Unsung heroes

KUALA LUMPUR: When Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted to go to London to negotiate the country’s independence with the Queen of England, Umno had little funds to send him and his delegation there.

When the first Prime Minister spoke of the problem, Siti Rahmah Kassim (now Datuk) took off her gold bracelet and gave it to him, saying: ‘This was a gift from my father for my wedding, but use it to aid in your fight for the country’.

Siti Rahmah, now 84, said she got into politics and fought against the Malayan Union when she was merely 18. She related the tale of the gold bracelet to a packed auditorium of about 300 at Muzium Negara here yesterday.

She was among three people – the others being a Chinese anti-communist fighter and a champion of the teaching profession – who were at the launching of an exhibition on unsung heroes who helped made Malaysia’s 1957 independence possible.

They who strived for the country: Ibrahim (left) sharing a light moment with Rasammah, Yuen and Siti Rahmah at the launch of the exhibition on unsung heroes at Muzium Negara Friday.

Pengkisahan Sejarah: Wira Tak Dicanang tells of 69 unsung Merdeka heroes and is now open for public viewing at the museum until Sept 19.

Once an Umno information officer and also a former MP, Siti Rahmah said that it was common for her to get jail threats from the British because of her activism.

“I told them I was willing to be imprisoned if that was what it took,” she said with a fiery passion, in stark contrast to her frail frame.

She was joined by Datuk Seri Yuen Yuet Leng, who was instrumental in reclaiming Perak from communist invasion during the Emergency.

The former Perak police chief – who turns 83 next month – had to forgo seeing his young daughter at her deathbed due to his steadfast commitment to protect the country.

Yuen retired in 1984 as the Sarawak police commissioner, after a stellar 34 years of service in the force.

As for Datuk Rasammah Bhupalan, she was also among the least celebrated freedom fighter icons although she was a pioneer in the liberation of equal wages for women teachers in the 1960s.

“I was enthralled by the education profession as I consider it the frontline for uniting the nation,” said the 83-year-old, whose story is also featured in the exhibition.

The launch yesterday was attended by Muzium Negara director-general Datuk Ibrahim Ismail and The Malaysian History Society chairman Datuk Omar Hashim.

“The exhibition is aimed to give credit to those who have strived for the country but whose contributions have been hidden from the limelight,” Ibrahim said.\

The Star