TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library

FRANK SULLIVAN
his welcoming speech at dinner in Malay. He had worked in
Malaya for three years at the turn of the century, and for many
years in Indonesia. The Tunku was surprised and delighted. The
third was the Tunku's own remark following a 2-hour tour by boat of
the great harbour of Hamburg. He said he looked forward to the
day when the Malayan flag would be flying on ships coming to the
port of Hamburg. This pleased the far-sighted and city-proud Hamburgers
very much indeed.
But it was the city of Hamburg itself which left a deep impression
on the Malayan party. No less than 380.000 buildings were totally
destroyed or badly damaged during the war, yet there was hardly a
sign of this obliteration today. A whole brand-new city, a bustling,
driving, energetic city is there now, reborn from the ashes and humiliation
of war. For all of us the miracle of Hamburg was a dramatic
introduction to the fabulous economic regeneration of Germany of
which all the world has heard and which we were now seeing. Hamburg,
once again one of the great ports of the world, once again the
greatest commercial outlet of Germany, was a living lesson of what
could be done by initiative, unity and determination.
We were to see this again, in some ways more strikingly during
two crowded days in Berlin. 1 do not propose to elaborate at this
point on the world status and focus of that divided city. Public opinion
today, when speedy communications compress the world, tends
to simplify great issues in terms of outstanding men. West Berlin is
a centrifugal point of international disagreement and the man at the
centre there who personifies the stand of the free world is thedynamic
Mayor, Herr Willi Brandt. Even if you are unaware of his heroic
record, he strikes you at once as a man of amazing force and
character.
Herr Willi Brandt was at the airport to give the Tunku a hearty
welcome, and next day he presided at a civic reception when our
Prime Minister in the presence of dignitaries and Press signed the
Golden Book. Both the Tunku and the Mayor are known to the
world as men dedicated to freedom, and a graceful gesture by Berlin
symbolised this common bond. Presenting the Tunku with a beau-
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