Looking for Dr Ismail, 41 years after his death

COMMENT Aug 2 marks the 41st year since our nation witnessed the passing of one of our national heroes, Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman. This was a man that personified strength, unity, tolerance, governance and rule of law.

A principled man with a strict code of ethics, who would “even jail his own mother if she broke the law”, Dr Ismail had his own philosophy and vision in what he envisioned Malaysia to be.

Many stories and articles highlight Dr Ismail the man. I, however, would like to look at Dr Ismail the institution and what he means to us today.

It can be argued that early 21st century Malaysia resembles Malaysia circa May 13, 1969 era, in which race-based politics was prevalent resulting in an atmosphere of heightened tensions amongst Malaysia’s different races. This is  especially after the 13th general election, in which Umno blamed the severe losses of the ruling coalition’s component parties to the Chinese Tsunami.

In 1969, Malaysia was merely 12 years old and in the midst of a communist insurgency.

It was May 13, 1969 and its aftermath arguably defined our country’s two greatest leaders - second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein and his deputy Dr Ismail (right) for their herculean efforts to mend the fractured races together and lay the foundation for this country to achieve economic prosperity.

It can also be argued that without the exemplary leadership of Malaysia’s twin towers of power of the late 1960s and early 1970s, fourth prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad would not have had the platform to launch his Vision 2020 and to drive Malaysia to become a First World Nation.

With the fires of May 13 still burning and the smoke not yet subsided, Malaysia then could have easily succumbed to what many developing nations in the 1960s endured - to be governed by a military junta, which would have set this young nation back.

However, the advice of the late army chief General Ibrahim Ismail who persuaded Dr Ismail from seeking to impose martial law, led to the formation of the National Operations Council (NOC).

This was a time that certain quarters within Umno wanted to advocate Malay supremacy and it was also said that PAS had used their influence to incite the ultra-conservative religious Malays that both the multiracial parties of DAP and Gerakan had tried to incite the ultra-Chinese to go against the ruling party.

This exact scenario is seen today with all parties inciting their own hardcore supporters to challenge the will of the prime minister, be it an opposition party or an NGO purportedly allied to Umno.

Trust, respect and confidence

Dr Ismail, the man and institution would not have been successful if he had not had the respect and trust of Abdul Razak and vice versa.

It was their cohesive relationship that allowed their rule to be unchallenged as it was evident that the Malay right wing factions within Umno such as Dr Mahathir and one time deputy president Musa Hitam were silenced by the leadership.

Had the both of them not instilled confidence in the public via their unified principles and respective support systems - Razak, through the rural Malays and Ismail, having close knit relationships with the Chinese, the ultras would have had their way and Malaysia as we now know it would have entered the list of banana republics.

If one were to ask those who remember Dr Ismail, their answers would range from “a man of fairness” to “the best prime minister Malaysia never had”.

So what shaped Dr Ismail’s philosophy? Was it his upbringing and education? Or perhaps his close friendship with Robert and Philip Kuok? Or was it that he believed Malaysia had a unique position in the world due to its multi-ethnic nature?

Perhaps it was all three and more. He truly believed that in order for this country to move forward, we must look beyond our skin colour and religion. For truly a great nation is a nation united.

The causes of May 13 have been debated over the decades, but none can dispute the consequences of the event on the relations in Malaysian society today.

During much of the 1980’s and 1990’s these issues were masked by Malaysians united in chasing riches and the clever politicking of Dr Mahathir.

May 13 was free from social media and immature and irresponsible netizens. And yet Dr Ismail saw it fit to introduce legislation to halt rumour-mongering as it would have been detrimental to the implementation of the rule of law.

Stability and rule of law

As the home minister, Tun Dr Ismail’s unrelenting, firm and uncompromising characteristic allowed him to establish stability.

Whilst he was strict, he was not seen to be a dictator nor were there complaints about any abuse of powers. He was determined that his philosophy be instilled in the ministry of home affairs and its various departments, such as the police force, as for the implementation for any rule of law, their adherents must be disciplined enough to know wrong from right.

South-East Asia during the 1960’s was a new frontier with communism trying to have a foothold in not only Malaysia, but Indonesia, Thailand, and of course Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

If there hadn't been strong leaders in the mold of Dr Ismail and Abdul Razak to unite the country in the face of adversity, Malaysia would have succumbed to external forces trying to control our infant nation.

In 2014, Malaysia does not suffer from any external threat in the form of communism nor is it suffering from any economic crises that warrant any form of racial tension.

But some quarters argue that there is a lack of central leadership within the government. I think is unfair to blame the current prime minister outright for our country’s calamities.

Today, we see an advent of neo-colonialist powers and religious extremists via subversive elements undermine the harmony of Malaysia and the prime minister.

A prime minister’s strength not only lies in his or her ability to circumnavigate Malaysia’s political muddy waters or does his or her ideas, but in reality boils down to his or her supporting casts.

Henceforth, the institution of government and their respective agencies are not to be blamed, rather it is the supporting casts of individuals who have been given the responsibility to run the respective agencies.

Freedom abused

Freedom is something that many falsely interpret and often abused. Isma, Perkasa, and other various inflammatory groups defile our federal constitution every time they speak and it is this fear that has not only caused worry amongst the other races, but within the liberal and educated Malays as well.

They do not represent the government, but yet are allowed certain freedoms to openly voice their hatred.

Could it be the repressed fear of another May 13 and the loss of purported power from the Malay base that has caused a tiny ripple to transform into a tidal wave? Or is it the fear of losing its electoral support that has caused Umno to remain silent whilst still reeling from the wounds of the 13th general election?

Since the Malaccan Empire under Sultan Mansur Shah, Malaysia has been a melting pot of differing cultures and the epitome of a multicultural nation. It is this ethos that Dr Ismail and Abdul Razak tried to hold on to in 1969.

Malaysia needs another Dr Ismail-like figure to install confidence in the other races. A person who will not only talk and reason with the people, but someone who will also walk and eat with them.

Allow Umno to take care of the Malays, but there must be a figure that must transcends racial politics to truly unite this beautiful and multicultural nation.

Before the United States of America, there was Malacca, before the existence of Singapore and South Africa there was Malaysia.

Dr Ismail lives in every one of us be it Malay, Chinese, Indian or indigenous tribes.

There must be strong principles within us. We should not allow our children to grow up with such hate and lack of knowledge, for the ignorant Malaysian will be the ultimate downfall and detriment to the nation that we love.

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TARIQ ISMAIL is the grandson of Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman.