Tariq Ismail
AUG 2 marked the 41st year since our nation witnessed the passing of one of our national heroes, Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, a man who personified strength, unity, tolerance, governance and the rule of law.
A principled man with a strict code of ethics, who would “even jail his own mother if she broke the law”, Dr Ismail had his own philosophy and vision of what he envisioned Malaysia to be.
Many stories and articles have highlighted Dr Ismail the man. I would like to look at Dr Ismail the institution and what he means to us today.
It can be argued that early 21st-century Malaysia resembles Malaysia circa the May 13, 1969, era, when race-based politics was prevalent, resulting in an atmosphere of heightened tension among Malaysia’s different races.
In 1969, Malaysia was merely 12 years old and in the midst of the Communist Insurgency.
This year, Malaysia does not suffer from any external threat in the form of Communism, nor is it suffering from any economic crisis that warrants any form of racial tension.
Some quarters argue that there is a lack of central leadership within the government. I think it is unfair to blame the current prime minister outright for our country’s calamities.
It was during May 13, 1969, and its aftermath that defined, arguably, our country’s two greatest leaders — Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and Dr Ismail — for their herculean effort to mend the fractured races and lay the foundation for this country to achieve economic prosperity.
It can also be argued that without the exemplary leadership of Malaysia’s twin towers of power of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would not have had the platform to launch his Vision 2020 and drive Malaysia to become a First World nation.
With the fires of May 13 still burning and the smoke not having subsided, Malaysia then could have easily succumbed to what many developing nations in the 1960s endured — to be governed by a military junta, which would have set this young nation back.
However, it was under the advice of the late General Tun Ibrahim Ismail, who persuaded Dr Ismail from seeking to impose martial law, that had led to the formation of the National Operations Council.
This was a time when certain quarters within Umno wanted to advocate Malay supremacy, and it was also said that Pas had used its influence to incite the ultraconservative religious Malays by saying both the multiracial parties of DAP and Gerakan had tried to incite the ultra-Chinese to go against the ruling party.
This exact scenario is seen today, with all parties inciting their own hardcore supporters to challenge the will of the prime minister, be they an opposition party or a non-governmental organisation purportedly allied with Umno.
Dr Ismail, the man and institution, would not have been successful if he had not had the respect and trust of Razak, and vice versa.
It was their cohesive relationship that allowed their rule to be unchallenged, as it was evident that the Malay right-wing factions within Umno, such as Dr Mahathir and Tun Musa Hitam, were silenced by the leadership.
Had the both of them not instilled confidence in the public via their unified principles and respective support systems — Razak among the rural Malays, and Dr Ismail having a close-knit relationship with the Chinese — the ultras would have had their way and Malaysia, as we now know it, would have entered the list of banana republics.
If one were to ask those who remember Dr Ismail, their answers would range from “a man of fairness” to “the best prime minister Malaysia never had”.
So, what shaped Dr Ismail’s philosophy? Was it his upbringing and education? Or perhaps, his close friendship with Robert and Philip Kuok? Or, was it that he believed Malaysia had a unique position in the world due to the multiethnic facet?
Perhaps, it was all three and more. He truly believed that for this country to move forward, we must look beyond our skin colour and religion. For truly, a great nation is a nation united.
The causes of May 13 have been debated over the decades, but none can argue the consequences the event has had on the relations of today’s Malaysian society.
During much of the 1980s and 1990s, these issues were masked by Malaysians united in chasing riches and the clever politicking of Dr Mahathir. Furthermore, May 13 was free from social media, and immature and irresponsible Netizens.
However, Dr Ismail saw it fit to introduce legislation to halt rumour-mongering, as it would have been detrimental to the implementation of the rule of law.
As home minister, Dr Ismail’s unrelenting, firm and uncompromising character allowed him to establish stability. While he was strict, he was not seen to be a dictator, nor were there complaints about any abuse of power.
He was determined for his philosophy to be instilled in the Home Ministry and its various departments, such as the police force, as the implementation of any rule of law requires that adherents be disciplined enough to know wrong from right.
Southeast Asia, during the 1960s, was a new frontier, with Communism trying to gain a foothold in not only Malaysia, but also Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
If there had not been strong leaders in the mould of Dr Ismail and Razak to unite the country in the face of adversity, Malaysia would have succumbed to external forces trying to control our infant nation.
Today, we see an advent of neo-colonialist powers and religious extremists via subversive elements undermining the harmony of Malaysia and the prime minister.
A prime minister’s strength not only lies in his ability to circumnavigate Malaysia’s political muddy waters, nor does it lie with his ideas, but boils down to his supporting cast.
The institution of government and its agencies is not to be blamed, rather, it is the supporting cast of individuals who have been given the responsibility to run the respective agencies.
Freedom is something that many falsely interpret and often abuse. Various inflammatory groups defile our Federal Constitution every time they speak and it is this fear that has not only caused worry among the other races, but among the liberal and educated Malays as well.
They do not represent the government, and yet, are allowed certain freedoms to openly voice their hatred.
Could it be the repressed fear of another May 13 and loss of purported power from the Malay base that have caused a tiny ripple to transform into a tidal wave?
Or, is it the fear of losing electoral support that has caused Umno to remain silent, while still healing from the wounds of the 13th General Election?
Since the Malaccan Empire under Sultan Mansur Shah, Malaysia has been a melting pot of different cultures and the epitome of a multicultural nation, before countries such as the United States of America even existed.
It is this ethos that Dr Ismail and Razak tried to hold on to in 1969.
Currently, Malaysia needs another Dr Ismail-like figure to instil confidence in other races. A person who will not only talk and reason with the people, but someone who will also walk and eat with them.
Allow Umno to take care of the Malays, but there must be a figure who transcends racial politics to truly unite this beautiful and multicultural nation.
Before the US, there was Malacca. Before the existence of Singapore and South Africa, there was Malaysia.
Dr Ismail lives in every one of us; Malay, Chinese, Indian or indigenous.
There must be strong principles within us. We should not allow our children to grow up with hate and lack of knowledge, for the ignorant Malaysian will be the ultimate downfall and detriment to the nation that we love.
Tariq Ismail is the grandson of Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman