By V. Sivaji
With the Medeka celebrations just around the corner, we managed to find a suitable and unique human interest story to match the occasion,
Meet the man who has the rare honour of selling a car to our late Prime Minister and our founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
The car was a metallic blue coloured Proton Saga bearing the number plate Proton 32.
Now a businessman, M. Karthiresen was a junior salesman back then and clearly remembers the day when he got a call to enquire about the Proton Saga car.
Karthiresen is now the owner of the popular banana leaf restaurant called Veloo Villas in Little India in Georgetown.
“After all these years, I look back in great pride and honour to have been able to sell a car to our late Prime Minister.
(Karthik with his wife was honoured with a state award in conjunction with the Penang Governor’s birthday too).
“On the day of the delivery of the car, even my bosses from Kuala Lumpur came down to send the car to Tunku’s home,” said Karthik.to Penang Hyperlocal..
We also managed to track down the car with the assistance of Tunku’s son, Dato Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman of Rasa Sayang Resort recently to obtain some of the memorable pictures.
Suleiman is the Communications Director at the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang here.
After so many years, the car is still in pristine good running condition. However, it has been repainted in black.
Tunku’s family members have also maintained the car well over the years.
“I remember that my dad had taken us on many rides in this particular car when we were small.
“He also had a lot of collections of souvenirs and gifts from foreign dignitaries which are now on display at Arkib Negara at the Tunku Abdul Rahman memorial,” added Suleiman.
We too at Penang Hyperlocal take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Merdeka,
Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka !
Dato Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman