An Insider’s Reminiscences of UMNO, Razak, and Mahathir

(www.unmakingmalaysia.com)

Ahmad Mustapha Hassan

[Published by Strategic Information & Research Development Centre

August 1, 2007

RM68 / Hardcover / 282 pages ISBN: 978-983-3782-24-6

RM38 / Softcover / 282 pages ISBN: 978-983-3782-25-3

Foreword

From making to the unmaking of Malaysia is a memoir with a thesis. I have an axe to grind and I grind it up front, in public, right here in this book.

My story is mainly about two men, Tun Haji Abdul Razak Hussein (Tun Razak) and Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad (Tun Mahathir). Both men had occupied the highest political post in the country, and both have received the highest honour that this country can bestow. However, the first set about making a modern and united Malaysia; the second, unmaking it. I served both men at the ringside of government and the public as their press secretary.

My work experience started soon after Malaysia achieved independence in 1957, and extended to the period when the current Prime Minster took office in 2003. I have therefore seen and experienced various episodes, beginning from the administration of the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra (hereinafter referred to as Tunku). I was deeply involved in the administration of the second Prime Minister, Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Hussein (Tun Razak), followed by that of the third Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn (Tun Hussein), and then the fourth, Tun Mahathir. Finally, I was involved in the first year of the administration of the fifth (and current) Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Abdullah Badawi).

In the course of my career, as a civil servant in the State of Kedah from 1960 to 1965, as political activist in UMNO from 1964 to 1988, as the General Manager of Bernama, Malaysia’s national news agency, and also as Chairman of an international news grouping, I managed to experience and see a varied pattern of development that has taken place in the country.

While in power, each leader had a certain agenda for the country. This depended on the dream and vision of each. Tunku, popularly known as the Father of Independence and also as “Bapa Malaysia,” wanted to be recognised as the happiest Prime Minister in the world. Tun Razak wanted to eradicate poverty and promote unity through economic advancement of the poor of all communities. Tun Hussein, who took over upon Tun Razak’s death, was unable to find his direction. Tun Mahathir, who succeeded Tun Hussein, was a man in a hurry. He was impatient and refused to be guided by anyone. He broke away from the pattern set by the previous leaders. The current Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi, had to embark on a mending mission as he inherited a country with a lopsided social and economic structure. He opted to go back to Tun Razak’s original vision of eradicating poverty first.

Now, I had the opportunity to be closely and personally involved in two administrations of the country; that of Tun Razak, and later on, of Tun Mahathir. Both were different in style and substance of their policies. They provided contrasts and contradictions. I have drawn various conclusions about the two administrations.

My experiences working in the State of Kedah at assorted positions in various rural areas, and also as a civil servant guided by the various rules and regulations and trained by my superiors in the science and art of being an efficient and good civil administrator, helped me to focus on the correct direction that this new country should proceed on.

My stint in politics since my school days and later with active participation in UMNO Youth movement also helped me in shaping my conclusions.

In writing this book, I draw essentially on the memories of my life in rural Kedah and of the times of my youth and my working career. I had no recourse to files and administrative records, or to the services of an array of research assistants. My old friends, colleagues, and acquaintances did help to refresh my memory through our conversations and recollections. I have also referred to a few published works that are listed as references in this book.

As I said, I essentially depended on my memories in recording my experiences in this book. I can remember events that left indelible marks in my recollection of events. In this respect, the human brain works in strange and extraordinary ways. Events that have occurred many years ago are often etched out very clearly as if they had happened only yesterday.

The brain is a veritable storehouse of images, feelings, impressions, and human interactions which are intertwined with the pattern of a person’s life.

Thus for me, my memory has been my file, diary and archive. It was impossible to forget some of the unique experiences that I had encountered while doing my job as a civil servant, a political activist, and an influential player in an international news group. Furthermore, I write these memoirs as a very concerned individual who cares for the nation.

I am sure there are many among my colleagues who had undergone other kinds of exposure; however, it is regrettable that almost nobody has come out with any veritable accounts of their observations.

It is not the habit of Malaysians especially Malays to record their life experiences in the form of accounts to be read and understood by current and future generations. It is a pity that many of these valuable records are only in oral form, or are hidden and buried.

The very first Malay to record the happenings that he encountered while making his various journeys in the land of the Malays during the early part of the eighteenth century was Abdullah bin Abdul Kader Munshi. Popularly known as Abdullah Munshi, he was a teacher and a writer during the early colonial days and worked for the British in Malacca.

Abdullah Munshi related the conditions of the Malay rakyat then, and also how the royal regime in power had not guided their subjects towards progress and development. In this respect therefore, he was the first civil servant to have recorded his experiences. His reminiscences about life in the Malacca Sultanate during the early eighteenth century occupy an important position in the early history of this country.

As far as I know, very few people have embarked on writing their personal observations of events and happenings while still being active in service and carrying out their work. A few British expatriate civil servants did record their work encounters. The locals did not do so, and it would have been a very telling story if they had recorded the events and accounts through their own eyes as well as their feelings with regard to what they had seen and felt. Such accounts by the locals would have been a meaningful contribution to the history of this country, as recounted by people who occupied ringside positions in the seats of power.

Only in recent years have a few personalities written about their ordeals while being detained under the Internal Security Act. Kassim Ahmad, Syed Hussein Ali and Said Zahari are among these few.

It is important to note that there were many Malaysian personalities that were involved in the struggle for Malaysian independence, but only a few did record their struggles. Tunku was a prolific writer who did relate his various encounters in the collection of his writings, particularly through his widely-read column in The Star newspaper. Aziz Ishak, the Minister of Agriculture who was sacked by Tunku, also exposed his side of the story. However, many other right-wing personalities in UMNO have not detailed out their struggles specifically in book form.

It is only more recently that the Malay left wing leaders like Rashid Maidin, Mustapha Hussein, Abdullah C.D. and Shamsiah Fakeh have come out with their own accounts of their roles in the fight for independence.

This contrasts very strongly with the political culture of the West. Among the Americans, for example, political personalities often put down on paper their innermost thoughts and life experiences, either at the apex of their careers or soon after they have retired.

In this regard, very often after a U.S. President has retired, the publishing world and readers in general wait avidly for the publication of his memoirs. Bill Clinton had his book out in no time, very soon after he relinquished the post. His wife too came out with her own version of life as the former First Lady.

Singapore’s Minister Mentor and first Prime Minster Lee Kuan Yew came out with his side of the story on what happened to Malaysia and Singapore when both countries separated. This founding father of independent Singapore came out with The Singapore Story, and will soon be writing a second book.

The reluctance of Malaysians to have their memoirs published may be traced to a number of reasons. One is that Malaysians are generally reluctant to be totally frank about their views and feelings on various issues and personalities, particularly where they feel that their views can be offensive to the sensibilities of personalities concerned or their kin.

Some would fall back on the excuse that they were too busy while working that they did not record their encounters and feelings. Thus, they do not have enough materials to fall back on.

But the main possibility is that, there has not been any tradition in publishing one’s thoughts, feelings and experiences among Malaysians. As I said earlier, most of the early writings about Malaya and Malaysia have emanated from the pens of expatriate civil servants. Naturally the stories are coloured with opinionated views.

I did talk to some of my former colleagues and also the pioneering politicians about relating their stories. It was always the question of no time and nothing to write about. And also the element of shyness as to how the response will be concerning their books also hampered their sense of responsibility in detailing out their work records and views.

I put down my thoughts and impressions on paper as I want to show how the Malaysian identity had evolved since independence. This is through the eyes of a committed civil servant, a political activist, a manager of a national news agency, and a concerned individual.

I have also been encouraged to write these memoirs by a few of my friends who believe that I have a valid story to tell, not only because my experiences have been so varied, but also because I can bring a fresh perspective to events and happenings that are of national importance.

I would like to record my thanks and appreciation to my daughter Natasha, who had been responsible for producing hard copies since the first draft, and to my son Muhaimi who had pointed out that certain parts needed extra inputs. I would also like to thank my other daughter Minh Ha, who has persistently urged me to pen down the experiences and feelings that I encountered while holding the various posts during my career.

Roslan Kassim of Pegasus Travel had been generous to partly fund the project, and there are a few others who in one way or another had been of help to me in producing this book.

I am also indebted to Dr. Bakri Musa who gave invaluable advice as to how I should approach the themes in this book. He also helped me to reorganise and restructure the contents.

I wish all readers of this book a pleasant and fruitful reading experience.

Ahmad Mustapha Hassan

Taman Tun Dr. Ismail

Kuala Lumpur

September 2006

Ahmad Mustapha started his career as a civil servant in Kedah after graduating from the University of Malaya (Singapore) in 1960.

He was a very active student leader who headed the University Socialist Club as President from 1958 to 1959. He was also Treasurer of the University Muslim Society and editor of Pelajar the organ of the Pan Malaya Malay Students Federation (GPMS).

He was a student activist, a civil servant, a political activist, a diplomat at one stage when he was made First Secretary at the Malaysian Embassy in the Hague, Netherlands, and General Manager of Bernama, the national news agency. He later joined the corporate sector.

He was also involved in charity work and became Chairman of Riding for the Disabled. He was a sports enthusiast and played polo and squash. He was also involved in sports management and was President of the Squash Racquets Association of the Federal Territory and Vice-President of the Equestrian Association of Malaysia.

He still enjoys a good 7 km jog most days of the week and has taken up writing and analysis as an active pastime.

Ahmad Mustapha Hassan
moesenator@gmail.com

Posted with permission of the author.

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