Tunku would be sad to see the current state of Malaysian politics - Ramon Navaratnam

The late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj would be sad to see a country filled with doubts, racism and dirty politics, according to the director of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.

"The Tunku would be unhappy to see that there is doubt and pessimism amongst more Malaysians today compared to his time.

"Secondly he would be sad to see the excessive and the unnecessary wasteful and unproductive politics, dirty politics, racism and religious bigotry and polarization in our society today," said Navaratnam in his speech at a forum organised by Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), Saturday.

He said the polarization and disunity in this country would trouble the Tunku as he was always in support of harmony and national unity from the very beginning of his struggle.

However, despite the sadness, Navaratnam had also listed out the possibility of things that would make Tunku happy if he were still here today.

He said that he (the Tunku) would certainly be proud of Malaysia's current socio-economic development and declining poverty rate.

"He would also be proud of our socio-economic developent, and we have to accept that we have done very well. Poverty has gone down and vast developing is taking over the country," he said.

Besides that, Navaratnam said as Muslim leader, Tunku would be proud to see the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in which tunku had help establish, had progressed so much.

He said, the Tunku would also be happy and surprised to see how Barisan Nasional (BN) has remained strong for 56 years and held a two-thirds majority for so long.

Nevertheless, Navaratnam predicted that without any change, the Tunku's dream might not be realised.

Therefore, he suggested the government to follow the Tunku's principles of fairness, equity, justice and generosity for a more happy and united Malaysia.

"The government has to be more fair to all Malaysians... the government has to follow Tunku's policy and principles of being fair to all races, ethnic and religious group especially to the poor not the rich," he said.

Navaratnam, who served in the Treasury during the Tunku’s term, said the former premier would also want to see the poor being helped to be developed at a faster pace, and to be more independent through a more relevent or relevent education and training.

He said the Tunku during his time in the civil sector, wanted a civil service that will not give special preferences for the Malays recruited, as well as not be subject to any political influence.