'Pave way for younger generations to lead if Tun Razak's legacy is set to continue'

More opportunities should be provided to the younger generations in the leadership front if the former prime minister Tun Razak Hussein’s legacy is to be continued, the panelists for the ‘Memperingati Tun Razak’ (Remembering Tun Razak) forum said on Wednesday.

According to The Malaysian Insider's editor-in-chief, Jahabar Sadiq, the legacy is lost now as the lives of many younger generations are too dependent on the government.

“Tun Razak made the younger generations during his time to believe that they can administer the nation,” he said.

He said Tun Razak would assign youngsters in the different levels of government administration.

This includes appointing Tun Hanif Omar as the fourth National Police Head at the age of 35 replacing Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Hashim who was killed during a communist attack.

“Tun Razak’s legacy would be the conviction that he had in younger generations to be confident,” he said.

However, Jahabar said, the government is lacking trust in the younger generations and this is a problem.

For Member of Parliament (PKR), Nurul Izzah Anwar, Tun Razak has approached many youths during his leadership.

She said for instance her father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was a student that was held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) back then was approached by Tun Razak who asked her father to join Umno.

“A leader has taken the time to meet a student and this is very important,” she said in the forum.

Apart from that, Nurul also applauded Tun Razak’s effort in uniting the various political parties including UMNO, PAS, PPP and the Movement through the formation of Barisan Nasional (BN) in 1973.

“45 percent of the young population is in their 25s and I feel this is the time for the Malaysian younger generation to prove that they can play a much bigger role than small ones,” she said.

The forum to commemorate the passing of Tun Razak was also attended by his former political secretary and UMNO figure, Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad.

Tun Razak was also known as the 'Father of Development' who had served the country as Prime Minister from September 22, 1970 until January 14, 1976.

Tun Razak was also the father of current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.