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Perdana
Menteri Malaysia yang Pertama |
Tunku
Abdul Rahman Putra ( 1957-1970 ) |
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For his contributions and sacrifices in bringing
the country from colonialism to independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman is known
as the Father of Independence. He became the first prime minister of the
Federation of Malaya from 1957 to1963, and of Malaysia from 1963 to 1970. |
Tunku was born on February 8, 1903 in Alor Setar, the capital of the
State of Kedah. He is the seventh prince of Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah, the
twenty fourth Sultan of Kedah, and Che Manjalara. Said to be a robust and
bright boy with a particular fondness for sports, Tunku received his early
education at the Debsurin School, Bangkok and Penang Free School. |
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On a Kedah Government scholarship, he went on to study at St. Catherine's
College, Cambridge University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in
law and history in 1925. A firsthand experience in racial discrimination
with the college's administration was said to have intensified his
conviction in fighting for equality and ignited his desire in making his
homeland an independent state, free from British colonialism. |
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His leadership flair also unfolded in England. Realising the Malay
students there were not represented by any organisation, he established
the Kesatuan Melayu Great Britain (Malay Association of Great Britain) and
became its first secretary. |
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After returning home, he joined the Kedah Civil Service as a cadet in the
Legal Advisor's Office, and then as a district officer in several Kedah
districts. He proved unpopular among some British officials thanks to his
outspokenness and tendency to introduce reforms in his quest to improve
the living standards of the people. |
His attempt at completing his law studies at the Inner Temple in England
in 1938 came to a halt due the outbreak of the Second World War. He
resumed his studies eight years later and came home with his legal
qualifications in 1949. |
The political awareness he gained while making friends with people from
various nations in England did not go to waste, when he was made chairman
of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) soon after his return.
On August 26, 1951, Tunku became the UMNO President succeeding Dato' Onn
Jaafar. He travelled all over the country meeting people from all walks of
life to promote unity. His efforts in overcoming the country's political
problems by way of cooperation among the various ethnic groups saw the
birth of the Alliance Party in 1955. |
Under his leadership, the Alliance won the country's first general
election in July 1955. Tunku was then appointed the country's Chief
Minister and Minister of Home Affairs. In 1956, he led a mission to London
for a discussion with the British government concerning the independence
for Malaya. The meeting resulted in the signing of the Independent Treaty
at Lancaster House in London on February 8, 1956 and consequently, the
independence of Malaya in August 31, 1957. Tunku was then elected as the
first Prime Minister of Malaya, and led the Alliance to victory in the
1959, 1964 and 1969 general elections. |
In May 1961, Tunku proposed the idea of Malaysia - a federation of
Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, North Borneo (later called Sabah) and Brunei.
All but Brunei joined in the federation on July 9, 1963. Singapore however
withdrew from Malaysia in 1965 due to disputes. On Sept 22, 1970, Tunku
stepped down as the Prime Minister and was succeeded by Tun Abdul Razak. |
Tunku, who was blessed with seven children from his marriage to the late
Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah, passed away in 1990. |
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