Sakmongkol AK47 speaks with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

YM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah(taken on 4th March 2009)

As a person approaches the residence located at 31 Jalan Langgak Golf, he or she immediately recognises its resemblance to the White House in America. The White House is the official residence and office of the US president. The White House at 31 Jalan Langgak Golf is the personal residence and office of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. He is a former finance Minister of Malaysia. He is also a former vice president of UMNO. He was Chairman of BBMB, Petronas, Pernas, Etc. The list goes on and on.

The white house in the USA is the symbol of world democracy just as the Parthenon was for Ancient Greece. The white house in Langgak Golf in some ways remains a symbol of Malaysian democracy. For in that place resides, the sanest voice in Malaysian politics, a true gentleman in politics and a person committed to the principles of democracy, rule of law and the integrity of the constitution. I am speaking of course of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Some would say he is arguably the ablest finance minister we had. I Sakmongkol have even said, TRH is the PM we never had. He is a member of the Kelantan Royalty. His ancestral home in KB, the Palm Manor sits regally in one the priciest part of KB.

I was in Kuala Lumpur on some errands. I sent an e mail to John Pang, TRH's minder and assistant. Last week; readers will remember I got to see Tun Daim Zainuddin. This time, I wanted to see whether I can get to meet up with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. John called back and told me TRH can accommodate me. It was set as 3.30pm at 31 Langgak Golf. The date is 4^th March 2009.

I arrived before 3.30 so that John Pang and I could have some time before I see TRH. John Pang turned out to be a young very handsome Chinese man, urbane, very articulate with excellent spoken English. He has lived abroad most of his life. I suspect he writes very well too.

I was ushered into an unpretentious waiting room. TRH was having a lunch appointment in the city and will be back soon. I seated myself comfortably in one of the sofas and went through some notes that I wrote. I was preparing to make full use of the time allotted to me with TRH.

At around 3.30, in walked Dato Hassan Ahmad a former Chairman of Dewan Bahasa, I think. I know of him from previous readings and he is here to see TRH about a gathering of Bahasa Melayu champions. We exchanged pleasantries and talked lightly on politics.

Although I had an appointment set with TRH, I gave way to Dato Hassan Ahmad so that he can get to see TRH ahead of me. He being an older person and it is part of the Malay constitution to give deference to the elder. This minor observance will later assume a greater significance when I talked at great length with TRH. For that my dear readers, you have to be patient.