He was chosen by his fellow Malay rulers in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday and will lead his country to independence at the end of this month.

The Tunku, or Prince, is of royal birth - the brother of the Sultan of Kedah - but is considered a man of the people.

He was educated at two British schools and graduated from Cambridge in 1925. Soon after World War II he went back to Britain to study law.

Communist uprising

On his return to Malaya in 1949 he found a country eager for independence but also struggling with communist extremism.

Keen to encourage tolerance between ethnic Malays, Chinese and Indians in the region, he founded the Alliance Party in 1952 which brought together the three races. The party won the 1955 general election with an overwhelming majority.

The Tunku became Chief Minister and ended the state of emergency - introduced after a wave of attacks carried out by mainly Chinese communists on mine-owners, planters and officials - and granted an amnesty to communist terrorists.

Last year, he led the negotiations with the British for an agreement that prepares the way for the creation of an independent Malaya within the Commonwealth.

Transfer of power from British rule will take place on 31 August.

Tomorrow, copies of the new treaty between the Queen and the nine Malay rulers will be signed at the residence of the High Commissioner Sir Donald MacGillivray.

	E-mail this story to a friend