Highlights/ Achievements TAR UMT

Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) hosted the official book launch of ‘One Country, One People: The Life and Legacy of Tun Tan Cheng Lock' on 27 August 2026 at TAR UMT Arena. The ceremony brought together academics, researchers, family members and distinguished guests to commemorate the life and legacy of one of the country’s founding political figures.

The launch was graced by Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), TARC Education Foundation; Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, Member of the Board of Trustees, TARC Education Foundation and granddaughter of Tun Tan Cheng Lock; Prof Dato’ Indera Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, President of TAR UMT; and Ir Prof Dato Dr Ewe Hong Tat, President of UTAR.

The momentous occasion was also made more special by the presence of family members of several of Malaysia’s prominent national leaders, including YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia; Tun Hussein Onn, the third Prime Minister of Malaysia; Tun V. T. Sambanthan, another founding leader of the nation; and Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, the second Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The biography is the result of years of research into Tun Tan Cheng Lock’s life, political journey and vision for Malaya. Research for the book began in 2019, with researchers examining archives, newspaper reports and other historical documents in Malaysia, Singapore, India and China to uncover lesser-known aspects of his life and work.

In his welcoming remarks, Prof Dato’ Indera Ir Dr Lee described the book as more than just a biography, highlighting its significance in understanding Malaysia’s past and its continuing nation-building journey.

“Having read this book carefully from cover to cover, I can tell you that this book is far more than a biography, but in fact it is like a mirror held up to our nation’s past and a compass for our future,” he said.

Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee, meanwhile, praised the book for presenting the history of Tun Tan Cheng Lock’s contributions and expressed hope that it would continue to spark conversations among Malaysians while reminding them that nation-building remains an ongoing process.

“It is not an easy task to capture history in a way that is both accurate and meaningful, and I think this book does that very well,” he said.

For Datin Paduka Tan, the publication was also a deeply personal undertaking. As Tun Tan Cheng Lock’s granddaughter and co-editor of the biography, she shared that her desire to better understand her grandfather was one of the reasons she embarked on the study.

She also expressed her hope that the biography would reach beyond the academic community and encourage a wider appreciation of history.

“In sum, I hope readers will find this biography readable and relatable, even for those with zero or minimal interest in history,” she said.

‘One Country, One People: The Life and Legacy of Tun Tan Cheng Lock’ is now available for purchase at RM130, with all proceeds channelled to the TAR UMT Tun Tan Siew Sin Student Loan Fund. Those interested in obtaining a copy may contact alumni@tarc.edu.my for more information.

(First row, from left) Tunku Munawirah Putra and Tunku Muinuddin Putra, grandchildren of Tunku Abdul Rahman; Assoc Prof Dr Chook Ka Joo, Vice President of TAR UMT; Prof Dato’ Indera Ir Dr Lee; Datin Paduka Tan; Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee; Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe; Dato’ Sri Dr Hou Kok Chung, Chairman of the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Institute of Social Studies; Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, member of the BOT of TARC Education Foundation; and Mr Shao Liang, Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.