Beauty of maths

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Prabha's

The doctor's view of the bail out.

The Allergists voted to scratch it, and the Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas. The Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no, and the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it. The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve, and the Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. The Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. The Pathologists yelled, 'Over my dead body!' while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, grow up!' The Plastic Surgeons said, 'This puts a whole new face on the matter.' The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, while The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness. The Radiologists could see right through it, and the Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing, but the Urologists felt the scheme wouldn't hold water. In the end, the Proctologists left the decision up to some assholes in Washington.

From Shiang

Error! Filename not specified.

I just want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.

Error! Filename not specified.

I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel or have them put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels.
Error! Filename not specified.
I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking ones nose (although cell phone usage may be taking the number one spot).
Error! Filename not specified.
Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.
Error! Filename not specified.

I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.


I MUST SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

Error! Filename not specified.

ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.
Error! Filename not specified. Error! Filename not specified.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's Novena has granted my every wish.
Error! Filename not specified.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.
Error! Filename not specified.
I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

THANKS TO YOU I have learned that my pray ers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
Error! Filename not specified.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

Error! Filename not specified.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr. Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans.
Error! Filename not specified.

I no longer use Saran Wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.
Error! Filename not specified.
AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face... disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan .
Error! Filename not specified.

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

THANKS TO YOU I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.
Error! Filename not specified.

AND THANKS TO YOUR GREAT ADVICE I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!
Error! Filename not specified.
I can't do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the brown recluse and my hand will fall off.
Error! Filename not specified.

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician . . .

Error! Filename not specified.

Oh, by the way.....

A German scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.

Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.

Again from Prabha

<>

Bernard Siow's forwarded email

Had to pass this one on. Its such a nice story and it may prompt a kindness of the same from us.

Two Choices

What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look
for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My
question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children
with learning disabilities, the father of one of the
students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten
by all who attended. After extolling the school and its
dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences,
everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do.
He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'



The audience was stilled by the query.



The father continued. 'I believe that when a child
like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes
into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature
presents itself, and it comes in the way other people
treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:



Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay
knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think
they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys
would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a
father I also understood that if my son were allowed to
play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging
and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his
handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not
expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around
for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs
and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on
our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the
ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a
broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small
tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy
at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored
a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and
played in the right field. Even though no hits came his
way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on
the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from
the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored
again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential
winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next
at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away
their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that
a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even
know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with
the ball.



However, as Shay stepped up to the

plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was
putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life,
moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay
could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the
ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a
slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have
easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end
of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first
baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling,
'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made
it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second,
gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right
fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who
now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the
tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he,
too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the
third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners
ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way
Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop
ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third
base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the
spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run
home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered
as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for
his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now
rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams
helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this
world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that
winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making
me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully
embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:

We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a
second thought, but when it comes to sending messages
about life choices, people hesitate.

The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through
cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often
suppressed in our schools and workplaces.

If you're thinking about forwarding this message,
chances are that you're probably sorting out the
people in your address book who aren't the
'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message
Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all
can make a difference.

We all have thousands of opportunities every single day
to help realize the 'natural order of things.'

So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people
present us with a choice:

Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or
do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a
little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it
treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

Prabha's ten commandments on marriage

Commandment 1.
Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning.

Commandment 2.
If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep.

Commandment 3.
Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least 100 grand!

Commandment 4.
Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and the neighbours listen.

Commandment 5.
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: Either the car is new or the wife is.

Commandment 6.
Marriage is when a man and woman become as one; the trouble starts when they try to decide which one.

Commandment 7.
Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you said. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish.

Commandment 8.
Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical, and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife.

Commandment 9.
Every woman wants a man who is handsome, understanding, economical and a considerate lover, but again, the law allows only one husband.

Commandment 10.
Man is incomplete until he marries. After that, he is finished.

Bonus Commandment story.
A long married couple came upon a wishing well. The wife leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny.
The husband decided to make a wish too. But he leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned.
The wife was stunned for a moment but then smiled, "It really works!"

What Colour are you?

The best poem of 2006

This poem was nominated by UN as the best poem of 2006, Written by an
African Kid





When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray

And you calling me colored?

Japanese Invasion

Robert Som send a short contribution on the above subject.

Four people in a boat. A cuban, Japanese, Rusiian and a Hawaian.
The cuban lighted up a cigar took a puff and then threw it overboard.
When the Hawaian asked why, he said in Cuba there are lots of Cigars.
The Russian opened a bottle of Vodka, took a sip and threw the bottle overboard.
When the Hawaian asked why, he said Vodka is everywhere in Russia.
Then they heard a big splash, the Hawaian threw the Japanese overboard.

Someone sent a poem

HOW TRUE IT IS

Another year has passed
And we're all a little older.

Last summer felt hotter
And winter seems much colder.

I rack my brain for happy thoughts,
To put down on my pad,

But lots of things, That come to mind
Just make me kind of sad.

There was a time not long ago
When life was quite a blast.

Now I fully understand
About 'Living in the Past'.

We used to go to friends homes,
Baseball games and lunches.

Now we go to therapy, to hospitals,
And after-funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers,
From parties that were gay.

Now we suffer body aches
And sleep the night away.

We used to go out dining,
And couldn't get our fill.

Now we ask for doggie bags,
Come home and take a pill.

We used to travel often
To places near and far.

Now we get backaches
From riding in the car.

We used to go out shopping
For new clothing at the Mall

But, now we never bother...
All the sizes are too small.

That, my friend is how life is,
And now my tale is told.

So, enjoy each day and live it up...
Before you're too old!!


You pass this way only once so enjoy it while you can; Live A Lot, Laugh A Lot and Love A Lot!

Prabha's contribution on truthfulness

"Truthfulness is the foundation of all the virtues of the world of humanity........When this holy attribute is established in man, all the divine qualities will also become realized." - Abdul Baha
Telling the truth is the foundation of all other virtues, as illustrated in the following story.
Once a man came to Prophet Muhammad and said, "O Messenger of God, I have many bad habits. Which one of them should I give up first?"
The Prophet answered, "Give up telling lies first and always speak the truth."
The man promised to do so and went home.At night the man was about to go out to steal. Before setting out, he thought for a moment about the promise he had made with the Prophet.
"If tomorrow the Prophet asks me where I had been, what shall I say? Shall I say that I went out stealing? No, I cannot say that. But nor can I lie. If I tell the truth, everyone will start calling me a thief, and I would be punished for stealing."So the man decided not to steal that night, and gave up this bad habit.The next day, just as he was about to drink wine, he thought to himself, "What shall I say to the Prophet if He asks me what I had done during the day? I have promised not to tell a lie, but then if I speak the truth people will start hating me, as a believer is supposed to abstain from drinking wine."
And so he gave up the idea of drinking wine, and gave up this bad habit.In this way, whenever the man thought of doing anything bad, he remembered his promise to tell the truth at all times.So in this way, he gave up all his bad habits one by one, and finally became a very good person.

Books: Man's best friends

by Prabhakaran S. Nair

One of the signs of a good education system is the undying love for books once used at school. Can anyone of you remember the books that we used way back in school ? Let me try and remember, and share with you some of the English literature books that I remember having used from Forms 1 to 3:

FORM 1 (1967)

“Six Short Plays” by J.A. Bright
“Thirty-Nine Steps” by John Buchan
“Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson
“An Anthology of Poems” ( I wonder if this was the actual title)
“Around the World in 80 Days” by Jules Verne

I remember that the anthology of poems contained poems such as the Inchcape Rock by Robert Southey.

“Six Short Plays” should call to mind one of the plays included in the collection,namely The Count of Monte Cristo dramatised from a novel by Alexandre Dumas.

You may remember some of the central characters such as:

Phileas Fogg, Passepartout, Mr. Fix and Aoda in “Around the World in 80 Days”
Long John Silver (and the parrot) in “Treasure Island”.
Scudder in “Thirty-Nine Steps”

(Do you remember the following lines from “Treasure Island”?:

Fifteen men on a dead man's chestYo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

The teacher in Form 1B was Mr. Patrick Chen

FORM 2 (1968)

“Red Winds” by Shamus Frazer
“Time Out in Sabah” (writer ??)
“The Card” by Arnold Bennett (Bridge Series)

I remember that in addition to these books there was a book of poems, as well as a book of plays (I think).

One of the poems included in the poetry book was “Lochinvar”.
I remember this poem clearly because there was an inter-school quiz competition in 1968, and one of the questions asked was on the character that the following description fitted :
“He rode all unarmed, and he rode all alone. So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war.”
I answered “Lochinvar”, remembering the poem that was recited to us not very long ago by Ms. Seet
I do not remember whether “Daffodils” by William Wordsworth was included in the selection.

One play that I clearly recollect was “The Bishop’s Candlesticks”. I cannot remember the book which had this play in it.

The teacher in Form 2A was Ms. Seet Ai Hoon


FORM 3 (1969)

The books used included :

“Living Poetry” (Book 2) by Brother John Matthew
“Animal Farm” by George Orwell

We did not learn all the poems that were contained in “Living Poetry”. Most memorable was “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes as well as some of the limericks (“nonsense poems”). Funniest of the limericks was the following :

“Here lies my wife. Here let her lie.
Now she’s at rest. And so am I.”

One of the most touching poems is entitled “Little Boy”. The poem expresses the sadness experienced by the father as he feels he will slowly “lose” his son as he grows up. It begins like this :

“Let me hold you a while to my heart, little boy,
I am going to lose you, I know, dear,
For one terrible thing about nice little boys
Is the fact that they simply will grow, dear”

Another verse (3rd stanza) goes like this :

“Let me gaze in your eyes while their light is for me;
Let us sing while you still like my song, dear,
Ere the hungry years carry away my small boy,
I am fearing it will not be long, dear.”

Of course, it is difficult to forget a poem like “Silver” by Walter De La Mare.” I vaguely remember Mr. John Dossan hitting someone (maybe Ho Hee Mun) on the back, and reciting the lines :

“Couched in his kennel like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog.”

As for “Animal Farm” it is interesting how one by one all the Seven Commandments were slowly overturned by the revolutionary animals as the story unfolds. For example, the seventh commandment, “All animals are equal” is changed to “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal that the others”. The unforgettable characters in the political satire include Mr. Jones (owner of Manor Farm), and the animals : Napoleon, Squealer, Snowball and Boxer.

The teacher in Form 3A was Mr. John Dossan. ( Incidentally “D-o-s-s-o-n” is a rather unusual variation of “D-a-w-s-o-n”)

These are as far as my memory goes.

Literature must have been an important subject even in the lower forms. As you can see it was taught by our form teachers, and not just anyone else !

Does anyone of you remember the names of books or interesting details that may have been missed out ? ( I need to add that some classes such as Form 1C could have used different books for English literature)

Most importantly, please do tell us if you have any of the books used in school. I am sure many of us would be dying to get hold of them. The books can be photostated and distributed.

The School Magazine Editorial Board

The Prefect's Board

Prabhakaran's Article on our leaders

The dreamer, the planner and the doer

By PRABHAKARAN S. NAIR

The first three Prime Ministers who set the initial course of the nation were all lawyers but their personalities were as diverse as their leadership styles. Tunku dreamt, Tun Razak planned, and Tun Hussein carried through.

INDIVIDUAL idiosyncrasies and human qualities largely determine leadership styles. These were evident in the three lawyers who led the country in the early years of independence.

The nation’s first leader, Tunku Abdul Rahman and its third, Tun Hussein Onn, stood at opposite ends of the spectrum. Tunku saw the big picture while Tun Hussein saw the details.

Tunku went straight to the heart of any matter. He relied on his intuition. Tun Hussein was cautious, and relied on detailed paper work.

As former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin put it: “Hussein’s weakness was that he was too meticulous. He wanted to know everything.” (Excerpt from Daim the Man Behind the Enigma by Chong Mei Sui).

A former Chief Secretary in Tun Hussein’s administration commented that Cabinet meetings were too long, and that some matters could have been resolved at other levels.

Tun Abdul Razak Hussein stood somewhere in between Tunku and Tun Hussein. He was a good strategist, and had no problems keeping both the forest as well as the trees in view.

According to Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad, his former political secretary and adviser, “Although Tun Razak lacked Tunku’s charisma, humour and wicked charm, he had one attribute which Tunku lacked: the ability to manage.”

This statement may need some qualification, for although wanting in administrative abilities, Tunku knew how to delegate responsibilities, and address more important matters that should concern a statesman.

Sharp mind: Tun Abdul Razak Hussein (right) stood somewhere in between Tunku and Tun Hussein (left). He was a good strategist, and had no problems keeping both the forest as well as the trees in view.

Said Tun Daim Zainuddin: “Tunku may have appeared to be jovial and have a tidak apa (laid-back) attitude, but he knew how to exercise power. At his peak, nobody could touch him. Razak was a great strategist. He knew how to get what he wanted”

In the words of Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, Tun Hussein was very careful in his work.

“At formal meetings, he would have his brief before him with important passages neatly underlined in colour, and would go through his brief methodically. He did not believe in trusting only to his memory.” (Asia Week, Sept 22, 2000)

Saving grace

Tunku’s lack of attention to details (characteristic of right brain orientation) may be attributed to the kind of princely life that Tunku led, shielded from the cares of ordinary life.

Despite strong long-term memory, Tunku was forgetful and frequently misplaced papers. The saving grace was that Tunku had the advantage of good listening skills which some attribute to his unusually large ears; and his mind was always alert, like a sponge, quick to absorb whatever was said.

Open book: The Tunku knew how to entertain and create laughter, but more importantly he was also able to laugh at himself.

Many amusing anecdotes have been told about Tunku’s disinclination for details. The late Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Putra used to narrate an anecdote when he was the country’s 3rd Yang di-Pertuan Agong (1961-1965).

“On a Wednesday morning, the Tunku turned up as usual for a briefing at Istana Negara before the Cabinet meeting. This time, he brought Tun Razak along. The Tunku, in his usual cheerful mood, talked on almost everything, but when it came to the Cabinet briefing, he asked the reticent Tun Razak to do the talking.”

Tun Hussein pored over papers with a thoroughness that was beyond Tunku, who had no patience with long-winded reports. Tunku would sometimes sign documents without reading the contents.

As J.M. Gullick, the former MCS officer noted, “Tunku avoided paperwork if he could. I once had to meet him to seek his signature of a paper that I had drafted for him to submit to the Executive Council.

‘What’s it about?’ asked Tunku, and I told him. I said that I would return when he had had time to read it. ‘Oh, that’s all right’, he said, signed it unread and handed it back. I have never had another such compliment. It was a privilege to have known him.

Unfortunately, however, Tunku’s cavalier attitude to particulars made him overly dependent on the trust and loyalty of colleagues and fellow Ministers. Incidentally, Tun Hussein Onn was a fierce loyalist, a quality that has been attributed to his military training.

Had he been in Tunku’s cabinet, this quality alone would have endeared him to the Tunku. If loyalty was an important consideration in Tunku’s choice of leaders, merit and proven abilities had higher weightage in Tun Razak’s estimation.

Tunku was human in his approach to problems, and Tun Razak was more administrative. As for Tun Hussein, his career as a civil servant, military man and lawyer made him rather impersonal, exacting, meticulous and legalistic at work. Unlike Tunku, he was a strict disciplinarian.

Tunku’s human approach is attested by the late Dr Leonard Kenworthy who said that although Tunku was a prince, he lived most of his life with the people, and knew pretty well how they thought and felt.

“Some people refer to this as an intuitive ability, but it is certainly based on long years of association with the people” said the well-known Quaker educator and author.

Faithful follower: Tun Hussein Onn (left) was a fierce loyalist. Had he been in Tunku’s cabinet, this quality alone would have endeared him to the Tunku.

According to Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad, none came close to having Tunku's personal warmth, and Tun Razak had more of it than Tun Hussein. Unlike Tunku, Tun Razak seldom smiled, spoke less and kept his sorrows to himself.

In comparing Tun Razak with Tunku, Lee said, “Tun Abdul Razak, who took over as Prime Minister in September 1970, was a different leader from the Tunku. He did not have the Tunku's warm personality or his large and commanding presence. By comparison he appeared less decisive.

“Razak had been my contemporary at Raffles College from 1940 to 1942. He was bright and hardworking. He was also a good hockey player, but ill at ease with people unless he knew them well.”

Tunku once mentioned that being a sportsman was different from possessing sportsmanship. It is difficult to say if it was an indirect reference to his deputy.

Tunku’s human approach influenced national policies, including foreign policy. “No former Asian colony ever started life with fewer grudges against its erstwhile master”, wrote Danis Warner in the Melbourne Herald.

Referring to foreign relations, Tunku said, “It is not possible to build prosperity on rancour. We have to broaden our minds to think clearly of the tasks ahead of us”.

While Tunku and Tun Razak were slow to anger, Tun Hussein Onn inherited the fierce temper of his father Dato Onn Jaafar. Incidentally, other great leaders like Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun Dr Ismail were also noted for their tempers.

Datuk Wan Mansor Abdullah, who served as private secretary to Tunku, used to recall an anecdote that demonstrated Tunku’s ability to “feel the big picture’, which left no room for temper. One day, when he was wading in his swimming pool, Tunku had a sudden flash of inspiration. He wanted his thoughts written down for a speech.

His bodyguard Pak Chat was the only person around at that time. Tunku spouted away his thoughts, while poor Pak Chat scribbled away furiously. At the end of it, Tunku asked him to read what he had written. The bodyguard was at a loss because he was unable to read his own handwriting.

After spending almost half an hour dictating a speech only to find it gone, anyone else could have easily lost his cool, but not the Tunku. He sat there and laughed heartily.

The sudden inspiration and ability to laugh are typical of a person with right brain orientation. Tunku was able to see everything clearly, as one is best able to when standing right on top of a hill, or recollecting events long after they have happened.

Tunku was able to laugh at Pak Chat’s innocence, because he saw the entire incident in a bigger perspective. Pak Chat was not the right man, the timing was wrong, the entire thing was unplanned, and on a more positive note, these thoughts will return at the right time.

Common weaknesses

Tunku knew how to entertain and create laughter, but more importantly he was also able to laugh at himself. He was an open book. Although he shared common weaknesses with Tun Razak as far as certain indulgences were concerned, the latter was much more discreet.

Tunku dreamt, Razak planned, and Tun Hussein carried through. Of the three, Tun Hussein was the least political, and by implication most sincere and straightforward. As described by Lee, “Tun Hussein was open and direct when he dealt with me, coming straight to the point, unlike Razak. I liked him.” In Tun Daim’s words, Tun Hussein “was very sincere and dedicated, honest and strong- willed.”

Tun Hussein’s leadership style could easily have resulted in decisions that were not politically correct for the times. But political expediency was not a consideration for Tun Hussein, and the country was all the better for it.

Although all three Prime Ministers were recognised for their uprightness and sense of justice, ultimately it is Tun Hussein alone who is best remembered for moral courage and integrity.

Tunku was generally more regarded as pleasure seeking, in contrast to Tun Hussein Onn, and Tun Razak to a lesser extent. Tunku failed to see why anyone should grudge him the little time that he reserved for the simple pleasures of life. Tunku was seen as less hardworking compared to Tun Razak and Tun Hussein.

Despite his deep commitment to the advancement of Islam, Tunku was inclined to be open-minded when it came to religious matters. Besides the Thai-Buddhist influence of his early childhood days, his flexibility could also be attributed to his right brain thinking, which placed man right at the heart of religion.

In his words, “I think that religion, if it is not too unbending, can play a great part in keeping people on a steady course and preventing them from losing their bearings.” This is opposite to the more left-brain thinking that religion (read as laws) must be strictly enforced to achieve order in society.

Tun Hussein Onn is said to have been interested in the philosophy of all religions. Tun Razak, unlike the Tunku, was not known for his personal commitment to religion. However, all three of them shared the belief that religion should be sensible, flexible and uncomplicated.

These three lawyers who led the nation in the early years of our independence may not be with us today. But the story of their lives and the history that they have left behind will warm our hearts as we observe the 51st anniversary of our independence.

Prabhakaran S. Nair, an archivist with the National Archives of Malaysia, is known for significant contributions towards the dissemination of historical knowledge. He adopts the biographical approach to emphasise common human values found in the pages of Malaysian history.

Dinner Time two

Jeffery Low, Mat Isa (standing), Naim and Kamaruzzaman

Bernard Siow, Charles Chiam, Chew Shiang Lee

Kamaruzzaman Hashim, K Prabhakaran and Chong Koh Pah

K Prabhakaran, Chong Koh Pah, Mrs Mohd Nor and Mohd Nor Idrus

Dinner time one

Frankie Ong, Frances Lim and Jeffery Low

Chong Hiong Lim, Loy Chee Yu and Bernard Siow

Michael Tan, Teng Tian Hu and Robert Som

Chew Shiang Lee, Osman Hussin and Michael Tan

Bernard Siow, Mat Isa and Charles Chiam

Dinner at KLGCC on the 15th of November, 2008

From Left front row: Chew Shiang Lee, Som Sai Cheong,Loy Chee Yu, Naim Mohamad, Kamaruzzaman Hashim, Mohd Nor Idrus, Siow Chin Seong, Ong Teck Fatt, Md Isa Samat.
Second row from left: Lim Poon Thoo, Tan Joon Say, Chong Hiong Lim, Osman Hussin, Teng Tian Hu, Chiam Swee Kim, Low Thian Soon, Chong Koh Pah, K Prabhakaran.