Generational treasures: Rafidah (third from left) at the launch of ‘Fathers And Their Wisdom’. Also present is Halimah (second from right). — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Likening a father to a master gem cutter, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz says it is he who helps turn the child into a jewel.
“A child is born as a rough gem and parents are the gem-cutters. Above that, the father is the master cutter.
“Hopefully, the gem that was cut with a master cutter would turn out with minimal flaws,” said the doyenne of Malaysian politics and former international trade and industry minister.
Acknowledging that not all gems are perfect, Rafidah said that even with some flaws, it is hoped that the children will carry the good values instilled in them over to the next generation.
The 80-year-old mother of three, speaking at the launch of the book Fathers and Their Wisdom, went on to remind Malaysians to uphold family values and maintain a strong bond with their parents.
“We must appreciate our parents now, not later. It’s not just about saying ‘thank you’ to them every day but about showing genuine respect and attention while they are still with us,” she said at the event at the Royal Lake Club here yesterday.
The book is a compilation of 26 essays authored by Malaysians including former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and social and intellectual history professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican.
It explores issues of heritage, wisdom and values through personal stories shared by sons and daughters about their fathers.
Rafidah also expressed concern about the erosion of family relationships and lamented that some children rarely visit their parents.
“Some don’t even visit once a month. What kind of culture is this?” she questioned.
She also reflected on personal lessons from her mother, which stressed the importance of leading a blessed life rather than focusing on material wealth.
“My mother always said, ‘Let it be little, as long as it’s blessed,’” she said.
Rafidah also recalled the old days when parents trusted educators with disciplining their children.
“My father would tell the teacher, ‘Do what you need to do.’ Now, if a child is reprimanded, parents will take to social media to criticise the teacher,” she said.
Rafidah urged parents and teachers to work together to instil values such as honesty, integrity, humility and respect for one another, irrespective of race or religion, in nurturing the future generation. Fathers and Their Wisdom is edited by Datuk Halimah Mohd Said, Prof Ahmad Murad, Fauziah Kamaruddin and Dr Shameem Abdul Jalil.
Halimah said the book was conceptualised a year ago.
“We see the fruition of fathers and their wisdom. This time, it is about ordinary Malaysian fathers and the values and principles that they upheld.
“It has been the greatest joy to honour the memories of these 26 wonderful fathers and their legacies,” she said.
Bernama chairman and Star Media Group adviser Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, in his foreword for the book, said each chapter of the book represents a tribute paid by sons and daughters to honour the memory of their late fathers.
“It is a book of great authenticity as the stories are told simply and honestly with the aim of showing the wisdom and values upheld by the fathers,” he added.
Fathers and Their Wisdom is distributed by Universiti Malaya Press at RM72 each.
