|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 13 January 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Hon. Al Haj M. A. Bakeer Markar by Lacille de Silva It gives me great pleasure to write a few words regarding a gentleman I had the pleasure of serving when he adored the highest seat of Parliament as the Hon. Speaker for a considerable length of time. Al Haj Bakeer Markar was a humble, kind hearted, deeply religious minded Leader who loved his job. It was my privilege to come to know him very closely when I was called upon to attend to various duties entrusted to me personally by him. In my view, as a politician his ambition was to serve the country to the best of his ability. He attended to his duties with a deep sense of responsibility and commitment. Some of these traits have been a great inspiration for all those who worked under him. I have been very fortunate to serve him when he was the Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions. This too was a task he enjoyed performing for the welfare of the people. I could recall instances when he was personally overjoyed particularly when he was able to grant redress for those deserving cases who came before the Committee on Public Petitions seeking relief. Al Haj Bakeer Markar, similarly took no time in turning down appeals, when there were grounds that an appeal should be rejected. I believe this was because he was a disciplinarian who upheld the values, who regarded rules and regulations with utmost respect. This is the man who taught me to be firm for reasons and to be courageous when you need to seek justice. It reminds me of a few words of "Rudyard Kipling" which goes as "If you can walk with kings and queens and not lose the common touch" and Al Haj Bakeer Markar was a shining example who did not lose the common touch and was able to move with the masses with admirable humility. This quality I suppose, stood very well in him as a politician. Al Haj Bakeer Markar had a distinct advantage of being able to be fluent in all 3 languages. He associated people of all classes, religions, races and was able to move happily with the rich and the poor, the educated, the non-educated etc with ease, perhaps, because he was able to converse fluently in all the languages. As a lover of human beings he enjoyed advising them, perhaps again due to his desire to ensure the uplift of his fellow-beings. I have seen how he exchanged views even with Heads of States, I was able to witness the contributions he made in several international conferences both here and abroad. He was a respected Speaker in the Sri Lanka Parliament. His simplicity, sincerity and affectionate ways were the characteristics in the man who was endeared by all who came in contact with him. I may be failing in my duty, if I do not mention his ambition towards providing the necessary facilities, welfare activities etc, for the staff under him. He relentlessly fought for the introduction of trousers for the minor staff along with the courage and support he received from Mr. Sam Wijesinha, the then Secretary General of Parliament. Al Haj Bakeer Markar was full of sympathy for those who deserved sympathy of the Hon. Speaker. In my view, he developed the quality of leadership not only among the Muslim community, but also the Sinhala and Tamil communities as well. His desire to do his duties towards the people with perfection had no barriers and had nurtured these qualities to be a perfect politician with a dedication for social work. He was always prepared to serve the mankind. I have associated him very closely, even after he left politics having completed the term in the Southern Provincial Council as the Governor. He enjoyed our presence in his Beruwala House and treated us with hospitality, who is typically a Sri Lankan. He may have had enemies, but he never carried vengeance. He was full of humour and he enjoyed helping people and his style of benevolence had no limitations. I was able to see him as a true party man which he always said that he was proud of being a UNPer. He stood firmly and never hesitated to standby despite odds which stood against him when there were hardships that befell on him. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
