Tun M pens heartfelt tribute to Tun Razak

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today paid tribute to Tun Abdul Razak Hussein on his recent 40th death anniversary.
"Malaysia truly lost a great leader. He could have made a real difference to the future of this country which he fought so hard for," he said in his blog chedet.cc.
He said he owed his political career in Umno to the country's second prime minister.
He pointed out that it was Razak who accepted him back into Umno after he had been expelled.
He added that Razak also made him a full minister.
"I owe everything to him. I was expelled from Umno and people who were expelled before me never returned. Their political career was blighted.
"But he not only allowed me to return to the fold but subsequently appointed me a full minister. I was described as Tun's blue-eyed boy, which angered many Umno stalwarts," Mahathir wrote.
He added that he feels sad for the those great days, leaders then were dedicated, bent on developing the country and tackling the disparities in Malaysian society.
He said it was Razak who introduced the New Economic Policy and that he also broke away from the apron-strings of the British Commonwealth, and visited Russia and China.
"The winds of change blew strongly with Tun Razak," Mahathir said.
He said Razak's death was a personal loss to him.
Mahathir added that he was never close with Razak's successor Tun Hussein Onn and that he thought it was the end of his career.
"But it wasn't and it wasn't because Tun Razak had spoken a good word for me to Tun Hussien," he said.
Mahathir, a doctor by training, also said he had noticed the deteriorating health of Razak.
"Before Tun Razak left for the United Kingdom he pulled me aside at a function at Parliament House and told me he was suffering from leukaemia.
"He asked me to speak to his doctor, Dr. Macpherson. I did, and knew that the periods of remission would get shorter and shorter.
He would not be able to continue for long," Mahathir said.