Sakmongkol AK47’s afternoon with Tengku Razaleigh(6)

A caveat is in order here. If what I write sounds crude and not in keeping with Tengku Razleigh's character, that shortcoming is due entirely to my uncouth style of expression. As many would attest, TRH is the gentleman politician, always respectful and diplomatic. He has the mannerisms of an English gentleman and a patrician Malay. He has never been known to disparage any of his political foes in public.

Perhaps it is because of this refined characteristic and lack or refusal on his part to be ruthless and cunning, that has prevented him to become what many wished him to be.

Additionally, I wish to state that my rendering of material covered in my conversation with TRH is culled purely from memory. I wrote a few notes after the conversation. I would hasten to assure readers that I have not overly embellished the session with my own personal judgements.

That caution settled; I wish to share a gem of information with readers. After Nixon went to China in 1972, the first from an Asian country to go there was probably Tun Razak. But before Tun Razak went, Tengku Razaleigh went there first. He went to set the agenda and go over the paces.

It was during that visit, that TRH struck a personal rapport with China's grey eminence- Chou Enlai. According to TRH, Chou was one of the most impressive Chinese leaders he has ever met. He knew several languages but spoke in Chinese with an interpreter. He knew English as well as French, and would correct the interpreter if something said was not captured properly.

This was in 1974. TRH was head of Pernas then, if I am not mistaken. His mother was ailing back in Kota Bharu, stricken with cancer. But TRH had to go to China.

During the conversation with Chou, the later remarked that now TRH is here, he must be worried about his mother back home. When Chou said that, TRH realised how thorough the Chinese Intelligence services were. The Chinese Intelligence Authorities were so thorough they knew the background of everyone on TRH's entourage. They even identified a Malaysian Malay SB officer who could speak Mandarin, accompanying TRH.

But it was the personal gesture of Chou that left a lasting impression on TRH.

In those days, there were no direct telephone lines connecting China and Malaysia. But Chou Enlai went all out to link up TRH to speak with his ailing mother. The Chinese authorities went through 3 countries to enable TRH speak with his ailing matriarch. Lines were opened up from Peking to London to Singapore and eventually to KB.

In those halcyon days, a nation's relationship can be cemented through the art of personal rapport. I wonder if from the unpromising crop of our current leaders do we have personalities with sufficient social fluidity to strike up a personal rapport with leaders of other countries?

Tengku, I wish to say I am in full agreement with your opinions on the Perak political imbroglio. The only right way and dignified way to secure government is through elections and not through any form of underhanded putsch.

That's what the Perak political episode was. It was just a political putsch. And the Perak Sultan is unnecessarily dragged into this sordid affair. His own illustrious judicial career will now come under greater scrutiny. I am sure every judgment that HRH Sultan Perak made will be examined closely.

We ridicule ourselves actually when the Pakatan Assemblymen held their assembly under the tree. The whole world is watching. A minor administrative officer suddenly invested himself with powers beyond his slender shoulders to deny access to democratically elected lawmakers. We are actually showing the world, that it is we, the present day government that is behaving like a tantrum throwing spoilt child who wants to get his way.

TRH did not rush to respond to my own monologue.

This is what you get when people are not aware of the full import of the rule of law and constitution. This is what we get when rule of law is replaced with the rule of men. In a democracy, we must uphold the fundamental principle that the only legitimate way of forming a government is through elections and never by any means of political meanderings.

This episode Tengku, tells the public that UMNO does not know how to lose. They are sore losers!

What is there to lose? UMNO has already lost. We have lost the Malay belt states. Kelantan- we shall never get it back in the foreseeable future. We are on the brink of losing Terengganu.

We must learn to lose gracefully and maintain self respect. The rakyat will respect us for that.

The only way to regain public trust and confidence for UMNO and more importantly to restore dignity to the ruler is to dissolve the assembly. Let the people judge us.

Yes, chances are, UMNO will lose. But so what? As I said, UMNO has already lost. But it's more important for us to accept defeat with dignity without trampling the rakyat's rights.

And you know what? The Malays love to vote. They like the atmosphere of queuing up, experience a little bit of adrenalin rush to actually place marks of the voting papers and cast their votes. We should give them that.

Yes Tengku- and I also think, the other reason why Malays like to vote is because, though that way, they exercised their democratic rights and acclaimed their relevance. They know that is the only way they could affirm their political feelings.

I must add Tengku that your almost religious deference to the democratic process and rule of law is a reflection of your own educational and exposure to western democratic ideas. TRH got his economics degree from Ireland and was preparing to read law in England if not for the untimely death of his father.

Using your own exposure to the democratic traditions, I am puzzled that the PM2B have not shown the same tendencies one would have expected of a person exposed a long time to the British system of government. One expects he would be the first to defend the system.

TRH's response was tangential. He did not directly respond to my opinion. I too wasn't keen to push the issue.

I gave Najib his first job. At Petronas you know. Some people are not like you and me. We have to struggle through the rank and file. We go through the mill. We become polished through that process.

Some people are so used to getting whatever fancies them. Our PM2B will profit by infusing more Malay and Islamic values into himself. Take religious knowledge for instance. I am not suggesting that one becomes an ustaz overnight. But we must have sufficient knowledge and understanding to manage those who have.

Tengku, will you serve the country if called upon? I have written in my blog that perhaps the only way our PM2B can restore confidence and regain trust is appointing as Finance Minister. Only you as Finance Minister. No second finance minister.

I can immediately see two benefits here. First, you can be called upon as counsel. With your vast experience and stature, you would introduce a much needed respectability. Second, your presence will certainly be a buffer to the unavoidable constant criticisms from Tun Mahathir.

That is a very remote possibility. Unless the situation is profoundly grave, I see no possibilities of being called upon nor do i have the inclination to do so.

Tengku I am surprised that none of the UMNO leadership provided a substantive response to your 5 point program of reforming UMNO. Especially your point 5 where you suggested that those who hold high party posts should never be allowed to hold top government post. That's quite radical.

Yes, vested interests override political correctness. Plus, I have a deep suspicion our leaders don't read. They are even more reluctant to write. Imagine having your thoughts examined by others and you have to be accountable to what you write.

The concluding part: TRH on Economics.