Mystery Of Diplomat’s Disappearance Deepens

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 17

Mystery Of Diplomat’s Disappearance Deepens

(JV.Z. Presj Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, June 14.

The search for the Malaysian High Commissioner, Tun Tim Yew Hock, who disappeared from Canberra on Friday, has switched to Melbourne.

Tun Lim, who is aged 51, is a keen racegoer and police yesterday searched for him among the crowd at Flemington racecourse.

The strongest fresh lead to the mysterious disappearance of the diplomat is a report that a man answering his description was seen boarding a Melbourne-bound plane at Sydney airport on Friday night. Tun Lim was earlier reported to have arrived in Sydney on a Friday afternoon flight from Canberra. Grave fears are now held for the safety of the shy, little Malaysian. He had been in ill-health for several months. Personal appeals by his sick wife and his two daughters have failed to produce any response from Tun Lim. The second secretary to the

High Commission, Mr Ajit Singh, said today he was “completely mystified” by the disappearance of Tun Lim. He was to have left Australia at the end of the month to take up a new post as Ambassador to Rome. He told Canberra friends he regretted leaving Australia. He said he wanted to return to Australia. Commonwealth police have now been called into the nation-wide hunt. His description and photograph have been circulated in all states.

Tun Lim left Canberra wearing a herringbone patterned sports coat, brown trousers and dark glasses. Police are not ignoring a theory that Tun Lim carefully planned his departure from Canberra. He travelled lightly, without luggage, and was reported to have had little money with him. Police believe this could indicate he had somewhere to go. Police are closely following reports that Tun Lim was upset when instructed to leave Australia to go to Rome. However, his wife is understood to have been delighted as she has relatives there. Passport Remains Police claim he has not left the country, as his passport is still at his Canberra residence. With the mystery of his four-day disappearance deepening, police are investigating all leads arising from information about his private life.

They discovered he was a keen punter and bet often on the Canberra races. His home life gave all the outward appearances of harmony. His wife was a retiring person and made few public appearances. According to Mr Ajit Singh, Tun Lim was being treated for an illness by Canberra and Sydney specialists.