SINCE 1975, my father retired from all posts and gone into gardening and spent most of his time at home, with his children and family whom he felt he had long neglected.

He was an avid gardener, planting bananas, jambu, mangoes, papayas and ciku in his garden. He recalled that his saddest moment was when he lost his eyesight in 1995 due to an attack of glaucoma. My father used to read and write without spectacles, but one day, his vision just became blurred. He saw two doctors, one in Kuala Lumpur and another in Penang, and had his left eye operated but without much improvement. His sight in the right eye had gone completely but his left eye then could still detect brightness. He said, “Now, I just take things easy. If it’s God’s will, why object?”

My father said that he did not have much problem making the transition from politician to ordinary citizen. “As Chief Minister, I washed my own car and did my own gardening. When I was no longer holding office, I had more time for my prayers, meditation, more time to look after my children and farm. …When I lost (in the elections), I told the people: If you want me, I will serve you. If you don’t, I will go home. Political life is not a professional career. We go in because you want us and trust us and it is our duty to serve.’’

My father had no regrets at the turn of events because he had more time to spend with his family. He said,…“I am happy today, Except for my eyes, I have enjoyed a pleasant life for 85 years. I was friends with everyone, even the Opposition. Why should we make enemies? As politicians, we have to forgive and forget.”

My father woke up at 5.30am every morning and slept at about 11pm at night. During the day, he took short naps, said his daily prayers, listened to the 8pm news, or had his eldest daughter, Cecelia read the newspapers to him. On Saturday evenings, he went to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows’ Church at Macalister Road for sunset service. we recalled him saying, “I am a happy man and am now just hoping for a happy death.”