In 1889, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who was also the Chief Administrator of Seychelles, described Prince Abdullah as follows: “[…] Abdullah, the Ex-Sultan, though still a Mohammedan in religion, and bringing up his children in that faith, has, during the 13 years of his residence in these Islands, acquired many of the European manners and customs, he dresses usually in European clothes. He speaks a fair amount of simple English, and understands and speaks a little French. […] He is very fond of talking to Englishmen, and he is at all times pleased to have a conversation with the head of the Government…”
After living in Seychelles for 18 years, Prince Abdullah eventually returned to Malaya. At the beginning, he was confined to Singapore and prohibited from returning to Perak, his hometown in the Malay Peninsula. It was said that he, even though living in Singapore, managed to introduce the love song-like “melody” into the Straits Settlements. The melody also appeared in the performance by Wayang Kassim, a Bangsawan troupe phenomenally popular in the Malay Peninsula.