09-01-2021, 05:14 PM
![[Image: 20210830-tunku_abdul_rahman-_file_pic.png]](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/20210830-tunku_abdul_rahman-_file_pic.png)
GEORGE TOWN – Did you know that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was not the only leader who served as prime minister twice?
It was in 1959 that first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj resigned for four months and his deputy, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, took over as prime minister, before the former assumed premiership again.
Abdul Razak would later serve as prime minister again in 1970 until his death in 1976.
This officially makes Tunku Abdul Rahman Malaysia’s first and third prime minister, and Abdul Razak the country's second and fourth.
Umno veteran and long-time president of Penang Malay Association Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff said that the younger generation are unaware of this fact as history has chosen to forget this interesting anecdote in the country’s history.
“In 1959, just before our first formal general election as a sovereign nation in August, our beloved Tunku was faced with a double dilemma as the Alliance Party was rocked by two great demands.
“One was the demand by the Malay Teachers Association to withdraw support if the Alliance Party did not immediately use Bahasa Melayu as the main medium of instruction in schools.
“Second was a threat by MCA to pull out of the government if Tunku did not allow them to contest in 40 seats for the election.
“The party was then only given 38 seats and altogether, there were 104 parliamentary seats up for grabs.
“Unable to offer solutions to the issues, Tunku chose an honourable approach that he would resign as prime minister and focus 100% on strengthening the alliance politically.
“He decided to live in a van for months and traversed the country campaigning for the alliance before the election in August,” said Yussof, 91, who was also former secretary to Penang’s first two chief ministers – Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu.
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