malaysiangEfforts to honour the deeds of statesmen, including Tun Dr Ismail Al-Haj, need to be continued so that the young generation appreciates their contributions to fostering the spirit of unity and love for the country.
Most of the elderly visitors at the Commemoration of Statesman Tun Dr Ismail Al-Haj: Pillar of National Unity, when interviewed by Bernama, said they still remember the man though it had been 50 years since he died.
Yahya Mohamad Hassan, 62, from Penang, said he came to the event today after watching an advertisement on it on Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) recently.
“Dr Ismail died in 1973 and from what I recall, he was known for his firm character. If he said A, then A will it be. His action against corrupt officers in the government was similar to what is done by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is steadfast in wanting to eliminate corruption.
“When he (Dr Ismail) died, many mourned his passing,” he added.
The Commemoration of Statesman Tun Dr Ismail Al-Haj: Pillar of National Unity in conjunction with the National Month celebration was held at Dataran Merdeka from 9 am to 4 pm.
It showcased three main segments, namely the wall of memories displaying photos, speech texts, Dr Ismail’s apparel and personal collection as well as traditional performances including the “rebab”, “ghazal” and silat.
Another visitor, J. Lawrence, 61, said the programme was able to foster a spirit of unity and create a sense of love for the country.
“Tun Dr Ismail’s history began when I was still very young and what I remember was that he was a deputy prime minister and was very successful in uniting the people, especially after the independence,” said the retiree.
Hanis Nasuha Hamdan, 26, said the programme provides an opportunity for the people, young and old, to know more about the statesman and his contributions to the country.
“This programme is good as it gets the people to remember and appreciate the services of the country’s statesmen. In Malaysia we have many statesmen, thus, a programme like this should be held every year to get the young generation to know more about the country’s history,” he said.
Shara Shalom d/o Johnny, 21, a student from Sarawak was also at Dataran Merdeka with her friends to see the exhibits on display.
“Activities or programmes like this should be held to fuel the patriotic spirit among the young people,” she said.
Wan Afarihaa Ahmad, 14, a student, said she was at the event to commemorate Dr Ismail as it was part of the itinerary for her school trip.
“I don’t know much about this statesman, but a programme like this is interesting to me as I can learn more about the country’s history and History is my favourite subject in school,” she said.
Another student Defnie Liew Hin Yee, 18, agreed with Wan Afariha for such a programme to be held continuously because it can help to nurture the love for the country and force closer ties among the people of various races in the country.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
