Tiga Sapaan, Tiga Perdana Menteri: Kenangan Seorang Wartawan/Three Greetings, Three Prime Ministers: A Reporter's Recollections

 Oleh Sajad Hussein Kamarally

Sepanjang kerjaya saya sebagai wartawan, saya berpeluang bertemu beberapa Perdana Menteri Malaysia dari jarak dekat. Setiap pertemuan meninggalkan kesan tersendiri, bukan semata-mata kerana jawatan mereka, tetapi kerana cara mereka menyapa orang ramai. Sapaan mungkin kelihatan perkara kecil, namun sering kali ia memperlihatkan keperibadian seorang pemimpin lebih daripada ucapan atau majlis rasmi.

Perdana Menteri pertama Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, menyapa orang dengan mesra dan bersahaja. Apabila beliau bertemu penduduk kampung, wartawan atau ahli parti, biasanya disertai senyuman, jabat tangan lembut dan kadangkala jenaka untuk menceriakan suasana. Beliau mempunyai sentuhan semula jadi dengan rakyat. Walaupun selepas bersara, beliau tetap membawa sifat mesra dan rendah diri yang sama. Seseorang akan segera berasa selesa di hadapannya.

Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Perdana Menteri kedua Malaysia, pula berbeza dari segi perwatakan. Abdul Razak Hussein seorang yang tenang, berdisiplin dan agak pendiam. Sapaan beliau sopan dan penuh wibawa, mencerminkan kesungguhan seorang pemimpin yang amat menumpukan perhatian kepada pembangunan negara. Namun di sebalik sifat serius itu terselit keprihatinan mendalam terhadap rakyat biasa, khususnya masyarakat luar bandar. Saya masih ingat rasa hormat dan kagum rakyat setiap kali beliau melawat pekan kecil dan kampung.

Kemudian muncul Mahathir Mohamad, yang saya temui ketika saya masih wartawan muda pada awal penglibatan beliau dalam kepimpinan negara. Gayanya pantas, tajam dan penuh tenaga. Sapaannya ringkas tetapi penuh perhatian. Beliau memandang tepat kepada seseorang, mendengar dengan teliti dan bergerak dengan penuh tujuan. Tidak banyak berbual kosong, tetapi jelas terserlah disiplin dan kesungguhan beliau terhadap kerja.

Apabila dikenang kembali hari ini, saya menyedari bahawa tiga sapaan ini menggambarkan tiga gaya kepimpinan yang berbeza. Tunku menawan hati dengan kemesraan dan sifat kemanusiaannya. Razak membina keyakinan melalui dedikasi yang tenang. Mahathir pula menarik perhatian melalui tenaga dan ketegasannya. Ketiga-tiganya mempunyai personaliti berbeza, namun masing-masing meninggalkan kesan besar kepada negara dengan cara tersendiri.

Sebagai wartawan yang bernasib baik dapat memerhati mereka dari dekat, saya belajar bahawa kepimpinan bukan sahaja dibentuk melalui dasar dan ucapan. Kadangkala, ia terserlah melalui cara sederhana seorang pemimpin menyapa sesama manusia.

 

 

Three Greetings, Three Prime Ministers: A Reporter's Recollections

By Sajad Hussein Kamarally

Over the years as a journalist, I had the privilege of meeting several Malaysian Prime Ministers at close range. Each encounter left an impression on me, not merely because of their position, but because of the way they greeted ordinary people. A greeting may seem like a small matter, but often it reveals the character of a leader more than speeches or official ceremonies.

Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, greeted people warmly and informally. When he met villagers, reporters, or party workers, there was usually a smile, a gentle handshake, and often a joke to lighten the atmosphere. He had a natural touch with people. Even after retirement, he carried that same warmth and simplicity. One felt immediately at ease in his presence.

Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysia’s second Prime Minister, was different in temperament. Abdul Razak Hussein was calm, disciplined, and reserved. His greetings were polite and dignified, reflecting the seriousness of a man deeply focused on nation-building. Yet behind that quiet exterior was genuine concern for ordinary Malaysians, especially the rural poor. I still remember the respect and admiration people showed whenever he visited small towns and villages. His presence inspired confidence rather than excitement.

Then came Mahathir Mohamad, whom I first encountered as a young reporter during his early years in national leadership. His style was brisk, sharp, and energetic. His greeting was often quick but attentive. He looked directly at people, listened carefully, and moved with purpose. There was little small talk, but there was intensity and discipline. One immediately sensed that he valued efficiency and seriousness in work.

Looking back today, I realise that these three greetings reflected three different styles of leadership. The Tunku won hearts with warmth and humanity. Razak inspired trust through quiet dedication. Mahathir commanded attention with energy and determination. All three were different personalities, yet each left a lasting mark on the nation in his own way.

As a reporter fortunate enough to observe them from close quarters, I learned that leadership is not only shaped by policies and speeches. Sometimes, it is revealed in the simple manner a leader greets another human being.