Sultan Nazrin Shah launches 'Conversations with Tunku Abdul Rahman'

The book is a compilation of recorded conversations between the country's first prime minister and the author, Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad, between 1982 and 1984.

In his speech, Sultan Nazrin Shah said the recorded conversations contained important and valuable information.

"Tunku Abdul Rahman's name is etched in the nation's history as the Father of Independence and his services remain fresh in our minds.

"The Tunku was a person, leader and statesman who belonged to the people. In his lifetime, he touched every heart and soul."

Sultan Nazrin Shah said the Tunku could make outrageous jokes, play the hula hoop on stage and could get people to forget their problems and laugh with him.

"The Tunku strongly believed in the separation of powers and in upholding the institutional integrity of the judiciary, legislature and executive.

"He had a great sense of fairness and justice and while he loved his people and yearned to uplift the status of the Malays, the Tunku regarded all Malaysians as his own. Perhaps his sense of fairness and justice came from his love of sports," he said.

On Abdullah, Sultan Nazrin Shah described the former politician, journalist and diplomat as an eyewitness to history.

"I am happy that he has written this book because it gives another perspective on the past. In a chapter in this book, the author records his conversation with the Tunku on the role of Malaysia's constitutional monarchs.

"The Tunku speaks of the role of the rulers in the fight for independence and he recounts how he had to play a balancing role in preventing excesses by some royal households," he said.

The Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, also attended the event.