KUALA LUMPUR: Hard but fair, generous to a fault and never predictable.
These were the superlatives those familiar with the late Tan Sri Ani Arope used to describe the man, who was widely regarded as being among the most respected and colourful personalities to grace the Malaysian corporate world.
His death at 82 yesterday, after years of battling cancer, evoked an outpouring of grief from various quarters, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was among the first to convey his condolences to Ani’s family after the news of his death broke.
Ani was, as described by his contemporaries, an intensely hued corporate figure. He was not easy to work with, but was always fair with his demands.
Characterised by his straightforward old-school approach, his peers and those who had the pleasure of drumming meeting tables with him learnt first hand of his honesty.
“I got to know Tan Sri Ani well when I was corporate adviser to TNB. He was ‘old school’ at best.
“He was demanding, but always fair. He was honest and stood up for honesty. And, he was a nationalist, always thinking country before self,” said CIMB Group chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.
Nazir hinted that Ani was not always the stern individual he was usually made out to be.
“We will miss his charm and witty remarks, which livened the driest of occasions. My deepest condolences to Puan Sri (Saenah Ahmad) and the entire family.”
Ani’s youngest son, Ismail Ani, said his father was philanthropic in nature and would not hesitate to help students further their studies, even if it were to be overseas.
Ismail said his father had helped more than 50 people, all of whom had become, in more ways than one, his adopted children.
“He had so many adopted children, including some living overseas. Even we (immediate family) are unsure of the exact number.”
As an illustrious industry leader in a developing nation, Ani was not a man without controversy. He made headlines more than 15 years ago, upon his abrupt resignation from TNB in 1996.
Stories of friction between him and then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over an issue involving independent power producers, as told in the former’s biography, Memoirs of Tan Sri Ani Arope, which was published last year, caused a stir among political opportunists.
A much-respected figure and the country’s first Fulbright scholarship recipient, Ani also won accolades from common detractors to the government. DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, for example, proposed that Ani be awarded the title “Tun” posthumously.
Ani was TNB executive chairman from 1992 to 1996 and was the chief executive at several private companies, and chairman at institutions of higher learning and various organisations. Among other positions, Ani was the first Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute deputy director, holding the post from 1969 to 1972.
He held the post of chairman at Institut Teknologi Mara (now known as Universiti Teknologi Mara). He was also chairman of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s board of directors and Malaysian Palm Oil Council chairman.