Tun Ismail Ali: Paragon Of Trust And Integrity

He was an Economics man, number one. Number two, I thought he was a very honest man. I think he has proved to be a very honest chap… even when I sometimes wanted something done, he refused,” Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, in 1984.

“I’ve heard friends joking behind his back. They said even the ringgit is scared of him and that’s why it never falls,” Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysia’s third Prime Minister, in 1980.

“If you want to find someone who presents an incorruptible image, he is the one to be cited. His integrity was unquestionable. I was struck by his knowledge, he is in complete control, he knows his subject very well,” Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s fourth and seventh Prime Minister, in 2018.

“I personally pray the youth of Malaysia – Malay, Chinese and Indian – can take him to be a great role model on how to conduct himself or herself when he or she chooses to enter public service to serve the country and its people,” Robert Kuok, business tycoon, in 2018.

“…he really wanted to see results, did not like people who were sloppy, he expected reports the next day. He was very strict with subordinates, everybody jumped when they heard him coming or (when he) called them,” Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah, Malaysia’s former Finance Minister, in 2018.

“Three times he ignored Razak’s instructions and he survived. Two of the three involved banking licences and the other a f inance company’s licence,” Datuk Abdullah Ahmad, politician and aide to Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysia’s second Prime Minister, in 1998.

“If there was any doubt about his integrity, I do not think he would have done as well. His integrity was uppermost – he lived the life of a central banker. One associates the development of the banking system with him, particularly for the locally-owned banks,” Tan Sri Ahmad Mohd Don, Bank Negara Malaysia’s former Governor and Malayan Banking Berhad’s former Chief Executive Officer, in 2018.

P. Gunasegaram has been writing about Malaysia for about 40 years as a journalist, analyst and columnist during which time he also served as an editor in top English newspaper in the country and online portals. He has been head of research at local and foreign brokerages, and consulted on value and image management.