Kuala Lumpur, 7 December 2020 – 6th December 2020 marked 30 years since the passing of our Bapa Kemerdekaan, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. IDEAS remembers the Tunku fondly as we were founded on the values of liberty and justice for all Malaysians, the words uttered by Tunku during our independence proclamation 63 years ago.

Malaysia has come a long way since then, achieving levels of development, peace and progress that have been the envy of the world. Today, while we face tremendous challenges both on the political and economic front, it is important to remember that it was Tunku’s commitment to mutual understanding, racial tolerance and equality for all Malaysians that provided a strong foundation for our new nation. 

Along with our other Founding Fathers, Tunku Abdul Rahman embodied the values of integrity, liberal democracy and statesmanship that shaped our early years as a nation. In the face of the tribulations we face today, it is more crucial than ever that the spirit of these values continue to be embodied by our political leaders, lawmakers, civil society and citizens alike.