letters from a Father to his Children (09.08.58)

16 COLVIN ROAD
SCARSDALE, N.Y.
9th August 1958.

Our Darling Dears,

New York, 1st August: We left London in the morning. Dr. Mohd Nor was at the Victoria Air Terminal to see us off. One Che' Jamaluddin was there too to do a good turn. What happened was that I sent one suit to the dry-cleaners. It was ready on Wednesday but as I had no time to fetch it, I thought I would take delivery on Thursday afternoon, I found the shop closed. This shop was only open half-day on Thursdays. So, Che' Jamaluddin had to fetch it for me as I had to leave for the Air Port early. Good thing, he was on time; otherwise I had to get someone to take it back home and I would have been shorter by one suit.

When I got to the Air Port a BOAC official came and asked me whether I was the Chief Minister of Selangor and being told of the affirmative he assured me of a good trip. I was wondering how he came to know and again when I boarded the plane I was asked the same question by a hostess.

We were told that there was a head wind and to be safe only a certain amount of fuel was taken.

This meant making two stops instead of making a straight flight to New York and a delay of an hour. We stopped at SHANNON ISLAND in South IRELAND and NEWFOUNDLAND in CANADA. We did not realise that at the beginning that when we stopped at NEWFOUNDLAND we thought that it was New York and wondered why the Air Port was small with very little signs of any activity.


We arrived in IDLEWIND Air Port, N.Y. at 11.30pm local time which was 5 hours later than London time. Che' Sopiee was very kind to have sent a Mr. Lim from his office to meet me with his office car -- a big, streamlined CADILLAC with a chauffer. He could not meet us himself as he was out with Mr. Ong Yoke Lin. We were given priority by the Immigration officials and unfortunately, although the Customs Officials would not check our baggage we were delayed for about half an hour as one of our bags was missing. It seems that it was not removed from the plane. (Oh yes, I forgot to mention that amongst the passengers were the AUSTRALIAN team to the Empire Games). We found later that Che' Sopiee was responsible for the privileges accorded us.


We reached Che' Sopiee's house late but he was still up as he too just returned from the City. His wife also stayed up and served us "laksa". We enjoyed it as we were quite hungry. Che' Sopiee's house is about 20 minutes out of New York City. It is situated in a good residential area.




Saturday, 2nd August: We went out marketing with Che' Sopiee's children - Nordin and Norina - at a SUPER-MARKET quite close to Che' Sopiee's house. A super market is where almost everything for the kitchen is available. One takes a trolley and pushes it around picking up anything one needs. After one has picked what one requires, one proceeds to the Cashier who works out the whole bill. This is a very interesting feature with a housewife in America - efficient and convenient.

Che' Sopiee gave a sateh party this evening with Mr. Ong Yoke Lin as the honoured guest. We met quite a number of Officials of Foreign Diplomatic Services in New York. It was a very successful party and everybody enjoyed the sateh. I was considered an honoured guest too!


Sunday, 3rd August: A friend of Che' Sopiee's who owns a speed-boat took us and Mr. Ong Yoke Lin for a sea trip. This friend of Che' Sopiee is a rich Jew. He took us round MANHATTAN Island - on this island is situated New York City - seeing the lovely sights of the City. As the boat got into the Harbour Area we saw the Statue of Liberty and on the right, the magnificent sight of the skyscrapers of the Financial Section of the City on the sky-line. We all enjoyed the trip, which took the whole day.



Monday, 4th August: The first day we went out into the city. We were walking down to the Railway Station when an old man driving a big car stopped and offered us a lift. Of course, we didn't refuse the good offer - good thing too as we just managed to catch the next train. It was a 45 minute trip by train and we stopped at the GREAT CENTRAL TERMINUS.

We walked and without realising it we got to the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING which was on 34th Street 5th Avenue. In New York City, streets, except for a few, are known by numbers. This makes it relatively easier to trace the streets and Avenues. This building is 102 floors above the ground and is 1472 feet high. From the Observatory the magnificent view of New York City can be seen. We stayed up there for about 2 hours. The means of going up and down this tall Building are by lifts -- the Americans refer to them as elavators.

We roamed the streets again. I personally felt rather "pressed in" while in the streets. This was the feeling resulting from the sight of tall skyscrapers which made one to imagine that all the streets were narrow and crowded. One thing we found was that the Americans, generally speaking, were more friendly than the English. The standard and also cost of living were very high. There were cars -- big ones at that -- everywhere and people drived fast here.




Tuesday, 5th August: Today Che' Sopiee personally took us out with his car - a MERCEDES BENZ. He first took to the UNITED NATIONS Buildings - the General Assembly Hall, the Security Council Hall, and the Economic and Social Council Hall. The feature of the last Hall was that part of the ceiling was not completed. The significance was that there was a great deal yet to be done in the World in the direction of economic and social progress. In other words, progress in this line was still incomplete!


We had lunch in the United Nations Restaurant. it was interesting to realise that there were quite a few people eating there who could make or mar the world.


We then went to Che' Sopiee's Office and while he was doing some work we went through Malayan Newspapers. Later we went to CHINA TOWN of New York. There was a big Chinese population there, with many Chinese Sundry Shops and Restaurant. We had dinner in a Chinese Restaurant before going home.


Wednesday, 6th August: Again, we went out in Che' Sopiee's car - this time Che' Sopiee's wife and children came along too. It was our intention to see Television Live Shows. The first was to begin at 11.30 am and the door would close at 11.20 am. We were a bit late and it was quite an exciting moment for the children. We were doubtful if we could make it. I have, by 11.20 am, resigned to the idea that we would miss the show. We were confronted with red lights at every junction.


We were fortunate in being able to be just in time. The programme on was entitled "DOTTO". It was a quiz show with members of the public taking part. The prize offered was big and the winner this morning was a young lawyer who won $1600 (American). This couple could, if they wanted to, carry on in future programme to increase their winnings provided, of course, they could give the correct answer. One American dollar is equivalent to mr $3/-.

After lunch we went to see another TV show. This program was called, "Who Do You Trust?" The competitors here were in pairs - normally husband and wife. When a question was put one member of the pair - normally the man - would either say, "I trust myself" and answer the question himself or say, "I trust my wife" and would allow his wife to answer. The idea is that the person stronger in a particular subject should be made to answer on that subject. Here again big cash prizes were awarded.

We were supposed to go to another T.V. Show but as we were rather tired we decided to return home and even had dinner at home.


Thursday, 7th August: We went this morning, with Che' Sopiee's wife - Che' Zainab - to the Radio City where groups of visitors were taken round to be explained the workings of Radio Broadcasting System. It was very instructive and educational. One of the most interesting



was the demonstration of making sound effects - the sound of a train starting to move, soldiers on parade ground and so forth. It needed ingenuity for these. For instance, the sound of soldiers "turning right" was made by small pieces of square wood tied loosely to a plank, dropped and raised in correct time. The sound of egg being fried was made by the rustling of oil paper!

From there we went again for lunch at the United Nations Restaurant. This lunch was given by a Mr. MITRA a member of the Indian Permanent Delegation to the United Nations. It was originally arranged to be at his house but because of the sudden convening of the SECURITY COUNCIL this afternoon, the plan had to be changed. It was very interesting today. Many leaders of various delegations had lunch here today. In front of me I could see Mr. ALI SASTRODJOJO (I hope I have spelt it correctly) the leader of the Indonesian Delegation. Behind me was SIR LESLIE MONROE of New Zealand, the President of the U.N.O. A bit to my right was the wife of GHANA's AMBASSADOR to U.S.A. entertaining some lady guests. I might explain, at this juncture, that this restaurant was reserved for U.N. Delegates and their guests only, until after 2.30pm or so when it would be open to the public.

The lunch was very nice and before going into the Security Council Hall we crowded in the Lounge. Che' Sopiee introduced us to Ali Sastrodjojo - a very nice old man. We then went in to listen to the debate of the Security Council.



When I listened to the debate I was wondering if every Country was really sincere about maintaining peace in the world. The Russian delegate attacked the U.S.A and the U.K. Governments for sending troops to Lebanon and Jordan respectively. It was then necesarry for these two Governments to defend themselves. The Council eventually decided to call an Emergency meeting of the General Assembly tomorrow.

We later went to a CINERAMA show. This was something new and were shown only in New York, Tokyo and London. When we watched the film we felt we were in the midst of the activities. I believe three projectors were used - one in the middle and two on the sides - giving a curved in impression of the stage. The sound effects were very realistic and the film was in colour. The film shown was "South Seas Adventure" depicting scenic beauty spots in Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. This was very useful to us as we would have an idea of what to expect.

I nearly forgot to mention that we met Dr. Ismail our Ambassador this morning. He came down for the meeting of U.N. Security Council. He was nice to us.

Friday, 8th August: We went rather late this morning and had an early lunch. We went for a bit of shopping and went to Che' Sopiee's Office to go to watch the Emergency Meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. We considered ourselves very fortunate to be able to do this. We sat in a special row just behind the Delegates and in front of the Press.


The meeting however was a short one and adjourned for a full discussion of the situation in the Middle East to Wednesday.

We sent Dr. Ismail to the Air Port to return to Washington and after dinner we went to see the play, "MY FAIR LADY". Here again we considered ourselves very lucky as it was not easy - in fact nearly impossible - to obtain tickets. We managed to get tickets through an influential friend of Che' Sopiee's. I think I did mention in my earlier letter that I tried to get tickets for the play in London and I was told the soonest date was early next year when some tickets would be available. Of course, the New York casts were not the original - they are now in London - but the performance was excellent. I believe that you know this play is based on Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion." An American told me a joke about this play. There was an old lady who had two big wishes. One was to see the President of America and the other was to see "My Fair Lady". She got her first wish but not the latter!

This play was performed in a Theatre on the BROADWAY which was the main street on which entertainment theatres are situated. It's lovely at night with all the lights. As I said earlier it was brighter than PICCADILY CIRCUS in London.

Saturday, 9th August: Being our last day in New York we went out for a final shopping. We went to two big



Department Stores, "MACY' and "GIMBELS". Speaking about shopping reminds me to tell you that many shops are run by Jews in N.Y. They number 2 millions here. They are very smart in business. As a matter of fact they are very unscrupulous. I am even inclined to think they cheat. Their main trick is to have a sale selling at so-called reduced prices. In actual fact the prices are not reduced but even higher than their normal prices. One of their tricks is to advertise that they are closing down.

I will tell you what happened to us one day. We went into a shop and got to admiring a silver coffee set. It was marked at $1600/-. When one of the salesman asked me to buy it I naturally said that I couldn't afford it. He then took a set - definitely did not look as good as the other - and offered me to buy it at $600/- while the price marked was $1200/-. The salesman started to explain that the shop was in a desperate position as there was a claim on the shop for a payment of $4500/- on a certain date. He showed a telegram demanding payment. Of course, this telegram was sent by themselves to convince that in their desperation they would reduce prices to the lowest. This was just a snare. The actual price might have been even less than $600/-! These Jews' shops are even inclined to play in the total of our bills!!

It was shocking! One has to be very careful with them.

Well; how are you all getting on? We are indeed counting the days when we will be together again. Yes; 26 days more.

Heaps of love and kisses to Sayang, Adek, Intan, Kuntom, Nor, Adek Shor, Nan, Nah, Ajid and Yong. Sembah salam to Tah and salam to the others.

Ever Your Loving

Mak and Bapak.

P.S. More photos

P.P.S No time to post this letter in N.Y. Posting in Vancouver.