Ku Li: Abdul Ghafar’s humility and humbleness hallmark as outstanding politician

MALACCA, April 23 — Humility and humbleness was Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba’s hallmark as an outstanding politician in his generation, said Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Tengku Razaleigh, also a close friend to the former deputy Prime Minister, said Umno’s political landscape had not been the same since his departure.

“Che Ghafar (Abdul Ghafar) was not generous with his smile but that did not reflect his friendliness. He was certainly not above leg pulling among friends.  His dry wit is the testimony to this.

“He is reflecting the persistence of politics and an example of Umno’s political nerve activists in the pre-1980,” he said.

He said this in his speech at the Tahlil session and prayers in conjunction with the 10th year of Allahyarham Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba’s passing at the Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba’s Memorial, Peringgit here.

Also present were Malacca Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam, Senate president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Minister of Federal Territories Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, and Abdul Ghafar’s son Datuk Mohd Tamrin Abdul Ghafar.

Tengku Razaleigh said one of the characteristics of Abdul Ghafar was the softness of his heart and his sensitivity to the people around him especially those he kept close to his heart.

“Che Ghafar loved Tun Razak (former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein) and believed Tun Razak would lead the country to many successes, when I told him of Tun Razak’s demise he cried like a little boy and said slowly ‘apa nak jadi kepada kita ini’ (what will happen to us) that reflects his trust on Tun Razak,” he said.

He first met Abdul Ghafar in 1962 when they both served Umno at the Rantau Panjang by-election. Abdul Ghafar was 37 and Tengku Razaleigh was 25 years old at that time.

“One night we could not go back to Rantau Panjang because the opposition political members had demolished the bridge that we were supposed to go through, so we had to walk along a railway track by using torchlights, we began to talk about each other and that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his speech at the event, Mohd Tamrin thanked all leaders who had become friends and colleagues of his father. — Bernama