GEORGE TOWN:
Unity, diversity and multiculturalism were cornerstones of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj’s approach to nation-building. These are the values his son hopes will continue to guide the nation.
Revered as the Father of Independence, “Tunku”, as he was affectionately known, helped negotiate the country’s independence from British rule. He served as Malaysia’s first prime minister from 1957 to 1970.
His son, Suleiman, recently told FMT that his father envisioned an inclusive nation grounded in the harmony of its diverse communities, a vision he championed while leading a delegation to the British Parliament to press for independence.
“He assured the British that the Malays, Chinese, Indians and others would be united as one people,…