DECEMBER 17 — This is the final of a four-part series.

Orphaned at age seven, and lived the following two years without adult guardianship with his three teenage brothers, until granduncle Haji Sidin offered shelter at his home in Klang.

Transferred from a Malay school to Klang High and continued his Sixth Form with Victoria Institution, then earning a Selangor scholarship to The Institute of Chartered  Accountants of England and Wales in London. Upon graduation he was absorbed into the civil service destined for the higher echelons.

Abu Mansor’s is a remarkable story but not exactly unique for those born in the 30s and 40s, though his may have an additional “bump” or two. It was the time of a young nationhood and those with talent were sought to serve.

Malaysians don’t live in tree houses

We are now moving towards the mid 70s. With the Vietnam War raging, Americans and the rest of the western world were focused on events of Southeast Asia. However news on Malaysia and even its location was murky to many.

Datuk Harun Idris wanted to put Malaysia “in the world map” and suggested Mansor to bring a Muhammad Ali (defeated George Foreman in 1974 to regain his world title) title fight to Kuala Lumpur. This was in early 1975. Harun had been the Selangor menteri besar since 1964 and was the current Umno Youth chief. He was also Bank Rakyat chairman.

There were rumours of Harun’s unsavoury role during May 13, but there were also quite a few personal testimonies of his      heroic deeds, which saved many non-Malays. He was now a popular national leader destined for higher office.

Mansor, never known for saying no, took on the assignment. The first thing is to seek federal support to overcome the various red tapes.

The fight was on

Prime minister Tun Razak was equally enthusiastic.

Mansor flew to Las Vegas and met boxing’s preeminent promoter Don King. He remembers vividly how King greeted him with one arm clasping on The complete works of William Shakespeare. Mansor is quite sure it was “staged” to imply that he’s a man of literature. He wouldn’t be Don King otherwise, would he?

Ali’s fee was US$2.5 million.

Mansor found a Caucasian contender in London by the name of Joe Bugner. The fee was US$500,000.

Malaysia caught the world’s attention on fight day — July 1, 1975. The fall of Saigon was April 30, 1975.

Another fight was on

By the end of 1975, the failing health of Tun Razak was known to party leaders and quiet jostling for succession had commenced.

Harun had been charged with corruption over a $250,000 HSBC contribution and had requested Mansor to be his bailer. 

Tun Hussein Onn took over as prime minister when Tun Razak passed away on January 14, 1976. With Harun’s ineligibility, (Tun) Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie, the assertive Home Affairs minister (1973-81) was the serious top contender to be the deputy prime minister. On March 5, some seven weeks later, the third vice president (Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad was chosen instead.

Harun was again charged, with criminal breach of trust (CBT) over the Bank Rakyat Investment Committee’s payment approval (for the Ali fight) process.

During that period many personages were detained under the ISA. Dr Syed Husin Ali was detained from 1974 to 1980. And those detained from 1976 to 1981 were Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad, former political secretary to Tun Razak, Dr Kassim Ahmad, political scientist, and Tan Sri Samad Ismail, an eminent journalist.

Harun was found guilty for both offences and sentenced to six years imprisonment. In 1981, he received a royal pardon after serving three years. He passed on in 2003, aged 78.

C/o Pudu Prison, Shaw Road (now Jalan Hang Tuah)

Mansor too faced a similar CBT charge as Harun. Essentially it was about the prosecution not accepting the Bank Rakyat Investment Committee’s 3-0-vote approval, insisting that it should comprise the full 5-member committee, though it wasn’t expressed in the bank’s standard operating procedure. At that time the other two members were doing their haj pilgrimage and their scheduled return was past the payment deadline.

Solicitor-general (Tun) Salleh Abas prosecuted. Mansor received a four-year sentence.

His appeal hearing two months later upheld the verdict. Four months on he secured the Privy Council date, then the court of final appeal in London. Mansor recalls, “clear as day” how the presider Lord Diplock flipped open the folder, said, “This is purely a domestic matter. We are unable to deliberate”, and flipped close the folder, together with the other two Law Lords stood up, and left.

Mansor became his majesty’s guest at Pudu Prison on March 28, 1977. Fourth child, daughter Aryan Alini was born 20 days later.

It was a large and well-appointed room of about 800sq ft. Harun became his roommate some three months later. Meals were served and other convicts maintained their toilet. There was a television room and visitation was quite relaxed. Mansor read ferociously.

He had prepared to be incarcerated so he liquidated as much as possible to ensure   Zaitoon is free from financial constraints while looking after their young family of four kids. His earlier dream of having an office on the topper most floors in the tallest building was dashed when the construction of Belmont Centre was frozen. It was renamed Promet Building when sold in 1981. He lost much more than his freedom.

Mansor was released Nov 30, 1980, exactly 1,000 days later.

Postscript

Pak Mansor was caught in the crossfire.

He answered the nation’s call for 10 straight years. He was directly instrumental in sustaining thousands and thousands of farmers and fishermen who were then the nation’s sustenance.

Yet, he had to spend the whole of 1976 to avoid jail because he was “too useful”. Then this talented and useful person was jailed. His was an unkindest cut.

Their treatment in Pudu and Harun’s pardon suggests they were “in the way” at that time rather than criminals. What truly amazes me is that through it all, there wasn’t a trace of rancour from this fine gentleman. Its unproductive, he muses.

Today, he has seven grandchildren with Zaitoon, his formidable pillar. From Azmel — three, Almi — two, one is half Chinese and the other half Korean, Aris is enjoying singlehood as a Londoner, and Aryan — two, both are half Chinese.

Still, we owe Pak Mansor and his family a correction.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online. 

** Related articles:

Part 1: The feats and foibles of Pak Mansor — Lee Yew Meng

Part 2: Feats and foibles of Pak Mansor, continued — Lee Yew Meng

Part 3: Feats and foibles of feisty Pak Mansor — Lee Yew Meng