REMEMBERING TUN DR ISMAIL

written by Don 4672, November 15, 2009

I absolutely agree with Ron on his write up. I have an unforgettable experience relating to Tun Dr.Ismail as DPM the way back 1971. I was then a young MARA officer stationed at Johore Bharu MARA state office. I have processed a loan application for buying a school bus from an applicant that I didnt know his political bearing. I have no reason not to support his application and eventually MARA has approved this application. Before MARA could disbursed the loan MARA received a letter from Senior Private Secretary of DPM asking for an explanation why MARA approved a loan to DAP strong supporter by attaching a complain letter from one of UMNO man. I have drafted the reply and edited by my Boss then stating amongst 1. MARA recommend the application not based on political bearing but the feasiblity of the project. 2. He has been a good loanee and has setlled his earlier loan to buy a school van. 3.He fulfilled all the relevant requirements. At lastly I mentioned that MARA must support the effort to provide a better transport system to ferry Malay children from kampongs to urban to get a better school. After a few months we received an answer to our joy and happiness. The DPM’s Private Secretary reply to MARA as (more or less) “jawapan tuan telah dipanjangkan kemakluman YAB Tun Tim. Perdana Menteri dan saya diarahkan mengucapkan Syabas kepada usaha MARA dalam menaikkan taraf pelajaran anak anak Melayu. Teruskan usaha yang murni ini dan kes ini di anggap selesai”. Just imagine if I am the said officer presently, where do you think I will be? Timbaktu, Conggo? During Mahathir era and after even a Ketua Cawangan UMNO can pushed a transfer of a Head Master or any government officer. Government officers were made the servants of UMNO hooligans. I have one more an unforgetable encounter with the late Tun Dr. Ismail as DPM. He passed away when I was in Kelantan and I cried in grief for this great man. Alfatihah….