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MALAYSIAN DIPLOMATS: OUR STORIES

early 1997. T is time, my excitement at meeting the elusive businessman
in person and f ying in his private jet outweighed any trepidation I felt the
f rst time I f ew to the island. We travelled from New York to Havana with a
stopover in Miami, from which he then proceeded to French Guiana for the
launch of his MEASAT satellite.

By my third visit, I was already experienced at handling the Prime Minister
himself and the many VIPs in the delegation. T is visit was on the occasion
of our then Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s f rst of cial
visit to Cuba in September 1997, with a large entourage comprising
Ministers, Chief Ministers, senior of cials and businessmen in a chartered
Malaysia Airlines Boeing 747. More than anything though, I was looking
forward to witnessing the Prime Minister’s f rst of cial encounter with the
Cuban leader, President Fidel Castro.

T e above visits were all of cial. My f nal and fourth visit to Cuba in 2011,
on the other hand, was strictly private and personal, and which I will share
later.

I had the opportunity to meet Castro during my third visit to Cuba.
I remember anxiously waiting for his arrival in the lobby of the hotel
Meliá Cohiba. Our Prime Minister and his entourage were all in friendly
conversation with each other.

Castro’s dark Soviet-era limousine eased to the front of the lobby entrance.
As we slowly walked towards the sliding glass door, I saw in full view for the
f rst time, up close, Castro coming out of the of cial car in his traditional
military fatigues. His aide-cum-interpreter was quick to see to him, who was
herself in military fatigues. Castro stood still while the aide patted down his
uniform to clear of any unsightly dust and creases. She also made sure the
cuf s of his pants were neatly tucked into his shiny boots. Clearly this was
their routine. Only then did Castro walk in to meet Mahathir halfway to
shake hands in greeting.

It was an unforgettable moment for me – seeing such a remarkable f gure

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