TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library

TRIBUTE TO TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN
the breach. The Tunku subsequently received the Kedah Order
of Merit, the highest decoration the Sultan can confer. This
is the honour (K.O.M.) which comes first after the Tunku's
name.
FIELD OF SPORT
On the field of sport 1 remember the Tunku as a harddriving
and stylish tennis-player. At hockey he kept gcal, and
on one occasion he was asked to settle a dispute between a
player and an umpire. Words on the field were followed by
acrimonious correspondence between the two and they appealed
to the Tunku who made them bury the hatchet.
Speaking of sport reminds me of the time when Selangor
came to play Kedah in an H.M.S. Malaya Cup Match at
Alor Star. The Tunku was President of the Kedah Football
Association. The Selangor players brought their own water
on to the field, and at half-time declined the water supplied
by the K.F.A. This annoyed the Tunku very much, and as I
was covering the game for the Straits Echo he asked me to
make mention of it in my report. This 1 did and a similar
incident did not recur.
The Tunku's rise to the Premiership is recent. His preeminent
position and protocol preclude me from reminiscensing
further. 1 must therefore refrain from giving details of my
nomination to the Federal Legislative Council and how I was
selected to represent the Federation at the Coronation of Pope
John in Rome in 1958; but of this I am sure - that as in the
case of Abou Ben Adhem, in the Recording Angel's book of
gold, the Tunku's name must hold a high place "as one that
loves his fellow men."
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