Tunku Abdul Rahman The Bapa Kemerdekaan

Last time is about a singer name Sudirman Hj Arshad and now we move to the politics category. This post is about our 1st Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

His full name is Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah. He was born on 8th February 1903 in Istana Pelamin Alor Star, Kedah. He also is being called as Bapa Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence) of Malaysia.

He was the 7th son and 20th child of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah the 24th Sultan of Kedah.

His early education started at a Malay Primary School Jalan Baharu in 1909 and after that he was transferred to the Government English School in Alor Star. When he was eight years old he again was sent to Bangkok at Debirin School and after 4 years there he returned home and continues his studies at Penang Free School. He furthers his studies at St Catharine’s College after being awarded a Kedah State Scholarship in 1918. Seven years later in 1925 he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree and he was the first student from Kedah to study in UK.

His early career starts as a District Officer of Kulim and Sungai Petani upon his returning home. He returned to England again to complete his law studies but was forced to stop because of the World War II and return to Malaya after that.
After that in 1949, he was first posted in Alor Star and later he transferred to KL and became Deputy Public Prosecutor. He then became active in politics after that.

In 1954 Abdul Rahman led a delegation to London to seek independence for Malaya, but the trip proved to be unfruitful. He was the one who formed a political alliance with MCA and was called Alliance Party (Perikatan). Later the Alliance Party joined by MIC representing the Indian community.
In the same year, the first federal general election was held, and the Perikatan won 51 out of the 52 seats contested and was selected as Malaya’s first Chief Minister.
Later in 1955 Abdul Rahman made another trip to London to negotiate Malayan independence, and 31 August 1957 was decided as the date for independence. When the British flag was lowered in Kuala Lumpur on independence day, Abdul Rahman led the crowd in announcing “Merdeka!” (independence).

Here is the video shows the moment when announcing Merdeka.

• In 1961, Tunku Abdul Rahman was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) by Queen Elizabeth II, and was appointed an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia in 1987.
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Stamp Issues: In 1991, he adorned part of the collection of Past Prime Ministers of Malaysia stamps issue. In 2003, stamps of Tunku Abdul Rahman were issued to commemorate his 100th birthday anniversary and to pay tribute to him as he was the first prime minister of Malaysia since Malaysia became an independent nation in 1957.

Tunku Abdul Rahman died on 6 December 1990 at the age of eighty-seven, and was laid to rest at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum in Alor Star.
This article is just excerpt from Wikipedia. To get better understanding about our Tunku Abdul Rahman, please go to this Tunku Abdul Rahman link. Hidup Melayu Boleh