TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library

TRIBUTE TO TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN
races. He sees his own people's contribution to the Malayan
population as the matrix in which all other races live and thrive - and
in his successful efforts to preserve the country's peace and that
'courtesy of Malay acceptance', it has been necessary for him to
make special provisions - often very important ones - for Malay
survival, well-being and progress; special provisions that must depart
at times from his own ideal of equality of opportunity for everyone,
but which he has had the courage to insist upon, even at the risk of
losing popularity among the non-Malay half of the population, for
the very obvious good of all. He knows his own people and realizes,
kindly and peace-loving though they are, that in matters of their
good name, position and national honour they remain as sensitive,
brave and proud as the Highland Scot. Let that fact be overlooked
in word or deed and the air we breathe, the very medium in which we
all live and flourish, would soon cease to support us.
Being no more than human his judgement of how long such
internal inequalities should continue may be at fault, or again it may
not. It must be generally agreed at any rate that he has not been
wrong so far; and as he is at the helm of State he must certainly see
more than we do and should be given peace and all the Malayan
people's support and good wishes in keeping the country clear of
danger and on the right course to future prosperity for as long as he
remains in command.
In foreign affairs one recalls with particular pleasure his
exceptionally able steersmanship. In every word and action the
Tunku's understanding of Malaya's place in the world has throughout
been manifest. He realizes for instance - as not all national
leaders of their peoples do - that his country is a small one; that it is
an international cross-roads at the extreme southern tip of the land
mass of Asia; with a wasting asset in its mines; an uncertain future
for its largest export, rubber; a soil that is by no means rich; a
largely mountainous hinterland that cannot be developed for many
years to come and a small mixed population totalling less than • 3 %
of the world's peoples..
In such a situation the Tunku sees clearly the vital need to win
friends and influence people in the right direction. He therefore
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