EARL MOUNTBATTEN, CHIEF OF BRITAIN'S DEFENCE STAFF, NOW IN MALAYSIA ON A TOUR OF THE FAR EAST, TODAY (THURSDAY) CONFERRED WITH TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN, THE MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER, AT THE LATTER'S RESIDENCY IN KUALA LUMPUR.

THE HOUR-LONG TALKS WERE HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

EARL MOUNTBATTEN, WHO ARRIVED YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY), PLEDGED BRITAIN'S SUPPORT FOR MALAYSIA. EARLIER TODAY, HE HAD TALKS WITH TUN ABDUL RAZAK, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE; LIEUTENANT-GENERAL TENGKU OSMAN BIN TENGKU MOHAMED JEWA, CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES AND OTHER MALAYSIAN LEADERS. HE WAS TOLD OF THE URGENCY OF EXPANDING THE MALAYSIAN ARMED FORCES IN VIEW OF THE INDONESIAN BUILD-UP ALONG THE BORNEO BORDER.

EARL MOUNTBATTEN WILL LATER MAKE A TOUR OF THE MALAYSIAN BORNEO TERRITORIES. HE HAS ALREADY BEEN BRIEFED ON THE LATEST SITUATION ON THE BORNEO BORDER.

HIS FAR EAST TOUR WILL TAKE HIM TO HONGKONG AND BANGKOK BEFORE MOVING ON TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. HE RETURNS TO BRITAIN ON MARCH 25 VIA LOS ANGELES, WHERE HE WILL GIVE A UNIVERSITY LECTURE.