TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library

TRIBUTE TO TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN
As I entered the Tunku's suite, he said "Sit down, I want you,
to take a statement". The Tunku then gave me what was to be the
first draft of his famous Press statement. While he was doing so
Enche Ghazali came in. The Tunku pointed to the newspaper
reports of the Conference. He went on with his statement and then
instructed me to go away and type it. This I did, returning in about
twenty minutes. The Tunku read it through very carefully, sometimes
aloud but sometimes to himself, making a number of corrections,
additions, re-phrasings. He then asked me to go and type a
second draft. This I did, returning in about another twenty minutes
to find the Tunku beginning his breakfast.
He asked me to read the statement aloud, while he went on
eating he considered it, talking about it with Enche Ghazali. When
he had finished his breakfast he sat down and read the statement
again, and made some more revisions. I went away and typed it a
third time. When I returned, the Tunku read it, seemed satisfied and
then said to me, "Hold on to that. You are not to release it
unless or until I say so" I asked when that was likely to be. He
said he would be coming back from the Conference about noon.
Then he sat down with Enche Ghazali to go through his papers for
the Conference session that same morning.
While the Tunku was away at Downing Street news men were
ringing me up asking for his views on Mr. Louw's Press conference.
I replied that I would not be seeing him until after the morning
session. Usually the Prime Minister returned from there about
one o'clock, but on this occasion he was leaving early to come back
to change before going off for a private audience with the Queen at
Buckingham Palace.
He came hurrying in at seven minutes past twelve, being due
at the Palace by twelve-thirty, changed quickly and left. I went
with him along the corridor as he left, asking "How about the statement,
Sir?." He replied, "I will deal with it when I come back from
the Palace". I mentioned I did not think that was possible, as he
was having lunch with Prime Minister Macmillan at one. The
Tunku said, "Oh of course", and stopped a moment to think.
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