TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library

FRANK SULLIVAN
you read the papers any more? The Malayan Prime Minister is
Bobby." So that evening when the Tunku was with the Indian
Ambassador he telephoned Jonkvrouw Van der Wyck, and there was
a happy reunion. "Are you married now?" she asked. The
Tunku laughed and said "Oh, T am a grandfather now." "What
happened to Wally?" "Oh, he is a Burgomaster now". "And
Rhyn?" "Oh, he died last year, I am sorry but you have missed
him. He was our Minister in Venezuela." And so they talked for
half an hour. When the Tunku returned to his hotel the telephone
rang, with Burgomaster Wally on the phone to invite him to tea
next day. The Tunku promptly accepted and arranged for the
visit to be added to his crowded schedule. So next day they met.
That is the story of how the Tunku found his old friends after forty
years.
The most significant event in Holland, however, was the
formal discussion between the Prime Minister and the Dutch Foreign
Minister, who had a cordial and frank exchange of views on the
situation arising round West Irian, and why Malaya stopped two
aircraft. A communique later stated that the Malayan Prime
Minister was satisfied with the assurances given by the Dutch
Government that they had no wish or intention to provoke Indonesia
and would try to avoid international incidents.
The Tunku, therefore, by his good offices was able to contribute
effectively to the peace of South-East Asia. As you know now,
the Dutch aircraft carrier concerned travelled all the way round
Australia to avoid going near Indonesian waters. There is no doubt
at all that as a result of the Tunku's visit Malayan-Dutch relations
remain close and cordial. As the Tunku said in his major speech,
"We have never had a quarrel with the Dutch."
So ended the Tunku's first tour in Europe, but a little more
than a week later he left London again to pay a two-day State Visit
to France, and once again to meet a familiar face at the airport,
M. Briere, the French Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur. Paris was
looking its best as it always does in Spring. It was a very crowded
tour sparkling with hospitality and bonhomie. After driving up
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