Recently, when a road name was changed by the Ipoh City Council, there was a big outcry by Malaysians and immediately the road name was reverted back to its former one.

However, after more then 10 years of the death of our Father of Independence, we Malaysians do not even remember his death anniversary on Dec 6. The Barisan Nasional government says that we Malaysians should not forget our history, but it is the biggest hypocrite as it does not even declare the day as a public holiday.

Maybe, during his last days, the great Tunku did not see eye to eye with the BN government but that does not mean the government should ignore his deeds.

All countries in Asia and even in Africa, who were under the colonial rule, never forget the person who fought for their country's freedom. The Burmese military junta who would not sit on the same table with Ang Suu Kyi, remember Ang Suu Kyi's father as the Father of Independence for Burma and his death anniversary day is a public holiday in Burma.

So is the case with Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and even the communist nations of China, Vietnam and North Korea.

The only government which tries to erase the memory of its independence freedom fighter, is Indonesia in respect of the late President Sukarno. Are we trying to follow Suharto's way?

Now, I remember, why our Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad cried and said that the Malays easily forgot the past during this year's Umno general assembly. His own government could not remember our Father of Independence deeds to the nation.