KUCHING: The story of the life and struggle of the fourth former Head of State, the late Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub, is now available for reading through a latest biography.
The 361-page biography of the political figure who was also the third Chief Minister of Sarawak, was written by Senior Fellow of the National Professors Council Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir.
It took years of research, collecting data for the book and finally being published after 15 years.
Titled ‘Abdul Rahman Yakub: Pemimpin Tiga Zaman’, the first 1,000 copies of the book was printed for nationwide distribution. Its second printing will follow later and will also be translated into English.
“I started writing this book about Abdul Rahman in 2009. It took quite a number of years to do extensive research, besides in Kuching and Kuala Lumpur, I even went to London to read the archives there.
“I also had to look into old newspapers, documents, letters and minutes of meetings,” Jeniri said.
He also had multiple interviews with Abdul Rahman in 2009 and also his wife, Toh Puan Hayati Ahmad, and various people who were close to Abdul Rahman, which provided an invaluable opportunity to collect firsthand accounts and insights.
“Thus, there are many life stories, his political experiences and things not known to the public about him are recorded in this biography,” he said in an interview.
He added Abdul Rahman, who was born in Kampung Jepak, Bintulu, from a fisherman’s family and managed to reach the highest position could be an example and aspiration for all.
“The biography narrates the life journey of Abdul Rahman, from his humble beginnings in Kampung Jepak to his remarkable rise in the world of politics.
“Abdul Rahman has carved his name in politics and has contributed significantly to Sarawak and Malaysia. He held various important posts at the federal level.
“So, it was a long journey of a statesman who has contributed a lot to the state and to the nation,” Jeniri said, adding Abdul Rahman was also a man who is a Malay language activist and a good orator.
“As such, this book is more than just a personal tribute; it serves as a valuable resource for a wide range of readers.
“It caters to the younger generation, university students, politicians, history enthusiasts and the general public.
“The biography is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and progress of Sarawak,” he said.
He added Abdul Rahman is the figure behind the existence of the State Planning Unit, the establishment of seven divisions, as well as the existence of various agencies including the establishment of Petra Jaya.
“Apart from that, he was also an important figure in the establishment of Yayasan Sarawak and played a key role in raising the level of the Malay language in the national education system after the events of May 13, 1969.”
He also said Abdul Rahman held the position of Minister of Education Malaysia, and was known through the ‘Rahman Report’ which brought many transformations to the country’s education sector.
“Therefore, all these stories and history need to be better understood and known by the present and future generations,” he said.
The prolific writer also said that Abdul Rahman was the figure behind the establishment of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), bringing branches of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to Sarawak.
“He faced a challenging era and succeeded in persuading the communists to surrender during the Sri Aman Operation in 1974 which brought stability to Sarawak.
Tun Rahman was appointed the Head of State replacing Tun Abang Mohamad Salahuddin Abang Barieng on April 2, 1981 until he resigned on April 2, 1985. Previously, he was the Chief Minister from July 7, 1970 to March 26, 1981.
Born on January 3, 1928 in Kampung Jepak, his father Wan Yakub Wan Yusuf is believed to be of Syed descent from Kelantan (with a family tree from Yemen). His mother Siti Hajar Mohd Tahir is of Melanau descent from Mukah, from the descendants of Orang Kaya Pehin Setia Raja.
He received his early education at Anchi School, Miri. His father wanted him to become a religious figure and study at Madrasah Arab Al Juned in 1939 but was not approved by his mother. He was later transferred to St Joseph’s School, Miri, but the plan was also unsuccessful due to the outbreak of the Second World War.
He once worked with Sarawak Shell Company as oil tester, and was a temporary teacher in Kuching before being accepted as a Bumiputera Affairs Officer in the Sarawak Public Service in 1948.
Later, he continued his studies at the University of Southampton, England majoring in law, before becoming the first native of Sarawak to graduate as a lawyer from Lincoln’s Inn in 1958.
Upon his return to Sarawak, he was appointed as Deputy Public Prosecutor in the Sarawak Law Department from 1959 to 1963.
Abdul Rahman’s potential attracted the interest of the Prime Minister of Malaysia at the time, Tunku Abdul Rahman to the point of bringing him into the political arena.
He was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Lands and Mines and when he assumed the position of Minister of Education, he was directed to return to Sarawak to assume the seat of Chief Minister on July 7, 1970.
