Tugu Negara was bombed four days before the 1975 Merdeka Day. Part One tracked the conviction of a 26-year-old lecturer of sculptor at ITM, Christopher Carney. He wrote to the Prime Minister that he wanted to restore the Tugu.

Christopher, now 74, was then an enterprising, skilled sculptor.

This is the assessment of his sole sidekick during the 150 days or so “bidding” exercise for the Tugu Restoration work, Abd Mansoor Ibrahim.

“Chris was strategising.”

Christopher, the lecturer, wasn’t really explaining to Abd Mansoor, the young graduate, the specifics.

“Chris made sure the Public Works Department was roped in. He also went to the Chemistry Department. After submitting the proposal, he actually converted the pattern into bronze and personally welded the restored fragments onto the statues, “Abd Mansor told ApaKhabar.

Christopher, on his part, truly relished revisiting this episode. “I actually welded back the fragment onto a statue”.

Christopher, had back then, showcased the skill-set and the seamless appearance of the repaired shards on the statues, to the Restoration Committee, specifically to the chairman, Kamaruddin Mohamed Isa.

52-week assignment, plus One

A workshop was built at the site right away. Lots of work, planning and travelling, specifically, went into the Restoration work.

The team actually volunteered to work an additional week at the end of the assignment in July 1977.

Naturally, the Tugu Negara story commenced earlier. ApaKhabar has interviewed Osman Aroff, the longest serving Menteri Besar of Kedah. He has given one other interview a while back.

Osman was based in Washington, back in 1961 when the Tugu Negara was conceived by Tunku Abdul Rahman. The Prime Minister was on a visit. Osman who was 21 in 1961, was with the Malaysian Embassy from 1959 to 1963. The Tunku first met Osman in Jitra.

Back to the Restoration work. As an example of the extent of work put in, two stainless rods were installed in every leg. Restorers then poured Epoxy mortar to fortify each leg, adding adhesive properties that are three times that of standard concrete’s.

Christopher said the team received lots of outside help. He happens to keep those old photos showing that team members were not working in isolation.

Christopher will leave those photos here in Malaysia. He murmured something the photos should reside at a proper place.

Although reporters of a certain age are obviously opinionated, I chose not to tell the team at the interview, that the photos should reside at the National Archives.

Christopher happens to be keeping a piece of bronze fragment marked as G-69-b.

“One of us must have inscribed this,” said Mufti bin Jantan. After 46 years told, Mufti Christopher this during the Apa Khabar interview.

“I think I know why you selected me for the Restoration work …..I had a driving licence and we had to travel to Terengganu.” The Terengganu trips were fairly routine.

Mufti was pursuing a diploma course in Fine Arts when he was roped in for the Tugu project.

“There I was reporting for duty on Day One, taking a good look at the Tugu. And, I was going to be paid,” said the US-based Mufti.

Personal Reflections

Terengganu craftsmanship shall feature in the Tugu Negara story.

The Tugu Negara bombing was preceded by the June 7 1974 assassination of the IGP, Abdul Rahman Hashim.

The Malaysian sculptors in Christopher Carney’s team were ITM students then. Some 18 months on, a Jan 10 1976 incident at the Jalan Othman campus and also the main campus precipitated a shutdown.

The aftermath saw expulsions of a number of students. Mufti was suspended for one semester, because along with many others, they refused to vacate the campus.

Mufti had to appear before a high-level committee twice, ultimately relenting to the directive of going for a crew-cut. “This was on the advice of my mother, Se’ah Ja’aman.”

1976 students Activism

Segamat-born Mufti who this week returned to his hometown, stayed back at the campus when food supplies were stopped, given the shutdown.

Those who stayed on, Mufti Jantan being one of them, went to work.

“Students from School of Hotel and Catering for instance were charged to take over the dining hall facilities to feed the students.

“Engineering and all other majors including Art and Design worked together to sustain their living in campus without ITM administrators and management authorities.”

After few weeks, the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) descended on the campus.

“We were round up back by trains and busses to our hometown. That was history – most young generation do not know it. “

“All of us were instructed not to come back until further notice.”

Restoring a National Pride 46 years ago – Part One