TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library

espect in the United Nations. Producing abundant tin and rubber
it was able to finance large systems of communications, health and
education. Though it has thrown up notable men in Administration
like Tunku Kudin and Sultan Idris, it has not so far seen
world figures in the Arts, Literature, Engineering, Science, Philosophy
Religion or even in Heresy. In Medicine its record is of the highest
order. Sir Malcolm Watson was the first to apply the field treatment
in the war against Malaria. Dr. Lim Boon Keng and Dr. Wu
Lien—Teh did grand work in China, in combating plagues. The
Institute of Medical Research (founded in 1902) which discovered
the cause of beri-beri has an international reputation and does
invaluable research.
But in the other fields our standard has a high average but
there has been no world figure of the magnitude that wins a Nobel
prize. Perhaps the Tunku will be so rated. No one in Malaya has
ever received such warm and spontaneous affection, gratitude and
respect. He, after deep thought and with reluctance took over the
headship of the United Malay Nationalist Organisation and went
from strength to strength. Malaya conducts its revolutions with
calm. The Tunku never sought popularity, never tries to create
any personality cult but looks and is the embodiment of good-will
and integrity.
He is the Viscount Atlee type of statesman who without fuss,
bother, hardship or any injustice established a real democracy on
the Parliamentary pattern.
Various facets of the Tunku"s career, personality and achievements
have been portrayed by the various contributors to this book.
Many have paid tributes to his many- faceted character and have
hailed him as Malaya's man of destiny. The Tunku's many
splendoured achievements have been told. His eminence has a
special quality which deserves to be cherished. An endeavour
has been made to arrange them in a logical order. A few of
the Tunku's most characteristic utterances and opinions have
been brought together.