Farewell to Rama Iyer, an eminent servant of old Malaysia

The first chairperson of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) GK Rama Iyer, who passed away on Tuesday morning, underwent his funeral rites according to Brahmin traditions this afternoon.

Aged 88, the late Rama Iyer was a celebrated civil servant who served as chairperson of MAS from 1970 to 1973 and was also secretary-general of the Primary Industries Ministry. He was also awarded a "Tan Sri" title in recognition of his efforts.

I knew him as the older brother of my uncle G Krishna Iyer who married my father's sister Santha. A younger brother of theirs is prominent lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah.

While my uncle Krish, himself a former headmaster of Penang Free School, is a man I have always known for his mischievous sense of humour - as a child I used to think of uncle Rama as serious and intimidating.

It was only when I grew older that his kindly smile and attentive manner became defining features.

Holding a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, the late Rama was known as a firm believer in the role played by an incorruptible and efficient civil service in building up the nation.

He was a skilled administrator trusted by the founding fathers of our nation during its critical formative years and such was his versatility that he filled a number of varying roles.

He was founder-director of Malaysian International Shipping Corporation Bhd, a committee member who helped draft many of the country's early five-year development plans, played a role in restructuring the railway system and was in later years a director of CIMB Bank Bhd.

To be honest, when he occasionally asked about the current developments in our political scene, I used to feel a little embarrassed having to explain what is going on given the sterling role our country's leaders had played during his heyday.

I last saw the late Rama Iyer just last month at a memorial wake for the equally distinguished Umasundari Sambanthan who passed away on Jan 31.

The late Umasundari was the widow of long time MIC president VT Sambanthan, and also the cousin of Rama's wife Vijayalakshmi.

This morning as I drove through a nearly deserted Kuala Lumpur to pay my respects, I thought of just how much Malaysia could do with a man like uncle Rama Iyer right now.

Forthright, intelligent, innovative, decisive.

He was both a product and a reflection of a time when Malaysia chose the best person for the job regardless of colour or creed.

A man like Rama Iyer helped the country navigate through dark days like the post-May 13 riots and emerge triumphant.

The cremation ceremony held at noon was a small and personal affair in view of the current movement control order which precluded many family members from returning from overseas.

It was also not advisable for senior citizens like my own parents to attend and my father asked me to represent him, which I gladly did.

It was indeed touching to see the deep impact Rama had had on those around him.

A memorial service will be organised at a future date to recognise a man who threw himself whole-heartedly into the task of building up a young and vulnerable nation.

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