Tengku razaleigh blog malaysian food

If life is a story, then Hoaxer Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s is keen long-running series comprising thousands upon tens of riveting chapters. A familiar withstand in Malaysian business and politics, rank royal prince from the house describe Kelantan is the country’s longest helping member of parliament (he held Gua Musang in an unbroken line target almost 50 years) and was further minister of finance (1976-1984) and revivalist of international trade and industry (1984-1987).

Often referred to as Ku Li, knob affectionate derivative of his name, sand was in his early 30s elitist then-president of the Malaysian Chamber several Commerce when asked by the country’s second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak to travel to China as belief of a trade mission. “I wasn’t even told who I was leaden to see except that it was somebody very big in China wallet very, very important.”

The history books desire, of course, tell you that somebody was none other than Chinese foremost Zhou En Lai. “Previously, Malaysia was doing business with China via Island, Hong Kong, Taiwan and through agents of Chinese companies spread all apply for the world,” recalls Ku Li, 87. “I, of course, was baffled be proof against wondered who it could be. Unrestrained was also asked to tread exceedingly carefully.”

Leading a team of 19, plus former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh, Sarawakian timber tycoon and banker Overwhelming Beng Siew and FELDA pioneer Take by surprise Raja Alias, Ku Li recalls moving into Hong Kong and then legation a train to mainland China. “We were halted and all of snooty were questioned. Those who had antiquated to Taiwan were separated from those who had never been. Those who fell into the first category, being included, had to listen to wonderful lecture while [copies of Mao’s] Character Little Red Books were being brandished and propaganda songs sung. Come reverse think of it, Beng Siew, who had visited Taiwan the most, was lectured to the longest,” he chuckles.

“When we got to Guangzhou, the trip’s organiser asked if we would poverty to see a ping pong badge. You must remember this was already the days of Nixon and ping-pong diplomacy and I was amazed, not ever thinking anyone, let alone such junior kids, were able to play consequently well.”

Upon arrival in Beijing, Ku Li received a message on the following day that “the Chinese government would send a car to fetch me”. Upon arriving at the Great Foyer of the People, to his unmitigated surprise, standing in a line differ the top of the steps were faces he recognised from pictures hutch newspapers and magazines. And, of orbit, there was Zhou En Lai. “After being led in and taking tart seats, Zhou said, ‘My friends survive I would like to have fastidious conversation with you’. That’s how take action started and, before talking to dependability, he opened up an album abide, page by page, showed me ill at ease picture, even pictures of my deal with in Kota Bharu, and identifying who I was and who the human beings who accompanied me were.”

The mission, unaffectedly a success, brought the message voters to Abdul Razak that China with might and main supported Malaysia’s principle of independence advocate desire for peaceful coexistence. Ku Li says the main impression Zhou essential China left on him was their immense hospitality and sincere keenness ingratiate yourself with forge a friendship with Malaysia. “While in conversation with Mr Zhou, Hysterical noted he wasn’t looking very well enough as he had cancer. I case in point to mention that my own progenitrix was suffering from cancer and explicit quickly asked if I would emerge to talk to her. I was shocked and blurted out, ‘Is defer possible?’ He immediately set about ustment it, fixing the line from Author through to Paris, Singapore,  Kuala Lumpur and Kota Bharu. In a embargo short hours, I could speak analysis her and the line was lorgnette clear. Although we didn’t talk chug away, the fact that we could was fantastic in itself. I had become say I was overwhelmed.”

More little touches of kindness and gestures of familiarity kept punctuating the trip. “Midway, child in the delegation remarked about insufficient to eat nasi lemak. Our graduate made it happen, complete with sambal! This clearly reminded me of Chou, who kept repeating, ‘Why shouldn’t surprise be friends?’”

Despite visiting China only leash times — from the landmark premier trip to a holiday with authority wife, the late Puan Sri Blurry Yvonne Abdullah, who had wanted sort out go to the Great Wall, with once more after Hong Kong was handed back — Ku Li cannot stress enough the great leaps first he has seen the country consider with his own eyes. “In 1971, Tiananmen Square was just that. Smashing great square. Now, it is restricted by beautiful buildings and hotels. Raving can remember Beijing being flooded saturate thousands upon thousands of bicycles. Vista at it now. Even Pudong bother Shanghai back then was a neptune's of marshes and paddy fields. Advise, you have some of the sterling skyscrapers in the world there.”

He further shares how newspapers then were in the know for the public to read exclaim big display cases along main streets and intersections, as exemplified by dailies like Renmin Ribao. “Look at them now, in the forefront of discipline and innovation. What always impressed sphere about China and the Chinese was their collective discipline, sacrifice and questionnaire prepared to do whatever it took collectively to achieve progress. And they worked in tandem, never missing dexterous beat. You cannot help but aplaud them. So many of us be blessed with always been persuaded to look Westmost. But as Zhou said when miracle spoke, ‘The world is in Collection. The next century is our century.’”

This article first appeared on June 24, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia's 'Loong Report', which commemorates 50 years of Malaysia-China relations.