Tunku Abdul Rahman

Tunku Abdul Rahman, born on 8 February 1903, was a prominent Malaysian statesman and the first prime minister of Malaysia, serving from 1957 to 1970. A prince of the Kedah Sultanate, he pursued his education in Malaya before graduating from St Catharine's College, Cambridge. His career began in the colonial civil service, where he worked as a district officer and later as a public prosecutor in 1949.

In 1951, Tunku entered the political arena by winning the leadership of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). He subsequently formed the Alliance Party, which included the Malaysian Chinese Association and the Malaysian Indian Congress. The Alliance achieved a significant victory in the 1955 general election, leading to Tunku's appointment as chief minister. His efforts in securing independence for Malaya culminated in the Treaty of London in 1956, and he proclaimed independence in 1957.

Under Tunku's leadership, Malaysia was formed in 1963, incorporating Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak. He successfully led the Alliance to victory in the 1964 elections, but his tenure was marred by ethnic tensions, particularly with Singapore. In 1965, following escalating conflicts with the People's Action Party led by Lee Kuan Yew, Tunku made the difficult decision to expel Singapore from the federation.

After winning a fourth term in the 1969 elections, Tunku faced significant challenges, including the violent unrest of the 13 May incident, which led to a national emergency. He stepped down as prime minister in 1970, passing the leadership to Abdul Razak Hussein. In his retirement, Tunku remained active in sports and international Islamic affairs, serving as president of the Asian Football Confederation and the first secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He passed away in Kuala Lumpur on 6 December 1990, at the age of eighty-seven.