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6 November 2005

Sunday, 6 November 2005, 12.46 pm-1.25 pm.

I am reading an e-mail from En. Mohammad Shidek Nazaran dated 23 August 2005 which contained two attached articles. He mentioned that he had managed to obtain the article about his grandfather a week before from his aunt (did not mention her name).

The first article read "Dr. Hamzah: Pejuang Politik yang Dilupakan?", written by Dr. Haji Shaharom Husain which appeared in Jendela Selatan, Disember 2003, published by Yayasan Warisan Johor. It described the political struggle by Dr. Hamzah and his second wife and contained 7 photographs. The first photograph caption read "Dr. Hamzah bin Hj. Md. Taib. Dr. Hamzah was described as "anak Melayu Johor". He worked with the General Hospital (now Sultanah Aminah), Johor Bahru. He was from a renowned Johor family. His father was Hj. Md. Taib bin Jeragan Haji Talib Sulawesi (1873-1954). Dr. Hamzah's siblings included Abdullah (2 May 1983? -9 October 1960), Abdul Aziz (November 1904-1973), Talib (28 December 1900), and Muhammad. Dr. Hamzah's second wife, Khadijah Sidek (1918-1982), was from Pariaman, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia. They were blessed with 3 children. Dr. Hamzah bin Hj. Md. Taib died at home in Jalan Kuel, Wadi Hana, Johor Bahru on Saturday, 14 May 1955. He was buried in Bukit Mahmoodiah next to his brother, Hj. Abdullah bin Hj. Md. Taib.

6.20 pm-7.21 pm.

The second article read "Khadijah bte Sidek" written by (Prof.) Ramlah Adam which appeared in Tokoh Ternama Johor, published by Yayasan Warisan Johor, pages 99-108. It contained two portraits of Khadijah bte Sidek. The first sentence read "Khadijah Sidek adalah nama yang tidak asing dalam sejarah politik tanah air." She was born on 15 December 1918 in Pariaman, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia. She received primary and secondary education between 1924-1936 in two languages, Dutch and Bahasa Melayu. She then became a teacher. She was involved in politics and helped established the social group Persatuan Semangat Bunda in 1938 to look after the welfare of women. It became a political association in 1939 during the celebration of Hari Kartini. Raden Adjeng Kartini was an Indonesian reformist and is much revered until today.

[TV3 had just featured Raden Adjeng Kartini and Hari Kartini as part of a special documentary to mark Air Asia's victory of KLIA-Bali flight some time between October-November 2005.]

Khadijah learnt Japanese during the Japanese Occupation (1941-1945). She was dissatisfied with foreign rule by both the Dutch and Japanese which oppressed local culture and religion but forced their ideals upon the locals. She thus motivated nationalism. When the Japanese pulled out, along with her younger sister, she helped established the Persatuan Wanita or Puteri Kesatria. It was a volunteer team comprising women for the advancement of self and independent life following WW2. It was also aimed to defend against the Dutch re-occupation of the district where she lived in Bukit Tinggi and throughout Indonesia. She became Ketua Wanita Pertubuhan Pemuda Republik Indonesia. Funded by Persatuan Indonesia Merdeka, Khadijah came to Singapore in 1946 to obtain assistance for her political movement in Indonesia. She was well received by the labour group Persatuan Kaum Buruh Indonesia-Malaya (PERKABIM). Her entourage visited the Chinese and Indian associations. Khadijah also contacted Dato' Onn Jaafar who was Presiden UMNO. She did not manage to obtain the assistance of UMNO as their struggles differed. However, she managed to gain support from two Malayan parties instead for the Indonesian Revolution, Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) and Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (API). Their leaders, Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmi and Ishak Haji Mohammad, both supported her. Khadijah also met Aishah Ghani (Tan Sri Dato') who was a journalist (wartawan) with Pelita Malaya, the official newspaper of PKMM based in Kuala Lumpur. Aishah was Ketua Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS), the female arm of PKMM. Khadijah was invited by PKMM. She was involved with suggesting the use of Bendera Sang Saka Merah-Putih Indonesia as the UMNO flag at a PKMM meeting. However, the suggestion was overthrown by Persatuan Ikatan Setia Kampung Baru. PKMM pulled out of UMNO in 1946. She then met Dr. Ismail (Tun) of the Persatuan (Kesatuan) Melayu Johor while on her way to Singapore whose party's struggle also differed from UMNO. She then met Dr. Hamzah Haji Md. Taib who headed Lembaga Kesatuan Melayu Johor, a supporter of PKMM. However, as she was about to return to Pariaman, she learnt that the Dutch had captured her brother and she remained a refugee in Singapore. She earned a living making handicraft and established a welfare body Persatuan Wanita Indonesia Baru (HAMWIM). It was at this time that Dr. Hamzah Haji Md. Taib married her as his second wife.

7.47 pm-10.46 pm.

Turbulent times ensued. British rule banned Malayan political parties in July 1948. They included Parti Komunis Malaya, Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) and the like. Their leaders, including Khadijah Sidek, were captured. She was imprisoned in August 1948 when she had ties with the leftist movement in Semenanjung Tanah Melayu and Revolusi Indonesia in Singapore. Khadijah was carrying her first child while in prison. Her first child was born in hospital but was cared for by her in prison until she was released on 30 January 1950. Following her release from prison, she was exiled from Singapore for 10 years (30 January 1950 - 30 January 1960) without any written document. She underwent house imprisonment and was not allowed outside the house between 5 pm to 5 am. She then lived in Muar with Dr. Hamzah Haji Md. Taib for 3 months before she lived in his clinic in Johor Bahru. She then had a second child, a son. She was invited to become Bendahari Persatuan Melayu Semenanjung (PERMAS), Kuala Lumpur in 1951. She was elected as Ketua Kaum Ibu by 100 women representatives. However the the group died soon after. In 1951, with the help of Ibu Zain (Zainon) Sulaiman (Tan Sri Dato'), Ketua Kaum Ibu UMNO Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, Khadijah was nominated to be a member of UMNO Johor Bahru. However, Dato' Onn Jaafar, Presiden UMNO, objected. Fortunately, when Dato' Onn was succeeded by Tunku Abdul Rahman, Khadijah became a member of UMNO. Khadijah's joining UMNO was timely as UMNO was facing disintegration problem as many of Dato' Onn's supporters left and Khadijah was deemed capable of providing the support that UMNO needed. Khadijah was officially sacked from UMNO on 9 October 1956. She was succeeded by Fatimah (Tun Tan Sri) Hashim, Ketua Kaum Ibu UMNO for 16 years. After she left politics for 2 years (1956-1958), Khadijah became a member of PAS Singapore branch on 10 October 1958. She wanted to defend her religion and people. She was a candidate in the national election in 1959. She was the first female leader and a PAS candidate in the election. She won the Parliamentary seat of Dungun, Terengganu against Perikatan and Barisan Sosialis. She became a member of Parlimen Persekutuan Tanah Melayu alongside other renowned Malay leaders, including Dato' Onn Jaafar (Parti Negara), Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmi (PAS), Prof. Zulkifli Mohamad (PAS), Ahmad Boestamam (Barisan Sosialis) and Ibu Zainon Sulaiman (UMNO). Khadijah focussed on key issues affecting the Malays mainly poverty, education, rural development in Terengganu, female and other social issues. She protested against Apartheid rule in South Africa. She and Ibu Zain protested against lottery as it violated the teaching of Islam. The welfare of the pilgrims of the Haj pilgrimage was taken care of. She suggested that Sekolah Rumah Tangga be introduced to train female children concerning home economics. On 21 June 1961, she suggested Anggerik Kinta be used as the national flower replacing the bunga raya. She concurred with Dato' Onn Jaafar that Melayu remained a nationality of Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Along with other opposition parties, Khadijah opposed the suggestion of establishing Malaysia as laid down by Tunku Abdul Rahman on 16 October 1961. They wanted Malaysia to include Indonesia and the Philippines as these neighbouring countries too consisted of Malays and comprised the Malay Archipelago. This would advance the concept of Melayu Raya or Indonesia Raya, in line with the struggle of Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) and Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) which Khadijah had earlier supported in 1946. She opposed Singapore joins Malaysia as Singapore was greatly affected by the communist influence which existed there. Subsequently, Malaysia faced Konfrontasi Indonesia. Not long after, Khadijah was elected Ketua Dewan Muslimat PAS in 1963. Her main aim was to advance PAS female members. She expanded PAS influence from Kelantan and Terengganu to Johor, an UMNO stronghold. She contested against Dr. Ismail (Tun) (renowned UMNO leader and Perikatan candidate) in the 1964 elections but lost. Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmy's death in 1969 and Dato' Asri Muda's (PresidenPAS) objection of the involvement of female candidates in election led to Khadijah's eventual pullout of PAS. However, she contested separately in the 1969 election, but lost to Dato' Asri Muda(PAS) who also won over Haji Hussein (UMNO Perikatan candidate). Khadijah rejoined UMNO (after leaving it for 15 years) under the leadership of Tun Abdul Razak and became Naib Ketua UMNO Majidi branch. She was involved with Persatuan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia (PERKIM) and was Naib Ketua Persatuan Wanita FELDA (Federal Land Development Authority). Finally, she suffered from a stroke in 1977 and later died in 1982 at age 64 years.

Khadijah bte Sidek was indeed a woman with a very strong will, determined to save women, religion and the Malays of the Malay Archipelago. May Allah bless her soul for all that she had contributed to our history. Her grave and 3 children were still not known at the time of this writing.

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Acknowledgement

Dr. Haji Shaharom Husain

Article "Dr. Hamzah: Pejuang Politik yang Dilupakan?", in Jendela Selatan, published by Yayasan Warisan Johor, Disember 2003. Pages (first page unknown pagination), 15, 18, and 19.

Aunt of En. Mohammad Shidek Nazaran

She provided the article "Dr. Hamzah: Pejuang Politik yang Dilupakan?"

Prof. Ramlah Adam

Article "Khadijah bte Sidek" in Tokoh Ternama Johor, published by Yayasan Warisan Johor, pages 99-108. (year?)

En. Mohammad Shidek Nazaran

(Grandson of Dr. Hamzah Hj. Taib)

Hikmat Asia Sdn Bhd

Level 2, Block B, Plaza Damansara, 45 Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara 50490 Kuala Lumpur

E-mail: shidek@hikmat-asia.com.my

Url: http://www.jobstreet.com.my/jobs/2005/7/default/10/200536.htm

(now moved to OCBC Al-Amin)

Dr. Hamzah bin Hj. Md. Taib (Class of 1923)

Lembaga Kesatuan Melayu Johor

Dr. Hamzah Taib was an important politician in Johore. His biodata as a politician has been recorded in a book "Sumbanganmu Dikenang" by Professor Ramlah Adam (Universiti Malaya) and in an article by Dr. Haji Shaharom Husain "Dr. Hamzah: Pejuang Politik yang Dilupakan?", in Jendela Selatan, published by Yayasan Warisan Johor, Disember 2003. Pages (first page unknown pagination), 15, 18, and 19.

Khadijah bte Sidek (b.15 December 1918-d.1982) 

She was from Pariaman, West Sumatra. 

She was the second wife of Dr. Hamzah Taib

She had 3 children:

1. Candria Taswim Malahayati

2. Nur Kemal

3. Mohd Hatta

Dato' Onn Jaafar

Tunku Abdul Rahman

Tun Abdul Razak

Presiden UMNO

Dato' Asri Muda

Presiden PAS. Won the 1964 and 1969 elections.

Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmi

Contested as a PAS candidate in the 1959 election. Died in 1969.

Dr. Ismail (Tun)

Persatuan (Kesatuan) Melayu Johor

After whom many roads and buildings (hostels) in Kuala Lumpur have been named, eg Kolej Tun Dr. Ismail, UKM.

Ibu Zain (Zainon) Sulaiman (Tan Sri Dato')

Ketua Kaum Ibu UMNO Persekutuan Tanah Melayu

Tuan Haji Abdul Rashid bin Mohd. Yusope

My father. He mentioned about Ibu Zain (Zainon) to me while we were discussing the history of Malay doctors way back in 1982 when I first started work with the USM Medical School. According to him, Ibu Zain was a respected Malay leader. He wanted me to find out more about her.

Fatimah (Tun Tan Sri) Hashim

Ketua Kaum Ibu UMNO.

Founder of Tun Fatimah College in Johor

Her counterpart, Tunku Kurshiah, founded the Tunku Kurshiah College, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Aishah Ghani (Tan Sri Dato')

Journalist with Pelita Malaya, the official newspaper of PKMM based in Kuala Lumpur.

Aishah was Ketua Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS).

Japanese Occupation (1941-1945)

Konfrontasi Indonesia

Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru

Dr. Hamzah bin Hj. Md. Taib worked here before joining politics.

Raden Adjeng Kartini

Indonesian reformist. Hari Kartini is held in Indonesia in her honour.

TV3

A documentary covering Air Asia's KLIA-Bali flight and Raden Adjeng Kartini & Hari Kartini sometime between October-November 2005

Air Asia

KLIA-Bali flight

Anggerik Kinta

Suggested by Khadijah as the national flower on 21 June 1961

Persatuan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia (PERKIM)

Kuala Lumpur

United Malay National Organisation (UMNO)

Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA)

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Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia