The year 2010, has started off with tears shed by the whole of the nation. Many are distraught by the fact that four of our dearest and most brilliant leaders passed away so abruptly, one after the other. They have mould, shape and changed Malaysia to become what it is now, today. Their contributions to Malaysia are countless and yet, they did it for their loyalty and devotion and do not ask for anything in return, except for the political, educational and social advancement of our beloved country. They were indeed the shining gems of Malaysia.
Malaysia oh tanah airku.
On January 9th, we were surprised of the death of the dearly beloved, Tun Dr. Fatimah Hashim who was a Malaysian freedom fighter. She later served our country as a member of the Parliament and later as the Welfare Minister in the cabinet. Meanwhile her husband, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusuf, was the Law minister. Her social contributions hits closely to my heart as she was the founder and the former president of Malaysia's National Council of Women's Organisations of 24 years. We have all benefit from her struggles in letting the voices of women heard and to ensure equality of all aspects. She created a foundation called The Tun Fatimah medal award for outstanding community work to mould female students in becoming excellent individuals both academically and socially. Her death was due to old age and was buried beside her husband’s in the Makam Pahlawan, a great honour.
On the 24th of January, a heartbreaking news was announced in the papers, radio, television and on the Internet. Tun Muhammad Ghazali Shafie had passed away in his house at precisely, 7.14 pm. He was the Home and Information Minister from 1973 till 1981 and later appointed as Foreign Minister till 1984. From this, he received his nickname as “King Ghaz” because of his flamboyant nature at the ASEAN’s diplomacy in respect of conflict in Cambodia. It was not the first time that his death was announced in the papers, as he was involved in a plane crash in which he was the pilot. He survived the mishap but unfortunately, the other passengers-inclusive of his bodyguard and co-pilot were killed. Now, he has really left us due to old age. He was 87 at the time of his death. Like Tun Fatimah, he was also buried at the Makam Pahlawan.
Perhaps the most shocking news to hit Malaysia in January of 2010 is the death of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Mahmud Iskandar Al-Haj ibni Ismail Al-Khalidi or better known as Sultan Iskandar. He was sworn as Sultan on the 10th of May 1981, a day after the death of his father, Sultan Ibrahim. In his years of reign, he has shown great concern in the issues of his people and was known to be warm and generous to his loyal subjects. His legacies include the Institute Sultan Iskandar of Urban Habitat and Highrise, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and the Sultan Iskandar Complex, a customs, immigration and quarantine complex opened in December 2008.He was buried on the 23rd of January 2010, at the Royal Mausoleum in Johor Bahru. He was succeeded by his son, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, who was named after his late grandfather.
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