" Abdul Kadir bin Shamsuddin (later Tan Sri) was born in 3 November 1920, in Kajang. He became a Malay Probationer on 2 March 1939, and in June 1939, was transfered" to the Raffles College, Singapore, for a three-year course and obtained a Diploma. From 1 July 1948, he was a Malay Superintendent at the Postal Department. He was, from 1 February 1948, until August of that year, a probationary Malay Administrative Officer at the District Office, Ulu Langat. On 13 August 1948, he proceeded to the United Kingdom on a Queen's Scholarship to read law at Bristol University, and on his return with a LLB and Bar-at-Law, was absorbed on 30 March 1952, into the Malay Administrative Service. He was appointed second Assistant State Secretary, Pahang, on 16 April 1952, and was promoted to the Malayan Civil Service on 30 March 1953. He won a Fullbright Exchange Scholarship in 1954 and studied at Yale University in the United States of America. On 20 June 1955, he reported duty as Assistant Secretary for Defence, and later rose in rank to be Principal Assistant Secretary. He was then attached to the War Office at the United Kingdom from 10 September 1956 until February 1957. His next post was Principal Assistant Secretary (Cabinet). He also attended the Imperial Defence College course. On 20 January, 1960, he assumed the post of Deputy Secretary for Defence. He was promoted to be Secretary for Defence on 5 September 1962. He held this post for the next five years, until his appointment as the Principal Establishment Officer with effect from 7 November 1967. This post was renamed Director-General of the Public Service Department following the re-organisation of the Federation Establishment Office as the new Public Service Department in 1969.
Two days after 13 May 1969 incident, Abdul Kadir Shamsuddin was appointed Chief of Civil Affairs Officer in addition to his other duties as the Director-General of the Public Service Department. On 1 November 1969, he relinquished the post of Director-General of the Public Service Department, to become full-time Chief of Civil Affairs Officer uner the National Operations Council. On 1 January1970, he was appointed the Chief Secretary to the Government.
Abdul Kadir had the distinction of being involved in the Merdeka talks of 1956 in London. After the great election of the previous year, the UMNO General Assembly had resolved that Independence must be won within the next two years. For that purpose, on 1 January 1956, a delegation comprising Alliance representatives led by the Chief Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman left for London. During the actual talks in London, T.H. Tan and Abdul Kadir were made joint-secretaries for the Malayan delegation. Tungku Abdul Rahman praised both men in the following words: 'Both our secretaries, Mr. Abdul Kadir and T.H. Tan worked beyond the normal call of duty.'(translation) One of the important items in the agenda was 'the fairly rapid Malayanisation of the public service and the abolition of the post of Bristish Advisers.'It was a tryst with destiny that the last British officer holding the post of Chief Secretary, Sir David Watherston, and the two future Chief Secretaries of an independent Malaya, Abdul Aziz Majid and Abdul Kadir Shamsuddin were brought together in the constitutional talks. Later, Abdul Kadir was also involved in the formation of Malaysia and in the talks on the Malaysia issue with Sukarno in Manila and Tokyo as well as the historic meeting ending confrontation in Bangkok in 1966.
Abdul Kadir retired on 20 September 1976. Prime Minister Dato' Hussein Onn hosted a farewell dinner in his honour on 8 October 1976, at the Banquet Hall, Parliament House. He paid a glowing tribute to the guset-of-honour:
At first I feel reluctant to release Tan Sri Kadir from his post, becuase he has been very closely associated with politicians before and after independence.
He is one Malaysian officer who has contributed much to the country. As an eminent administrator, I believe that he has shown as excellent example in terms of work efficiency and providing ideas for emulation by serving officers as well as for future generation of officers.
In my view, his career demonstrates the capacity and the dedication of a dtermined youth to widen his experience and increase his knowledge. By sheer diligence and determination, he qualified to be a lawyer. This blend of experience and qualification has made him into an efficient and intelligent administrator, and he is well respected by all. He has a humble disposition, a pleasant personality, and is readily accessible to officers who wish to see him - these are qualities of an officer who is approachable and of high calibre. These are traits, in my view, which should be emulated by every officer in our Civil Service.
Another of Tan Sri Kadir's excellent qualities is his readiness to be fully involved in the formulation and planning of Government prorammes. As Secretary to the Cabinet, he is always with us politicians. Thus, I can say that 'he is in it, although not quite in.' (translation).
Abdul Kadir bin Shamsuddin passed away on 8 November 1978, at the age of fifty-eight. "
