Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens

I learned with much sadness of the passing of Toh Puan (June) Rahimah this morning.

I had a brief but bright and most memorable association with the late Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens and her late husband Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens nearly 49 years ago in Australia. Tun Fuad was then about to complete his diplomatic tour of duty in Canberra to return to politics in Sabah in July 1973.

In spite of their busy schedule with farewell calls, their packing and parties they made time to receive any Malaysian visitor to Canberra. I had the privilege of being invited to their residence on several occasions. The Stephens couple were gracious, generous and hospitable hosts who radiated immense charm and goodwill. They ensured that any visitor to their home was warmly welcomed , attended to and introduced properly. Toh Puan Rahimah was always by her larger-than-life husband’s side to ensure that any function they hosted went on smoothly and every guest was feted, celebrated and appropriately honoured.

They were impeccable hosts and their functions drew an impressive selection of diplomats, journalists, civil servants, students, sports, theatre and cultural personalities. They were very keen to project Malaysia’s rich and diverse cultural artefacts and themes. In their home one felt welcomed, respected and proud to be a Malaysian.

The passing of Toh Puan Rahimah is an appropriate time to reflect on the values she and her husband projected. Their sense of humanity and kindness transcended the limits of race, religion, region and the narrow confines of familiarity. They embraced almost everyone as part of their family in a kind and natural way.

This is the kind of couple that one only gets to hear or read about and seldom gets to meet as they were of a rare and unique genre.

M Santhananaban

March 14, 2022

The writer is a retired ambassador