Thread by @mathissarawanan

So ya. Yesterday, it was Malaysia's grand old man - YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman's 116th birthday. Being a Tunku guy (as I self proclaim) here are some interesting images of him. This is a thread & that's him, Tunku after his graduation from Cambridge (real one tho).

@TheTunku

Not just that our first Prime Minister was a lawyer, he was also known for being an active sportsman. This one is Tunku in a sparring session like some 99 years ago (1920). Cool isn't it?

Besides sparring, Tunku apparently also played football. That's another picture of him and his team playing for the school that I kinda studied for a while : Penang Free School. It's somewhere around 1916, Tunku is is the middle row, second from right.

It didn't stop there. This one, Tunku can be seen with his mates from the St. Catherine Football Team. Middle row, extreme right. You think you got style?

In between sports, started politics. This one, Tunku and the boys of the Malay Students Society, London in 1927. They suit up everyday people, every single day.

In between graduating/appointment as a District Officer in Padang Terap, Tunku also got into Politics. He was the Chairman of UMNO Kedah once, then when Dato Sir Onn Jaafar left UMNO, Tunku (Deputy before this) took over & lead to Merdeka That's Dato' Onn Jaafar and Tunku.

One from the days when he, Tunku and the rest of UMNO went all over Malaysia preaching Independence. This one with @UMNOPenang in 1954. Guy beside him with a pipe is the late Tun Dr. Ismail. Cool right?

Before that UMNO Penang meeting, Tunku graced UMNO Youth March Past. Well to @PemudaUmnoMsia that's discipline and commitment ok? 😬.

Another iconic photo is this. You'll know right that prior to Merdeka we had the Pre - Independence Federal Exec. Council (for transition period). Ha, this is them. Tunku the Chief Minister of Malaya, fellow Council Members & some important white guys.

And obviously I can't finish this with - out this iconic picture of Malaysia's (Malaya) Independence. There was Tunku, the Malay Rulers and etc. For an ordinary Malaysian like all us this picture will always mean everything. Isn't it?

This one. Tunku, his Cabinet and the 4th Agong. This Cabinet is like 1001 times better than any cabinet 😂.

Baling Talks 1955 (Before Merdeka) to meet Chin Peng. Rivals, Friends, and everything else. Haha.

June 8, 1966. A smoke with another good friend, great rival - Lee Kuan Yew. Apparently this was after the Malaysia - Singapore split.

Tunku receiving King Faisal of the Saudi somewhere in 1970. It was here that King Faisal suggested Tunku to be Sec. Gen of OIC to which Tunku demurred because he drinks and gambles (Oh yes, Party guy). King Faisal then told him "I'm looking for a Sec. Gen, not an imam"

You know after leaving Premiership, the Tunku left UMNO and stuffs due to something with @chedetofficial I guess, this one was one during his return to UMNO AGM greeted by the then PM Tun Hussein Onn, the late father of @HishammuddinH2O.

Classic Tunku moment. The Tunku, his cigarette and the rest of his boys giving him a standing ovation as he retires as UMNO's President after 19 years of service. Guy next to him is the late Tun Razak, @NajibRazak's dad.

The Tunku embracing retirement with a smoke, starts writing in the @staronline and becomes the Sec Gen of OIC. This one is at one of his house in Penang.

A few last pictures. This one is from London, when Tunku received the Freedom of the City of London (kinda award) for his advocacy and works on freedom. A proud moment I guess?

Dinner with the late Muhammad Ali, former world heavyweight champ in KL circa 1975. Guess they were kinda close. Tunku was active with PERKIM, which he founded to help new converts.

Talking about PERKIM, I need to say this as well. Tunku was a party guy & being Tunku, he never for once denied drinking or gambling. That's for him and his creator to decide but he was honest, never an hypocrite. This with his beloved horse "Think Big" that won Melbourne Cup.

In one of his walkabouts to meet his fellow Malaysian and yes that's him wearing shorts, loafers. The people loved him.

I missed this one earlier. This is one heck of a happy moment Tunku. He walked happily after declaring our Independence at Stadium Merdeka on the midnight of 31st August 57. The official ceremony took place the next morning.

Also this one. The ride home after coming back from the London talks to obtain Merdeka. This is like prior to 1957 lah kan. Next time if you ask yourself what BN dah buat for the past 60 plus years, this might help you answer. Haha (Politics sikit) 😏

Just like everyone else. The Tunku got old but still he was kinda a very strong force. Ask @chedetofficial he knows well 😂. The Tunku, as I said earlier was very kinda open always very direct on stuffs and etc. So the press loved him. This picture tells you that.

And as Tunku got old, he too got sick. By this time many were paying him visits already. In this, you can see the young @chedetofficial with Tunku. I was told this was the last time Dr. Mahathir met Tunku.

So this took place during the meet up. Apparently the dialogue was, @chedetofficial asked "Apa Khabar Tunku?" and Tunku replied "Macam ni lah, Che Det".

@NajibRazak who was the UMNO Youth Chief back then, also took a chance to visit his father's mentor.

The Tunku, by now hospitalised was visited by Tun Taib (he was the CM back then). Tunku was really old and kinda sick by now. 😢

And on Dec 6, 1990 - The Tunku left us all. In the picture, you can see HRH the late Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak (Agong ) walked along side with the people and Tunku's jenazah to the Sungai Besi Air Force Base. That much love for Tunku 😢.

A copy of @NST_Online dated 7th December 1990. That's how the Grand Old Man looked when he left us.

And this. His wasiat on where his remainings should be kept. Please read everything, line by line, word by word. You will know why there will never be another Tunku, again.

And that's it. The last ride of the late Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra AlHaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah. The Prince who got Malaya it's independence, former Malaysia and left everyone with everything that we have today.

Upon being asked what he has to say to all his critics (never for once they managed to critic his policies, they only managed to attack him on personal issues), he said this.

"People can say anything about me but none will accuse me of having been a hypocrite"

And that's it. I end mine thread here. To all Malaysians, let us remember all this grand old man for always. If you are a politician or politician to be, read his books / writings. Lastly, let's pray for the blessings of the Al - Mighty for The Tunku, the Father of all Malaysian.

For the Tunku, still the greatest Malaysian. ❤️