LETTER: The late Royal Professor Dr Ungku Aziz was an iconic figure in the rarefied realm of academe. He was notably the only professor in Malaysia bestowed with the exalted title.
The title is at par with the Regius Professor awarded to distinguished professors in the UK. He was the first Malaysian to helm the one and only university in Malaysia - University Malaya in 1968.
He steered University Malaya for a full 20 years, the longest for any vice-chancellor in Malaysia.
In 1970, when Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) was established on May 18, its temporary campus was at the Pantai Valley, in close proximity to the scenic and bustling campus of University Malaya.
During the orientation week for 192 students of the pioneering batch, we were given a chance to visit the well-equipped Library of UM. Later we adjourned to the majestic Dewan Tuanku Cansellor.
The late Professor Dr Ungku Aziz was on hand to welcome us. He was wearing Batik and he told us that it must be a Wednesday for Wednesday was Batik day in UM.
He congratulated us for being selected to be among the first batch of University students to use Bahasa Malaysia in their courses be it in Science, Arts or Islamic Studies.
We felt a sense of pride and mission. We were given access to their library and laboratories, and a sense of camaraderie was deeply felt. We reciprocated their goodwill by welcoming some of their students at our hostels.
One good turn deserves another. We shifted to our permanent campus in Bangi in 1977. When we were at Pantai Valley, some of us used the UM campus as a short cut to our homes in Petaling Jaya.
In the evening, more often than not we saw Pak Ungku jogging in the campus. His daily exercise regime may account for his physical fitness and mental acuity. He lived to the ripe old age of 98.
One of my colleagues who also hails from Johor braved himself to join Ungku in his daily run and he benefitted from Ungku's counsel and company. He later became a vice chancellor in one of the institutions of higher learning in Johor.
We hold the late Ungku Aziz in high esteem and regard. Some may try to emulate his numerous achievements. A prestigious Award in the name of Royal Professor Dr Ungku Aziz may be a fitting tribute to an illustrious son of Malaysia.
DR KOH AIK KHOON
Former Associate Professor
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
