Without question he is the outstanding Malay leader, with qualities of courage, constructive thought and action and statesmanship which command attention. At the same time, he is a person of considerable attraction and charm, and I am only one of many Europeans who feel affection as well as admiration for him.
I said that his resignation from his offices and membership of the Federal Legislature would be a disaster for the Malays and for Malaya. He was the one mature statesman amongst the Malay leaders. Beside him were many excellent lieutenants capable of doing extremely good work in matters of organisation and political action. But there was only one Captain – himself.
Malcolm MacDonald
Editorial Reviews
“Pamela Ong’s attempt is the much needed hors d’ouvre while awaiting the main course of his [Dato’ Onn bin Jaafar] definitive biography.” M.G.G. Pillai
Pamela’s autobiography on Onn Jaafar possesses depth, is scholarly, analytical and speculative. Mokhtar Yusof, Utusan Malaysia
Table of Contents
Author’s Preface
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Chapter 1: A Palace Childhood
Chapter 2: An English Education
Chapter 3: A Turbulent Youth
Chapter 4: The Kenworthy Letter
Chapter 5: Journalism
Chapter 6: War and Riot
Chapter 7: The Origins of UMNO
Chapter 8: Apogee
Chapter 9: Decline
Chapter 10: The Scramble for Power
Chapter 11: RIDA
Chapter 12: Last Venture in Journalism
Chapter 13: Conclusion
Chronology
Appendix A: Tyranny in Johore
Appendix B: Somerville’s Memorandum on MacMichael
Appendix C: MacDonald’s Memorandum on Dato’ Onn
Bibliography
Index
