Prologue

Summary

Malaysia's first Permanent Head of Federation to the United Nations and first ambassador to the United States of America, Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, kept relatively detailed notes about his experiences and thoughts during his 17 months in New York and Washington. This was done on his own initiative as he thought that it would provide Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Malaya's first Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister, with what could be useful information.

Just before Malaya gained independence from Great Britain on 31 August 1957, the Tunku had decided to send his faithful colleague Dr Ismail to the United States. He was convinced that the latter would provide the new state with competent representation at the world body, and in the most powerful nation in the world. Dr Ismail was excited by what he considered an honour, despite suspicions voiced by friends and relatives that he was being effectively “exiled” from the centre of Malayan politics. An understanding was apparently reached between Dr Ismail and the Tunku that the posting to the USA would be only for a year.

In July 1957, slightly over a month before Malaya's independence, he flew to the United States to secure three buildings for the embassy, and a lease for an office in New York. He returned in time for the celebration of independence, and left again on 5 September with his party which included Ismail Mohamed Ali — who was to be the economic minister at Malaya's Washington embassy — and “four women, nine children and thirty-one pieces of luggage”. Three of these children — six-year-old son Tawfik Ismail, four-year-old daughter Zailah, and six-month-old daughter Badariah — belonged to the 42-year-old Dr Ismail and his 27-year-old wife, Norashikin (Neno) Seth.

Malaya became the 82^nd member of the United Nations on 17 September 1957.