TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library

'SMILE AND THE WORLD
SMILES WITH YOU'
(Paul Markandan)
One of the qualities of a national leader lies in his ability to
maintain a cheerful outlook in times of stress and strain. In fact,
international bodies like the United Nations would achieve far more
success in its task, if the Russian delegates smiled now and then,
when debating 'disarmament', the 'Cuban situation' and the like.
There is something nostalgic about a smiling face it tends to
disarm the opponent, who might have other than cheerful
thoughts. It gets to be infectious, and before one knows,
the gathering around the smiling face bursts into laughter.
And is there anything more worthwhile than laughter? Is
there a weapon, if you like to call it that, which is more
powerful than a genuine smile? This is one of the gifts that
Tunku Abdul Rahman has the ability to disarm the man
across the table with a face wreathed in smiles, and then to
strike home his point in a seemingly nonchalant manner.
I remember a chilly Autumn night, in 1960 when I was taking
my usual evening stroll along Broadway and Times Square in New
York City with a friend. New York can be a very cold and lonely
city, if you are not a native that is. And from behind me, I hearda'
familiar voice. It was the Tunku. Questions followed- 'What wasl
doing so far from home?' and 'How long had I been in New York ?
Somehow, I felt much more cheerful after our chat on the
streets. He went on with his entourage and I about my business. I
82