INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT FOR COMM 3090 PROFESSIONAL SPEECH COMMUNICATION

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT FOR COMM 3090 PROFESSIONAL SPEECH COMMUNICATION

Book review: Tun Ghafar Baba

By: 0628513 MOHD FAZLI SHAMSUDDIN

Quoted from: Alias Mohamed. (1993) Ghafar- A Biography. Petaling Jaya: Pelanduk Publication.

The late Tun Ghafar Baba was an unpretentious man, simple and very ordinary. It was very ordinariness that makes him stand out as being different. Unlike many others in public life, Ghafar has not sought a title or been anxious to give them to others. When he was Chief Minister of Malacca, he spoke out against moves to have the Governor, Tun Leong Yew Koh, award state honours and decorations on his birthday. It was then just two years after Merdeka. Those who deserved to be honoured, he argued, would have the opportunity of being honoured by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. His reasoning was simple and direct: “The giving of one’s service to the public should properly be to derive the satisfaction of having served the interest of humanity”.
Getting to the root of the master is Ghafar’s style of leadership. He is true grassroots leader who believes that charity begins at home. He says that nothing excites him anymore after living in this world for more than 68 years. What is achievement? He has reduced it to a very simple formula; he only wants satisfaction through doing his bit for the people –especially the have-nots. Being born into poverty and having known it from the time he was very young, Ghafar is the champion of the poor.

When crisis was at high, Ghafar, in his soft unassuming manner, is always at the forefront protecting and promoting the interest of the party. Known for his loyalty, Ghafar had always stood solidly behind Datuk Seri Mahathir and even stuck his neck out in supporting the Prime Minister during the nation’s so-called constitutional crisis of 1983. Ghafar remembers the crisis well. He was not in the Government when it happened. It was during his “business years”. It arose after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir tabled the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill on August 1, 1983. Among others things, the Bill sought to amend Article 66 to provide that “if for any reason whatsoever a Bill, and it shall become law.” After three days of debate, the Dewan Negara gave its approval. On August 10, it was endorsed by the Dewan Negara. The King, after consultations with the other Rulers, delayed giving his assent. Then, Ghafar explained to all the Rulers after he consulted United Malay National Organization (UMNO) Supreme Council. He mentioned, “There is no intention to erode the power of the Rulers, but because we practice constitutional monarchy in Malaysia, the Rulers have to act on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Menteri Besar.” But, nothing came out after all the Rulers meet at Istana Bukit Kayangan, Shah Alam, Selangor. Furthermore, the Rulers assented to the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill on December 15 in the same year.

During the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) leadership crisis, Ghafar also acted as the mediator in the mediator in the power struggle between the Neo Yee Pan and Tan Koon Swan factions. Ghafar mentioned, “I feel duty-bound to help”, he points out. After court decided for him to be a mediator, he was happy with court decision nevertheless. Then, a Singapore newspaper wrote these event “…..the Chinese have Ali Baba, the Indian have Sai Baba and the Malays have Ghafar Baba,”

Back to the point mentioned above, there have been political within the MCA in the past, but none can match the 1984 upheaval in terms of the numbers of members it involved or the way in which it raised fundamental questions about the democratic process in the party. Many feel that the crisis began with the resignation of Datuk Lee San Choon at the heights of his power as president in April 1983. His resignation followed shortly after that of deputy president Datuk Richard Ho.

Before he resigned, he had Datuk Neo Yee Pan made deputy president and self-made millionaire Tan Koon Swan vice-president. When he resigned, Datuk Neo became acting president pending the party elections the following year. Datuk Neo appointed Datuk Mak Hon Kam acting deputy president. What followed was a bitter power struggle for the control of the MCA between the Neo Yee Pan and the Tan Koon Swan factions. For a while things remained relatively calm. But on March 19, 1984 a row over alleged “phantom” members in the MCA exploded into a serious crisis. On that day the acting president and his allies within the party stunned observers by expelling their main rival, Tan Koon Swan, and 13 of his close associates.

Soon, the fight spilled over into the courts. As a secretary-general of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, Ghaffar was stepped in. He then, realized. A long drawn-out court battle could paralyse the MCA. Since the general election was not far off, the Barisan Nasional could not afford to have one of its major parties incapacitated.

Through his mediation, the 2 factions agreed to have the membership list scrutinized and “cleaned”. A new list emerged and was computerized. This was followed by party elections which saw Tan Koon Swan catapulted into the presidency.

Ghafar was also said to be involved in mediation efforts to avert the prolongation of the March 1987 crisis in Sarawak. It began when 28 of the 48 Sarawak State Assemblymen flew to Kuala Lumpur, declared their opposition to Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and called on him to step down. Later, Tan Sri Taib and his three-party State Barisan Nasional coalition won.

Ghafar’s contribution to the country’s peace and harmony is well known. The Malaysian Institute of Management conferred him an honorary fellowship award in 1988 to show its appreciation for a man who has won national recognition as the nation’s healing hand at times of crisis. The award is the highest accolade accorded to an individual by the institute. It has conferred the award to only 10 persons over last 20 years. They are Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr Ismail, Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz, Tun Tan Siew Sin, Tun Mohamed Suffian Hashim, Tun Ismail Mohamad Ali, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Sultan Azlan Shah.