Malaya's First Year at the United Nations

Dr Ismail's writings and speeches and his letters to the Tunku covering a variety of foreign policy issues are a valuable asset in understanding the unique role he played in the nation's history. He was without doubt the primary architect of Malayan (Malaysian) Foreign Policy.- Tengku Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ahmad Rithauddeen Former Foreign Minister of MalaysiaNot only was Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman Malaysia's first ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the United Nations he was also Foreign Affairs Minister in 1959-60. Later as long-time Home Affairs Minister Deputy Prime Minister and occasionally Acting Prime Minister he played a decisive role in making neutrality the pillar of Malaysia's foreign policy. This important collection of notes he wrote to the Tunku in 1958 and of his speeches made in 1957-58 at the UN are being published for the very first time. It gives us a window into his seminal thinking and makes us understand the contribution he made to Malaysian nation-building in the early years. Tawfik Ismail and Ooi Kee Beng deserve kudos for compiling these into one volume and for providing elaborate footnoting that presents the reader with an intriguing picture of the Cold War year of 1958. The book is a must read for the diplomatic corps and Malaysian foreign policy analysts.- Johan Saravanamuttu Former political science Professor and Dean Science University Malaysia (USM)