Dr Abbas bin Haji Alias

INTRODUCTION

Many of the early Malay doctors who graduated prior to Merdeka worked as doctors but became involved in politics. These doctors had to juggle their work, family and their political involvement. Many of the early Malay doctors were each doing their bit in the background to make the Merdeka negotiations a success. Malaya eventually won its independence in 1957. One of the early Malay doctors involved was Dr Haji Abbas bin Haji Alias.


DATUK DR HAJI ABBAS BIN HAJI ALIAS

Dr Haji Abbas

Datuk Dr Haji Abbas bin Alias (1914-2004) was born in Banting but grew up in Sitiawan where his father was Qadhi. He went to school in Taiping before studying Medicine at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. He graduated and worked with the British colonial government in 1939. He pursued postgraduate studies twice (1949-51 and 1958). He obtained a Diploma in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from London in 1951 (and returned via Makkah to perform his first Hajj), and a Diploma in Public Health Administration from Canada in 1958.  He headed the annual Hajj medical mission between 1950s and 1960s, and was called Doktor Haji. He became involved with Malayan politics prior to Merdeka and continued to do so after he retired and till he died.He retired from the government medical service in (December) 1969 and did full-time Islamic politics for PAS.

PMIP and PAS
Persatuan Islam Sa-Malaya (Pan-Malayan Islamic Association, PMIP) began on 23 August 1951 in Perak, after it broke away from Dato' Onn Jaafar's UMNO. PMIP was later changed to Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (abbreviated as PAS) during the time of Dato’ Asri Muda in the early 1970s.

Haji Ahmad Fuad was the first Yang Dipertua PAS (YDP PAS). He resigned on 26 September 1953 to join Dato’ Onn Jaafar’s UMNO. Dr Abbas was then PAS deputy, Timbalan Yang Dipertua Agung.

Dr Abbas bin Haji Alias became the second PAS President or Yang Dipertua Agung Ke-2 (1953-1956). Dr Abbas headed PAS for a brief period - 3 years and 2 months, before he continued with his postgraduate studies abroad.

Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmy succeeded Dr Abbas as the third YDP PAS at the 5th Muktamar PAS (convention), 23-25 December 1956. He is also an early Malay doctor.

Party Islam Samalaya (PIS)
PIS PILEH SEMULA PEGAWAI2 LAMA
Berita Harian, 26 August 1957, Page 5
- Dr Burhanuddin Alhelmy was President of Party Islam Samalaya (PIS).
- Dr Haji Abbas was a member of PIS.

List of PAS Presidents: 1. Ahmad Fuad Hassan (1951-1953); 2. Abbas Alias (1953-1956); 3. Burhanuddin al-Helmy (1956-1969); 4. Asri Muda (1969-1982); 5. Yusof Rawa (1982-1988); 6. Fadzil Noor (1988-2002); and 7. Abdul Hadi Awang (2003-present).

YouTube video of Hajj 1953