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Remembering the Remarkable Tun Dr. Ismail

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 BY DINOBEANO2

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September 28, 2012

Remembering the Remarkable Tun Dr. Ismail

by Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

(https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0423/5addf3333bdbc/5addf33598946.jpg)There an anecdote told among close acquaintances of the late Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman,Malaysias feared and respected Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister in theearly 1970s, that he once in confidence said that he felt he was at heart a greater racist than inhis actions, unlike most of his politician colleagues, who were more opportunistic and were

racists in words and deeds, but not at heart.And yet, he was the Malay leader that Chinese Malaysian leaders of his day trusted. In fact,even Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore has often reiterated that Tun Dr Ismail was the onlyMalaysian leader he had faith in.
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Multiracial upbringing

As a reflection of the Malaysian culture prevalent during histime perhaps, many of his best friends throughout his lifewere non-Malays. When Tun Dr Ismail was growing up inJohor Bahru, among his familys closest friends were theCheahs, the Kuoks and the Puthuchearys.

Dr Cheah Tiang Eam was a medical doctor who was veryclose to Ismails

(https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0423/5addf3333bdbc/5addf336618d7.jpg)father, Abdul Rahman Yassin. Ismails elder brother, Suleiman, later a member of Malayasfirst Cabinet, was sent to the Cheah home to learn English manners from Mrs Cheah, who wasan English lady.

Ismail was especially fond of the youngest Cheah daughters, who later married the Kuokbrothers, Philip and Robert (right). The Kuoks would be among Ismails closest friends inadult life.

The painful process of securing independence and negotiating a workable path of nationbuilding in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s seared the ever-present issue of race onto the politicalforeground, where it has stayed until today. Racial issues submerged consciousness of theinter-ethnic exchanges and cultural hybridisation, which continued nevertheless.Understandably, in many Malaysians, strong ethnocentric emotions were stimulated for atime, something that the ensuing politicking would not allow to dissipate.

What went wrong, of course, when we look back over the last few decades, was that theyallowed themselves to be manipulated into seeing themselves exhaustively in racial termsand not in citizenship terms. The political establishment grew to depend on this discourse,and turned it into a chronic pathological state.

The golf handicap
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(http://dinmerican.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/james-puthcheary.jpg)Where policy making was concerned, Tun Dr Ismailsaw racialism as a technical issue, and not a matter of rights. Anunhappy and unacceptable historically given socio-economiccondition had to be rectified for the country to move onand thatcondition happened to have an extremely strong ethnic element to it.That was the reason why Malaysian politics had to have such a strong

racial slant. It was a historical contingence.

One of his more memorable ideas was his famous use of the golfhandicap metaphor to explain affirmative action for the Malays theNEP.Having the handicap system is meant, firstly, to allow those

weaker in the sport to participate, and secondly to provide these newcomers withopportunities to improve their game and to lessen their handicap successively. The aim is foras many players as possible to have as low a handicap as possible.

Realising the danger that the NEP could devolve into an exercise in Malay entitlement if not

properly handled, he pushed for a twenty-year limit to be put on it.

The poignant point in Tun Dr Ismails admission about his feelingsand it is one that forcesall of us to be sincere at least to ourselvesis that what makes a man good and a leader greatis not what his innermost feelings are but how he rises above them.

As the celebrated scholar Prof Wang Gungwu (right) once told me: We are all(http://dinmerican.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/wang-gungwu.jpg)racially biased in our feelings at some level; but what

is essential is how we rise above them in our actions.This attempt at rising above his feelings was what enabled Tun DrIsmail to reach across ethnic divides. It was also well-known thathe strongly disliked the term Bumiputera and feared that itwould disunite Malaysians. He felt it best not to confuse the issueby lumping Malays with other groups.

Tun Dr Ismail enjoyed widespread respect from all who knew himand instilled awe in his subordinates because he could not stand

fools. That trait is more important than one might think. If onetakes the duties of leadership as seriously as he did, thensubordinates or peers who did not feel a sense of urgency in whatthey did actually undermined his labours.

In fact, he was feared as a medical doctor as well, never tolerating patients who showed signsof self-pity and who were psychosomatic. As his Johor Bahru neighbour Robert Kuok wouldlater say, Doc would not have fared well running a medical clinic.

Malaysian Dream
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(http://dinmerican.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/tawfik-tun-dr-ismail.jpg)Politics became Ismails calling instead, and self-discipline, practical wisdom, and a strong ethical sense wouldmark his career. He could not stand corruption either, as was seenin how he with a shouted threat of prosecution sent away aChinese vendor who had delivered vegetables and other goods tohis home as gifts for his family.

Despite being Home Affairs Minister, it was nevertheless Tun DrIsmails vision of a neutral Southeast Asia which came to definethe countrys foreign policy that has remained so successful andconsistent till this day.

As Tun Abdul Razaks main confidante, he exerted a greaterinfluence over the early years of Razaks premiership than is

normally assumed. When news of his demise in September 1973 reached Razak in Ottawawhere the Prime Minister was attending a Commonwealth meeting, the latter practically

collapsed and had to be medicated. Tun Razak later lamented: Whom shall I trust now?

Tun Dr Ismail has been dead for 40 years now, and Malaysia has changed greatly. But hislegacy of inclusion and moderation, and honest and honourable leadership, is unforgettableand can yet inspire new generations of Malaysians from both sides of the political divide tolead with wisdom.

Perhaps we will yet see a Malaysia that strives to unite its people; that spontaneously

celebrates its diversity; and that acts on universal human principles instead of demeaning

opportunism.I would venture that that was the Malaysian Dream from the very start.

Ooi Kee Beng is the author of the award-winning bestseller The Reluctant Politician: Tun Dr

smail and His Time (ISEAS 2007). He is the Deputy Director of the Institute of Southeast

Asian Studies, Singapore.www.themalaysianinsider.com

This entry was posted in Biography, Corruption, Foreign Policy, Governance, History, Leadership,Politics, tribute. Bookmark thepermalink.

2 thoughts on Remembering the Remarkable Tun

Dr. Ismail

1. dinobeanosays: September 28, 2012 at 7:57 amMahathir was scared of him because Tun Dr. Ismail had the uncanny ability to size uppeople and assess their character. He was uncompromising on corruption and goodgovernment. Tun Dr. Ismail was, as I recall playing golf with him at Subang National GolfClub, was tough competitor and a good golfer-sportsman.Din Merican

2. Ellesesays: September 28, 2012 at 9:01 am
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