TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library

TRIBUTE TO TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN
goodwill is founded the Tunku never misses an opportunity for furthering
the interests of and encouraging sport.
Born at Alor Star on 8th February, 1903, the scion of one of the
wealthiest families in Kedah he gave early indications of his leanings
towards the playing fields. The Kedah palaces had high walls but
these did not prevent the young princeling from playing, outside the
confines of the palace, with the children of commoners. Like most
youngsters of his age the young prince was full of harmless pranks
and mischief. He spun his tops, flew his kites, kicked, hit or threw a
ball about in the Malayan sunshine.
When he grew older he won a pre-University scholarship and
went to England to study the Arts. Finding life at Cambridge too
restrictive for his blithe spirits the Tunku switched over to Law. He
graduated from the Inner Temple in 1949. Of his academic career
the Tunku humourously confessed that he studied horse racing, dog
racing and everything but Law. On his return to the homeland the
Tunku despite his arduous duties of State made time to progress in
his favourite hobby-sport.
Today soccer is Malaya's national game. And the man who
has raised it to that pinnacle is Tunku Abdul Rahman. Football is
Tunku's first love. Although he did not reach the heights in the
sport he was keen enough to make the Penang Free School Junior
Soccer eleven in his school days.
In 1951 Tunku Abdul Rahman became the President of the
Football Association of Selangor. This was a shrewd move by the
soccer barons of that time. A week later he was unanimously elected
to the Presidentship of the Football Association of Malaya and
has been at the helm ever since. But the Tunku was not content to
merely preside at Board meetings. He had his dreams of placing
soccer and Malayan sport in the forefront of the world.
The need for a first class Stadium first mooted as far back as
1932 figured largely in the Tunku's early dreams. In 1957 with the
attainment of Merdeka the dream became a reality when the massive
edifice of concrete and steel—the Merdeka Stadium—was the sports
centre-piece during the Independence celebrations. Honours of the
football world fell at the Tunku's feet. He became the first President of
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