8/4/2019 The Passing of an Illustrious Diplomat

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The Passing of an Illustrious Diplomat.

The passing of Tun Ghazali Shafie, whose long illustrious service as the nations top

Diplomat and Politician extraordinaire is indeed a great loss. In his heyday King Ghazs

reputation in that specialized field is regarded by both friends and rivals as arguably,

Second-to-None. A good reflection can be gleaned here from The Star:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/25/nation/5539677&sec=nation

I can recalled some memorable fleeting encounters with King Ghaz, the most recent onebeing at one of the ISIS conference/seminar in 2007.

But my first encounter with him was during the turbulent first week after May 13th. Ibelieved he was then the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry. This is where I, asa young subaltern witness his flamboyance and dashing style. He was addressing a crowdat the Balai Dato Harun in Kampung Baru where I and my troop were patrolling. Whatstruck me then was his tight blue jeans and a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver tucked underhis belt behind him. He called me aside and asked for an update. I gave the under controlsituation reports. He listened without interruption until I completed my short briefing.He then nodded at the rest of the troops and let us continues with our patrolling.

The second encounter was in May/June 1974 after the tragic accident suffered by MajidDin HSB Pahang. He was in a coma at the Temerloh Hospital and King Ghaz, who was then

Home Minister and Majid Dins Kampung mates decided that the victim is to be airlifted toHKL. If my memory served me right, the accident was on a Sunday and King Ghazrequested that I, as the MIO to arrange for a Nuri airlift. I got to speak to the duty officerin Mindef, a Major at about 1600hrs. Sensing that I have problem getting the Major to dealwith the request, King Ghaz motioned that I gave him the handset. As a Captain I witnesshis no nonsense side. I can still recollect the words used by the minister, the result ofwhich a Nuri was hovering at a makeshift helipad at a school padang at about 2000 hrsflood lighted by about 20 cars headlight that I had arranged.

My third encounter was in early August 1988 which took place while waiting for my flighthome to KL at Don Muang Airport, Bangkok. This was more on the lighter side of life and as

a Lt Col I witnessed King Ghaz display of his intellect and wittiness at its best. I wasapproaching the airport restroom when King Ghaz suddenly exited from the ladiesrestroom. (I could only surmised that in his haste to satisfy the call of nature he must havemissed the signage to the mens room) He almost collided with two European ladies andwas reprimanded in no uncertain term sir, this is meant for ladies. Inside me I wastelling myself how the hell my minister is going to respond. But true to form and withoutbatting an eyelid King Ghaz quipped, I too, Maam, is meant for ladies.

Phew! You should be there to see the look on the two mat salleh's faces!!!

May Allah bless his soul. Alfatihah.

http://arbenadam.blogspot.com/2010/01/passing-of-illustrious-diplomat.htmlhttp://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/25/nation/5539677&sec=nationhttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/__pW3rWWkllA/S10QTb64D1I/AAAAAAAAAqI/SUjq4V5mtiM/s1600-h/n_06ghazali_feapix.jpghttp://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/25/nation/5539677&sec=nationhttp://arbenadam.blogspot.com/2010/01/passing-of-illustrious-diplomat.html

8/4/2019 The Passing of an Illustrious Diplomat

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I can't be your stand in at your paradise island bro. Maybe you get someone with the experience and

honesty to boot for the job. I pray for your wellbeing. Inshyallah with proper treatment you'll be able

to differentiate the colour of the bikini again.LOL.