TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library
TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library
TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library
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<strong>TRIBUTE</strong> TO TUNKU <strong>ABDUL</strong> RAHMAN<br />
Secretary had lectured him on the indifferent picture of an unknown<br />
artist. I cannot imagine Tunku Abdul Rahman being<br />
taken in like that by his Private Secretary , or for that matter by<br />
any other Secretary. But it is true that Prime Ministers are sometimes<br />
shown not only the wrong picture but also the wrong side<br />
of the picture.<br />
The Tunku has in hand the task of framing and implementing<br />
the Federation of Malaysia in such a way that in whatever<br />
he does or says there is not the slightest hint that the Borneo<br />
territories will join the Federation except as free and equal partners.<br />
The Tunku launched his Malaysia plan not with any idea<br />
of deriving benefit for Malaya but in the firm belief that closer<br />
association between these territories and Malaya would help the<br />
former to improve the living and material conditions of their people.<br />
The situation demands delicate but firm handling and to do that<br />
it must be plain to everybody that the Tunku is master in his own<br />
home. It is, therefore, not surprising that the Prime Minister<br />
was provoked recently to declare:<br />
As long as I remain Prime Minister 1 will not put up with<br />
any nonsense by a subordinate Minister. I am no<br />
dictator but while I am the Prime Minister my word<br />
must be accepted. Otherwise no Prime Minister can<br />
run the country.<br />
Thus it may be said with perfect truth that Tunku Abdul<br />
Rahman is a man of destiny. He appeared on the political scene<br />
when the country needed a leader who could be trusted by all people<br />
and in whose motives and judgement they had complete faith.<br />
He has amply justified the trust which has been placed in him and<br />
through a difficult and dangerous period he has led the country<br />
into the open road of happiness and prosperity. As he stands on<br />
the threshold of the new world which Malaya is about to enter, the<br />
Tunku will, I am sure, be heartened by the success which he has so<br />
far attained, and be emboldened by the feeling that neither greed<br />
for power nor any idea of self-aggrandisement has inspired any<br />
of his actions.<br />
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