a protest against him. The Tunku shrugged it off, saying: “Let them do it. They are just naughty boys. They will grow out of it.”
If something like that were to happen today, woe betide the students. Not only will disciplinary action be taken against them, including possible expulsion, some super smart man would even call in the police to investigate their “subversive” activities.
Former minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah once said: “The Tunku’s tolerance for all things and everything, and especially racial tolerance, is legendary. He was very forgiving, a sincere God-fearing man who would dismiss howlers and clangers with his infectious laughter.”
One shouldn’t mistake his live and let live philosophy as an acceptance of mediocrity or laziness or carelessness or ineptitude. It didn’t mean taking a lackadaisical attitude to, say, criminal acts or corruption. No.
It was grounded on his ability to see that despite all our differences – whether gender or race or religion or educational – we all want to be safe, we all want to be happy and we all want to progress.
Tunku’s live and let live philosophy was predicated on the equality of all citizens and it sought to ensure that everyone shared in the nation’s progress and happiness.
He had some excellent character traits that we can and should emulate, foremost being his tolerance, his sense of humour, his live and let live philosophy and his desire for everyone to be happy.
He famously said: “For us in the Alliance, we have no dogmas other than to ensure happiness for the people.” He added: “What I gave to one, I also gave to others. In this way, we made everybody happy. This has always been my aim.”
The quintessential Tunku can perhaps be reflected in this story about him, a story that is most timely given the current political shenanigans and questions about judicial impartiality.
Once, in the early years of nationhood, he sued a prominent leader of Parti Negara for defamation. The High Court judge, who had been appointed just three months earlier on the Tunku’s recommendation, dismissed the claim for lack of evidence.
What do you think the Tunku did? Did he hit the roof? Did he try to undermine the judiciary? No. He neither commented nor appealed the decision.
Why? I guess it is because he respected the separation of powers. He didn’t feel that his authority had been questioned, or that he had been slighted. It is also because he is not a vengeful person but someone who would live and let live.
Unfortunately, this nation began to go downhill when some of those who came after the Tunku had other ideas. They introduced policies and programmes that made some Malaysians happy and some frustrated; they didn’t have his sense of tolerance or humour; and they became more focused on the politics of power and in helping their families and friends than on bringing happiness to everyone.
This nation began to go downhill when some of us – ordinary citizens – played into the hands of ambitious politicians and overzealous religious leaders into rejecting Tunku’s philosophy of live and let live, of compromise and cooperation, of goodwill and tolerance.
This nation began to go downhill when those who saw the injustices being done in the name of politics, or governance, or religion, or race, chose to remain silent for whatever reason.
But it’s not too late. As the Tunku said: “This is a wonderful country. There’s a place here for everybody.”
We can all start by pledging to adopt the Tunku’s live and let live policy as we celebrate Malaysia Day this year. Our Cabinet ministers, political leaders, senior civil servants and heads of NGOs should lead the way. Will they? - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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