Learning from the past

I'm an avid fan of Malaysian biographies and autobiographies. It is fun and interesting reading for me. Some would find this weird but I just love them. I can hardly go through my physiology and pharmacology but I can religiously go through page by page in one night on these type of books. Going through the lives of our forefathers gave me the insight of how their mind works and most importantly ethics of integrity.

The latest book that i bought and managed to finish it within 24 hours would be the Tun Dr Ismail story ; the reluctant politician. I've always been intrigued by the mystery of being the "Prime Minister" who never was. He was remembered fondly by the elder politicians as an example on what people politics is all about. I was brought up in Taman Tun Dr Ismail , studied in SM Taman Tun Dr Ismail but i never knew who he really was - except as the Deputy Prime MInister who died in office and the first to be buried as a national hero.

Tun was a shrewd no nonsense leader - very nationalistic but fair at the same time. He was seen as pro malay but at the same time realizes the need for unification of races to achieve a true Malaysia. He was liberal in his daily practice ( as how most malay leaders in that era ) that i doubt the book will be translated to malay as many "religious" issues may be questioned. The current crop of university's student leadership that sways towards "real- islam" will definitely question personal habits of gambling and drinking and not focusing on his true contribution towards what we have today.

His contribution was immense - justified by Tunku and Tun Razak's trust on him. He was always viewed as the "third" man of the country after those two figures. Many feared him for his straightforwardness and respected him for his principles. I've been told by his grand nephew how his family continued the tradition on being firm with one's principal - a legacy of famous doctors in Malaysia ( Tan Sri Yahya Awang , TAn Sri Abu Bakar etc ) who stayed in the service till their retirement in order to fulfill "serve the country above self" policy.

Tun was reluctant on being the typical politician - taking all the advantage at helm ( logically who wouldn't ? ). He was a true nationalist and i believe that our history books should highlight him more than what is available in the syllabus at the moment.