Tan Sri Zainal Sulong

The Passing of a Super-Diplomat

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October 13, 2010

I am saddened to learn this morning after reading NST Online of the passing of Tan Sri Zainal Abidin Sulong. This year we lost two Wisma Putra giants, Tun Ghazalie Shafie and now Tan Sri Zainal.

It was my privilege to have had the opportunity to work with both King Ghaz and Zainal Sulong (as when he was known then) during my two years, 1963-65, at Ministry of External Affairs (Wisma Putra now). We were part of a wonderful team of professional foreign service officers that included Tengku Ngah Mohamed, Raja Aznam Ahmad (my immediate boss), Zain Azraai, Jack de Silva, Bertie Tallala, K.T. Ratnam, Kamil Jaafar, Razali Ismail, Hamzah Majeed, Ajit Singh, Majid Mohamed, Renji Sathiah, Ben Haron, Khalid Karim et.al. Those were the glory days of Wisma Putra.

To Puan Sri Maznah and her family, my wife Dr. Kamsiah G. Haider and I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences. Let us remember Zainal Sulong for his many contributions to our country. He was a super-diplomat, ,and I am proud to know and work with him during the challenging days of Indonesian Confrontation and the formation of Malaysia. Al-Fatihah. –Din Merican

The Passing of a Diplomat of the Glorious Malaysian Generation: Tan Sri Zainal Abidin Sulong

A Super- Malaysian Diplomat

THE death of the former secretary-general of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Tan Sri Zainal Abidin Sulong, 77, marks the closing of another chapter in the lives of distinguished Malaysians from the old school.

Zainal belonged to a rare breed of Malaysians who could blend decorum and civility with intellectual dexterity. Few have earned the distinction in more than 50 years in public service and also serving the corporate world, and even fewer have helmed more than one organisation concurrently.

After a notable career in the foreign service, where he served as ambassador to Indonesia and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic and as the permanent representative to the United Nations, Zainal returned to Wisma Putra as its secretary-general, and held this position until his retirement in 1988.

Thereafter, he was appointed chairman of the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, and subsequently, the chairman of Perwaja, Standard Chartered Bank and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies. Zainal was also involved in charitable organisations and societies, such as the Cheshire Home. Sadly, we see so few Malaysians at the top rung of the civil service who can emulate the feats of Zainal.–www.nst.com.my