Tunku Great IDEAS Final Print Version Feb 2011

February 2011

IDEAS REPOR REPO RT

The Tunku’s Tunku’s Great G reat Ideas

 By Lenard Lim Yangli Yangli with foreword by  Tunku ‘Abidin Muhriz

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The Tunku’s great ideas By Lenard Lim Yangli Foreword by  Tunku ‘Abidin Muhriz

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Contents About the author

3

Acknowledgements

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Foreword

4

Introduction

5

Rule of law

6

Limited government

9

Free market

12

Individual liberty

16

Conclusion

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Bibliography

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About the Institute for Democracy and Economic Aff Affairs airs

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About the author LenardLimYangliconducted angliconductedthisstudyduringashortstintatIDEASbetw thisstudyduringashortstintatIDEASbetweenDecemeenDecember2010andJanuary2011.HeisnowcompletinghisstudiesatMid HeisnowcompletinghisstudiesatMiddleburyCollege, dleburyCollege, USA,majoringinHistory.

Acknowledgements TheauthorisindebtedtoArkibNegara,especiallytheMemorialTunkuAbdulRahman Library,,andPerpustakaanNega Library andPerpustakaanNegarafortheircooperati rafortheircooperationandassistancetow onandassistancetowardsthisstudy ardsthisstudy..

©February2011IDEASMalaysia InstituteforDemocracyandEconomicAffairs(IDEAS) D6TamanTunku,BukitTunku 50480KualaLumpur,Malaysia Email:[email protected] Tel:+60362018896/8897 Fax:0362110222

ISBN978-967-0143-04-0

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Foreword Thesedaysitsometimesfeelsthatournationisbeing inltratedbyextremistsandthosegoadingforan argumentorevenviolence, argumentorev enviolence,butthankfullysuchshows butthankfullysuchshows areimmediatelycondemnedbyavocalcivilsociety. Asaresult,wearealsoseeingTunku’snamebeing rehabilitatedandhisoriginalvi rehabilitat edandhisoriginalvisionbeingclamo sionbeingclamoured ured forbythosefedupwiththeinanebickeringthat dominatesourheadlines.

WhenwelaunchedtheInstituteforDemocracy andEconomicAffairs(IDEAS)on8February2010, claimingthatwewereinspiredbyvisionofTunku AbdulRahmanPutra,someobserversexpressed someobserversexpressed doubtthatourrstPrimeMinisteractually doubtthatourrstPrimeM inisteractuallywould would havesupportedourwork.Ofcourse,wewould neverclaimthathewould neverclai mthathewouldhavesupp havesupported ortedeverything  wedo.Butweareconvincedthathewouldhave supportedourfourcoreprinciplesofindividual liberty,ruleoflaw,limitedgovernmentandfree markets.Iknewthisbecause,growingup,Ihad regularlycomeacrosstheTunku’swritings,orheard somevignetteabouthimfromold somevignetteabouthi mfromoldergenerations, ergenerations,and and everysuchoccasionimpresseduponmehisbeliefs thatImyselfonlyunderstoodandadoptedata laterstage,afterIexperiencedpoliticsi laterstage, afterIexperiencedpoliticsintheUnited ntheUnited Kingdom.

Assuch,webelievethisprécisoftheTunku’sviews istimely.Theargumentsaresupportedbysomeof theT the Tunku’sbestqu unku’sbestquotes, otes,andou andourinter rintern nY Yanglihas scouredthestockattheMemorialTunkuAbdul Rahman,nationalarchivesandthenatio nationalarchivesandthenationallibrary nallibrary forrarermaterial.Still,manyofhisspeechesare apparentlyunavailable,seeminglylosttohistory.It isasadindictmentthattheofcialcustodiansofour nation’shistoricaldocumentsdonotevenhavethe completesetofourrstPrimeMinister’ completesetofourrstPri meMinister’sspeeches. sspeeches. Ofcourse,somemightaccuseusofbeingselective Ofcourse,somemightaccuseusofbei ngselective inourquotestoshowonlythosethatsupport ourcase.ThewonderfulthingaboutourAyahanda Kemerdekaanisthathewasanavidwriter,and ifyoureadhiscompilationsofarticles,youwill ndaconsistencysurpassingthatofsomeethnonationalistswhoseviewsseemtochangewiththe monsoonwinds.Whatisevenmoreinspirational isthathestuckbyhisbeliefsevenifitcosthim politically.Hecouldveryeasilyhavepanderedto populistideasandperhapslengthenedhispolitical career,butinsteadheaccepteddefeatlikethe gentlemanthathewas.

Itwasonlyaftersomediscussionthatwedecided thatweshouldstronglyasso thatweshoul dstronglyassociateourselvesw ciateourselveswiththe iththe Tunku.Therewasinitiallysomehesitationbecause ofthepartypoliticalimplicationsit ofthepartypolitical implicationsitmighthav mighthaveon eon us.However,werealisedthatboththattheparty andallianceheonceheadednolongeractuallyexist (despiteothers’besteffortstorewritehistory), (despiteothers’besteffortstor ewritehistory),and and asanindividualheisjustabouttheonly asanindividual heisjustabouttheonlypolitician politician toreceiveaccoladesonbothsi toreceiv eaccoladesonbothsidesofthepolitical desofthepolitical dividetoday.Thesupportwehavereceivedfrom theTunku’sdescendantshasbeenphenomenal,and hearingtheirrst-handaccountsofeventshasbeen utterlyenlightening.

Itishopedthatthroughthispamphlet,wecanspark Itishopedthatthroughthispamphlet, wecanspark arenewedinterestinthew arenew edinterestinthewordsanddeedsofthi ordsanddeedsofthis s prince,ifnotamongstthepresentcropofpoliticians, thenatleastinsomeofthecitizenswhowill determinethenextcrop.

Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz Founder President, IDEAS

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The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas Introduction conceptsofruleoflaw,limitedgovernment,free marketandindividualliberty.Throughexamining TunkuAbdulRahman’swriting,speechesand

... with God’s blessing shall be forever a sovereign, democratic and independent State founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations. 1

interviews,Iwillseektovalidatemyhypothesis. Thisstudyisgroupedintochaptersacco Thisstudyisgro upedintochaptersaccordingto rdingto thefourmainprinciplesofclassicalliberalism–the ruleoflaw,limitedgovernment,freemarketand individualliberty.EachchapterwillexploreTunku AbdulRahman’sstandontherespectiveconcept sstandontherespectiveconcept anddemonstratehisbeliefsthroughexcerptsofhis

writings,speeches,interviewsandalsoanecdotes ... Ensuring a liberal approach fromothersources.Thestudywillthencomeup  to her rich and diverse cultural withanoverallconclusionattheend.  tradition.2        “

Oneshortcomingofthisstudyistheincompleteness

TheProclamationofIndependenceandthe

oforiginalliterature. oforiginall iterature.Mostoftheliteratur MostoftheliteraturethatI ethatI

Rukunegara areundoubtedlyamongMalaysia’smost

haveexaminedisinEnglish-eithertheTunku’sown

importantdocuments.Theformerwasreadoutby

writingsortranslations, writingsortranslati ons,particularlyofhisspeeches particularlyofhisspeeches

TunkuAbdulRahmanonthatfatefuldayinAugust,

duringhispremiership.Furthermore,Ihavenot

1957,markingthereignofhispremiership.Thelatter

beenabletoexamineallofTunkuAbdulRahman’s

wasreadout12yearslaterduringTunkuAbdul

speeches,especiallythosefr speeches, especiallythosefrom1960to1970asthey om1960to1970asthey

Rahman’slastofcialMer Rahman’ slastofcialMerdekadaycel dekadaycelebrationas ebrationas

arenotallavailableattheMemorialTunkuAbdul

PrimeMinister.

Rahman’slibrary,ArkibNegara,ortheNational Library.

Unfortunately, Unfortun ately,justlike just likeT TunkuAbdulRahmanh unkuAbdulRahmanhimself, imself, bothdocumentshavenotbeengiventhenecessary scholarshiptheydeserve.Thisstudyseeksto correctthat.IbelievethatTunkuAbdulRahman wasaclassicalliberal, wasaclassicalli beral,andthathesubscribedtothe andthathesubscribedtothe 1 Proclamati Proclamation on of Independence, 31 31 August 1957 2 Preamble of the Rukunegara

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The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas Rule of law Uponnishinghisstudies,TunkuAbdulRahman workedasaDistrictOfcerinKedah.Hewould

InhislastnationallybroadcastedspeechasPrime

laterreturntoEnglandtwicetocompletehisstudies

Ministerdeliveredontheev Ministerdeliv eredontheeveofMerdekada eofMerdekadayin yin 1970,TunkuAbdulRahmansolemnlyurgedMalaysians toobserveveprinciplesoftheRukunegara before

1947attheageof46.TunkuAbdulRahmanreturned toMalaysiain1949andw toMala ysiain1949andworkedattheLegalOf orkedattheLegalOfce ce

announcingthatTunRazakwillbereplacinghim

inAlorStarbeforebecomingaDeputyPublic

soonasPrimeMinister. 1Tunku’smovingspeech

ProsecutorinKualaLumpur.Assuch,TunkuAbdul

providedapreviewtothe Rukunegara ,whichwas

Rahman’supbringingandcar Rahman’ supbringingandcareergreatlycont eergreatlycontributed ributed

laterproclaimedthefollowingdaybytheYangdi-

towardshisappreciationoftheruleoflaw.

PertuanAgonginconjunctionwiththeMerdekaDay celebrationof1970.

Theconceptoftheruleoflaw,whicharguesthat everyonecouldbejudged,hasalongaccompanying

TheRukunegara, formulatedinthewakeofthe

historytoit.Whilecommonlyattributedtothe

tragedyof13May1969, tragedyof13Ma y1969,espousesthevisionof espousesthevisionof

AncientGreekphilosophersPlatoandAristotle,the

Malaysiaandveguidingprinciples,namely:Beliefin

conceptoftheruleoflawhasalso conceptoftheruleofl awhasalsosproutedorbeen sproutedorbeen

God;LoyaltytoKingandCountry;Upholdingthe

afrmedindependentlyinothercivilizationssuchas

Constitution;SovereigntyoftheLaw;andGood

theChinese,thePersians,theArabsandtheEnglish.

BehaviourandMorality.Likewise,theseprinciplesof theRukunegara alsottinglydescribeTunkuAbdul

Infact,ancientMalaykingdomsacknowledged

Rahman.Oncedubbedasthe“nation’sconscience”,

theimportanceoftheruleoflaw.Clauseson

theGod-fearingTunkuwasarmbelieverin

theTerengganuInscriptionStone(Batu Bersurat 

constitutionalismandtheruleoflaw. 2

Terengganu )of1303statethateventheRuleris

subjectedtoahigherlaw.

Growingupasaprince,TunkuAbdulRahman benettedfromarelativelyprivilegedupbringing.

Indeedeveryoneshouldbesubjectedtothesameset

Hereceivedhisearlyeducatio Hereceiv edhisearlyeducationinBangko ninBangkokand kand

ofrulesandlaws.Asystemofgovernmentinwhich

subsequentlythePenangFreeSchoo subsequentlytheP enangFreeSchoolpriortogainin lpriortogaining g

allpersons,includingthoseinpositionsofpower,

admittanceatStCatharine’ admittanceatStC atharine’sCollegeatCambri sCollegeatCambridge dge

areaccountableunderthelaw areaccountabl eunderthelawisthebestsafeguard isthebestsafeguard

Universitytoreadhistoryandlaw.

againstdictatorshipandtotalitarianism.DavidBoaz

1 For the full speech, see “Face The The Future With Faith and Without Fear” in Victor Morais, Selected Speeches . (Petaling Jaya: Perchetakan Tenggara at Malayan Printers, 1967), 58-60 2 “‘Tunku & The Star’ exhibition exhibition at Memorial Memorial Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra” The Star. December 15, 2010. Available at http://thestar.com.my/  metro/story.asp?sec=central&f metro/story. asp?sec=central&file=/2010/ ile=/2010/ 12/15/central/761358 12/15/central/76135855 (Accessed 29 December, 2010)

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atInnerTemple,eventuallyqualifyingfortheBarin

6

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas oftheCatoInstitutefurtherelaboratestheconcept

LegislativeCounciltoacceptth LegislativeC ounciltoacceptthenewconstitutio enewconstitution n

ofruleoflawwhenhearguesthatthela ofruleofla wwhenhearguesthatthelawsshould wsshould

foranindependentMalayawithhisspeech:

be“generallyapplicableanddevelopedlegalrules, notbyarbitrarycommands”,andthat“thoserules

TheConstitutionprovidestheframeworkfora

shouldprotectthefreedomofin shouldpro tectthefreedomofindividualstopursue dividualstopursue

happyandcontentedFederation.Letusmakeit

happinessintheirownwa happinessintheiro wnways, ys,notaimatanypa notaimatanyparticular rticular

workandbuildourselvesandourdescendents

resultoroutcome.” 1

aShangri-lawherebywecanallliveinpeace, happinessandprosperity.3

InaninterviewwithformerFarEasternEconomic

TunkuAbdulRahmanstronglybelievedthatthe

ReviewKualaLumpurBureauChiefVeerasingam

constitutionwouldprov constitutionw ouldprovidethenewlyi idethenewlyindependent ndependent

Kukathas,betterknownbyhispennameK.Das,

Malayawithastron Mala yawithastrongfoundationto gfoundationtobuildagreat buildagreat

TunkuAbdulRahman(TAR)hadthistosaywhen

andprosperousnation.Furthermore,inaspeech

askedtodenetheruleoflaw:

deliveredtotheConferenceofAsianJuristinTokyo in1961,Tunkuarguedthattheruleoflawwas

TAR:Youmustobservethelaw,respectanduphold

fundamentaltowardsmaintaini fundamentalto wardsmaintainingpeaceandsecurity: ngpeaceandsecurity:

 thelaw,thatishowitissupposedtobe.Torespect  theruleoflaw,youdon’thavetobealawyer.We knowtheruleofthelawissupposedtoprovide

Itis,therefore,thedutyofbothmenandthe

 justiceandsoon.Weknowallthat,butthereare

nation–ofmeninrelationtotheirownStateand

certainquestionsthathavetodowithjusticewith

ofnationsintherelationtoanother–tospareno

fairplay…

efforttosustaintheruleoflawtoensurethereign

Das:ThewayIunderstandit,theruleoflawisthe

ofpeace.

rulebylawwhichobservetheprinciplesofnatural  justice.

 WeinMalayahavearmandenduringrespectfor

TAR:Thatisthemainthing–naturaljustice.

 theruleoflaw,andclearlydenedourConstitution

Das:Ifyougobeyondthat,itisonlyalegality.

asthesupremelawoftheFederation…

TAR:That’sright. 2

…Itisourrmbelief,enshrinedinprincipleand provedbyexperience,thattheindependenceofthe authorityandintegrityoflawisanessentialbasisfor

ForTunkuAbdulRahman,theruleoflawwasof

democracy,,bindingandprotectingboththestate democracy

utmostimportance.Whileghtingforindependence,

andthecitizens.4

TunkuAbdulRahmanwonovertheFederal

www.cato.org/pub_ display.php?pub_id=5758 (Accessed on January www.cato.org/pub_ 2, 2011)

3 Speech to Federal Legislative Legislative Council Council on July 10, 1957. Published Published in The Straits Times, July 11, 1957. Compiled in Tunku: In His Words. (Malaysia: NSTP Resource Centre, 2009), 76

2 Kua Kia Soong, K. Das & The Tunku Tapes. (Malaysia: SIRD,

4 The Malay Mail , September 18, 1961. Compiled in Tunku: In His Words.

1 David Boaz, “Key Concepts of Libertarianism Libertarianism”. ”. Available at http:// 

(Malaysia: NSTP Resource Centre, 2009), 76

2002), 134-135

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7

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas NoonewasabovethelawforTunkuAbdulRahman.

variousincidentsandabuseswhichhadallegedly

Infact,thisisparticularlytrueforthepeoplewhoare thisisparticularlytrueforthepeoplewhoare beenperpetrated,TunkuAbdulRahmanactually responsibleforcreatingthelaws.Whenrecallingthe

voicedamodicumofsupporttow voicedamo dicumofsupporttowardschangesinthe ardschangesinthe

incidentofSelangorMenteriBesar,Dato’SeriHarun

Constitutiontorectifysomeoftheabuses:

Idriswhorefusedtoattendthecourttoreceivehis  judgmentonbeingfoundguiltyofco  judgmentonbeingf oundguiltyofcorruptiondueto rruptiondueto

Inthisdemocratic,egalitarianageitisundesirable

abuseofstatefunds,TunkuAbdulRahmandidnot

 thatanyoneshouldbecompletelyabovethela  thatanyoneshouldbecom pletelyabovethelaw. w.

mincehiswords:

IftheRuleristobemadeliable,asinthecaseofa privateperson,undertheprovisionofthecriminal lawofMalaysia(whichisaFederallaw),then

Thelawsofthecountryaremadebythe

appropriateconstitutionalamendmentisnecessary.4

Governmentandmostofthepeopleinthe GovernmentbelongtoUMNO.Assuchthepeople

Itisunfortunate,however,thatthechanges

whomadethelawshouldabidebythem.1

introducedatthattimeresultedonlyinafurther IfUMNOmembersdisregardedtheconstitution

strengtheningoftheexecutive.Therealneed

andthelaw,includingcourtorders,thentheycould

-improvingtheeffectivenessofourcheckand

notexpectanythingbetterfromothers.2

balanceinstitutions-wasnotproperlyaddressed. Nonetheless,TunkuAbdulRahmanremained

Becauseofhisroyalupbringi Becauseofhisr oyalupbringingwitnessingtheSultan ngwitnessingtheSultan

consistenttilltheendonthesupremacyofthe

havingabsolutepower havingabsolut epower,, TunkuAbdulRahmanwa unkuAbdulRahmanwaswell swell

Constitutionandtheimportanceoftheruleoflaw.

awareofthedangersofthemonar awar eofthedangersofthemonarchsbeingabov chsbeingabove e

PerhapsthebestexampleofTunkuAbdulRahman’s

thelaw.ForT ForTunkuAbdulRahman,theConstitu unkuAbdulRahman,theConstitutionis tionis

commitmentisdemonstratedinhisMerdeka commitmentisdem onstratedinhisMerdekaday day

thesupremelawoftheland,andthemonarchsare

speechof1969–shortlyafteroneofthedarkest

notaboveit:

periodsofhispremiership:

 Justastheconstitutionensuresthathisofce

Theconstitutionissupremeanditmustbeupheld

isrespected,sotoomustaRulerrespectthe

byallirrespectiveofclass,creedorcolour, creedorcolour,itisalso

3

Constitution.

apermanentguaranteeofstabilityandcontinuityin  thelifeofthisnation.5

Assuch,whenthenPrimeMinisterTunDrMahathir beganhiscrusadeagainstthemonarchsbyusing thealready-curtailedmainstreammedia thealready-curtailed mainstreammediatohighlight tohighlight

1 “The Harun Affair”, The Star , 6 March 1978

4 “Review the Constitution” Constitution”,, The Star , 31 August 1984

2 “Looking back at 1978”, The Star , 1 January 1979

5 Merdeka day speech delivered delivered on 31 August, 1969

3 “The Ruler Ruler and Their Responsibility” Responsibility”,, The Star , 13 July 1975

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8

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas theLegislatureandourconstitutionalmonarchy,

Limited government

particularlytheinstitutionoftheConferenceof Rulers.

InmytimewehadaCabinetof13Ministers.Even  thentheydidn’thaveenoughwork.  thentheydidn’thaveenoughw ork.Whattheydo Whattheydo

AsatrainedlawyerthroughtheBritishsystem,

nowwith45,Idon’tknow. 1

TunkuAbdulRahmanstudiedtheseparationof InhisinterviewwiththeNewStraits InhisinterviewwiththeN ewStraitsTimesin Timesin

powersbetweentheExecutive,theJudiciaryand

1983,TunkuAbdulRahmanwasexasperatedatthe

theLegislature.TunkuAbdulRahmanperfectly

sizeofCabinetofthenPrimeMinisterDato’Seri

understoodtheimportanceofcheckandbalances. understoodtheimpo rtanceofcheckandbalances.

DrMahathirMohamad.Imaginehisdisgustwere

Whilecommentingontheexecutive,TunkuAbdul

hearoundtondoutthatunderPrimeMinister

RahmanelaboratestheroleoftheYangdi-Pertuan

Dato’SeriAbdullahAhmadBadawi,thesizeofthe

AgongandtheCabinet:

ministerialranksmorethandoubledtoanalltime TheauthorityofthecrownisvestedintheKing,but

highof93!2

 theexecutivepowerofthemonarchisexercisedby  thePrimeMinisterandhisCabinet.3

Fortheauthor,thegovernmentisaninstitution towhichcitizensdelegatetheauthoritytogovern. Nonetheless,governmentisapowerfulinstitution

Despitehisroyalheritage,TunkuAbdulRahmanwas

anditcaneasilybecomeadangero anditcaneasily becomeadangerousone, usone,especially especially

clearabouttheroleoftheRulers.Healwaysupheld

whenitcancoercecitizensintoob whenitcancoer cecitizensintoobedience, edience,

thattheConstitutionisthesupremelawofthe

subvertingtheverypeoplewhobestowedupon

land,andthattherulersarenotaboveit.Hisdeep

themtheauthoritytogovern.Topreventsuch

fascinationwiththestoryofRajaBersiong, fascinationwi ththestoryofRajaBersiong,loosely loosely

coercion,thegovernmentmustbelimited.

basedontheHikayat Merong Mahawangsa ,provides usinsightsintohisstandaboutpower,theRulersand

Theconceptoflimitedgovernmentarguesthatthe

thepeople.Inthestory,theRuler,RajaOngMaha

powersofthegovernmentmustbeconstrained,

Peritadevelopsatasteforhumanblood.Overtime,

usuallythroughawrittenconsti usuallythr oughawrittenconstitutionthatboth tutionthatboth

hegrewfangsandbeganattackingthepeopleof

enumeratesandlimitsexecutiv enumeratesandlimi tsexecutivepowerwi epowerwithchecks thchecks

hiskingdomtofeastonthem.Intheend,thetown

andbalances.InMalaysia,thesechecksandbalances

peoplebecamefuriousandkilledtheRuler.Indeed,

arenormallypresentintheformoftheJudiciary,

TunkuAbdulRahmanstronglybelievedthatthe peopleofMalaysiatrulyheldpower:

1 From an interview with with Halinah Halinah Todd. Published Published in New Straits Times, February 8, 1983. Compiled in Tunku: In His Words. (Malaysia: NSTP Resource Centre, 2009), 84. Note that Tunku Abdul Rahman also counted his Deputy Ministers, and as such also counted Dr Mahathir’s Deputy Ministers

3 “Malaysia’s Monarch: Democratic Democratic Symbol and Basis for Stable Stable Government”, The Star , 6 July 1975

2 After his landslide victory victory in the General General Elections of March 2004, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi appointed 33 Ministers, 38 Deputy Ministers and even created 22 new positions of Parliamentar Parliamentaryy Secretaries.

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9

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas Theconstitutionimplieswithoutroomfor

Thefunctionofagoodcivilserviceistoensurethat

contradictionthatthoughtheSultansaresovereign

 theprogressandwell-beingofthecountrywillbe

headsofstatetheyhavenopowertorule. headsofstatetheyhavenopo wertorule.The The

alwaysmaintained,andthatitwillcarryoutpolicies

powerliesinthehandsofthepeoplewhothrough

ofthegovernmentinpower ofthegovernmentinpow er,,subjectalwaystothe

 theirrepresentativesrunthegovernmentofthe

constitution.4

nationandthestates.1 IhaveinformedtheHousebeforethattheduties Thepeoplehaveanunquestionablerighttoexpect

andresponsibilitiesofGovernmentofcersareto

 thatthegovernmentandMPstheyelect,andthe

managetheday-to-dayaffairsoftheGovernment

ofcersofthecivilservice,whosesalariestheypay,

machineryandnevertointerferewithpolicy.

shall,inreturnforthecondenceandtrustthey havereceived,honourtheobligationstheyhave honourtheobligationstheyhave

 We(theCabinet)haveneverbeeninuenced

 tothepeople,andthatmeanstoallcitizensof

bytheirpolicy.Oncertainoccasions,however,

Malaysia.2

weaskthemfortheiradviceanditisuptothe Governmenttoacceptsuchadviceornot.

IrepeatthattherealRulersofMalaysiaarethe peoplewhoundertheConstitutionassumepowers

ButthepolicymustremaintheGovernment’s–it

completeandabsolute,andsuchpowersasthey

istheGovernment’sresponsibility.Ifitisproved

wieldcanendtheruleofanyRuleratamoment's

wrong,thentheMinistersstandtobeblamed, thentheMinistersstandtobeblamed,but but

notice.3

nevertheGovernmentservants.5

TunkuAbdulRahmanalsosupportedseparationof

WhenhewasstillPrimeMinister,andassuchpart

powerwithin thevariousbranchesofstatepower.

oftheExecutivebranchofgovernment,TunkuAbdul

Forexample,withintheExecutivebranchTunku

Rahmanrespectedandupheldtheconceptofthe

AbdulRahmansawthecivilservice’ AbdulRahmansa wthecivilservice’sroleasthe sroleasthe

separationofpowersinthego separationofpo wersinthegovernment. vernment.Inaspeech Inaspeech

vehicletocarryoutthepoliciesoftheg vehicleto carryoutthepoliciesofthegovernmento overnmentof f commemoratingTunkuAbdulRahman,JusticeDato’ theday.TheirroleisseparatefromtheCabinet,and

 JamesFoonggavetw  JamesFoong gavetwoanecdotesofthisseparati oanecdotesofthisseparation. on.6

assuch,theyshouldneverinterferewithanydecision

TherstincidentwaswhenTunkuAbdulRahman

makingprocesses.Therefore,thecivilservantsare

unsuccessfullytriedtosueaprominentpartyleader

nevertobeblamedformerel nevertobebl amedformerelycarryingoutorders, ycarryingoutorders,

ofthenowdefunctPartiNegarafordefamation.The

shouldtherebeanymistakeinthepo shouldtherebean ymistakeinthepoliciesofthe liciesofthe

HighCourtJudge, HighCourtJudg e,whojustthreemo whojustthreemonthsearlierhad nthsearlierhad

government:

beenappointedafterbeingrecommendedbyTunku

1 “Princes and Politics”, The Star , 23 January 1978

4 “Power-seeker “Power-seekerss in the government”, Viewpoints, 58

2 “Plight of New Muslims Muslims Beyond the Fringe Fringe After Conversion”, Conversion”, The Star , 18 August August 1975

5 Speech in in Dewan Rakyat. Published in The Straits Times, December 15, 1962

3 “That British British Newspaper Report Report On Our Next King: All Spite and Venom”, The Star , 5 March 1984

6 “Late Bloomer Bloomer With Great Timing”, Timing”, Justice Dato’ James James Foong, 11 June 2008. Available at http://aliran.com/764.html http://aliran.com/764.html (Accessed on January 3, 2011)

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10

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas AbdulRahman,dismissedthecaseduetothelackof dismissedthecaseduetothelackof

Inactualfact,membersareentitledtovoteanyway

evidence.. Althoughd evidence Althoughdisappointe isappointed, d,T TunkuAbdulRahman

 theyliketosupportortoopposeanyBillpresented

acceptedthedecisiongracefullyanddidnotsubmit

intheHouse.ThisishowParliamentworks.There

anappealnorcommentnegativel anappealnorcom mentnegativelytothemedia. ytothemedia.

isnoreasonablecauseforexpellingmemberswho voteagainstaBill.2

ThesecondincidentwaswhenTunkuAbdulRahman

 Wemustrespectthewishesofthepeople.  W emustrespectthewishesofthepeople.Thisis Thisis

attemptedtorecommendanoldfriendtobecome

 theveryessenceofdemocracy.Menintheirofcial

aHighCourtJudge.TheChiefJusticehowever,

capacitywithpowervestedinthemshouldalways

voicedstrongreservationsov voicedstr ongreservationsoverthesuitabilityof erthesuitabilityof

bemindfulofthefeelingsofothers,particularlythe

thecandidate.TunkuAbdulRahmanacceptedthis

smallman.3

opinionandwithdrewhi opinionandw ithdrewhissuggestion, ssuggestion,ratherthan ratherthan insistonthenarrowinterpr insistonthenarr owinterpretationof etationofArticle122B Article122B oftheFederalConstitutionwhi oftheFederalC onstitutionwhichsaysthataPri chsaysthataPrime me Ministeristo“consult”theChiefJ Ministeristo “consult”theChiefJusticebefore usticebefore tenderinghisadvicetotheYangdi-PertuanAgong ontheappointmentofaJudge.TunkuAbdulRahman perfectlyunderstoodtheroleandth perfectlyundersto odtheroleandthepowersof epowersof theJudiciary,,aselaboratedinhisspeechtothe theJudiciary ConferenceofAsianJuristinTokyo: TheConstitutionalsoassertstheindependenceof

“

ourCourtsandJudges,andempowerstheSupreme

I repeat that the real Rulers of Malaysia are the people  who under the Constitution assume powers complete and absolute, and such powers as they wield can end the rule of any Ruler at a moment’s notice.

Courtwiththejurisdictionofinterpretationofthe Constitutionitself,whichmustbedeclaredinopen court.1

NeitherdidTunkuAbdulRahmaninterferewith theLegislativebranchofthegovernment.Tunku AbdulRahmanopinedthattheLegislativebranch ofgovernment,composedbytheMembersof Parliament,isindependentandultimatelyansw isindependentandultimatelyanswerable erable tothepeopleofMalaysia: 1 The Malay Mail, September September 18, 1961. Compiled Compiled in Tunku: In His Words. (Malaysia: NSTP Resource Centre, 2009), 76 2 “Kelantan, Pas And Asri”, The Star , 19 December 1977 3 “The Essence of Democracy”, The Star , 24 December 1984

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11

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas Free market hisadministration,Malaysiapursuedapolicy whicheconomistKSJomodescribedasa“ laissez-

Allsocietyneedstoengageineconomicactivity

fairedevelopmentstrategywithminimumstate

tosurviveandourish,andthisisespeciallytrue andthisisespeciallytrue

interferenceexceptensuringsuitableconditions

formodernsocieties. formodernsoci eties.Oneofthemostimportant Oneofthemostimportant

forrapidcapitalaccumulation...The laissez faire

everydayeconomicactivitiesistransaction.A

developmentstrategyofthe1960sprecludeddirect

transactionisaneconomicactivity transactionisaneco nomicactivitybetweentwo betweentwoor or

governmentparticipationinprotableactivities,

morevoluntaryparties.Forthattransactiontooccur,

suchascommerceandindustry,whichwereleft

eachpartymustrstandforemosthavetherights

exclusivelytoprivatebusinessinter exclusivel ytoprivatebusinessinterests. ests.””1

topropertybeforetheyhav topropertybefor etheyhavetherightstoexchange etherightstoexchange propertybymutualagreement.

TunkuAbdulRahmanbelievedthatgovernment shouldneverdabbleinbusiness,orworse,nationalise

Allpartiesundertaketheexchangebecauseeach

industries.ToTunku,thegovernmentdoesnot

expectstogainfromit.Trade,orvoluntaryexchange, isengagedinpreciselybecausebothpartiesbenet; isengagedinpreci selybecausebothpartiesbenet;if if theydidnotexpecttogain,theywouldnotagreeto theexchange.

havethenecessaryskillstoengageinbusiness.Any attempttodosowouldbedetrimental: Thereisasectionofthepeoplewhoadvocate nationalisingcertainbusinessesandindustries.Butas

Afreemarketisamarketwherethereisno

longastheAllianceremainsinpowersuchconcepts

economicinterventionandregulationbythe

willnotbeputintopracticebecausewedonot

state,excepttoenfor state, excepttoenforceprivatecontractsand ceprivatecontractsand

believesuchmeasureswillbenetoureconomyy. believesuchmeasureswillbenetoureconom

theownershipofproperty.Insuchasystem, thegovernmenthasverylimitedroleinthe

Ifthegovernmentthinksitcouldrunallthetrades

administrationandthelegislationo administratio nandthelegislationofeconomic feconomic

andindustriesinMalayaitwouldhavedonesoright

activities.

fromthebeginning.Itdoesnothavethebusiness experienceorknow-howtowanttoundertake businessdirectlyitself...

Whilecurrentlythereisnoco Whilecurr entlythereisnocountryintheworld untryintheworld practisingapurefreemarketeconomy,thereis arguablyastrongcasetobemadebetweenone

TheAllianceGovernmentwillnotchangeitspolicy

country’sprosperityandhowfreeitseconomyis.

ofencouragingfreeenterprisebecauseweknow whatisgoodandwhatisnotgoodforthecountry.2

TunkuAbdulRahmanunderstoodthiswell.Under

1 See “Economic Planning” in KS Jomo, Growth and structural changes in the Malaysian Economy . (Hampshire: Macmillan, 1990), 109-110. KS Jomo is a Malaysian economist who is the UN Assistant Secretary-General Secretary-General for Economic Development at the time of writing. 2 Speech at the dinner dinner at the Singapore Singapore Chamber Chamber of Commerce, Commerce, August 19, 1961.

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12

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas Hence,whencommentingonthenewsof

AlthoughheknewthatMala Althoughheknew thatMalayswerelagg yswerelagging ing

BumiputeraMalaysiaFinance(BMF),aunitofBank

economicallypost-independence,TunkuAbdul

BumiputraMalaysiaBhdlosingUS$1billion,Tunku

Rahmanafrmedhiscommitmenttoalaissez-

AbdulRahmancouldonl AbdulRahman couldonlyexpresshisdisa yexpresshisdisappointment: ppointment: faireeconom economydespitedemandsforg ydespitedemandsforgovernment overnment intervention.WhenthethenMinisterofAgriculture, IhavealwaysmaintainedthattheGovernmentmust

AbdulAzizIshaktransferr Abdul AzizIshaktransferredChinese-ownedric edChinese-ownedrice e

notindulgeinbusiness.Thismustbelefttothe notindulgeinbusiness. Thismustbelefttothe

millstoMalay-dominatedruralcooperatives,Tunku

businesscommunity.Therearemanylossesincurred

dismissedAzizfor“unconstitutionalpractices”. 3

bytheGovernmentoflateandthisshouldbea

Instead,TunkuAbdulRahmanbelievedinfairnessand

goodlessontoourleadersnottomixpoliticswith

competition:

business.1

InMalayawewelcomefaircompetition, InMalayawew elcomefaircompetition,evenifit evenifit

InthecontextoftheColdWar,thedirectopposite

competeswithourownindustry.4

ofafreemarketeconom ofafreemark eteconomywouldbeac ywouldbeacentralised entralised economy,wheregovernmentwouldhaveabsolute

Whileembracingfreeeconomyandcompetition,

controlovereveryeconomicaspect.Thecountries

Tunkustillmanagedtopursuepoliciesthat

whichpracticesucheconomicideol whichpracticesuch economicideologywerethe ogywerethe

acknowledgedtheperceived acknowledged theperceivedrelativeeco relativeeconomic nomic

countriesoftheCommunistBloc.Asastaunchanti-

weaknessofMalays.Thisiswherehisapproach

communist,TunkuAbdulRahmancouldneverallow

isunique.Tunkustronglybelievedinhelpingthe

Malaysiatofalltosuc Malaysiatofa lltosuchatr hatragedy. agedy.Instead, Inste ad,T TunkuAbdul Malays, Malays,buthedidnotwanttod buthedidnotwanttodoitattheexpenseof oitattheexpenseof Rahmanpursuedfreedom.Thiscanalsobeseenin economicstability.Hemaintainedthisviewinhislast hisspeechatthedinnerhonouringthevisiting hisspeechatthedinnerhono uringthevisitingViceVice-

speechasUMNOpresident:

PresidentoftheUnitedStates,SpiroAgnew: Ofcourse,wehaveagreatdealmoretodoto MrVicePresident, Mr VicePresident,Iamalsogladtorecallthatthere Iamalsogladtorecallthatthere

helptheMalaysimprovetheirlotbecauseoftheir

existmanysimilaritiesbetweenourtwocountries.

backwardness.Therateofprogressisadmittedly backwardness. Therateofprogressisadmittedly

Bothcountriessubscribetothesamedemocratic

slowbecausewehavesetourtargetprettyhighbut

ideals,bothbelieveinthesystemoffreeenterprise

 thehelpwhichisforthcomingisassured.W  thehelpwhichisforthcomingisassured. Wecannot

andbothupholdthehighidealsofhumanrightsand

 takeveryimmediateordrasticactionforthiswould

2

freedom.

obstructtheprogressofthecountry,andwould causeaserioussetback.Ifthenationaldevelopment

1 “UMNO Must Remain United to be Strong”, The Star , 22 September 1986

4 Speech at the opening of the Japan Japan Trade Fair in KL, February 13, 1960

2 Speech at dinner dinner honouring the Vice Vice President of the United United States, Spiro Agnew, January 8, 1970. 3 See “Tunku Abdul Abdul Rahman (1957-1970): (1957-1970): Transition Transition to Modernization” Modernization” in Anthony S.K. Shome,  Malay Political Leadership. (London: Routledge, 2009), 75

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The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas isobstructed,orinanywayinterferedwith, isobstructed,or inanywayinterferedwith,then then

increaseindutiesoncigarettesandotheressentials

oureconomywouldbejeopardizedascanbeseen

hastostopsometime.Thetraderecessioncaused hastostopsometime. Thetraderecessioncaused

elsewhereinthecountriesofSoutheastAsia. elsewhereinthecountriesofSoutheast Asia.An Any y

bythehighcostofproductionmaycauseeconomic

drasticactiontohelpourpeoplewouldhavean

problemsandthiswillbemoreharmfuland

adverseeffectwiththestateofoureconomyina

destructivetohumansocietythanalltheharmful

 topsy-turvy,andthereforeitwouldnotbepossible andthereforeitwouldnotbepossible

effectsofcigarettesanddrinksputtogether.2

 togiveanyrespectofthereligionofIslamorour people.1

InhislaterwritingsreectingtheNewEc Inhislaterwritingsr eectingtheNewEconomic onomic Policy,TunkuAbdulRahmanmaintainedhiscritical

ItwasthereforenosurprisethatTunkuAbdul

views.TunkuAbdulRahmanevenpointedngersat

RahmanwascriticaloftheNewEconomicPolicy.

thecorruptioncreatedbytheNewEco thecorruptioncr eatedbytheNewEconomicP nomicPolicy: olicy:

TunkuAbdulRahmandidnotbelieveindistortingthe markettoachievearbitrarilyconceivedgoals.Instead,

Razakstartedallthis–onlythosewhosupport

hisgovernmentpromo hisgov ernmentpromotedincentivessuchastax tedincentivessuchastax

UMNOgetanything.3

exemptionsandinfrastructuretoo exemptio nsandinfrastructuretoorganicallygr rganicallygrow ow theeconomy.

TunkuAbdulRahmanalsolamentedaboutthe inequalitiesandimmediatebacklashoftheNew

TunkuAbdulRahman’soppositiontogovernment

EconomicPolicy:

interventionintheeconomy,suchasthoseextolled bytheNewEconomicPolicy,largelystemsfrom

Anattemptwasmadetollthe(30%)target

theentailingdetrimentaloutcomes, theentailingdetrim entaloutcomes,especially especially

withoutthoughtfortheabilityandthecapability

theunintendedconsequences. theunintendedconsequenc es.Inmakingnational Inmakingnational

ofattainingit. WhenIadvisedagainstitthey

decisions,thereareneveranyeasyoptions.

condemnedmeasatraitorandtheywerehelped

Nonetheless,TunkuAbdulRahmanalwaysweighted

unfortunatelybysomeseniormembersoftheparty. TheygainedthedayandIlefttheGovernment

theconsequencesofanyaction.Thislineofthought

soonafter..Somebecamerichovernightwhile soonafter

isdemonstratedwhenhearguedinthecaseofthe

othersbecamedespicableAliBabasandthe

governmentraisingtax govern mentraisingtaxesoncigarettesandalc esoncigarettesandalcohol ohol

countrysufferedeconomicset-backsandarelapse

duringarecession:

welivetoregrettothisday.

So,asaresultoftheimpositionofduties, asaresultoftheimpositionofduties,everybody everybody

Ouradministrationwasgoingsmoothlyy,our Ouradministrationwasgoingsmoothl our

hastobeartheconsequences.Imaysaythe

economywasviable,ourringgitwasgood. ourringgitwasgood.

1 Speech at UMNO general general assembly, assembly, January 23 23 1971. 2 “Saints and Cigarettes”, The Star , 8 November 1982. 3 Kua Kia Soong, K. Das & The Tunku Tapes. (Malaysia: SIRD, 2002), 137. “Razak” here refers to the Prime Minister who succeeded Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak.

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The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas Thentherewasasuddenattemptbythe Governmentafter1970toforceeconomicreforms  towhichIreferredearlier.. Thisjoltedeverycautious  towhichIreferredearlier men,everybusinessmananditgaverisetofeelings ofuncertainty ofuncer tainty,,thenpanic.Capitalbegantoleavethe thenpanic.Capitalbegantoleavethe country;inationreareditsuglyheadandbecame  theorderoftheday.Ahousewhichcost$15,000 wassuddenlyinatedskyhigh.Sincethenwehave beenlivinginfearofwhat’stocome.1

ItisclearthattheTunkuwascommittedtofree markets.Insteadoftakingtheeasyrouteof Insteadoftakingtheeasyrouteof supportingpopulistwelfaremeasuresforMalays,he prioritisedeconomicgro prioritisedecono micgrowthandstabilitytha wthandstabilitythathe the believedwouldbeguaran believed wouldbeguaranteedbyanopenandfree teedbyanopenandfree economy.Hecontinuedtoarguethiseventhoughit mayhavecosthimsignicantpoliticalsupport.His ideologicalunderpinningsarefurtherexhibitedbyhis acommunistsystem–asystemhespenthisentire premiershipghting–wouldhavebrought.

1 “Time to to Put Our house in Order”, Order”, The Star , 26 May 1986

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 The trade recession caused by the high cost of production may cause economic problems and  this will be more harmful and destructive to human society   than all the harmful effects of cigarettes and drinks put  together.

passionateloathingofthecommandeco passionateloathi ngofthecommandeconomytha nomythat t

15

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas Individual liberty  beings.DavidBoazoftheCatoInstitutefu DavidBoazoftheCatoInstitutefurther rther arguesthat“itisintuitivelyrightthatindi elyrightthatindividualsenjo vidualsenjoy y Societyisacollectionofindi Societyisacol lectionofindividualspursuingdiff vidualspursuingdifferent erent arguesthat“itisintuitiv thesecurityofsuchrights;theburdenofexplanation theburdenofexplanation purposesoflife.Asthemostbasicunitofsociety, shouldliewiththosewhowouldtakerightsaway.” 1

individualsassociatethemselveswitheachotherand formgroupsoranymanif formgro upsoranymanifestationofsuchorgani estationofsuchorganised sed collectives.Conversely,theyarealsofreeto

Imposinguniformitywou Imposingunifo rmitywouldbetantamountto ldbetantamountto

dissociatethemselvesfromthesegroups.Individuals

suppressingindividualrightsandfr suppressingindiv idualrightsandfreedom. eedom.During During

shouldnotbeforcedtoremainwithinagroup,or

theColdWarsuchimpositionswereassociatedwith

worse,forcedtoabidebythewillofthegroup.

communism.Beingthestaunchanti-communist,Tunku AbdulRahmaninsteadsubscribedtotheconceptof

Individualscanmakechoicesand Individualscanm akechoicesandbeheldresponsible beheldresponsible

individualliberty–thatpeoplehav individuall iberty–thatpeoplehavethepowerto ethepowerto

fortheiractions.Whilemakingchoices,each

decideeverything,includingtheformofgovernment

individualmustrespectthedignityofanother

theylike.Consequently,thepeopleofMalaysiaunder

individualregardlessofethnicity,religionorgender.

Tunku’sleadershipafrmedtheircommitmentto

Thismeansrespectingthedifferencesbetween

freedombynotchoosingacomm freedombyno tchoosingacommunistgov unistgovernment: ernment:

peopleandnottryingtoimposeuniformity.Toquote Forinstance,inMalaysiaitisunthinkablethat

FriedrichHayek,the1974EconomicsNobelPrize

 thepeopleherewouldpreferaregimentedlife;

winner:“Asocietythatdoesnotrecognisethateach

naturallytheywouldneveracceptanypolicythat

individualhasvaluesofhisownw individualha svaluesofhisownwhichheisentitled hichheisentitled

wouldrestricttheirrighttochoosetheformof

tofollowcanhav tofollo wcanhavenorespectforthedi enorespectforthedignityofthe gnityofthe

Governmenttheylikeorfollowawayoflifeto

individualandcannotreallyknowfreedom.”

whichtheyarenotaccustomed.2

Mostimportantly,theconceptofindividualliberty

OneofthemostillustrativeanecdotesofTunku

demandsthatthegovernmentmustno demandsthatthego vernmentmustnotencroach tencroach

AbdulRahman’sphilosophyoffreedomisbrilliantly

intowhatisprivatetotheindividuals.Aslongas

demonstratedwhenhevisitedWestGermanyin

theactionsofanindividualdonotha theactionsofanind ividualdonotharmothers, rmothers,

1960.TunkuAbdulRahmanwaspresentedwitha

governmentmustnotinterfere.Individualshavetheir

replicaofthe“FreedomBell”byWillyBrandt,the

rightstobesecureintheirlife,libertyandproperty.

mayorofWestBerlin.Thebellwasareplicaofthe

Theserightsarenotgrantedbygovernmentorby

bellwhichrangdailyinBerlinto bellwhichrangdai lyinBerlintoremindthemthe remindthemthe

society;theyareinher society; theyareinherentinthenatureofhum entinthenatureofhuman an

valueoftheirfreedom. valueoftheirfreed om.Inhisappreciat Inhisappreciationspeechon ionspeechon 1 David Boaz, “Key Concepts of Libertarianism”. Libertarianism”. Available Available online at http://www.cato.org/pub_di http://ww w.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=5758 splay.php?pub_id=5758 (Accessed on January 2, 2011) 2 “The Kishi Scare: Scare: I Prayed Prayed Hard for The Safety of Our Our Important Guest”, The Star , 5 May 1975

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The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas receivingthebell,TunkuAbdulRahmanthankedthe

Ourconstitutionalsoprovidedforreligiousand

mayorforthe“PeaceBell”.Whendignitariestriedto

socialfreedomforall,andthisfreedomwehaveall andthisfreedomwehaveall

correcthim,TunkuAbdulRahmancalmlysaid:

enjoyedforalltheseyears.4

Youcan’thavepeacewithoutfreedom,andyou

Tofreethepeopleoftheworld,welooktowards

can’thavefreedomwithoutpeace.1

naturaljusticetoprovideuswithprotectionandto giveusfreedomtodocertainthingswithinthelaw, notoutsideofthelawbecausetherearesomany

AsourBapa Merdeka, TunkuAbdulRahmanbelieved

penalcodes,lawsthattellyouwherey penalcodes, lawsthattellyouwhereyougowrong, ougowrong,

thatourindependencecouldnotha thatourindependenceco uldnothavebeenpossible vebeenpossible

whatisrightandwhatiswrong.Ifyougoandpinch

withouttheRulersplayingtheirroles.Assuch,post-

somebody’smoney,youknowyouaredoingwrong.

independence,TunkuAbdulRahmanlookedatthe

Ifyougoandcracksomebody’shead, shead,youknowthat youknowthat

Rulersasanimportantinstitutiontosafeguardour

youaredoingwrongbutallthatiswithincommon

individualliberty:

knowledgeofallmenandsoitiswithinthatruleof lawthatyoucandoanythingyoulike.Butofcourse

 Wehaveworkedtogether,andwiththeRulers,have

incountrieswhichwecalldemocraticcountrieslike

foughtforandwonindependenceforMalay foughtforandw onindependenceforMalaya. a.Now Now

ours,peoplearesupposedtobefreetofollowtheir

weareabletowalkwithourheadsup, weareabletowalkwitho urheadsup,andacclaim andacclaim

wayoflife,tofollowtheirreligion,customs,habits

2

ourselvesafreeandindependentpeople.

andtraditions.5

Forus,Malaysians, Forus, Malaysians,thethronehasbeenlookedupon thethronehasbeenlookedupon

Yearsa earsafterh fterhispremier ispremiership, ship,T TunkuAbdulRahman

asaguaranteeofourfreedom.Freedomtoworship, Freedomtoworship,

lamentedwhatheperceivedasthedeteriorationof

freedomtosocialize,andfreedomtopracticeour

individuallibert individual libertyy.Inpar Inparticular, ticular,T TunkuAbdulRahman

politicalrights.3

feltthatpoliticsandthenarro feltthatpoliti csandthenarrowviewofr wviewofreligionw eligionwere ere themainculpritsbehindthis:

Afterindependence,TunkuAbdulRahmanexpanded ourindividuallibertythroughguaranteeingthemin

Intheolddayspeopleneverbotheredaboutwhat

ourConstitution.Nonetheless,justaseachindividual

othersdid,solongastheywerefreetodowhat

hasthefreedomtochoosehowtheylivetheirlives,

 theylikedthemselves.Todayonecannotsneeze

individualsalsohav individualsal sohavepersonalresponsib epersonalresponsibilitytoact ilitytoact

withoutbeingcorrected,letaloneenjoyoneself. letaloneenjoyoneself.

onlywithinthelaw:

That’swhatpoliticshavedonetooursociety That’swhatpoliticsha vedonetooursociety..6

4 “Peace for All Time”, The Star , 9 April 1984

1 “Merdeka Memoirs: Memoirs: No Peace Peace Without Freedom, Freedom, No Freedom Without Peace”, New Straits Times, 11 August 2007

5 Kua Kia Soong, K. Das & The Tunku Tapes. (Malaysia: SIRD, 2002), 135

2 “The Role of the the King”, ng”, The Star , 13 February 1984 3 “Silver Jubilee of the Kedah Sultan”, The Star , 18 July 1983

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6 “Kedah’s Wise Wise Regent: Bringing Bringing Up State State Under Colonial Colonial Rule”, The Star , 1 December 1975

17

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas imageofinfallibility.

Theworldhaschangedverymuchsinceadultery waspunishablewithdeathbystoning.Inthis promiscuousandpermissivesocietypeoplearefree

Indeed,TunkuAbdulRahmanwasneveroneto

1

 togoanddoastheylike.

claimthehighhorseofreligion.Whiledebatingthen oppositionleaderTanCheeKhooninaParliament

Thelastsentenceofthequoteaboveisagood

session,TunkuAbdulRahmanparaphrasedthefamous

exampleofTunkuAbdulRahmanbeingafun-loving

quote:

gentleman.Infact,heevenoncesaid: Letanyoneamongstuswhoiswithoutsin,standup  Whatisthepointoflivingwhenyoudon’tdrink,

andcasttherststone.3

youdon’tsmoke,andyoudon’tevenenjoythe andyoudon’tevenenjoythe companyofthefairsex?2

Whentheoppositionleaderwastheonlyonewho stoodandremainedstanding,TunkuAbdulRahman,

Yetdespitehisjovialnature,TunkuAbdulRahmanwas beingthefunpersonthathewas,calmlyretorted: calmlyretorted: alsoahumbleMuslimwithstron alsoahumbleMusli mwithstrongcommitmentto gcommitmentto Islam.Duringhispremiership,hefoundedtheMuslim

DavidTanCheeKhoon,Ireallypityyou.4

WelfareOrganisationMalaysia( Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia, PERKIM) ,anorganisationdedicated

Theincreasinglynarrow Theincreasingl ynarrowviewofrel viewofreligionwasamatter igionwasamatter

towardshelpingnewMusli towardshel pingnewMuslimsadjusttotheirnew msadjusttotheirnew

ofparticular ofpar ticularconcern concernto toT TunkuAbdulRahman. unkuAbdulRahman.W Worse

life.Aftersteppingdown,TunkuAbdulRahman

wastheattitudeofsanctimoniouspeople, wastheattitudeofsancti moniouspeople,particularly particularly

wastaskedtoleadtheOrganisationofIslamic

politicians,whenitcametoreligion.Tothis,Tunku

Conference(OIC)astheirrstSecretary-General. Conferenc e(OIC)astheirrstSecretary-General.

AbdulRahmanhadthistosay:

HewasclearlyarespectedgureamongMuslims internationally.

Offencesaretakingplaceeveryday,withpeople inhighplacesandlowsocietybeingequallyself-

WhenaskedtohelmtheOIC,TunkuAbdulRahman

indulgent. Willthoseinhighsocietybechargedwith

wasinitiallysurprisedbytheofferashedidnot

 theseoffences,orwillcaningbeconnedonlyto

considerhimselfapiousMuslim.TunkuAbdul

 thoseinlowsociety?

Rahman’shumilityallowedhimtoacknowledgetohis shortcomings,andthiswasthequalitywhichmade andthiswasthequalitywhichmade

Itisnousepretendingthatwedon’tknowwhatis

himspecial.Unlikemanytoday,TunkuAbdulRahman

 takingplaceinhighsociety..Manyvisitnightclubs,  takingplaceinhighsociety Manyvisitnightclubs, messesandotherplacesofamusement.Wesee

neverabusedhisIslamiccredentia neverabusedhi sIslamiccredentialstoportrayan lstoportrayan 1 “Khalwat”, Viewpoints, 183 2 “Kedah’s Wise Wise Regent: Bringing Bringing Up State State Under Colonial Colonial Rule”, The Star , 1 December December 1975 3 “Memorable MPs”, The Sunday Star , 8 April 2007 4  ibid .

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18

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas  themdrivingincarswiththoseoftheoppositesex

undertheoverarchingumbrellaoftheConstitution.

 tolonelyspotsforquietmomentsawayfromthe

TunkuAbdulRahmansumsthisupnicelywhenhe

pryingeyesofthepublic.1

said:

 Wehavekilljo  W ehavekilljoysamongourbuddingpo ysamongourbuddingpoliticians liticians

 Whateverfaultstheremaybeinoursystemof

whoarestillinexperiencedandthosefrompolitical

government,therearefaultsinallsystems–such

partieswhoaretryingtomakeacomeback.They

isthenatureofmen.Here,however,wearefree

 talkgliblyofcreatingaheavenlykingdom,  talkgliblyofcreatingaheav enlykingdom,anation anation

 topursueourwayoflifeandreligionwithout

inhabitedbysaintsonly.Whenthathappens,ifever,

hindrance,andaslongaswecankeepwithinthe

Icantellthemthattherewon’tbeaplaceforthem

boundariesofproprietyandthelaw,,weareableto boundariesofproprietyandthelaw weareableto

2

either.

eatandsleepandinsecurity.Andallthisunderthe Andallthisunderthe conceptofConstitutionalMonarchyy,ofwhichwe conceptofConstitutionalMonarch ofwhichwe

Hence,whenhearingthatthestudentsandstaff

shouldberightlyproud,asitisuniqueintheworld.4

oftheNationalUniversityofM oftheNational UniversityofMalaysi alaysia( a(Universiti  Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM) were protestingagainst

theentertainerSudirmanandhistroupeperforming intheuniversity’’sfundraisingshowo intheuniversity sfundraisingshowonthegrounds nthegrounds thattheshowisun-Islamicandwo thattheshowisun-Isl amicandwouldgivethe uldgivethe universityabadimage,TunkuAbdulRahmanwas

“

furious:

 The increasingly narrow view  of religion was a matter of  particular concern to Tunku   Abdul Rahman. Worse was  the attitude of sanctimonious people, particularly politicians,  when it came to religion.

Toputtherecordstraight,wedidnotget independenceforthistypeofpeoplewhocannot ndanythingrightinanythingweorothersdofor  theypreferprimitiveexistencetocivilizedlife.  theypreferprimitiveexistencetocivilizedlif e.They They arewastingtheirtimeattheuniversity.. ThisisallI arewastingtheirtimeattheuniversity cansayaboutthem.3

TunkuAbdulRahmanwassteadfasttohis commitmenttofreedomtilltheend.Freedomis abalancebetweenindividuallibertyandpersonal responsibilityinaccordancewiththeruleoflaw,all

1 “Of Law and Faith”, The Star , 8 May 1978 2 “Saints and cigarettes”, The Star , 8 November 1982 3 “There Is Not Room Room For Fanaticism”, The Star , 14 January 1985 4 “Malaysia’s Monarch: Democratic Democratic Symbol and Basis For Stable Government”, The Star, 6 July 1975

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19

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas

Conclusion Afterexaminingtheavailableliterat Afterexaminingthea vailableliterature, ure,Indit Indit undeniablethatTunkuAbdulRahmandidindeed subscribetotheprinciplesofclassicalliberal subscribetotheprincipl esofclassicalliberalism. ism. TunkuAbdulRahmanafrmedhisbeliefstothe principlesoftheruleoflaw,limitedgovernment, freemarketandindividuallibertycountlesstimes throughouthiswritings,hisspeeches,hisinterviews andperhapsmostimportantly,hisactions. InTunkuAbdulRahmanwehadaman,aleader, astatesmanwhoremainedsteadfastinhis commitmenttotheseprinciples,evenwhenthey wereusedagainsthim.

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20

The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas

Bibliography  AbdulRahman,Tunku.Viewpoints.KualaLumpur: Heinemann,1978. AbdulRahman,Tunku. Malaysia:   Malaysia: Road to Independence. KualaLumpur:PelandukPublications,1984.

AllreferencestospeechesmadebyTunkuAbdul RahmancanbefoundintheTunkuAbdulRahman Memorial’scollection.

Boaz,David.“KeyConceptsofLibertarianism”.Available onlinefromhttp://www.cato.org/pub_display. php?pub_id=5758(AccessedonJanuary2,2011)

The Malay Mail (Malaysia)1955-2010. New Straits Times (Malaysia)1955-2010.

Foong,James. “LateBloomerWithGreat Foong,James.“Late BloomerWithGreatTiming”,11 Timing”,11  June2008.Availableonlinefromhttp://aliran. com/764.html(AccessedonJanuary3,2011)

The Star (Malaysia)1955-2010.

AbdulRahman,Tunku. As  As A Matter of Interest. Kuala Lumpur:Heinemann,1981.

 Jomo,K.S..“EconomicPlanning”InGrowth and structural  .Hampshire: changes in the Malaysian Economy .Hampshire: Macmillan,1990.

AbdulRahman,Tunku.Challenging Times.KualaLumpur: PelandukPublications,1986.

Kua,KiaSoong. K. Das & The Tunku Tunku Tapes Tapes.. Malaysia:SIRD, 2002.

AbdulRahman,Tunku.Contemporary Issues in Malaysian Politics. KualaLumpur:PelandukPublications, 1984.

Morais,Victor. Selected Speeches. PetalingJaya: PerchetakanTenggaraatMalayanPrinters,1967.

AbdulRahman,Tunku.Lest We We Forget. Malaysia:Eastern UniversitiesPress,1983.

Shome,AnthonyS.K..“TunkuAbdulRahman(19571970):TransitiontoModernization”In Malay   Malay  political Leadership.London:Routledge,2009.

AbdulRahman,Tunku.Looking Back. KualaLumpur: PustakaAntara,1977.

Tunku: In His Words. Malaysia:NSTPResourceCentre,

AbdulRahman,Tunku. May .Kuala  May 13: Before and After .Kuala Lumpur:UtusanMelayuPress,1969.

2009.

AbdulRahman,Tunku.Political Awakening. KualaLumpur: PelandukPublications,1986. AbdulRahman,Tunku.Something to Remember .Singapore: .Singapore: EasternUniversitiesPress,1983.

www.ideas.org.my

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The Tunku’s Tunku’s great g reat ideas

IDEAS is an independent not-for-proit  organisation. As a cross-partisan think  tank, we work across the political spectrum. Our purpose is to advance market-based principles, and we are not  bound by party politics, race or religion.

The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) is inspired by the vision of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj, the irst Prime Minister of  Malaysia. We We share his vision as stated in the 1957 Proclamation of Independence I ndependence that this nation should:

Our mission is to improve the level of  understanding and acceptance of public policies based on the principles of rule of law, limited government, free markets and free individuals.

“be for ever a sovereign democratic and independent State founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of  its people and the maintenance of a just  peace among all nations”

We achieve this mission through: Research Publication of reports and books Seminars, discussions and short  courses Brieings for federal and state politicians and policy-make policy-makers rs from across the political divide Media engagements   

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IDEAS is Malaysia’s irst think-tank  dedicated to promoting market-based solutions to public policy challenges. We were oficially launched on 8 February 2010, in conjunction with Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman’s 107th birthday, by YBM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah at  Memorial Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Kuala Lumpur, in an event graced by three generations of Almarhum Tunk Tunku’s u’s family members.

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IDEAS’ commitment to quality has received international recognition. On 18 January 2011, IDEAS was ranked as the 18th best new think tank globally and second best new think tank in Asia in a survey of 6,480 think tanks in 169 countries by University of Pennsylvania and United Nations University. More information can be found on www.IDEAS.org.my 

www.ideas.org.my

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