Malaysia's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, referred
to as 'Father of Independence', was just a "receiver of independence"
handpicked by the British colonisers to safeguard their interests in Malaya,
said national laureate A Samad Said.
During a public forum in Kuala Lumpur last night, Samad said, "To me, Tunku was not an independence fighter. He was a receiver, the person approved by the British to 'receive' independence... the British felt that the 'receiver' must be a person who can take care of its interests in Malaya."
The septuagenarian, more popularly known as Pak Samad (right), had worked together with leftist leader Ahmad Boestamam during pre-independence days and was told by the latter that after negotiations with another leftist politician Burhanuddin Al-Helmy and Tunku on the independence issue, the British wanted to hand the country to a suitable candidate which was Tunku.
During a public forum in Kuala Lumpur last night, Samad said, "To me, Tunku was not an independence fighter. He was a receiver, the person approved by the British to 'receive' independence... the British felt that the 'receiver' must be a person who can take care of its interests in Malaya."
The septuagenarian, more popularly known as Pak Samad (right), had worked together with leftist leader Ahmad Boestamam during pre-independence days and was told by the latter that after negotiations with another leftist politician Burhanuddin Al-Helmy and Tunku on the independence issue, the British wanted to hand the country to a suitable candidate which was Tunku.
As such, Tunku was
just a "receiver of independence" (penyambut kemerdekaan)
compared with the true freedom fighters such as Boestamam, Mat Kilau and
Burhanuddin.
Samad said, "Umno was formed after Boestamam, Burhanuddin and others had formed their political parties to fight for independence. The British did not want to negotiate with these people (leftist politicians) because they would not safeguard the interests left by the British."
Samad also pointed out that individuals who had fought for independence were not given the chance to govern the nation because the aristocrats controlled political power.
Samad said, "Umno was formed after Boestamam, Burhanuddin and others had formed their political parties to fight for independence. The British did not want to negotiate with these people (leftist politicians) because they would not safeguard the interests left by the British."
Samad also pointed out that individuals who had fought for independence were not given the chance to govern the nation because the aristocrats controlled political power.
The aristocrats, according to Samad, were Tunku, Abdul Razak
Hussein and Hussein Onn. Samad said Mahathir was not one until he was conferred
the title of 'Tun' while Abdullah (Badawi) was an aristocrat as well as Najib
(Abdul Razak). Therefore, Samad said, the current government leaders were more
inclined to protect the interests of the middle and the upper classes instead
of understanding the woes of the grassroots.
Pining his hope on the new generation, he urged them
to make a bold decision to change the current administration and said, "I'm
not saying that Pakatan Rakyat is a good guy, but if you don't try, you would
not know."
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