The Early Malay Doctors

Another book

2012-01-07T21:49:00.000+08:00

I have managed to prepare another small book to accompany the big book with 43 biographies. The Early Malay Doctors = TEMD. I have named the small book, "Research on The Early Malay Doctors" (R-TEMD). This small book is approx. 200 pages and contains all the details of how I went about to do the research on The Early Malay Doctors. The big book (TEMD) is now 500+ pages and I'm trying to reduce that to 500. That way the big book won't be so thick.

About the big book (B-TEMD)

Title: Biographies of The Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore
Total # pages: ~500
Description of contents:
This book contains 43 biographies which were mostly prepared from primary sources (unpublished sources). The first biography I completed was for Dr Abdul Razak bin Abdul Latiff, our first Malay doctor on record. The last biography I completed last week was that of Dr Haji Abbas bin Haji Alias. The longest biography is that of Dr Haji Abbas bin Haji Alias (at 28 pages). Most biographies are approx. 10 pages. There are 3 very long biographies - Dr Haji Abbas bin Alias, Tan Sri Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin and Dr Ariffin bin Ngah Marzuki. The longest time I took to completely write a biography was that of Tan Sri Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin - I took 2.5 years to complete it. He passed away the very day his biography was ready. It is actually his autobiography as he wrote it; I merely typed it for him and redrew the illustrations for him. He wrote in his own handwriting. The credit goes to him.

The only doctor who does not have a graduation date is Dr Ally Othman Merican (Dr AO Merican). No published works on him (there are only 4 published records on him) ever stated the date of his graduation. I worked it out that he graduated before 1925 as his biodata was published in The Who's Who in Malaya 1925 and he stated his MBBS in his biodata, but without a date. I guess his MBBS was in 1924 as it would take 1 year to submit to Who's Who for publication. I have not written to the University of Hong Kong to clarify the date.

This big book is a resource for the families and I hope the families concerned will be happy. I will take a last look at the prepared manuscript, write a cover letter, and then submit.

About the small book (R-TEMD)

Title: Research on The Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore
Total # of pages: ~200
Description of contents:
This book has several small sections. I made the small sections for easy reading. The first part of the book explains the word "Malay" that I used in the title. Then I have provided a detailed account on the Malays and how the word "Malay" came about. The rest of the book is research proper, the intricacies of the research process which offer a lot of help and tips for beginners who wish to do this sort of research. It explains everything anyone would need to know about the research on The Early Malay Doctors. The 43 biographies included in this book are each 1 page long, very brief and without references or images. They serve mainly as summary and for quick reference. I have add 30 pages of appendices to provide a lot of information which are otherwise difficult to get hold of. Overall, I think this small book is very helpful for families if they wish to continue to research on their beloved doctors. Researchers can benefit from insights for how to do this type of research.
I will still need to refine a few pages in the small book before I submit.

Prof Faridah
7 Jan 2012 (Hits: 30,611)
7 Feb 2012 (Hits: 31,811)

Konfrontasi

2011-12-24T22:08:00.003+08:00

Modified comments from YouTube
lagu ini digunakan oleh malaysia semasa konfrontasi dengan indonesia 1963/1964 dan Indonesia mempertaruhkan lagu 3 malam nyanyian Lilis Suryani... betapa pengaruh lagi dalam meningkat motivasi perajurit... pencipta lagu ni ialah Allahyarham Dato' Hj. Wan Othman Al Khatib
Kucupan Azimat by Ahmad Jais

My comments:
I wasn't in school yet at the time of the Konfrontasi. I was living in Banda Hilir, Melaka. Our family moved to Alor Star, Kedah some time in 1964, and I attended school for the first time in January 1965.

Keramat

2011-12-24T20:27:00.002+08:00

Dargah is a Persian word. A Dargah is a shrine constructed for a sage or saint.

Dargah, makam, mausoleum, shrine, keramat are various terms used to refer to places where people come to pray, offer prayers or read doa. More about Dargah.

The general understanding is prayers are made and the deceased person can carry that up to the Supreme Creator. In Islam the Supreme Creator is Allah SWT. This is the Sufi way. However, the Wahabi will not accept this and say it is not right to do so (tawassul) in Islam.

These are contrasting views of praying at graves (from Ziyarat in Wikipedia):

Wahhabi views
The majority of Wahhabis believe that visiting the graves of saints should be classified as shirk and bid'ah except the visiting of the tomb of Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. in Madinah which may be done during Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage. However, it is not a required. They point out to the following sayings of Muhammad as an evidence for their belief.

Narrated By 'Aisha : Umm Salama told Allah's Apostle about a church which she had seen in Ethiopia and which was called Mariya. She told him about the pictures which she had seen in it. God's Apostle said, "If any righteous pious man dies among them, they would build a place of worship at his grave and make these pictures in it; they are the worst creatures in the sight of God."

The most evil of mankind are those who will be alive when the Last Day arrives and those who take graves as places of worship.”

It is also reported in the most authentic books of Sunni Islam that Aa’ishah (wife of Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.) reported:

Had it not been so, his (i.e. the Prophet’s) grave would have been in an open place, but it could not be due to the fear that it could be taken as a mosque.

Sunni scholars declare that the purpose of visiting the graves and cemeteries is only to remind people of death and a curse be upon the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.

“...Beware that those before you took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship. Do not take graves as places of worship, for verily I forbid you to do so.”

“The most evil of mankind are those who will be alive when the Last Day arrives and those who take graves as places of worship.”

Sūnnī or Sufi Views

The purpose of visiting a grave is to gain llim (divine knowledge), tafakkur and to pray for the person in the grave, but if the person in the grave is a Prophet or a Awliya (friend of God), fayd and spiritual benefits can be gained from their souls. The person who is visited, must be thought of as if he is alive and must be visited with the same good manners.

“

" The event of death is like moving from one house to another for the friends of Allah, the same good manners,respect and high regards must be shown to them, as when they were alive."AbdulHakim Arvasi, Rabita-i Serife, 23-24; Halidiyye Risalesi, 58-60

”

“

" Neither kissing the grave or moving the hands over the face after touching the grave for blessing, is suitable to the good manners (adab)."Gazali, Ihya,IV,711.

”

“

" Hz. Rasulullah (s.a.w) has given the good tidings that the Angels say "AMIN" for the prayers which are performed for the brothers and the Awliya and Allahu Taala accepts them (at the exact moment)."Buhari, Edebu'l-Mufred, No:623; Ebu Davud, Vitr, 29.

”

“

" Visiting the grave is a duty which is performed for Allah's pleasure and visiting the grave of a father and mother on a Friday is appropriate ."Gazali, Ihya, IV, 711

”

Whatever views Muslims hold, there is an interesting name which I have in TEMD that is connected to a book which I use for teaching History of Medicine. This book was written by a Sufi named Moinuddin Chishty. I still use the book for teaching traditional medicine. This has to do with rose oil as the rose is thought to have connection with the Great Prophet, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. - even the Prophet's sweat smelled of rose.

When I was writing the biography for Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmy, his information contained a city named Ajmer. Google-ing Ajmer gave me the largest and most important Dargah in India, this is the Chishty Dargah in Ajmer.

History has it that even Shah Jahan came to Ajmer and he had donated to the Dargah. The Chishty Dargah is important in supporting the lives of Indian Muslims from far and near.

Where I grew up in Malacca, there is Pulau Besar off the coast. This Pulau Besar is famous for one thing - it contained very long graves of Muslim sages/saints. At certain times, people would go to the graves, bringing along pulut kuning with chicken etc. I have not observed this in person but I read in the papers. These offerings were left at the graves. At one time, this practice of bringing offerings to the graves was banned by the state government.

In Singapore, there is the shrine of Habib Noh. His tomb is placed high up and a concrete staircase leads up to the tomb. I've not been to the tomb but I heard from one of the descendants of Habib Noh in Penang, that he was very important.

In Kampung Kolam in Penang, just behind the Masjid Kapitan Keling, lies a dilapidated mausoleum (makam) that houses the tombs of Cauder Mohinuddin, his mother and younger brother, Nordin. There are other graves too. I was told that there is a pious Indian Muslim lady buried here too - a female saint.

At the large cemetery bordering Perak Road in Penang, there are 2 mausoleums, a dilapidated older makam, and a more recent makam. I was told by the graveyard caretakers that both the deceased persons were great saints. The more recent makam is that of Datok Keramat, for whom Jalan Datok Keramat was named. Jalan Datok Keramat was once a famous road as it had a tram line running the length of the road. The older makam belonged to Datok Keramat's teacher (I could have this info reversed). The boys who looked after the graves were young Tamils, either Muslims or non Muslims. In another part of this massive cemetery, an old Tamil Muslim looked after the graves.

At certain parts of the large Muslim cemetery at Kubor Banggol in Mukim Banggol outside Kota Bharu, Kelantan, there were similar happenings at the graves. There were dolls planted and offerings next to the graves. I read that Kubor Banggol was an early settlement at the time when Kelantan was first opened by the Malays (probably of Tamil descent). So it is likely that these graves that I saw with offerings were from the same or similar Indian Muslim or Tamil Muslims. I don't know because I didn't see anyone about the graves or I could ask them.

I would take it that the Indian Muslims/Tamil Muslims are Sufi people and that Sufism is handed down or practised among family members and close friends. In the Malay Muslims, Sufi activities are limited to male circles, and they join up with the Indian Muslims/Tamil Muslims who are more well-versed with Sufi practices. I may be wrong though.

These are keramats in Malaysia (from Ziyarat in Wikipedia):

Shrine of Syed Shahul Hamid, George Town, Penang
Tomb of Ismail Nagore, George Town, Penang
Tomb of Noordin Sahib, George Town, Penang
Tomb of Syed Mustapha Idris a.k.a. Dato' Koyah, George Town, Penang
Tomb of Wali Mohammed Salleh, Batu Uban, Penang - frequented by Naqshabandi Malays
Tomb of Syed Ibrahim al-hashimi, Gelugor, Penang
Darga of Syed Lal Shah Bukhri (Jalan Hang Tua in masjed) Kuala Lumpur
Darga of Sultan ul Arifeen Syed Ismael Shah Aljillani (Pulau Besar) Melaka
Darga of Fikir Baba Maulana Miskin (Chulia St, Penang)

These are keramats in Singapore:

Shrine of Syed Shahul Hamid
Tomb of Wali Habib Noh - frequented by Malays and Naqshabandis
Shrine of Hazrath Khwaja Habibullah Shah at Kubur Kassim on Siglap Road near ChaiChee in Singapore.

Indian Muslim Communities

2011-12-24T19:31:00.000+08:00

Are the Tamil Muslims similar to the Malay Muslims?

The Aqidah of the Tamil Muslims is based on Sunnah basically influenced by the Sufis. Tamil Muslim families are patrilocal though their marriages incorporate Islamic mahr practice. For instance, it is common to see a groom pay the bride mahr sum of 10,000 rupees and the bride in turn would pay the groom a dowry sum of 100,000 rupees, though practice of dowry is banned by Islamic doctrines.

Tamil Muslims practice monogamy and male circumcision.

Like the thali of Tamil Hindu brides, Tamil Muslim women wear a chain strung with black beads called Karugamani which is tied by the groom's elder female relative to the bride's neck on the day of nikkah.

As a mark of modesty Tamil Muslim women usually wear white thuppatti (from Hindi/Urdu duppatta) instead of the black burqas (that are popular among Urdu-speaking Muslims) which is draped over their whole body on top of the saree. This has remained a hurdle in genealogical research.

Almost all Tamil Muslims go to Qabr (Dargah) ziyarat which is an important Sunnah.

The global purchasing power of Tamil Muslims in 2005 was estimated at almost $8 billion viz. $3 billion in Tamil Nadu, $1 billion in Malaysia, $600 million in Singapore.

Tamil Muslims have historically been money changers (not money lenders) throughout South Asia and South East Asia.

Generally Tamil Muslims are involved in various trades like retail, mutton shops, shops in foreign bazaar. They are also involved in gems trade & leather industry.

Due to the plenty opportunities in the Gulf region, a lot of Tamil Muslims went to the Gulf. Now Tamil Muslims are spread over in the Gulf countries and also in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

The Tamil Muslim community is a prosperous one. There are about 400 millionaires within the community and at least one billionaire viz. B.S. Abdur Rahman (better known as the Buhari Group) who constructed the conglomerate ETA Star Group, Chennai Citi Centre, Chepauk Stadium, Marina Lighthouse, Valluvar Kottam, Government General Hospital, Gemini Flyover, Crescent Engineering College, et al.. He owns over 70 ocean-going vessels (ships).

Source: Tamil Muslim (Wikipedia)

Benjamin Henry Sheares

2011-12-24T12:02:00.000+08:00

Benjamin Henry Sheares, GCB (12 August 1907 – 12 May 1981), was the second President of Singapore for 11 years (3 terms). More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Sheares

Professor Benjamin Henry Sheares was elected the President of the Republic of Singapore on 30 December 1970. He succeeded the late President Yusof bin Ishak who died in Nov 1970.

Prof Sheares was born in Singapore on 12 August 1907. He was educated at St Andrews's School and Raffles Institution before joining the King Edward VII College of Medicine in 1923. Dr Sheares BH qualified with LMC degree in March 1929 (Morais 1972: i; Lee 2005: 113).

LMC = Licentiate in Medicine and C___ for what? (a certificate or diploma?)
LMS = Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery ( a diploma and not a degree)

Morais JV. (1972). Who's Who in Singapore. page i
Lee JS. (2005). To Sail Unchartered Seas. page 113

In 1931 he began his career as on obstetrician and gynaecologist (O&G doctor). In 1940, he was awarded the Queen's Fellowship but could not go because of the Japanese war. The Queen's Fellowship was for 2 years postgraduate study.

During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, he was HOD O&G, Kandang Kerbau Hospital.

After the Japanese surrender, he was acting professor until May 1947 when he went to London. In London he passed as a MRCOG (Member of the Royal College of O&G) in January 1948.

In December 1951, he went to the US as part of the remainder of the Queen's Fellowship study leave and spent one year observing in-teaching in San Francisco, Chicago, St Luois, New York and Boston.

He was reading for the FRCS when he was recalled in March (when? 1949?) to act as professor. He became Professor of O&G, UM in Singapore in January 1950. Prof Sheares was the HOD O&G, UM in Singapore until June 1960.

He then entered into practice in June 1960. In July 1960, he was gazetted honorary consultant of Kandang Kerbau Hospital, Singapore.

Address since 30 Dec 1970: Istana Negara, Singapore.

He married Yeo Seh Geok, a migrant who came to Singapore in 1938. They have 3 children - Constance Alice Chengliu (born 1963; 27 in 1970, 68 in 2011) who holds a BA (Hons) in Fine Arts from London U and a MA degree from Singapore; Joseph Henry Hinggiam who hold the degrees of MA, MBCHB from Cambridge; and Edwin Charles Hingwee (21) then a 3rd-year student of liberal arts at Nottingham.


2nd Singapore President (30 Dec 1970-12 May 1981	)

Professor BH Sheares (12 Aug 1907-12 May 1981)

Professor of O&G

Text is reproduced with modification & portrait are from The Who's Who in Singapore 1971-1972.

Prof Sheares was a colleague of another O&G doctor, Datuk Dr Ariffin bin Haji Ngah Marzuki (Perak).

Prof Sheares had introduced the Sheares procedure for creating artificial vagina for those who did not have one, and which became necessary in transexual operations. Datuk Dr Ariffin introduced his own intrauterine device (IUD) when he worked in Ipoh. The IUD used a coil of nylon thread.

TJ Danaraj

2011-12-24T12:00:00.001+08:00

TJ Danaraj was a graduate of the KE VII Medical College in Singapore. He wrote many books. Some of his books are listed below.

Japanese invasion of Malaya & Singapore: memoirs of a doctor
Danaraj TJ
Form: Book
Language: English
Published: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: TJ Danaraj, 1990

Available from Yale University Library
http://yufind.library.yale.edu/yufind/Record/3102073/Description#tabnav

TJ Danaraj

Medical Education in Malaysia: developments and problems
TJ Danaraj

His biography can be found in The Who's Who 1963, pages 70-71:

Morais, JV (Editor & Publisher). 1963. The Who’s Who 1963. Malaysia and Singapore.
[USM Call No: Rujukan r DS 595.5 W628]

I did not take a photo of his biography in The Who's Who 1963.

Journeys Across Seas

2011-12-19T01:31:00.001+08:00

View or Download at:
https://fds.duke.edu/db/aas/history/faculty/jewald/files/AHR%20article.pdf

'Coolie' trade and the Far East

2011-12-19T01:23:00.000+08:00

National Museums Liverpool
Maritime Archives & Library
T & J Harrison Ltd
History 1740-c.2003

Research Notes for Shipping Enterprise and Management 1830-1939,
by Francis E. Hyde (cont) 1820-1969

To view the line 'Coolie' trade and the Far East between 1877 and 1914,
scroll down to more than half the page at:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/onlinelists/GB%200136%20B-HAR.pdf

Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association

UK Archives Network

2011-12-18T22:25:00.000+08:00

The UK National Archives offers public access.

The National Archives, UK

British Library, Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections 1600-1948

British Library: Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections (previously Oriental and India Office Library) Archon Code : 59

Contact Details
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
England
Tel: 020 7412 7873
Fax: 020 7412 7641
Email: apac-enquiries@bl.uk

Rulers of British India

2011-12-18T20:15:00.000+08:00

You may wonder who were the British Rulers in British India. Here is a website that has the answer:
http://k4kashmir.com/?p=4081

Robert Clive (1757-60) (1765-67)
Warren Hastings (1772-85)
Lord Cornwalis (1786-93)
Sir John Shore (1793-1798)
Lord Wellesley (1798-1805)
George Barlow (1805-07)
Lord Minto – I (1807-13)
Lord Hastings (1813 – 23)
Lord Amherst (1823-28)
Lord William Bentick (1828-35)
Sir Charles Metcalfe (1835-36)
Lord AuckLand (1836-42)
Lord Ellenborough (1842-44)
Lord Hardinge (1844-48)
Lord Dalhousie (1848-56)
Lord Canning (1856-62)
Lord Elgin (1862-63)
Lord John Lawrence (1864-69)
Lord Mayo (1869-72)
Lord Northbrook (1872-76)
Lord Lytton (1876-80)
Lord Rippon (1880-84)
Lord Dufferin (1884-88)
Lord Landsdowne (1888-94)
Lord Elgin-II (1894-1899)
Lord Curzon (1899-1905)
Lord Minto II (1905-10)
Lord Hardinge II (1910-16)
Lord Chelmsford (1916-21)
Lord Reading (1921-26)
Lord Irwin (1926-31)
Lord Willingdon (1936-43)
Lord Linlithgow (1936-43)
Lord Wavell (1943-47)
Lord Mountbatten (1947-49)

Update 18 December 2011

2011-12-18T17:01:00.003+08:00

It's Sunday, 18 December 2011, and my manuscript is almost done except for the first chapter (on Dr Abbas bin Haji Alias) and 3-4 pages (including TOC) which need to go in as "Front Pages". The Front Pages & Back Pages alone add up to 30 pages. I think I must have accidentally deleted some pages of the Appendix but I have the content online here in this blog somewhere (which is easier to update).

I get about 100 readers or hits per day, maybe more now, compared to 20-30 readers/day when I first started this blog. Today's hit count is 29,522

Don't complain about the appearance of this blog as I am experimenting with the colours and also wondering what my proposed book cover would be like. Someone suggested to use the KE VII College of Medicine building as front cover. I have a small collection of the KE VII images to choose from. I like the eagle crest best.

I made a cover with 43 portraits of the early Malay doctors. Not being a professional graphic artist and I didn't employ one for my proposed book, I think it looks so-so and ok (the faces are discernible).

I only put one line of gratitude to thank all the contributors (the # totals to 175 people). Typing out everyone's name may add another 5 pages! My publisher hasn't said anything about adding extra pages, not yet so far.

It is the monsoon season here and I have not been out exercising for 12 years; I just sat for 12 years trying to write this book. Can you imagine that?

I will submit my manuscript (insyaAllah) on Thursday, 29 December 2011. The deadline is 31 December 2011. Give it 2 days to travel to Penang.

Thank you everyone for contributing. I will update here if anything happens to my book. It goes back in for Review (2nd) for 6 months. So I hope to hear back from my publisher after June 2012. Then it's correction again (another 3-6 months on top of my teaching duties & travelling out). Then I submit again by end of Dec 2012. If it passes all checks, then we can hope to get the book in the market (for sale to the public) by June 2013 or later, insyaAllah.

Keep writing to me, either here in this blog or to my Gmail, and catch me in my Facebook.

A million thanks to a wonderful bunch of readers! Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Faridah

Who's Who

2011-12-17T17:06:00.003+08:00

Information about the early Malay doctors can be found in 5 volumes of the Who's Who.

Who’s Who

1. Fisher, JS. 1925. Who’s Who in Malaya 1925.

2. Fisher, JS. 1939. Who’s Who in Malaya 1939.

3. Morais,JV. 1963. The Who’s Who 1963. Malaysia andSingapore.

4. Morais,JV. 1965. The Who’s Who 1965. Malaysiaand Singapore.

5. Morais,JV. 1972. The Who’s Who 1971-1972.Malaysia and Singapore.

The Who's Who collection should be available in major libraries and university libraries.

USM Library:
The Who's Who is available at USM library:
Perpustakaan Hamzah Sendut 1 (PHS1),
Reference Counter, second floor,
USM Main Campus, Penang.

Contact:
Mohd Ikhwan Ismail, Pustakawan,
Bahagian Rujukan dan Penyelidikan,
Perpustakaan Hamzah Sendut 1 (Kaunter Rujukan, Tingkat 2),
Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang.
E-mail: ikhwanismail@notes.usm.my
Tel: 04-6533888 ext. 3891 or 04-6533891
Web: www.lib.usm.my.

Family Medicine in Singapore

2011-12-15T21:54:00.000+08:00

Dato Seri Di-Raja Dr Syed Mahmood bin Syed Hussain Jamalullail was a member of the College of General Practitioners of Singapore.

A group of family physicians in Singapore wanted an institution to enshrine and promote the values and ideals of family medicine.

The College of General Practitioners Singapore was officially inaugurated on 30 June 1971.

It was renamed ‘College of Family Physicians Singapore’ on 17 November 1993.

More at: http://www.cfps.org.sg/Main/aboutus.htm

Majlis Bacaan Yasin dan Tahlil

2011-12-14T10:56:00.002+08:00

Assalamualaikum Warga Staf Kampus Kesihatan.

Saya bagi pihak keluarga Allahyarham Ayahanda Prof Syed Mohsin menjemput Warga Staf Kampus Kesihatan bagi Majlis Bacaan Yasin dan Tahlil pada tarikh yang berikut;

Tarikh : 17 Dec 2011 (Sabtu).
Masa : Lepas Isya'
Tempat : Rumah Keluarga kami.

796, Taman Hidayah,
Kampung Huda,
12500 Kota Bharu.

Atas kehadiran Staf Kampus Kesihatan Pihak Keluarga mengucapkan terima kasih.

Semoga Allah memberkati Warga Staf USM.

Dr Syed Hasanul Hadi Syed Mohsin.

STOVIA

2011-12-07T16:31:00.001+08:00

Please read about STOVIA at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Indonesia

It tells about the History of Medicine in Indonesia.

We have not yet got anything written about the History of Medicine in Malaysia. It will be great if someone can write on this topic.

MMA

2011-12-01T00:28:00.001+08:00

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) was set up in 1951. It is the national association for medical doctors.

On 30 November 2011, the Star reported that the MMA was given a six-month reprieve to put right its activities concerning 2 issues - mismanagement and election of its office bearers.

The MMA was de-registered by the Federal Territory Registrar of Societies (FT RoS) as it did not comply with the Societies Act 1966.

The MMA has appealed for the withdrawal of the de-registration.

More on MMA gets six-month reprieve(the Star, Bernama)

Address: Malaysian Medical Association, 4th Floor, MMA House, 124 Jalan Pahang, 53000 Kuala Lumpur. http://www.mma.org.my/

Professor Syed Mohsin bin Syed Sahil Jamalullail

2011-11-29T01:23:00.001+08:00

In memory of a lovely Arab man with a beautiful heart ...

Almarhum Professor Syed Mohsin bin Syed Sahil Jamalullail (1951-2011)

Biodata
Professor Syed Mohsin was popularly known as Tuan Syed or Prof Syed. He was born in Batu Uban, Penang on Independence day, 31 August 1951. I have no information of his schooling and higher education.

Prof Syed Mohsin had previously taught at the UKM Medical School before he was seconded to the USM Medical School. He was one of the 5 founding lecturers of the USM Medical School in 1979. At the time he was known as Tuan Syed as he was the only lecturer with a Syed name. He became a full professor at USM (date?), for which he was called Prof Syed.

A pharmacologist by training, Prof Syed Mohsin taught Pharmacology to medical students. He was a good teacher. A gifted man, he was not only a lecturer, but he was an advisor to all who came to seek his knowledge and wisdom. Everyone liked him and came to seek his unlimited advice. Even the postgraduates and faculty members sought his advice. He was easily approachable. He loved all who knew him and that was the most remarkable characteristic of Tuan Syed/Prof Syed. He was soft spoken and loved to crack jokes to lighten up things when he was in advisory mode. It did not matter to him where people met him to discuss important matters - even the parking lot was fine. He would stop to talk without a care to his status as a member founder of the USM Medical School and a responsible faculty member. He was highly committed to make the USM Medical School a great centre of learning and was successful at it. Then he ventured to assist in the set up of the other two sister schools - School of Dental Sciences and School of Health Sciences.

In research, he ventured into medicinal herbs. He is best remembered for his zest in medicinal herbs and traditional healing practices. Among his remedies are goat's milk for liver diseases. A Chinese-Malay remedy for liver disease (eg hepatitis infection) and also breast cancer is goat's milk which is taken together with boiled aqueous extract of the dukung anak plant. There were many more remedies which he knew. He was always in a position to inform others of the herbal remedies he knew.

He had a good research group at the School of Health Sciences where he led research into fortified foods. He was successful in research with an award winning project which had used cornhair for nutritious vitaminised biscuits.

Before he migrated to the School of Health Sciences, he was with the School of Medical Sciences for many years since its inception. He was the HOD in the Dept of Pharmacology. He was also a great academic advisor to all new academics who were seeking further studies (mainly PhD) overseas. At the School of Health Sciences, he held other posts. He last served as the Dean of Biomedical & Health Sciences Research Platform (Dekan Pelantar Penyelidikan Sains Kesihatan & Bioperubatan).

Prof Syed Mohsin comes from a well-known and respected Yemeni Arab family based in Penang-Kedah-Perlis region. He was descended from the early Arabs who came to Malaya from Hadramaut in Yemen. The early Yemenis arrived in Penang and settled in Jelutong, and Masjid Jamek Jelutong marks the area where this historic landing occurred and where Islam spread in Penang. Masjid Jelutong is where the early Yemenis were buried (their burial plot is called "Kubur Syed"). The Jamalullail Arab clan is connected to the Perlis throne. It is the first instance that the Arabs married to the royal Malay household. The Perlis throne still carries the Syed prefix and the Jamalullail suffix.

Prof Syed Mohsin's father is Syed Sahil Jamalullail who died in 2010 and was interred at Masjid Arau in Arau, Perlis. Prof Syed Mohsin's mother is Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi (aged 80) who lives in Jitra, Kedah. Sharifah Mariam's half-sister is Sharifah Rahmah bt Syed Alwi, whose daughter is Dr Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Aidid.

Prof Syed Mohsin and Dr Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Aidid were cousins. Dr Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Aidid was the first Chairman of the USM Women's Association (Persatuan Wanita USM) in the early 1980s.

Prof Syed Mohsin was also related to Emeritus Professor Dato' Zuraina Abdul Majid, the youngest sister of Dato' Paduka Ruby Majid. Prof Zuraina is Malaysia's foremost archaeologist whose work led to the discovery of Perak Man and the historical diggings at Lenggong.

Prof Syed Mohsin is also related to another famous early Malay doctor - Dr Syed Mohamed Alwi Alhady, a gastroenterologist who served at Penang General Hospital before he moved to General Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Mr SMA Alhady was responsible for the set up of the National Science Foundation. A pioneer and entrepreneur, Mr SMA Alhady, Dr Haji Abbas bin Haji Alias and Dr Hassan set up Hospital Pantai, the first Malay private hospital in Malaysia.

Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi married to Syed Sahil Jamalullail. They were blessed with 8 children, 4 sons and 4 daughters. Prof Syed Mohsin was the third of 8 siblings:
1. Syed Omar Syed Sahil
2. Sharifah Zahrah Syed Sahil
3. Syed Mohsin Syed Sahil (31 August 1951-6 November 2011)
4. Sharifah Sakinah Syed Sahil
5. Sharifah Alwiah Syed Sahil
6. Syed Mohamad Syed Sahil
7. Syed Haizar Syed Sahil
8. Sharifah Azizah Syed Sahil

Prof Syed Mohsin married to Puan Hasnah bt Ishak. She had served several posts in USM and is currently the Head of Graduate Studies (Institute Pengajian Siswazah, IPS) at the USM Health Campus. They are blessed with 7 children.
1. Syed Hazman is an architect.
2. Syed Muhammad Hilmi is a petroleum engineer with Exxon Mobile.
3. Dr Syed Hasanul Hadi was trained by PCM & Sheffield. He is currently undergoing training as surgeon in the MMed Surgery programme at the USM Medical School.
4. Sharifah Muna Maisara is a schoolteacher in Sabah.
5. Syed Muhammad Husni prefers the Arts and composes songs.
6. Syed Muhammad Harith has a Diploma in Mechatronics. He is a technician and works with Samsung in Senawang, Negeri Sembilan.
7. Syed Muhammad Hafizuddin was at Poly. He is now in Petaling Jaya.

A simple and quiet person, Prof Syed Mohsin enjoyed good friendship beside golf and reading. He played golf even during Ramadhan. It was at his last golf stint in Ramadhan (three days before Aidilfitri) that he swung his golf club too hard and suffered pain which landed him in Hospital USM (HUSM).

When I visited him at home after he was discharged from HUSM, he was on home rest and recuperating at home. He was in a good mood to receive my visit and we started talking about his health condition among others. He had suffered from chronic prostate cancer. He had just finished reading Tun Mahathir's book - A Doctor in the House. I had come to consult him about the 'Arabs in Penang' for my book, The Early Malay Doctors. As usual, we shared a lot of fun in telling stories about history - after the war, the early post-Merdeka days, etc. I was to come back later for follow-up on some of our stories. He was thankful that I had come to visit him, which made him happy and lifted his spirit to live. Alas! That was the last time I met Prof Syed Mohsin.

Prof Syed Mohsin passed away on Sunday, 6 November 2011, which coincided with the first day of Aidiladha celebrations, 10 Zulhijjah 1432 Hijrah. He died in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. He was interred on 7 November 2011 at Kubur Demit in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. He is dearly missed by his students, peers, family members and relatives.

This is uttered as an expression upon hearing the news of some loss or some one’s death:

Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon

Translation: To Allah we belong and to Him is our return

Freemason

2011-11-29T00:39:00.001+08:00

The first time I heard the word 'freemason' was when I first arrived in California at age 17, in 1976. I was in my undergraduate course and the Vietnam War was just over; my classmates were American GI, some on wheelchairs, some with schizophrenia. It was also a time after Woodstock Festival (a festival of drug addicts). There was talk about Freemason and the murder of Sharon Stone. I had thought it was a cult. That time there were many cults that dealt with sacrifice. It was also the time the movie Exorcist became box-office. It was also a time when Jonestown witnessed the mass suicide at a secluded camp in Guiyana, South America - they all drank cyanide and died.

What then is this 'freemason' thing? Many people have written about the Freemason. You can read about it here to get some ideas about it:

http://www.harunyahya.com/globalfreemasonry_introduction.php

http://www.cuttingedge.org/free16.htm

http://mejakerusi.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/freemason-di-malaysiasatu-pengenalan/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC76_Xv8pBc&NR=1

One of our former USM Medical School professors in Pathology is the chief Freemason at a Lodge, where the freemasons have their activities.

According to Internet forums on the Freemason, the freemasons worship the Satan, Lucifer (ketua syaitan).

Freemason Lodge, corner of Jalan Utama and Jalan Brown, Penang

MCKK

2011-11-24T14:16:00.001+08:00

Kolej Melayu Kuala Kangsar (Malay College Kuala Kangsar, MCKK), Kuala Kangsar, Perak

MCKK in 1951. Photo source: From arwah Bapak's collection.

Text source:
The Straits Times, 27 June 1965, page 9. "Malays must learn a second language."

The Malay College was first founded in 1905 with an enrollment of 50 pupils, mostly the sons of royalty to prepare them for administrative posts in the Government Civil Service.

In the past, most pupils of the Malay College took up only arts subjects. Later many took up pure science and many had received scholarships to study science overseas.

In the 60th anniversary speech day celebration of the Malay College held at the Chin Wu stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Dato Dr Haji Megat Khas bin Megat Omar, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Malay College, said that Malay pupils should be proficient in the national language. They should also take up a second language such as English or French. He added that it was important to have a second language to maintain Malaysia's relationship with foreign countries.
--
My comments:
That was Dato Dr Haji Megat Khas' speech 46 years ago. Today we are still arguing about languages.

From TEMD research:
Dato Dr Haji Megat Khas bin Megat Omar (1908-1979) was an early Malay doctor who graduated from the King Edward VII Medical College in Singapore in 1931. He had worked mostly in Perak. His biodata can be obtained from The Who’s Who in Malaysia1971-1972 (Morais 1972: 201). He was a brilliant doctor and the first Malay to obtain MRCP (Member of the Royal College of Pathologists), UK.

Zulkifli Ahmad

2011-11-23T15:13:00.001+08:00

Professor Dr Haji Zulkifli bin Ahmad (USM)

Professor Zulkifli Ahmad (right) exiting the hall after delivering his professorial talk at USM Health Campus. Behind him is Professor Syed Hatim Noor; 20 November 2011

Biodata
Professor Zulkifli Ahmad was born on 24 July 1954 at Kampung Bakar Kapor, Sungai Petani, Kedah. He is the eldest of 6 siblings. His father, Haji Ahmad bin Ariffin was a schoolteacher. His mother, Hajjah Akiah bt Othman was a full-time housewife. Professor Zulkifli was raised first by his grandmother, Hajjah Che Yah bt Said at his village before he moved to Alor Star to begin shooling.

He attended schools in Alor Star. He first attended Sekolah Rendah Iskandar. He then Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid (Sultan Abdul Hamid College, SAHC) where he completed Form 6 (Upper 6).

He then proceeded to study Medicine at University of Malaya (now Universiti Malaya) for 6 years (1973-1979). He obtained his MBBS degree in 1979. He did his Housemanship and became a Medical Officer at Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor Bahru. He was transferred to Hospital Daerah Kulim, Kedah in 1981. A year later he was posted to Kuala Nerang, Kedah as Medical and Health Officer at Pusat Kesihatan Besar Kuala Nerang, as well as Acting Health Officer for Daerah Padang Terap/Sik, Kedah. Here, he was working on Public Health (Kesihatan Awam).

In 1981, he married Professor Dr Rogayah bt Ja'afar form Johor. They were blessed with 4 children, a son and 3 daughters: Mohamad Ariff, Noor Akmal, Noor Amalina and Noor Adilah.

In 1982, he joined the USM Medical School in Penang as Trainee Lecturer in the Department of Community Medicine.

In 1984, he proceeded to do his postgraduate studies in MSc in Public Health for 2 years at the University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. He completed his studies in 1986 and returned to USM as a Medical Lecturer.

He had several posts in the USM Medical School: Head of Department in the Department of Community Medicine (1991-1994); along with the other lecturers, he was Founder of MSc in Family Medicine program, which later became a separate department - Department of Family Medicine.

In 1998, he was promoted to Associate Professor and continued to do his PhD at Universiti Malaya. He returned to the USM Medical School and headed the Department of Community Medicine (2002-2003).

In 2002, he attended a postgraduate certificate course in Global Nutrition IT under the Swedish International Development Program (SIDA) at the University of Uppsala, Sweden.

He also obtained a few other fellowships to attend other courses and conferences, including the conference on Network of Community Oriented Educational Institutions for Health Sciences, Advanced Asian Course in Tropical Epidemiology which was organised by SEAMO-TropMed, several Tobacco Control Workshops which were organised by ThaiHealth and Rockefeller Foundation, and WHO Visiting Fellowship in Environmental Health, speciafically tobacco control.

His area of interest is Family Health and his main research fields are Tobacco Control and Child Health. He has supervised many postgraduates in both these fields.

He has produced more than 60 academic publications and papers, learning modules, and academic books. He was the former Chief Editor for the Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine. He was the former Editor for the Malaysian Journal of Nutrition. He is presently on the Panel of Advisers for the Archives of Orofacial Sciences.

He was promoted to full professorship in 2006. His professorial talk was delivered to the public on 20 November 2011 at USM in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

In 2007, he was seconded to the USM School of Dental Sciences as the Deputy Dean Research and Postgraduate Studies. He still holds the post today.

At the USM School of Dental Sciences, he was involved in developing several postgraduate courses, including: MDSc in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, MDSc Restorative Dentistry (Conservative, Prostodontic, and Periodontic), MDSc Pediatrics, MDSc Public Dental Health, and PhD Public Health Dentistry.

He has been invited by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti AIMST, and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, as an Assessor of their academic curriculum for Public Health program.

He was an External Examiner for the undergraduate medical program at Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). He was also an External Examiner for the MSc in Tropical Health program at the University of Queensland, Australia.

He has been involved as a speaker and facilitator in many workshops, especially on Scientific Writing.

He is actively involved in promoting health and tobacco control activities, including Hari Bebas Tembakau Sedunia, expositions and health talks, specifically cigarette addiction, prevention, and tobacco control.

He is active in associations and social work. He had held the post of Chairman and Deputy Chairman for the Parents-Teachers Association (PIBG) in Sekolah Kebangsaan Kubang Kerian 1 and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Zainab 1, Kota Bharu, Kelantan. He was a former Committee Member for the Malaysian Public Health Medical Specialist Association (Persatuan Doktor Pakar Kesihatan Awam Malaysia) and the Malaysian Medical and Health Educationists Association (Persatuan Pendidik Sains Perubatan dan Kesihatan Malaysia).

In 2011, he was elected as a Member to the USM Senate.

Source:
Program booklet "Syarahan Umum Pelantikan Profesor", Profesor Zulkifli Ahmad, "Pengawalan Tembakau di Malaysia: Antara Ekonomi, Politik, Agama dan Kesihatan", Ahad, 20 November 2011, 8.45am-12pm, Dewan Utama, Kampus Kesihatan, USM

Further information:
Prof Dr Hj Zulkifli Ahmad at the School of Dental Sciences

Websites:
Department of Community Medicine, USM
School of Dental Sciences, USM
Hall of Fame, School of Dental Sciences, USM

Syed Hatim Noor

2011-11-23T14:08:00.001+08:00

Professor Dr Haji Syed Hatim Noor (USM)

Professor Dr Syed Hatim Noor after delivering his professorial talk at the USM Health Campus; 20 November 2011. Medical School Dean, Professor Abdul Aziz bin Baba is at far left.

Biodata
Professor Nyi Nyi Naing @ Professor Dr Syed Hatim Noor is a medical doctor by profession. He was born in Mandalay, Burma (now Myanmar) in 1961. He has 4 siblings: an elder brother (a doctor), a twin sister (a clinical psychologist at Universiti Putra Malaysia), himself, and a brother (general manager of a hotel in Myanmar). Both his parents were medical doctors - Dr Syed Kassim Noor and Dr Aisha Beebee. They both served in Burma. His father passed away 8 months before Dr Syed Hatim obtain his full professorship. His mother is down with stroke.

Dr Syed Hatim was educated in Burma. He studied medicine in Burma and graduated along with his twin sister. In addition to his basic medical degree (MBBS), he has postgraduate degrees in Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Medical Statistics. He did his postgraduate studies in Thailand and Australia. He is also an elected Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society of the UK (2001 to date).

He then joined the School of Medical Sciences, USM in 1994. He holds several posts in the USM Medical School: Coordinator for Unit of Biostatistics, Coordinator for Unit of Biostatistics and Research Methodology (1997 to date), Chairman for Biostatistics and Epidemiology program for USM Health Campus (1999 to date), Course Coordinator for MSc in Medical Statistics degree program (2003 to date), Member of USM Research and Ethics Committee (1999-2008), Member of Research Committee at USM Medical School (1999 to date), Coordinator for Professional and Personal Development of Postgraduates (PPD) for USM Health Campus (2010 to date), and Coordinator of Health Cluster for Research Methods and Statistics (2003 to date).

His core teaching in postgraduate education covers many areas: Medical Statistics, Medical Epidemiology, Research Methodology, and Statistical Software Applications in Medical Research.

He was appointed by the USM Vice-Chancellor to be the Coordinator of Health Cluster, for conducting regular annual intensive courses on Biostatistics, Research Methodology, Quality Thesis, and Scientific Writing, for postgraduates as well as for academics since 1997.

His major contribution to the university is in improving its postgraduate and academic research wrt standard and appropriateness of research designs and implementation, application of appropriate statistical methods and publication of scientific papers.

He is actively involved in research. He held a number of research grants and led several government-funded research projects as the Principal Investigator. His major research interest covers: tuberculosis (TB), tobacco-related diseases, and food- and water-borne diseases. Additionally, he is the Statistical Consultant to private and governmental organisations, and to pharmaceutical companies.

To date, he has published a total of 123 scientific papers. Of these, 96 papers were published in international journals and 27 papers were published in Malaysian journals. He has also published 6 books on medical statistics, critical appraisal, research protocol development, and advanced statistics.

He has been an invited speaker for more than 190 occasions, which include intensive courses, workshops, and conferences both in and out of USM, and overseas.

He was promoted to full professorship in August 2007.

Source:
Program booklet "Statistik Dalam Penyelidikan Perubatan Dan Sains Kesihatan: Dahulu, Kini & Masa Depan" which was distributed at Syarahan Umum. "Syarahan Umum Pelantikan Profesor, Profesor Syed Hatim Noor". Ahad, 20 November 2011, 8.45am-12pm, Dewan Utama, Kampus Kesihatan, USM.

Publications:
Assoc Prof Dr Nyi Nyi Naing. 2007. A practical guide on Determination of Sample Size in Health Sciences Research. ISBN978-983-867-263-4
Other books and publications

Websites:
USM Biostatistics and Research Methodology Unit
USM Biostatistics and Research Methodology Intensive Courses & Workshops
USM Biostatistics and Research Methodology Postgraduate Programme (MSc Medical Statistics)

Further information:
Please contact the Unit

Malay Regiment

2011-11-21T09:55:00.001+08:00

Regimen Askar Melayu Diraja (RAMD)

I have to write something on the Malay Regiment. As I was growing up, my late father reminded me to always remember and honour the Malay Regiment. That time I was just a little girl with absolutely no knowledge of war and nothing about soldiers, never mind the Malay Regiment, even my dad was not in the army. So why bother?

As I grew up, I heard and followed news about the Malay Regiment, just out of curiosity. They were always at Istana Negara and any padang parades, in white baju Melayu, kain sampin hijau and songkok, with a rifle each. There is nothing spectacular I can recall from my 53 years of living, till I read this website today: Malay Regiment

Now I know how fierce a battle the Malay Regiment had fought, especially those soldiers of C Company (C Coy) who fought at Pasir Panjang in Singapore, the last battlefront before both Singapore and Malaya finally fell to the Japanese on 14 February 1942. C Coy was led by a brave Lt Adnan Saidi who died in action - he died a martyr and a hero, mati syahid. More on the capitulation of Singapore at Total War Center (forum)

I have goosebumps just trying to write on him. He must be so brave to stay put, knowing very well death was the only option. Please read about him and the last moments of his life and how they brutally mutilated his corpse and in the end burned him! This is the most brutal of war savagery I have ever heard. Memang dia orang kerjakan dia gila habis. Dendam kesumat!

History of the Malay Regiment and its initial set up is here: Syarak Mengata, Adat Menurut

The Royal Malay Regiment was formed in Port Dickson on 1 March 1933.
Source: The Straits Times, 12 March 1962, page 5. "Royal Malay Regiment marks 29th birthday."
http://bit.ly/sVTtdE

Mubin Sheppard

2011-11-21T08:58:00.001+08:00

Tan Sri Dato' Dr Haji Abdul Mubin (Mervyn) Cecil ffranck Sheppard (M.C.ff. Sheppard), PSM, JMN, PPT, CMG, MBE, OStJ, ED (1905-11 September 1994)

Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard was born in Ireland in 1905. In 1927 he sat for the Malayan Civil Service (MCS) Competitive Examination in London. He arrived in Malaya in 1928 and served in the Federated Malay States (FMS). He worked his entire life in Malaya till he died. He was buried at the Muslim cemetery in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

On record in The Early Malay Doctors (TEMD), I noticed he had helped 2 of the early Malay doctors - Datuk Dr Haji Abbas bin Haji Alias (Perak) and Dr Mohamed Said bin Mohamed (Negeri Sembilan).

His brief CV is as follows:

MCS Malaya 1928-1963
Company Commander FMS
FMS Volunteer Force (FMSVF) during the war from 1941-1942
Prisoner of War (POW) 1942-1945
He retired as a Major in the FMSVF in 1945 (war ended)

Of the Japanese war and the fierce battle by the Malay Regiment at Pasir Panjang, Bukit Chandu, 31K Pepys Road, before the final capitulation of Singapore, Tan Sri Dato’ Mubin Sheppard, an ex-officer and former POW, had this to say of his friend and troop leader of C Company (C Coy), the late Lieutenant Adnan Saidi:

"He was heavily outnumbered by the Japanese…they bombed him but he fought on fiercely and inflicted heavy losses on them…. Adnan would have never surrendered under any circumstances. He was absolutely dedicated. In fact, just before fighting, he adopted a motto for his platoon, ‘Biar putih tulang, jangan putih mata’ - death before dishonour." More on Lt Adnan Saidi and the Malay Regiment

Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard was a historian of Malay culture and heritage. He wrote many books:

Tunku Abdul Rahman; Father of Independence (1957–1970)
Taman Budiman: Memoirs of an unorthodox civil servant
Singapore 150 Years. 1982. ISBN 9971-65-092-4
The Adventures of Hang Tuah. 1984
The Malay Regiment 1933-1947
His other books

Sources:
Wikipedia
SembangKuala
Retrieved 21 November 2011

Penang Mosques

2011-11-09T09:58:00.000+08:00

Mosques in Georgetown

INTRODUCTION

George Town (now Georgetown) is now a maze of lanes, roads, streets, and highways. It was easier to get to a place within Georgetown in the early 1980s. Today, it is impossible to drive without going into wrong lanes in Georgetown. The one-way street signs have made it more difficult. However, there is still hope in getting around the maze - the masjid jamek can certainly help. Each masjid jamek is unique and has a mihrab that faces qiblat, so that helps with street orientation.

Penang jamek mosques are plenty and they serve as landmarks (masjid sebagai mercu tanda). There are 3 useful landmark mosques in Georgetown: Masjid Jamek Titi Papan in Jalan Burma, Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin in Jalan Hatin, Masjid Jamek Pintal Tali in Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong.

Burma Road (Jalan Burma)
This road is parallel to Jalan Hatin, and closer to the sea. Jalan Khoo Sian Ewe opens to Jalan Burma. The landmark mosque at this junction is Masjid Jamek Titi Papan.

Masjid Jamek Titi Papan
Masjid Jamek Titi Papan is in Jalan Burma (Burmah Road), at the corner of Jalan Burma and Jalan Khoo Sian Ewe. This is a Chinese area with Chinese eating/coffee stalls (kopitiam), houses, shops and trishaw. Titi papan is Malay for a wooden plank that is used as a footbridge. Maybe a wooden plank was used to cross a drain (not monsoon drain) in order to get to the mosque?

PHOTO 1. Masjid Titi Papan in Jalan Burma (old Burma Road), Georgetown, Penang

Hutton Lane (now Jalan Hatin)
Hutton Lane (now Jalan Hatin) is a memorable lane. It once had a shop where USM staff celebrated farewell lunch. It also once housed the private clinic of Sir KM Ariff (Dr Kamil Mohamed Ariff bin Kadir Mastan). It has a mosque - Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin. It has a school - Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta, now renamed to Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Tanjong, Jalan Hutton. The school building is still the old pre-war building.

Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin
Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin is in Jalan Hutton (Hutton Lane), across the road from Sekolah Sri Tanjung, Jalan Hatin, Penang.

PHOTO 2. Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin in Jalan Hatin (old Hutton Lane), Georgetown, Penang

Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong
This is a wide road which once housed a big pottery shop on the right, just after KOMTAR. It runs by KOMTAR and opens into 3-lane Magazine Road at the traffic lights. There is one bright yellow-green landmark mosque on the left, just after KOMTAR, before the traffic lights. This is Masjid Jamek Pintal Tali.

Masjid Jamek Pintal Tali
Masjid Jamek Pintal Tali is in Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong and can be viewed from KOMTAR. Pintal tali is Malay for twisted rope. What is the history of this mosque? How did it get its name?

I didn't see any twisted ropes in the vicinity of the mosque nor were ropes made here. It could be that this area was nearby Sungai Pinang and served as a landing place for small to medium boats which were tied to the dock, pier or jetty. Why were twisted ropes used? Anyway, ropes are made from twisted jute fibres. So why the additional adjective, pintal (twisted)? Maybe the ropes really became twisted (entangled) and could not be laid down straight as they were really entangled? But fishermen can't be that negligent to leave their ropes twisted? Maybe twisting referred to how the ropes were tied to the docks? More Sherlock Holmes assignment here!

PHOTO 3. Masjid Jamek Pintal Tali in Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong, viewed through a glass window at KOMTAR, Georgetown, Penang

PHOTO 4. Masjid Jamek Pintal Tali viewed from a moving car, Georgetown, Penang

Singapore Mosques

2011-11-07T17:41:00.001+08:00

INTRODUCTION

Singapore was initially an island where tigers lived. So goes the myth. Tigers do not cross the Straits of Johore (Selat Johor), so how come they came to be in Singapore? Were there actually tigers in Singapore? I doubt it. Tigers need roaming space and Singapore is not a place for tigers. Tigers don't live by the sea - they live in the jungle thickets.

Singapore has a strange history. It was Indian since time in memorial, Malay for a brief period, British for quite some time and now it is predominantly Chinese. In an area where it is part of the Malay Archipelago, it is strange to find an island dominated by Chinese, very far from mainland Chinese. How did this happen? What happened in our history?

Since Singapore had influences from many conquers and takeovers, we would expect to see remains of a Hindu past, Malay past, British past, and today, Chinese influences.

I am interested about the mosques where the early Indians, Arabs and Malays prayed. Where are these mosques? Since the island is now in the hands of non Muslims, do the Muslims in Singapore today suffer as in many countries that are dominated by non Muslims? Australia is a good example.

I went on foot to discover the mosques in Singapore on 22-23 July 2011. I got to see a few mosques, missed a lot of mosques as I did not have time.

Masjid Sultan (built 1826)
This mosque is in Muscat St, and faces Bussorah St. It is indeed a big mosque. Its history in displayed in the lobby - it showed a much smaller mosque. The mosque had belonged to the Sultan of Johore (from which the mosques derives its name). It was built in exchange for giving away the island of Singapore to the British. This mosque and the palace in Kg Gelam are all that were left to the royal family. This was the first mosque I entered on 23 July 2011 whilst in Singapore.

Masjid Sultan

Masjid Abdul Gaffoor (built 1907)
This is a big ornate mosque by the street. It was under repairs when I passed by it on 23 July 2011.

Masjid Abdul Gaffoor

Masjid Anguilla
This is an interesting mosque that I found using Google maps. It is small and the architecture is quite unique - looks like a small fort. I have not seen a mosque like this before. The name Anguilla strikes me. So I went to the USM library in Penang to look up that word. I know there is an eel species that bears the same name as I had researched on the eels in the mid-1990s. It is named after its founder, Anguilla or reflects his home country.

The Who's Who in Singapore

Masjid Anguilla

Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique
http://www.aleemsiddique.org.sg/

This mosque was recently renovated in 2005. It is a beautiful mosque today. I passed by it once at night on 22 July 2011. I will try and visit it next time, insyaAllah. Abdul Aleem Siddque was a sufi master who had worked closely with one of the early Malay doctors, Dr Mohamed Ibrahim bin Ismail. His son, Tan Sri Prof Ahmad Ibrahim had also worked with the sufi master.

Google map

Masjid Kassim
Can be found using Google maps. It is a "flat" mosque, with tiny steps leading to the mosque. It is at a busy intersection. There are many Muslim eateries nearby. Parking is a problem.

Masjid Ba'alawie
Can be found using Google maps. It is a small old mosque. Tan Sri Prof Ahmad Ibrahim used to come here. The Arabic Al-Attas (Alattas) family used this mosque. The Al-Attas families can be found in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Masjid Chander Road
http://pictures.nl.sg/SearchByTag.aspx?tag=Chander%20Road

The location can be found using Google maps - it points to an empty plot, just grassland with a blue zinc fence. This is an old mosque and has been pulled down. A 1984 photo can be found here:
http://pictures.nl.sg/2d8cc929-8e95-4dcd-9bfc-754ea116bdf5.aspx
Among the jemaah here were Ismail Ballah, Dr Mohamed Ibrahim bin Ismail and Tan Sri Prof Ahmad Ibrahim. When the newspapers published Ismail Ballah's demise, it could have pointed to the Muslim community here. "Arab" was used to refer to the Indian Muslims. Today, the Indian Muslims are grouped as Malay. The Chander Road mosque in within Little India.

Street scene in Little India

Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh
http://www.hjmuhdsalleh.org.sg/Templates/1.html
Nearby is Makam Habib Noh which has an interesting history.

Other mosques:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mosques_in_Singapore

Indian Convict Labour in Malaya and Singapore

2011-11-07T13:38:00.000+08:00

INTRODUCTION

We all know our bitumen roads were not laid down by the locals; they were made by Indians. Who specifically laid down our roads? Indians or Indian convict labour? How did we get that labour to pave our roads?

The British had taken the natives of India as convicts and brought them to Malaya and Singapore, in a similar manner they brought white British convicts to Australia and New Zealand. Who were these Indian convicts and what happened to them? Were they chained? Did they make the roads while still being chained? When were they freed? What happened to them right after they were freed? What happened to their descendants in the colony? Can we trace them? Are any of them our early Malay doctors? The answer is YES! Isn't that great?!

We know from history that the Indians who arrived in Malaya and Singapore never returned except to visit their families or to bring them here. The Indians stayed on.

In a newspaper report, it mentioned, as convicts they built the Johore Causeway which was completed in 1924. it also mentioned the Indians were hired, preferentially over the locals as they were honest and worked earnestly.

From Isabella Bird's book, the Golden Chersonese, we know there were mainly 2 European groups - the British and Germans. We are interested in the Germans as they operated steamers (ships) that plied between Singapore and the European ports.

So far on TEMD record, we have only one highly educated Indian who worked his entire life as a free man with the German Embassy which opened in Singapore in 1892. We have difficulties tracing his origin in north India. His original Indian village is unknown.

There are 2 books that mention/illustrate Indians/Indian labourers in Malaya.

MALAYSIA. A Pictorial History 1400-2004.
Wendy Khadijah Moore
2004
ISBN 981-4068-77-2

Of note are pages 45, 56, 103 and 116.

Page 45 - Penang port, showing Fort Cornwallis in the far background; in 1860s. There is an Indian in loin cloth waiting at the water's edge.

Page 56 - The first hospital at Butterworth; circa 1869. There are a few Indians in knee-length cloth standing outside the hospital building.

Page 103 - There is an Indian in ankle-length cloth by the rail crossing near St Mary's church in Kuala Lumpur; circa 1891.

Page 116 - There are 2 Indians in loin cloth working on paving the road at the Esplanade in Penang; circa 1906.

MALAYA. 500 Early Postcards
Cheah Jin Seng
2008
ISBN 978-981-4155-98-4

This is a book of postcards and real photographs with captions. Of note are pages 228, 275 and 279.

Page 228 - Mentions Weld Quay, Penang was built in 1880s (photographed in 1924). Weld Quay housed many European companies: Boustead & Co; Schmidt Kustermann & Co; Behn Meyer & Co Ltd; Shiftman, Heer & Co; Behr & Co.

Page 275 - Shows the Johore Causeway in 1925. It was opened in 1924. The photo was taken from the Johore end of the causeway facing Singapore.

Page 279 - Mentions Phot Kleingrothe, Deli, Sumatera in a caption. My understanding is "Phot Kleingrothe" is Port Keling Roti in Dutch? Is Kleingrothe, keling roti? Were the Indians baking bread in Sumatera? Did it mean the Indians were already selling the Indian bread, roti chanai (roti canai) in Sumatera as they do all over Malaysia today?

Page ? - There is mention of Norddeutscher Lloyd in 1910 which exported tobacco to Europe.

The Malays

2011-11-07T12:11:00.000+08:00

INTRODUCTION

For my book, The Early Malay Doctors (TEMD), the word "Malay" is all encompassing. It includes all Muslims, regardless of ethnic origin. So, "Malay" would mean: a label to include all who eat mainly rice as their staple (nasi putih, nasi biryani) either with their right hand/fork & spoon/chopsticks, or breads as alternative (roti canai, roti jala, murtabak) and sometimes noodles (mi goreng, mi bandung, spaghetti) and wear clothes according to their various cultures and customs, covering most parts of their torso, that go to show modesty rather than revealing clothes. So a Malay may appear very Chinese, very Indian, very Orang Asli, very Mat Salleh, very Black, very Melayu, to the moderate not so Chinese, not so Indian, not so Orang Asli, not so Mat Salleh, not so Black, not so Melayu, to pan-Asian features.

A Malay wedding reception

The JHEOA describes the Orang Asli (Orang Asal) here: Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli

The book by Isabella Bird, "The Golden Chersonese: Travels in Malaya" in 1879 is available online and is hosted by Digital Library at http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/bird/chersonese/chersonese.html#IX.

There is mention of the people who make up the population in Malacca, Penang (Pinang) and Singapore at the time of her visit.

The Malays
She described the Malays as follows: "The people lead strange and uneventful lives. [....] They seclude their women to a great extent, and under ordinary circumstances the slightest courtesy shown by a European man to a Malay woman would be a deadly insult; and at the sight of a man in the distance the women hastily cover their faces.

Singapore Census 1881
For the Singapore census of 1881, the people were grouped as: Europeans and Americans, Eurasians, Chinese, Malays and other natives of the Archipelago, Tamils and other natives of India, and Other nationalities. The Arabs were not categorised with the Malays. Among the Europeans, the Germans were next largest after the British. It mentioned Manilamen instead of Filipinos.

Europeans and Americans     823
Eurasians     930
Chinese     32,194
Malays and other natives of the Archipelago     6,954
Tamils and other natives of India     637
Other nationalities     559

The European resident population, exclusive of the soldiers, is only 1,283. The Europeans comprise 19 nationalities, including the British (largest) and Germans (second largest).

The Chinese population is 86,766; the Malay, 22,114; the Tamil, 10,475; the Javanese, 5,881; and the Eurasian, 3,091.

"Malays and other natives of the Archipelago" included, Achinese, Boyanese, Bugis, Dyaks, Jawi-Pekans, and Manilamen.

"Other nationalities" included Arabs.

Settlement of Malacca Census 1881
The total population of the territory is 93,579 (52,059 males and 41,520 females), an increase in ten years of 15,823. The Chinese population has increased by 6,259 or 46.4 per cent., and the Malays by 11,264, or 19.3 per cent.

European 32 (23 males and 9 females)
Eurasian (mainly of Portuguese mixed blood) 2,213
Chinese 19,741 (4,020 being females)
Malay 67,488 (the females being 2,000 in excess of the males)
Tamils or Klings 1,781
Arabs 227
Aborigines of the Peninsula 308
Javanese 399
Boyanese 212
Jawi-Pekans 867
Other 174 (stray Achinese, Africans, Anamese, Bengalis, Bugis, Dyaks, Manilamen, Siamese, and Singhalese)

Natives of India 42%
Other nationalities 48.9%

The town of Malacca contains 5,538 houses, and the country districts 11,177. The area of the settlement is 640 square miles, and the density of the population 146 to the square mile; only twelve of the population are lunatics.

Penang Census
- there is mention -

Queen's Scholarship

2011-11-05T15:11:00.001+08:00

INTRODUCTION

There are 2 types of scholarships at different times: The Queen's Scholarship and the President's Scholarship.

The Straits Times, 16 November 1948, Page 4
Queen's scholars since 1885.

The Straits Times, 12 July 1980, Page 1
History of the President's scholarship
http://bit.ly/sm0qmE

History of the President's scholarship [Articles]
The Straits Times, 12 July 1980, Page 1
History of the President's scholarship THE Presidents scholarship is today's equivalent of the Queen's and State's scholarships which were stopped in 1965. In 1959, Mr Vong Nyuk Lin, the then Minister for Education, explained that the Queen's scholarships and Queen's Research Fellowships were discontinued in view of the changed constitutional (380 words)
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QUEEN'S SCHOLARS SINCE 1885 [Articles]
The Straits Times, 16 November 1948, Page 4
QUEEN'S SCHOLARS SINCE 1885 A PAPER entitled "Th« Queen's Scholarships of Malaya 1885-1948" written by Dr. Wu Lien Teh and Dr. Ng Tok Ting, was read at a meeting at Raffles College, Singapore, last night by Dr Wu Lien Teh. The President of the Raffles College Union, Mr. 8. Thiruchelvam, (622 words)
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The Queen's Scholars Since 1885 In Malaya [Articles]
The Straits Times, 16 November 1948, Page 6
The Queen's Scholars Since 1885 In Malaya We give m this page today extracts from the paper by Dr. Wu Lien Teh and Dr. Ng Yok Hing on "The Queen's Scholarships of Malaya 1885-1948" which was read by Dr. Wu Lien Teh at a meeting of students of Raffles College (1816 words)
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The Whiz Kids of Yesteryear [Articles]
The Straits Times, 22 May 1977, Page 11
The Whiz Kids of Yesteryear BAILYNE SUNG By ARE THEY MAKING AS GREAT AN IMPACT IN THEIR FIELD OF WORK AS THEY ONCE DID AS STUDENTS? THERE pxlsts ln Singapore a small exclusive group of people who are the Al scorers, the star performers In national examinations. They are the (1198 words)
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Are our most brilliant mem selected for training'? [Articles + Illustrations]
The Straits Times, 9 October 1956, Page 6
Are our most brilliant mem selected for training Are mrholmruhip* being awarded f the tmomt U&muU* mm! de«erW»g> The t>— deney, umjm the •■thor ot thin article. has been to confine scholarship* and fellowships to a small circle of lucky Government servants and university graduates. The result is that promiwing (1105 words)
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Dr. Lim Boon Keng. [Articles]
The Straits Times, 5 October 1921, Page 9
Dr. Lim Boon Keng. Cordial Tributes in Legislative Council. j Tributes to (he work of Dr. Lim Boon Keng, O. B. E., who has left the colony and resigned from the Legislative Council 'on taking up the presidency of the Amoy University, were made at the meeting of the Legislative (1059 words)
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RAFFLES INSTITUTION [Articles]
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 23 December 1886, Page 5
RAFFLES INSTITUTION THE distribution of the prizes took place on Tuesday afternoon, Lady Weld and Miss Weld, the Hon'ble J. F. Dickson, the lion'ble Mr. and Mrs. Shelford, Archdeacon Meredith, the Rev. V. H. Gomes, B. I)., and many others being present. In the Boys School, the Principal commenced the (2912 words)
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A CENTURY OF EDUCATION IN SINGAPORE [Articles + Illustrations]
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 8 October 1935, Page 16
A CENTURY OF EDUCATION IN SINGAPORE H. R. CHEESEMAN BY Raffles The Pioneer Institution, Girls' School And College The Nucleus Of A University? ENGLISH, CHINESE, INDIAN AND MALAY EDUCATION (Inspector of Schools, Singapore and Labuan.) AS far as can be ascertained 100 years ago there existed m Singapore a number (2967 words)
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Colony Education From The Days Of Raffles. [Articles]
The Straits Times, 21 October 1932, Page 16
Colony Education From The Days Of Raffles. ADVANTAGES REALISED BY ALL COMMUNITIES. The Nucleus Of A Future University. It will come as a surprise to many *o learn how deeply rooted is the educational system of the Colony but in a most interesting preface to the report on education in (8623 words)
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Untitled [Articles + Illustrations]
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 8 October 1935, Page 6
may have or that may be established through head offices at home). Much remains unsaid concerning the early European pioneers, but we must go on, however great a part they have played and however likable and brave and enterprising they prere. Chinese Pioneers. Equally important and immeasurably richer m detail (13257 words)
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Singlish

2011-11-05T01:12:00.001+08:00

INTRODUCTION

I have had to interview many people for my book, The Early Malay Doctors (TEMD). I was curious as to whether to conduct interviews in English or Malay. Considering Malaysians speak both Malay and English, I was prepared for both languages.

Singapore was a totally different experience, quite unexpected. I have only had exposure to 3 Singaporeans and got 3 very contrasting language experiences. The first experience was with my Singapore neighbours - we spoke English to arwah Pakcik Hassan and KL Malay to Makcik Salmah, and English+KL Malay to their daughter, Rahila. From that experience I gathered Singaporeans are ok and language didn't bother me at all. The second exposure was when Ashikin came to my university to demo EBSCO databases at a workshop held in the library. This time I could sense a different form of English and I wondered whether it was just Ashikin or the community she worked in etc. I came out from her workshop dazed by a new form of English, a new sound of English. The third exposure was when I actually talked to a Singapore-born male. It was at this third encounter that I became fully aware that Singaporeans do not speak the international form of English but a different English that reflects Chinese lingo in their talk or speech pattern. I never fully understood what the word Singlish meant till the third exposure. Singlish is a strange form of English - it is fast-paced, with clear diction, English words but the intonation is definitely Chinese! I am amazed that Singlish exists and I never knew!

Singlish is English spoken by Singaporeans, which sounds Chinese but is nevertheless, English. It is a distinct form of English and only Singaporeans speak this form of English, regardless of race. Malaysians cannot speak Singlish however hard they fake it. If you close your eyes and just listen to a local-born Singaporean speak English, that's Singlish - like Phua Chu Kang's spoken English. It is very different from British English, American English, Australian English and Malaysian English. A better name for it is Chinese English. The speaker may not be aware but outsiders can tell if it's English or Singlish. Now, I too can tell the difference.

http://www.singlishdictionary.com/
P-words: http://www.singlishdictionary.com/singlish_P.htm

Medical History of Kelantan 1900-1957

2011-11-04T01:58:00.000+08:00

INTRODUCTION

It seems that from reading many history pages, travelling to many places in Kelantan, and after much asking around, that there is much we do not know about Malay history. There were so many sultanates and families that it leaves the impression, the Malay peninsula had so many fractal kingdoms, some limited by hills, sandy beaches and rivers. The names of many places have a history and some have links to the sultans or sultanates. There are still Malay people who have name prefixes that indicate their royal descent. The problem now is there are so many and there is no effort to computerise and present all these ancient kingdoms and sultanates as a multimedia production of some means where they can become useful learning objects for schools, universities and further research. Alongside sultanates and kingdoms, there are people and staff who were hired for work by rank. Ranks and files change with times and after treaties were signed. Keeping track of one hierarchy is fine but when there are so many kingdoms and each is managed separately, I think the administrative systems used in the past were complex and we will need computers to help map them properly. I would like to pull your attention to Dato Perdana. I wrote about Dato Perdana in an earlier post. Why I have chosen Dato Perdana is because I have a photo which I downloaded from a family in Genie.com. The family members identified only 3 men in the photograph but I can identify most people in the first row, just based on my TEMD research that I have done so far.

Eight early Malay doctors have connections with Kelantan. They are, Dr Ali Othman Merican, Dr Abdul Wahab bin Muhammad Lal Khan, Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos, Dr Abdul Wahab bin Mohd Ariff, Dr Abdul Aziz bin Omar, Dr Ezanee Merican, Dr Mohamed bin Taib (dentist) and Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin bin Raja Shahbuddin. Some worked as royal physicians.

This post highlights the Sultans, Dato' Perdana and his descendants who were instrumental for our Merdeka, and Dr Abdul Aziz bin Omar.

KESULTANAN KELANTAN
Raja and Sultans of Kelantan (names, style, reign)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_of_Kelantan

The Kelantan sultans are derived from the Terengganu prince, and from the Bugis Malay lineage.

A Raja assumes the Sultan title when he ascends to the Kelantan throne. The Raja name is no longer used once a Raja becomes a Sultan; the sultan's name remains for life. Another name replaces his sultan name when he dies - usually name of a place where he died or a description of how he died. All sultans and their families are buried at royal cemeteries, separate from the common folks.

Makam DiRaja di Langgar, Kota Bharu, Kelantan
http://artmelayu.blogspot.com/2011/07/makam-sultan-sultan-kelantan-abad-ke-19.html

Makam DiRaja Langgar, Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Many of the Kelantan Sultans are buried here. Dr Ali Othman Merican and his wife are buried here. The royal graves are quite close to Billion Shopping Centre & Renaissance Hotel Kota Bharu.

DATO' DR ABDUL AZIZ BIN OMAR
These 3 biographies were obtained from 3 different volumes of The Who's Who.

Dr Abdul Aziz bin Omar's biography in The Who's Who 1963: 30 has no pic

Dr Abdul Aziz bin Omar's biography in The Who's Who 1965 (his first published portrait)

Dr Abdul Aziz bin Omar's biography in The Who's Who in 1971-1972 (his second published portrait)

He was born in 1919 and grew up in Penang. He studied at the Chowrasta Malay School in Hutton Lane (now renamed to Jalan Hatin) in George Town. He then studied at Penang Free School in Green Lane (now Jalan Masjid Negeri) and passed Senior Cambridge. He went on to read Medicine at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. He returned to Malaya but went to work in Kelantan. His close friend in Kelantan was Dr Ezanee Merican. Dr Ezanee Merican operated Merican Dispensary in front of Pasar Besar Kota Bharu (demolished in June-July 2011) while Dr Abdul Aziz operated Aziz Dispensary in front of the Kota Bharu bus station.They were probably good friends as when I went to interview the relatives of Dato' Dr Haji Abdul Aziz in Jalan Pintu Pong, they were asking about Dr Ezanee Merican and his wife. Dr Abdul Aziz married Wan Sharifah Ash'aari and they have 6 children.

CHOWRASTA MARKET, GEORGE TOWN

Penang's landmarks - Pasar Chowrasta (brown building at left) and KOMTAR (Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak) (tower), Georgetown, Penang.

Chowrasta is an Indian/Sanskrit word for a crossroad (4-junction). There is a big old brick market block that has a 4-junction on the right and a 5-junction on the left (near KOMTAR side). Pasar Chowrasta (Chowrasta market) is in Penang Road (Jalan Penang).

SEKOLAH MELAYU CHOWRASTA / SEKOLAH KEBANGSAAN SRI TANJONG, GEORGETOWN, PENANG
The school was at a previous spot (between Transfer Road and Phee Choon Road) which now houses the Penang Police Contingent. I have not seen the police venue after 2 visits to George Town. KOMTAR is in Penang Road (now renamed to Jalan Penang). Jalan Hatin opens into Jalan Penang. The Chowrasta Malay School has been renamed to Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Tanjong. The big double/triple story old Malay-styled school is painted beige with a blue roof. From a distance it looks like an unused godown.

Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Tanjong, Jalan Hutton, Georgetown, Penang

MENTERI BESAR KELANTAN (MB Kelantan)
http://newpaces.com/forum/topic/837

There are altogether 17 MB Kelantan. MB used to be called Dato' Perdana Menteri. When Malaya gained Independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj became the first Prime Minister. He was photographed (I think) in Kelantan around that time.

Group photo with Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Dr Abdul Aziz bin Omar and his 2 male siblings, all seated. The date for this photograph is not stated. I worked it out to be a round 1965, based on 2 things - Tunku as first PM and the photo of Dr Abdul Aziz here matches his photo in The Who's Who 1965. So I have chosen to mark this photo as a 1965 production. The family did not identify who's who in the photo but I have managed to identify 5 of 7 men who are seated.

If you take a close look at the man seated beside Tunku, the face looks familiar but I don't know who he is. I think he also appears in another photo I found on the Internet. I had contacted Muzium Kelantan very early on in this research and Muzium Kelantan staff mentioned a name to me. They had asked me whether I knew Nik Ahmad Kamil (or similar name) and I replied no. They went on to describe his role (importance) in Kelantan. I listened but I didn't know where to fit the information I had received from Muzium Kelantan. After meeting with Muzium Kelantan, I came across Nik Ahmad Kamil's name (or similar) many times. I thought to myself, maybe this is an important person after all.

NIK AHMAD KAMIL

I think he authored a lot of books about Kelantan

Though I'm not sure of his name, I gather he is an important person in Kelantan history. I can take the photo above and go directly to Muzium Kelantan to ask and quickly get help with identification of the men in the photo. Tonight, I came across a student's MSc thesis on Menteri Besar Kelantan. I read through the online executive summary. It mentioned Dato' Perdana.

The man in baju Melayu in this photo (3rd from left) could be the same man in the previous group photo that has Dr Abdul Aziz and Tunku Abdul Rahman. How do I find out if they are the same man or different men?

DATO' NIK MAHMUD BIN NIK ISMAIL
http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nik_Mahmud_bin_Nik_Ismail

Dato' Nik Mahmud Bin Nik Ismail merupakan seorang pembesar Negeri Kelantan yang mashor. Belau telah dilantik sebagai Menteri Besar Kelantan pada masa Sultan Ibrahim. Beliau adalah satu-satunya yang telah dianugerahkan darjah kebesaran negeri iaitu Dato' Perdana Menteri.

DATO' PERDANA

Dato' Perdana

Who was Dato' Perdana? He was one of the earliest Perdana Menteri in Kelantan. Kelantan abolished the Perdana Menteri title and replaced it with Menteri Besar. Dato' Perdana was the first Menteri Besar of Kelantan. Dato' Perdana was taught Islam by his father. He became a knowledgeable man on Islam as he had studied in Makkah. He then worked at Istana Balai Besar.


Istana Balai Besar, Kota Bharu, Kelantan What is interesting is Dato' Perdana died all of a sudden. It was suspected that black magic (sihir) was used to kill him mysteriously. Dato' Perdana died a mysterious death. There were a lot of speculations about how Dato' Perdana died. Dato' Perdana was buried at Kubur Banggol in a big graveyard, across from the grave plot belonging to Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz bin Omar. How did I come to know of Dato' Perdana's grave? The person who guided us to the grave of Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz pointed out Dato' Perdana's grave and asked my husband and I whether we knew who he was. We said no. The graveyard guide (Raja Sulaiman) told us about Dato' Perdana and pointed to his grave. Kubur Dato' Perdana is across the road from the family graves of Dato' Hj Ab Aziz bin Omar. Dato' Perdana is sohor (well-known). He is the people of Nik Ahmad Kamil Nik Mahmood.- from Raja Sulaiman

Dato' Perdana's grave and the graveyard of his clan at Kubor Banggol, Kg Banggol, Mukim Banggol, Kelantan

SHEIKH ABDULLAH YAHYA FATHANI

I don't know who he was but his grave lies within that of Dr Abdul Aziz's plot. Either Dr Abdul Aziz was buried in Sheikh Abdullah's plot or Dr Abdul Aziz bought over the plot for his family. I know that one of the Fathani ulama' was a teacher to Dato' Perdana in Makkah.

Sheikh Abdullah's grave and his wife's grave in Dr Abdul Aziz's burial plot

Professor Rahmatullah Khan

2011-11-03T12:37:00.000+08:00

INTRODUCTION

My husband and I have known Prof Rahmatullah Khan since 1982-3 when we first worked at the USM Medical School in Penang. We were also with his family in Adelaide in 1985-6. We met again at USM Medical School in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan in 1990s.

PROFESSOR RAHMATULLAH KHAN BIN ABDUL WAHAB KHAN

Professor Rahmatullah Khan, KMN

Professor Rahmatullah Khan is called Rahmat by his colleagues or Prof Rahmat by his students.

Prof Rahmatullah was born in Bangkok, Thailand and grew up in Malaysia. He speaks many languages including Malay, English, and Thai, and is a talented orator. He is a progressive Muslim leader locally as well as overseas.

Prof Rahmatullah graduated from the USA in the early 1980s. He is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).

Professor Rahmatullah Khan is the youngest son of Dr Abdul Wahab Khan bin Muhammad Lal Khan (c1898-1956), an early Malay doctor who served in the northern states of Malaya (Perlis, Kelantan) and Siam (now Thailand). Dr Abdul Wahab Khan was a famous eye doctor (ophthalmologist) who also treated a past Sultan Kelantan.

Professor Rahmatullah Khan was recently awarded the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) federal award in Kuala Lumpur, by the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, in conjunction with the birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (The Star, 8 June 2011). The award ceremony was held at Istana Melawati on 30 September 2011.

He is married to Prof Yasmin Anum and they have 2 successful children - Omar and Iman.

Prof Yasmin Anum bt Mohd Yusof hails from Perak. She graduated from the USA. She is a lecturer and a Professor of Biochemistry with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Omar Khan completed his secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Dato Ahmad Maher in Kota Bharu and attended Kolej Matrikulasi Yayasan Saad. He then completed his BSc (Electrical Engineering) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois in 2005. After working as an Electrical Engineer for some years he now is a music composer and producer using the name Omar K.

Nuur Iman went to the same school as Omar but after the SPM joined the Matriculation Centre at IIUM. After Matriculation at IIUM and after 18 months in the Kulliyah of Science at IIUM she transferred to Murdoch University to complete a BSc in Biomedical Science. Upon returning to Malaysia she enrolled in Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences to do Medicine (in final semester in 2011).

The Star, Wednesday, 8 June 2011
YANG DI-PERTUAN AGONG’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST 2011
http://bit.ly/s6SU1U
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/6/8/north/8855659&sec=north

KL Landmarks

2011-11-02T16:20:00.002+08:00

INTRODUCTION

Kuala Lumpur (KL) was established in 1857. It attained city status in 1972. Tan Sri Yaacob Latiff was the 2nd Mayor of KL. Mayor is Datuk Bandar. KL became a federal territory in 1974. Dato' Ahmad Fuad Ismail is the present Mayor of KL (14 Dec 2008-now).

Kuala Lumpur
http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur

http://g.co/maps/pgnkg
http://www.dromoz.com/directory/place/?id=20&p=kuala+lumpur

Map of KL Federal Territory from Dromoz

Sultan Sulaiman Sports Club
Kelab Sukan Sultan Sulaiman
Kampung Baru, Selangor

Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad & Masjid Jamek
http://g.co/maps/ah2e3

Merdeka Square & Royal Selangor Club
http://g.co/maps/9sn6f

St Mary's Church/Cathedral KL
http://g.co/maps/8kvyh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mary%27s_Cathedral,_Kuala_Lumpur

Masjid Negara
http://g.co/maps/ahh7z

KTMB, KTM Komuter & Arkib Negara Malaysia
http://g.co/maps/eugws

Stadium Merdeka, Stadium Negara & Victoria Institution
http://g.co/maps/av5uw

Istana Negara
http://g.co/maps/9eu2d

Health Institute
http://g.co/maps/3m4d4

National Museum & Bukit Persekutuan
http://g.co/maps/y2zv8

Dr Abbas bin Haji Alias

2011-11-02T01:01:00.000+08:00

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. He obtained a Diploma in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from London, and a Diploma in Public Health Administration from Canada. 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.

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).

Dr Siti Fathimah bt Datuk Dr Haji Abbas
Dr Abbas' daughter followed his footsteps and became a doctor. Dr Siti Fathimah bt Datuk Dr Haji Abbas was a Senior Consultant Radiologist with the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, General Hospital Melaka. She is now retired. She was conferred the Johan Setia Mahkota (JSM) federal award in 2008.

Kesultanan Pahang

2011-11-01T23:16:00.000+08:00

Sultan Pahang, Sir Abu Bakar conferring ? to Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos, circa mid-1950s to 1958/9. Dr Che Lah was the royal physician to Sultan Sir Abu Bakar. This photo still hangs in his living-room.

Sultan Pahang's Family Tree:
Source: http://hazis.wordpress.com/salasilah-sultan-pahang/

Tun Sri Lanang (G8)

2011-11-01T22:55:00.000+08:00

I met Hjh Pocut Haslinda while in Madinah in July 2010. She is a writer and relative of the Pahang Sultanate. She is the 8th generation of Tun Sri Lanang.

Hjh Pocut Haslinda Syahrul MD
ialah waris ke-8 Tun Sri Lanang. Beliau menulis buku keturunan Tun Sri Lanang.

Please contact Hjh Pocut Haslinda at:
Jl. Tirtayasa Raya No. 49
Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta Selatan 12160
Indonesia
Tel: (012) 723 7252 - 7236061
Fax: (021) 725 8879
H/P: 0816 1842 121
0813 1936 1177

From Facebook:

Sharifah Yasin: Interesting, teringat Perpustakaan Tun Seri Lanang, UKM.

Faridah Abdul Rashid: Maybe the UKM Library has some history on Tun Sri Lanang

Malacca Hospitals (1511-2011)

2011-11-01T18:33:00.000+08:00

Source: Lipatan Sejarah, Hospital Besar Melaka

Malacca hospitals existed at 3 locations since 1511.

PORTUGUESE HOSPITALS
There were 2 hospitals within the walls of fortaleza or A'Famosa (Kota Melaka) during the Portuguese era (1511-1641) - Hospital Del Rey (Hospital Diraja) and Hospital De Porres (Hospital Orang Miskin).

DUTCH HOSPITAL
None is known to date.

BRITISH HOSPITALS
(i) Durian Daun
The British had built another hospital in Durian Daun in 1884, Hospital Durian Daun, which became the Japanese army camp during the Japanese Occupation (1941-1945). It then became Maktab Perguruan Perempuan Melayu Melaka after the war.

Maktab Perguruan Perempuan Melayu, Durian Daun, Melaka; circa 1972-1975. Photo by Abdul Rashid bin Mohd Yusope (deceased in 2009). The long wooden buildings on stilts were the old hospital wards. These buildings were not in use when my family lived nearby, across the field (1972-5). I only lived here for 2 years (1972-3) before I went to Tunku Kurshiah College. I had gone to see the interior of one of the long buildings (in the middle of this photo), and it was empty - just an empty wooden floor, bare interior. The wooden buildings looked dilapidated and the windows were left shut, the grounds uninteresting, deserted, and a bit scary (tempat lama tak bertuan, seram sikit). The last I heard the buildings will be demolished.

(ii) Bukit Palah
The British built another hospital at Bukit Palah in 1934, Hospital Bukit Palah, which became Hospital Besar Melaka today.

JAPANESE OCCUPATION
The King Edward VII Medical College in Singapore had closed down during the war. The Japanese took over the medical school and opened a Japanese medical college in Hospital Bukit Palah/Hospital Besar Melaka. That closed down at the end of the war, and the Singapore medical school reopened after the war. Among the early Malay doctors who attended the KE VII Medical College in Melaka included Tan Sri Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin.

Postcard of Hospital Besar Melaka

Address 1:
Hospital Besar Melaka
Jalan Mufti Haji Khalil
75400 Melaka

Tel: 06-282 2344 / 06-281 9000
Fax: 06-284 1590
Websites:
http://hmelaka.moh.gov.my/malay/
Superpages: Hospital Besar Melaka
Facebook: Hospital Besar Melaka
Wikipedia: Malacca General Hospital

Address 2:

Che Sukri bin Che Mat

Timbalan Pengarah (Pengurusan)

BahagianPengurusan

Hospital Melaka

Jalan Mufti Haji Khalil

75400 Melaka.

Tel: 06-289-2002

Fax: 06-281-3240

E-mail: che_sukri@mlk.moh.gov.my

Doctors in the East

2011-10-29T21:18:00.004+08:00

Source:
Ho Tak Ming. 2001. Doctors in the East. Where West meets East. Pelanduk Publications, Selangor, Malaysia. www.pelanduk.com. ISBN 967-978-770-2 [USM call number WZ56 H678 2001]

My review:
The book has 12 chapters. Chapters 1-9 give the historical accounts of the Chinese doctors in China and the coming of Western Medicine. Chapters 10-12 are interesting, and quite amusing too, especially that bit that touches on the Taoist belief in ching and how to keep it within (for males only), and thus remain forever young. Opium is discussed in great detail with a mention that the Arabs had brought opium to China for medical purposes but the Chinese took to its addiction. The last chapter discusses Cheng Ho and Sa Poh Kung in Nanyang. Nanyang refers to Southeast Asia or Nusantara. Also discusses Baba (but not Nyonya) status and their anglophile behaviour and preferences, compared to their sinkehs counterparts who were very Chinese. It also discusses Chinese travel beyond Nanyang, Chinese diaspora, and the Chinese Emperor's ruling not to allow Chinese emigration. The Chinese preferred to stay in China but they were taken to Malaya by the British to work in the tin mines. Places mentioned include Kwangtung and Marco Polo's Zayton or Canton. The history of the FMS Medical School and its initial funding are discussed. Important doctors in Chinese medical history are Dr Sun Yat Sen and Dr Wu Lien-Teh. Dr Wu Lien-Teh was born in Penang but fought the plague in China - he had researched at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur.

This book provides a lot of insights into Chinese medicine in Asia and Southeast Asia. It helps explain some of the gaps in our medical history and links great nations - Malaysia, Singapore, China and Hong Kong.

A plus point of this English book is its use of French, Chinese and Malay words. It has a lot of beautiful poems.

5 early Malay doctors (1999)

2011-10-29T17:59:00.000+08:00

Source:
Universiti Malaya. 1999. Profil Tokoh-tokoh Gemilang Universiti Malaya. Kuala Lumpur. ISSN 0126-7949 [USM call number M LG396 P964 1999]

This book contains the biographies of these early Malay doctors:

Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed - page 11
Abdul Majid Ismail - page 19
Salma Ismail - page 87
Siti Hasmah Hj. Mohd. Ali - page 91
Ungku Omar Ungku Ahmad - page 106

Ismail Ballah (c1843-1928)

2011-10-29T11:43:00.001+08:00

This story reached my ears and I will share with you the sad story of a lovely man in our history.

ISMAIL BALLAH

There is one interesting man in our history and that is Ismail Ballah.

History has it that in British India, somehwhere in northern India, near the Himalayan region, coincidentally at a place named Ballah, lived a man whose Indian name is unknown. We don't know where he lived in India.

You can Google "Ballah" in Google Map and see where that leads you to. It leads to 2 things - Lake Ballah by River Nile in Egypt, and a place in northern India.

As a young intelligent male, Ismail had worked in India, maybe as a judge. In one case, he had presided over a case and found the offender guilty. However, the British did not agree with with verdict and wrongfully captured him (without trial). Poor Ismail, he did not commit a sin, he was just doing his job.

The British brought the young Ismail, along with a host of Indian "convicts" to Singapore via Malaya. They were brought in chains (this is sheer slavery of the worst kind - the other was when Black Africans were brought in chains to North America).

Ismail worked in Singapore, doing hard labour, making roads along with the other captured persons. The time he arrived in Singapore is unknown but could have been when he was a young adult. There are photos in many hardcover books about Singapore that show pictures of these Indian labourers at work. They wear only white loin cloth and work hard under the hot sun, paving our roads.

Ismail was eventually freed and became a free man. It is not known where he went but it is most likely that he went to live in the mosque in Singapore. Which mosque? There is one small mosque which had been demolished - it could have been that mosque. I don't know the name of the mosque that was demolished.

GERMAN EMBASSY IN SINGAPORE

In 1892, the German Embassy was opened in Singapore.

Ismail Ballah was almost 49 years old when he started working for the German Embassy in Singapore when it opened in 1892.

Ismail Ballah worked as an archiver (kept records; menyimpan rekod) at the German Embassy in Singapore.

What type of records did he look after? The records could have possibly included pre-WWI records, WWI records (1917-1918) and post-WWI records - when Germany wanted to dominate Europe under the German Kultur (equivalent to ethnic cleansing); shipping/navigation records; hospital records; and trading records.

Ismail Ballah died in service. He died while still serving as archiver in the German Embassy. Such was his dedication to work. He died on 24 July 1928 at age 85. The newspaper reported his death and mentioned him as an Arab and that he was a staunch Islamist - "WELL-KNOWN ARAB'S DEATH" (The Straits Times, 25 July 1928, Page 10). His home was at Roberts Road.

Unanswered questions about Ismail Ballah

Where did Ismail Ballah go after he was freed by the British in Singapore? Did he work in Singapore or did he go home to India? Did he work overseas and then return to Singapore?
Did he ever work for the construction of the Suez Canal which was around 1850s or nearby Lake Ballah in Egypt?
Where did he practise Islam where he became a staunch Islamist, and was respected by the Muslim (Arab) community in Singapore?
When did he marry? Whom did he marry? Are there photos of his marriage?
His first child (son, Dr Mohamed Ibrahim) was born on 8 September 1892, at the same time the German Embassy opened and Ismail Ballah started work with the Embassy.
His son (Dr Mohamed Ibrahim) married Hamidah Shaik Baboo. Could Ismail Ballah come to know of Shaik Baboo's family when he worked at the Suez Canal? Could he have worked with other labourers from Turkey?
At the time of his death, he had lived at Roberts Road. What is the nearest mosque to his home?
How did he travel to work? How far did he travel to work? Where did he have his meals? Where did he pray while at work? Did he work 9-5?

The German Consul-General in Singapore

1. Who was the first German Consul-General in Singapore?
2. Was Herr Otto Weber the second German Consul-General in Singapore?

Herr Otto Weber

Herr Otto Weber was the German Consul-General in Singapore form 15 February 1926 to 1929. His wife is Frau Weber. They are known to us as Mr Otto Weber and Mrs Weber. Mrs Weber was formerly Countess Stalberg of Austria. The couple have 4 children.

Herr Otto Weber is Mr Otto Weber or Dr Otto Weber in different accounts.

Herr Otto Weber has an interesting history. He helped founded the Deutsche Gesellschaft of Berlin, a German club, and became its first Chairman. Herr Otto Weber was involved in the Great War (WWI) and was wounded. He worked in Russia and Batavia (now Jakarta in Indonesia) before coming to Singapore in 1926.

In Singapore Herr Otto Weber had a Renault car and a driver. His car was involved in road accident near a bridge at Orchard Road on 2 November 1928 (after Ismail Ballah died). His car had hit a 9-year old Chinese girl who fell in between the 2 front tyres and suffered a fractured base of the skull. She died. The case was heard in court on 14 November 1928 with the coroner's report. The verdict was a case of misadventure.

Herr Otto Weber completed his job in as German Consul-General in Singapore in 1929 and returned to Germany. He died in Berlin at age 47 (he died as a result of the wounds he suffered from the war).

TO BE CONTINUED ...

Dr Mustapa bin Osman

2011-10-27T01:30:00.001+08:00

INTRODUCTION

(Dr) Mustapha bin Osman was born in Kedah in 1900.

He studied at Penang Free School in Georgetown, Penang.[1][2] This was the initial site before the school moved to a new site in Green Lane (now Jalan Masjid Negeri). The old school was renamed Hutchings School which became Penang Museum today. A new Hutchings School was built nearby to the Penang Museum.

Penang Free School was first opened in Georgetown in 1816

The new Hutchings School near the Penang Museum in Georgetown.

Penang Free School in Green Lane was opened in 1925

He wanted to study Law in England but World War I (WWI) made it impractical and dangerous. The State Government of Kedah sent him to further his education in Hong Kong instead.

It is not known at the time of this writing, how he travelled to Hong Kong, but a few routes are possible:

(i) By ship which plied the South China Sea between Tanah Melayu and the Chinese lands. He probably left from either Penang/Kedah port, Port Swettenham/Port Kelang (now Port Klang) or Keppel Harbour in Singapore.

(ii) He probably took the overland route from Penang to Kedah and onward into Thailand, across to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and finally to Hong Kong.

(iii) He could have taken the train from Penang/Kedah to Thailand, then gone further down to Kelantan, and left for Hong Kong from Kota Bharu since there were steamers plying Sungai Kelantan.

It is not known how long each journey/route took, be it by ship or overland route.

Mustapha entered the University of Hong Kong [3] in 1917 to study medicine. Dr Mustapha Osman graduated seven years later in 1924, prior to the Canton-Hong Kong strike of 1925-26.

--
Footnotes

[1] The idea of a school in Penang for local residents was borne by Reverend Sparke Hutchings of the St George's Anglican Church. The proposal for Penang Free School (PFS) was submitted to the Governor of the Prince of Wales Island (now Penang) in 1815. There are two premises for PFS – a previous one in Georgetown and another which is still in use in Green Lane. The PFS was first set up at a premise in Georgetown on 21 October 1816, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the demise of Captain Sir Francis Light. When the initial PFS became overcrowded, a new PFS was needed. A 30-acre site in Green Lane (now Jalan Masjid Negeri) was made the new premise for the second PFS. Construction of the new PFS began in 1924 and was completed in 1925. The second PFS in Green Lane was opened on 9 January 1925 by Ralph Scott, Resident Councillor of Penang. When the second PFS was built, the initial PFS was renamed to Hutchings School after its founder. A part of the Hutchings School building was bombed during the Second World War. The remaining Hutchings School building houses the Penang State Museum today.

[2] The term free does not mean without school fees. The term free here means it is open to all locals.

[3] Established in 1911 from the former Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, founded by the London Missionary Society in 1887, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong was the only faculty that was open. In December 1916, the University of Hong Kong held its first congregation, with 23 graduates and 5 honorary graduates. – Wikipedia, University of Hong Kong. Accessed on 13 October 2010.

---

He became the first Malay Pathologist when he obtained his postgraduate diploma in 1925. He became the first Malay Professor of Pathology when he obtained his MD degree in 1930.

He was already working in Kedah when the Japanese attacked Penang island and Kedah. The Japanese attacked Kedah at Singgora on 8 December 1941.

Associate Professor Dr Mohd Isa Othman’s publication (translation by Haji Hashim bin Samin), The Second World War and the Japanese Invasion of Kedah had mentioned Dr Mustapha Osman along with his brother, Sheriff Osman, as they became part of the Japanese Administration in Kedah.

Of the administrative bureaus during the Japanese Occupation, Tunku Badlishah headed the Shumuin (Religion) Bureau while Syed Alwi was Assistant and Syed Shariff Osman was Secretary.

Professor Dr Mustapha bin Osman (Pathologist & Head of Shumuin Bureau

[Need a portrait of Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh] (Assistant of Shumuin Bureau)

Haji Mohammad Sheriff bin Awang Osman/En Shariff Osman (Secretary of Shumuin Bureau)

Another bureau, Somu-bu (Public Administration) had six subdivisions - Kanbo (Judicial Secretariat), Shomuka (Public Affairs), Kanri-ka (Administration), Bunkyo-ka (Education), Shiho-ka (Judiciary) and Konsei-ka (Welfare). These bureau was headed by Nakagawa Yamakami and seven Japanese officials along with En Shariff Osman, Momose, Ismail Marican, and Dr Mustapha Osman.” - Associate Professor Dr Mohd Isa Othman (translation by Haji Hashim bin Samin), The Second World War and the Japanese Invasion of Kedah, page 3. Accessed at Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Kedah website http://mykedah2.com/e_10heritage/e103_3_p3.htm. Retrieved 4 April 2011

The Japanese Military Administration appointed him as the Surgeon General[4] during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya (1941-5).

--
Footnote

[4] The Surgeon General is an old term for the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO).

He was bestowed the Honorary Doctorate of Laws (HonLLD) by the University of Hong Kong in 1961. At the award ceremony in 1961, his background and achievements were mentioned as follows:

“Dr. Osman is one of our distinguished Malayan graduates. Born at the turn of the century in Penang, he entered the University in 1917, and obtained his medical degree seven years later. For one, whose forebears, a generation removed, engaged in piracy in the Strait of Malacca, it was inevitable, perhaps, that he should prove to be a bold and fearless undergraduate whose passage was marked by a certain degree of turbulence. […] Of this honorary graduand, Your Excellency, one of our professors years ago once exclaimed in despair, "Osman, why don't you go back to Malaya and plant paddy?" He went back to do far more than that, and it is with pride and affection that we have invited him here today to receive an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws.” – Honorary Degrees Congregation, University of Hong Kong, 1961. http://www3.hku.hk/hongrads/index.php/archive/graduate_detail/105. Accessed on 4 April 2011.

The University of Hong Kong had published a book, Growing with Hong Kong (2002) which mentioned him as follows:

“Many medical graduates returned to Malaya. Chinese doctors found it difficult to secure government appointments and most went into private practice in Penang, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. They enjoyed certain advantages over locally trained doctors who held licentiates rather than degrees, but positive discrimination in favour of Malays kept most Chinese doctors out of senior positions. Mustapha bin Osman (MBBS 1924, MD 1930, HonLLD 1961) was one of the few non-Chinese medical graduates from Malaya. After graduation he worked as assistant to the professor of pathology before taking up the post of Government Pathologist in Kedah state in 1930. He became Chief Medical Officer of Kedah in 1949, a member of the Federal Legislative Council of Malaya, and a member of the Council of State and Executive Council of Kedah state.”(Growing with Hong Kong 2002:50).

Dr Mustapha was the sibling of Mohd Shariff bin Osman (former Chief Minister of Kedah), Datuk Shuib Awang bin Osman (former Secretary of Kedah State Government [5]) and Tan Sri Khalid Awang bin Osman (Malaysian Ambassador to Egypt).

Dr Mustapha passed away in Penang in 1975.

--
Footnote
[5] Mantan SUK Kedah. SUK = Setiausaha Kerajaan.

--

Interview

I visited Prof Syed Mohsin at home on Sunday, 23 October 2011. We were talking about Boon Siew and Honda when our conversation suddenly moved to "Dr Mustapha bin Osman". I informed Prof Syed Mohsin that I was looking for someone who would know what happened to Dr Mustapha as I needed his biography/story for TEMD. Prof Syed Mohsin had this to say (refer to my post on Arabs in Penang:
http://theearlymalaydoctors.blogspot.com/2011/10/arabs-in-penang.html):

Syed Omar
Syed Omar is retired, receives pension and lives in Kuala Lumpur. He was the former Accountant-General. He married the younger sister of Syed Razak, former Menteri Besar Kedah (ex-MB Kedah).

Syed Razak
Syed Razak is related to Dr Mustapha bin Osman, an early Malay doctor (TEMD). His younger sister married to Syed Omar.

Another discussion, another lead ...
I talked to my husband to ask where else I should look for information on Dr Mustapha bin Osman. My husband said to try and ask USM doctors who are from Kedah. They may have heard of him or know about him. He gave me 2 names - Professor Zulkifli Ahmad (Community Medicine/DY Dean Dental R&D) and Dr Zainol _____ (former hospital director, General Hospital Alor Setar).

I calculated our USM doctors to be roughly my age, and born circa 1955. In 1955, Dr Mustapha would be 55, i.e., retirement age. When he retired he worked as a pathologist in Penang. So I need to know which of our USM doctors worked in Alor Setar (General Hospital Alor Setar) or Penang (General Hospital Penang) prior to 1955. Dr Che Lah (born 1904) would still be working in Pahang (his last place of work and only retired to Penang in 1959). My colleagues would be just be about to enter early school - they wouldn't know him. My colleagues completed their medical studies locally/overseas circa 1980 before they did housemanship locally; Dr Mustapha had died in 1975. So my colleagues too would not know about Dr Mustapha.

Next search ...
I have to ask someone a lot older than myself and my colleagues. I will need to ask someone who was born in the 1940s and who had met him or knew him, either in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Kedah or Penang. Someone born in the early 1940s would be in their early 70s in 2011. Where do I find them to ask them about Dr Mustapha bin Osman?

TO BE CONTINUED ...

Sir KM Ariff

2011-10-25T00:40:00.002+08:00

(Dr Kamil Mohamed Ariff bin Kadir Mastan)

INTRODUCTION

George Town was the city centre in Penang. Only one early Malay doctor operated a clinic in the city centre. He was Dr Kamil Ariff who practised privately at his own clinic, The Dispensary, in Hutton Lane.

Sir KM Ariff
Dr Kamil Mohamed Ariff commenced private practice in Penang in 1918 (Fisher 1925: 32). His clinic was The New Dispensary, located in No. 1a, Hutton Lane, Penang, Straits Settlement. Dr Kamil Mohamed Ariff retired from the government medical service in 1948, 3 years after the Japanese war ended. Sir Dr KM Ariff’s residence was in 180 Burmah Road, Penang. The place is now a high-density housing area (high-rise flats, apartments or condominium).

Hutton Lane (now Jalan Hatin)
Hutton Lane (now Jalan Hatin) is a historical lane with a restaurant, clinic, mosque and school, each structure has its own unique history. It once had a restaurant where USM staff celebrated farewell lunch. It also once housed the private clinic of Sir KM Ariff (Dr Kamil Mohamed Ariff bin Kadir Mastan). It has a mosque - Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin. It has a school - Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta, now renamed to Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Tanjong, Jalan Hutton. The school building is still the old pre-war building.

PHOTO 1. KOMTAR (tower) is a more recent addition to Georgetown's landscape. It was opened in 1981. It did not exist during the time of Sir KM Ariff's private practice in Penang. If KOMTAR had existed way back then, it would have looked similar as in this photo. This photo was taken while standing close to Sir KM Ariff's old clinic in Hutton Lane, Georgetown, Penang; 10 Feb 2011.

PHOTO 2. Corner of Hutton Lane and Penang Road. Was The New Dispensary located in this shophouse?

PHOTO 3. Facade of the left row of shophouses in Hutton Lane. This is the beginning of Hutton Lane (Penang Road end)

PHOTO 4. Hutton Lane viewed from Penang Road. Was The New Dispensary located in the shophouse at right?

Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin
Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin is in Jalan Hutton (Hutton Lane), across the road from Sekolah Sri Tanjung, Jalan Hatin, Penang.

PHOTO 5. Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin in Jalan Hatin (old Hutton Lane), Georgetown, Penang

Map of Georgetown
KOMTAR is marked 'A'.
Sir Dr KM Ariff’s residence was in 180 Burmah Road, Penang (B)
The New Dispensary was located in No. 1a, Hutton Lane (C).

View Larger Map

Driving directions from USM side gate @ Minden Heights Jalan 7:
USM - Jalan Hutton is approx. 9 km.
[Key: S = straight; R = right; L = left]

S@ Minden Heights Jalan 7
R@ Minden Height Jalan 1
L@ Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah
S@ Jalan Gelugor

2 choices:
a. via Jalan Jelutong & Jalan Perak:
S@ Jalan Jelutong
L@ Jalan Perak

2 choices:
>> Jalan Dato' Keramat:
     S@ Jalan Dato' Keramat
     L@ Jalan Penang
   L@ Jalan Burma
     R@ Jalan Anson
     R@ Jalan Hutton
     Go right to the end of Jalan Hutton where it meets Jalan Penang
     No 1a is at the corner of Jalan Hutton and Jalan Penang (end of Jalan Hutton)

>> Jalan Anson:
     Jalan Anson
     Jalan Hutton

b. via Jalan Masjid Negeri
From Jalan Gelugor
L@ Jalan Masjid Negeri
Go past Penang Free School
R@ Jalan Air Hitam / Air Itam / Ayer Hitam
Go past Methodist Boys School (MBS)
S@ Jalan Dato' Keramat
Go S past Jalan Perak junction
Go past old Police Station
L@ Jalan Penang
L@ Jalan Burma
Go past Masjid Titi Papan
Jalan Anson
Jalan Hutton

Pre-Merdeka Malay Schools in Penang

2011-10-24T12:05:00.000+08:00

INTRODUCTION

There were 2 Malay and one religious (Islamic) schools in Penang in Malaya before Independence. I returned to Penang (19-23 October 2011) to try and locate where the schools were and to find out if they still exist today, 54 years post-Merdeka.

Malay schools in Penang

The 2 Malay schools in Penang are Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta in downtown George Town, and Sekolah Melayu Pulau Pinang in Ayer Itam. Three early Malay doctors attended the Malay schools in Penang. They were Datuk Dr Haji Abdul Aziz bin Omar, Datuk Paduka Dr Abdul Wahab bin Mohd Ariff and Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos. All three graduated as medical doctors from the King Edward VII Medical College in Singapore.

Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta / Chowrasta Malay School, George Town (established 1878)

The full story of this school is told in the present day school website:

SekolahKebangsaan Melayu Chowrasta adalah nama asal bagi Sekolah Kebangsaan SriTanjong. Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta ini ditubuhkan pada tahun 1878 dengan BahasaMelayu sebagai Bahasa Pengantar pada ketika itu. Ia adalah di antara sekolahMelayu tertua di Pulau Pinang. Tapak asal Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta ini adalahterletak di persimpangan Jalan Transfer dan Jalan Phee Choon (kini tapakIbupejabat Polis Kontinjen Pulau Pinang – Headquarters).

Di bawah pentadbiran Guru Besar yang dikenali dengan nama Pak Hitam, SekolahMelayu Chowrasta mula mengorak langkah dalam meneruskan pendidikan pada masatersebut. Pelajaran yang diajar hanya melibatkan kemahiran membaca, menulis,mengira dan juga sedikit pelajaran mengenai hal ehwal tempatan yang digabungkandengan pelajaran Ilmu Alam.

Pada tahun 1928, Cikgu Mustafa Arshad (Guru Besar pada ketika itu) telah mulamengharumkan nama Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta dan memperkenalkannya ke seluruhpelusuk negara. Di antara tokoh yang dilahirkan di Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta iniialah Allahyarham Doktor Aziz Omar (doktor Melayu yang menempah nama di negeriKelantan), […] – Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Tanjung: SEJARAH (2009). Retrieved 19October 2011 from
http://sksritanjung.blogspot.com/2009/05/uppp.html#comments

The original school, Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta, was at the corner of Transfer Road and Phee Choon Road (now Jalan Phee Choon). The present day school is Sekolah Sri Tanjong in Jalan Hatin (former Hutton Lane). The school is across the road from Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin. This is the only mosque in this road.

Chowrasta is Tamil for a junction or crossroad from 4 roads.

Pasar Chowrasta (Chowrasta market) is in Jalan Penang (former Penang Road).

Pasar Chowrasta, Jalan Penang, Georgetown, Penang

Two early Malay doctors attended Sekolah Melayu Chowrasta in Penang. They were (Datuk Dr Haji) Abdul Aziz bin Omar and (Datuk Paduka Dr) Abdul Wahab bin Mohd Ariff.

Both doctors were born in 1919 and attended the Chowrasta Malay School from 1925 to 1929.
Both Abdul Aziz and Abdul Wahab attended Penang Free School from 1930 to 1937.
Both enrolled into the Medical College in Singapore in 1939.

Their medical studies were disrupted for four years when the Japanese Occupation of Singapore occurred and the Medical College ceased operation on 15 February 1942 till 19 June 1946.

When the war was over, Abdul Wahab and Abdul Aziz resumed medical studies at KE VII in Singapore on 20 June 1946.

Dr Abdul Aziz bin Omar, Dr Abdul Wahab bin Mohd Ariff and Dr Omar bin Din, graduated from the King Edward VII College of Medicine, Singapore with a Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery (L.M.S.) in the Class of December 1949 (Lee 2005: 114). There were 28 graduates in 1949.

Dr Abdul Aziz had previously worked at the Merican Dispensary in Kota Bharu, Kelantan (possibly circa 1949-1953) before setting up his own private practice in the early 1950s, after the war ended. His clinic was the Aziz Dispensary (Morais 1963: 30) in 1856-58 Jalan Pendek, Kota Bharu, Kelantan (Morais 1965: 44). His clinic was beside the Kota Bharu bus station. [More in TEMD]

Dr Abdul Wahab bin Mohd Ariff joined the government service in 1950. He held several posts under the British Malayan, Malaysian and Brunei governments. In 1950-5, Dr Abdul Wahab was Medical Officer (MO) in Penang, Butterworth, Perlis and Kuala Pilah. He brought a lot of changes at Kangar Hospital whilst in Perlis. His efforts were appreciated by the British High Commissioner in Malaya, General Sir Gerald Templer. In 1954, Dr Abdul Wahab was responsible for the eradication of gastroenteritis epidemic in Perlis. [More in TEMD]

Hutton Lane is famous as it once housed the private clinic of Sir Dr Kamil Mohamed Ariff.

Jalan Hatin (Hutton Lane) - Jalan Penang (Penang Road) end

Masjid Jamek Jalan Hatin (Hutton Lane)


Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Tanjong, Jalan Hatin (Hutton Lane)

Sekolah Melayu Pulau Pinang / Penang Malay School, Kampong Melayu, Ayer Hitam, Penang

I have not managed to follow what became of this school.

Directions to Air Hitam (formerly Ayer Itam), Penang

(Dr) Che Lah attended the Penang Malay School located in Jalan Kampong Melayu in Ayer Itam where he completed Standard IV. He then attended the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) in Penang where he completed Standard VII Senior Cambridge at the Annual Government Examination in December 1919.

(Dr) Che Lah entered the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore as a Federated Malay States (FMS) Government Medical Student in June 1923. Dr Che Lah passed the Final Medical Professional Examination in March 1930 and was awarded the Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery college diploma (L.M.S. Singapore, Class of March 1930). The Principal of the College of Medicine at the time was Dr DWG Faris. His name is also present on the board as Pioneer Student at the National University of Singapore Medical Faculty. His rolled paper transcripts still exist but are faded and very brittle but his clothed documents are still safely kept. His medical books can still be found within his house in Cangkat Minden, Penang and some have been donated to the Penang General Hospital.

Religious schools in Penang

The only religious school that I have on record is Madrasah Al-Mashoor, which is now the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (L) Al Mashoor and the Sekolah Menengah Agama (P) Al Mashoor.

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (L) Al Mashoor

This school was started by Syed Sheikh (1867-1934) who became its first headmaster. It moved a few places before this location. The history of Madrasah Al Mashoor & the progress of the modern school today can be read at its present day website. The boys' hostel is in front of the school and closest to Jalan Air Hitam. The Chung Ling High School is across the road from the boys' hostel. Further up the street from the boys' hostel is another boys' school, the Methodist Boys' School (MBS).

SMKA (L) Al Mashoor, Jalan Air Hitam, Penang

SMKA (L) Al Mashoor boys' hostel, Jalan Air Itam, Penang

Sekolah Menengah Agama (P) Al Mashoor

I could not find this school and I did not have time to find it. I will return to Penang and try to find this school, insyaAllah.

The Honda Story of Penang

2011-10-24T10:15:00.000+08:00

INTRODUCTION

This is the fourth time someone related the story about Boon Siew and Honda to me - my dad, my mum, a research officer then with USM and Prof Syed Mohsin. After many years of being told about how Honda became a success story in Penang, I have decided to pen down my story of the Honda success story in Penang to share with you. Little did I understand the humble beginnings and the opportunistic franchise that came to Penang. That opportunity was overlooked (blinded to the Penang Arabs) but the Chinese saw the $ behind it and made it big. It led to the Chinese success in taking over the economy of Penang island. This is my version after listening to many people. Of course there is still the Honda Penang Chinese story to listen to and the Japanese Honda story to follow up before my story too can be complete. Here's my story ...

Post WWII

The Japanese lost the war in Malaya in September 1945. The Japanese army surrendered. From a TV documentary, I learned about the Japanese difficulties faced whilst still in Malaya. Before they left for Japan, the soldiers had to scrounge for food and survived by subsisting on tapioca (manioc; Malay ubi kayu) which they had to grow since their supply of rice ran out. This was in Rompin before the Japanese soldiers were finally taken home to Japan. It was a sad documentary that I watched. Watching the Japanese General beri hormat a tapioca on his prayer shelf can be heart-breaking. War is war. Survival is for the fittest.

A Japanese lady in post-war Penang

The Japanese war did not end without any trace. The war left a lot of things behind. They are traceable as the things they left behind are not Malay but Japanese. What things are Japanese? A lot of things. When I was a young child, there was one Japanese lady who frightened me and that memory has lasted a lifetime. I had heard of Japanese atrocities from my mother but not from my father. My mother's father (my grandfather) was tortured by the Japanese army but survived the ordeal. However, his voice changed considerably - he had a gruffy voice; maybe because he was old. He had a human voice but a different human voice. That memory of his voice has lasted in me till today. It feels sad when humans are tortured but that is reality. On the other hand, my dad's people enjoyed the Japanese presence in Malaya. Anyway, this Japanese lady whom I met at my dad's Ami Aziz's shophouse, she looked to me like she had a lot of untold secrets locked in a cupboard. Who was she? Was she a spy? Why did she appear in Penang when she is Japanese? Did the Japanese bring her to Penang for a reason? For what reason? Who is she really? What is the meaning of her existence in Penang? These were the questions that played in my mind throughout my growing up years and whenever I passed by Jalan Anson (Anson Road) in Penang. Even if I forget the roadname, the characteristic whitewashed building will always remind me of my dad's Ami Aziz and this Japanese lady (who is Nenek Jepun to me, for lack of a better name).

Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Sheikh Muhammad

Sheikh Abdul Aziz is Ami Aziz to my dad. Sheikh Abdul Aziz is Arab but not a Syed. Prof Syed Mohsin tells me that the Arabic word "Ami" is brother. As I recall Ami Aziz, he was a short tan man. We sat at a table with generous helpings of Hari Raya Aidilfitri cookies - Japanese style! Hahaha ..... yes! Hari Raya cookies, Japanese style! They were prepared by his wife, Nenek Jepun! Goodness. This Nenek Jepun prepared the Raya cookies and even the drinks. And guess what? I tasted the colorful sugar crystals on the sugar-coated cookies but I refused to drink the green-coloured drink, poured and served by ..... Nenek Jepun! Such was my unreasonable childhood fear of this lady! I was frightened that she would "poison" me with the "green juice" that Raya. In the mean time, my dad enjoyed the conversation with Ami Aziz. Who was Ami Aziz? Everybody tells me he was a great man in Penang, but who is he really? After many years of trying to make sense of stories I've heard and trying to fix the jig-saw puzzle, yesterday, Prof Syed Mohsin told me who this Ami Aziz was and the real story behind the Honda motorcycles and cars we see today in Malaysia. It all started in Penang.

[My dad's blood link to Ami Aziz is in my other blog. Try search for 262 Banda Hilir.]

The Honda story

After the Japanese war, Japan's Honda offered a franchise to Penang to sell its motorcycles. They practically "gave" the franchise to the Penang Arabs, and Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Sheikh Muhammad @ Ami Aziz reluctantly took up the offer, as there was no market for motorcycles in the post-war. He did not know whether the motorcycles would sell. I can't recall what Prof Syed Mohsin said.

Boon Siew

The young Boon Siew was a Chinese night soil collector (kutip tong tahi). When he heard of the Honda franchise and the Penang Arabs had no faith in it, he offered his interest in the franchise. He took over from the Penang Arabs. To promote sales of the Honda motorcycles, he organised a 50-man motorcade to ride the length of the west coast of peninsular Malaya. The motorcyclists took off from Penang, to KL and on to Singapore and returned the same route. This ability of the motorcycles to withstand the long journey took the Malayan people by surprise and attracted them to buy Boon Siew's Honda motorcycles. Sales of the motorcycles rocketed and instantly Boon Siew's fate changed, from a poor night soil collector to a millionaire. To motorcycles were added Honda cars, a symbol of prestige. Sales rose even further and Boon Siew became super wealthy. So wealthy was he that he alone could "buy" the entire strip of Malaya! Such was his unusual twist of fate. Prof Syed Mohsin tells me that Honda still pays its surviving motorcycle riders a stipend as a symbol of gratitude for making that motorcade a great success which then snow-balled Honda's success in Penang and Malaysia. I don't have the list of names of the 50 motorcyclists, maybe Honda does. You can try and ask Honda Penang and maybe interview the riders too.

Penang Chinese and the Penang Arabs

Now that Boon Siew is rich and the Penang Arabs status quo, Penang's economy laid in the hands of the rich and influential Chinese. Penang grew and the economy of the Chinese rose higher from the demand of Honda products - motorcycles and cars. Both were much sought after in the Malayan/Malaysian market. Had the Penang Arabs jumped on the band wagon and gone on like what Boon Siew did, Penang's economy today would be in the hands of the Penang Arabs and Penang would remain largely an Islamic island. What lessons have we learned from the Penang Honda story? Yes, never to let an opportunity go by untouched. Opportunities come only once - either take it or lose it. I hope this story of a missed opportunity will never happen again to anyone, be it a Chinese, Indian, Malay or Arab. In historical lessons of this nature, we cannot blame anyone nor is there a need to point fingers. A missed opportunity has reasons and we must take the lessons and move on. Life is such.

Ami Aziz's family

From Prof Syed Mohsin's story, Ami Aziz married Nenek Jepun and they have a son. Prof Syed Mohsin tells me the son was a police inspector. They also have an adopted Chinese daughter, Muzlifah. Both are my dad's cousin. I have not met the son nor the daughter. I can't recall where Ami Aziz's shophouse is anymore or whether it is still there or demolished. I have vivid memory of his shophouse alone but not its location.

Ami Aziz's car shop

Ami Aziz ran a foreign car trade business at the corner of Jalan Dato' Keramat and Jalan Anson in Penang. The car shop & showroom is a big whitewashed building with the showroom facade on Jalan Anson. The business is varied today. I don't know who owns or manages the place today.

Ami Aziz's car showroom - facade on Jalan Anson in Penang

Car showroom - facade on Jalan Dato' Keramat

Arabs in Penang

2011-10-23T23:10:00.002+08:00

INTRODUCTION

First Visit
I visited Professor Syed Mohsin bin Syed Sahil Jamalullail at his home in Kampung Huda, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan earlier in this evening, Sunday, 23 October 2011. I interviewed him from approximately 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm over fragrant chrysanthemum tea and cream puffs. Prof Syed Mohsin or "Tuan Syed" as I call him, is an authority on the Syed story in Penang (and maybe too in Malaysia & Singapore). I have always resorted to him for anything that has to do with Arabs and things Arabic. I first came to know him when I first started working as a lecturer at USM. He was already a lecturer and was also one of the 5 founders of the USM Medical School, then based in Penang. He was teaching Pharmacology to the first, second, third and fourth batches of medical students in UKM. The present Director-General (DG) was his student; the present DG was in the second batch of medical students at UKM.

The information below was obtained from Prof Syed Mohsin at the first visit on 23 October 2011, at his home in Kg Huda, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

Professor Syed Mohsin bin Syed Sahil Jamalullail

Almarhum Prof Syed Mohsin (1951-2011)

Prof Syed Mohsin is popularly known as Tuan Syed or Prof Syed.

Prof Syed Mohsin was born in Batu Uban, Penang on Independence day, 31 August 1951.

He passed away on Sunday, 6 November 2011, which coincides with the first day of Aidiladha celebrations, 10 Zulhijjah 1432 Hijrah. He died in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. He was buried at Kubur Demit in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

Prof Syed previously worked with UKM Medical School before he was seconded to USM Medical School. He was one of the 5 founding lecturers of the USM Medical School in 1979. At the time he was known as Tuan Syed as he was the only lecturer with a Syed name. He became a full professor at USM, for which he was called Prof Syed. (Another Syed lecturer in O&G was Prof Syed Abdullah who returned from UK.)

Prof Syed's father is Syed Sahil who died in 2010 and is buried at Masjid Arau in Arau, Perlis. I met Syed Sahil at Prof Syed's second child's wedding at Kg Huda.

Prof Syed's mother is Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi. She is still alive, aged 80. She lives in Jitra, Kedah. I met her at the first tahlil on 7 November 2011, day after Tuan Syed passed away.

Sharifah Mariam's half-sister is Sharifah Rahmah bt Syed Alwi, whose daughter is Dr Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Aidid.

Prof Syed Mohsin and Dr Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Aidid are cousins (sepupu).

Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi married to Syed Sahil Jamalullail. They have 8 children, 4 sons and 4 daughters.

Prof Syed Mohsin has 8 siblings. He is #3:
1. Syed Omar Syed Sahil
2. Sharifah Zahrah Syed Sahil
3. Syed Mohsin Syed Sahil (31 August 1951-6 November 2011)
4. Sharifah Sakinah Syed Sahil
5. Sharifah Alwiah Syed Sahil
6. Syed Mohamad Syed Sahil
7. Syed Haizar Syed Sahil
8. Sharifah Azizah Syed Sahil

Prof Syed Mohsin is married to Puan Hasnah bt Ishak. They are blessed with 7 children.

Prof Syed's children are:-
1. Syed Hazman - architect
2. Syed Muhammad Hilmi - petroleum engineer with Exxon Mobile.
3. Dr Syed Hasanul Hadi - trained by PCM & Sheffield; training as surgeon in Medical School.
4. Sharifah Muna Maisara - a schoolteacher in Sabah (munamohsin@gmail.com)
5. Syed Muhammad Husni - composes songs (prefers art)
6. Syed Muhammad Harith - Diploma in Mechatronics; technician; works with Samsung in Senawang.
7. Syed Muhammad Hafizuddin - was at Poly; now in PJ

Photos of first visit, 23 October 2011:

PHOTO 1. From left: Myself, Puan Hasnah, Prof Syed Mohsin, Affandi and Lukmanul Hakim (Tuan Syed's grandson). Photographed at Tuan Syed's home in Kg Huda, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 23 Oct 2011 by Sharifah Muna Maisara (Tuan Syed's only daughter).

PHOTO 2. Puan Hasnah, Sharifah Muna Maisara and Lokmanul Hakim; 23 Oct 2011

PHOTO 3. Puan Hasnah, Lokamnul Hakim, Affandi Hussien and Prof Syed Mohsin; 23 Oct 2011

PHOTO 4. Puan Hasnah, Affandi Hussien and Prof Syed Mohsin; 23 Oct 2011

PHOTO 5. Prof Syed Mohsin and Affandi Hussien; 23 Oct 2011

PHOTO 6. Prof Syed Mohsin and Affandi Hussien; 23 Oct 2011

PHOTO 7. Prof Syed Mohsin and me; 23 Oct 2011.

PHOTO 8. Prof Syed Mohsin's home in Kg Huda; 23 Oct 2011.

Sharifah Zahrah bt Syed Sahil Jamalullail
Sharifah Zahrah is Prof Syed Mohsin's sister (sib #2). She is married to Syed Ahmad and they had lived in Jelutong. However, he was in the army and moved to Perlis where he worked in the sugarcane field. Syed Ahmad has 4 children:-
1. Syed Omar
2. Syed Hafiz
3. Sharifah Noor
4. ? = architect

Syed Omar
Syed Omar is in KL. He is retired and receives pension. He was the former Accountant-General. He married the younger sister of Syed Razak, ex-MB Kedah. Which Syed Omar?

Syed Razak
Syed Razak bin Syed Zain Barakhbah was MB Kedah for 6 years (11 Dec 1999-22 Dec 2005). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Menteris_Besar_of_Kedah

Syed Razak is related to Dr Mustafa bin Osman, an early Malay doctor (TEMD). How?

Syed Razak's younger sister married to Syed Omar.

Who is Hajah Sharifah Maznah Syed Kassim Barakbah?

Dr Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Aidid

I had worked with Dr Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Aidid in USM Penang when she was the Chairman of the Women's Club and I was Treasurer.
Her sister Sharifah Hasnah worked at the USM Medical School when I joined as lecturer.
I had visited Dr Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Aidid at their family home in Ayer Itam when her father (Syed Aidid) passed away in 1982/3. The house is a big bungalow next to Shell Ayer Itam.
Her mother is Sharifah Rahmah bt Syed Alwi, the elder sister of Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi, Prof Syed's mother.

From Dr Syed Mohamad Syed Sahil, 8 Nov 2011:
Dr Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Aidid's siblings:-

Sharifah Azizah
Sharifah Aminah (lives in Singapore)
Sharifah Naemah
Sharifah Shippak
Sharifah Sheikha
Sharifah Zahrah
Sharifah Sakinah (married to Dr Syed Mohamad Syed Sahil; Prof Syed Mohsin's sib#6)
Sharifah Hasnah (working with USM)

Professor Syed Abdullah Al-Qudri
The suffix Al-Quds refers to Palestine. Prof Syed Abdullah was in O&G in UK before joining USM Medical School. He first married a Caucasian Canadian. He remarried a young lady.

Syed Alwi al-Hadi
Syed Alwi al-Hadi was the eldest son of Syed Sheikh and the father of Dr SMA Alhady, an early Malay doctor. Syed Alwi al-Hadi married many ladies.

Contacts
1. Abang Syed Muhammad
He lives in Arau, Perlis. He would have more information.

2. Tok Kalthom
She lives in Batu Uban. She would have a lot of information. She is 80 years old.
She is the cousin of Prof Syed Mohsin's mother.
She is related to Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Sheikh Muhammad (Ami Aziz).

What is Al-Khaiyat?

Second Visit
I received an SMS from Tengku Damitri of Tuan Syed's sudden demise after he died and after he was buried, around Maghrib. I have no idea why the SMS came late into my handphone. I visited Kak Hasnah and family at home after solat Isya' today, 7 November 2011. The area was wet after the rain and pools of water could be seen. Affandi parked our car far away and we walked to the house. There were many cars parked by the road on the right shoulder. When I arrived in the house compound, they were already reading Surah Yaasin. I used my own buku doa Mathurat. Then I started sneezing in the cold night. After all the bacaan al-Quran and doa, the men exited and went for refreshment outside. My husband and I and the other ladies then entered the house. I went to find Kak Hasnah. I met Kak Hasnah and the other family members. It was the first time I met everyone in a large gathering. It was a sad gathering but it was a good learning experience for me. There were many Arab men and ladies in the house. I knew nobody except the ones I met at the first visit - Kak Hasnah, Muna and Lokmanul Hakim. Muna remembered me as she took our photos at the first visit. Then I sat next to a beautiful lady whom I never knew. I was introduced to her by Siti Salamah, also an Arab. I was introduced to Tuan Syed's mother for the first time. She is a dear lady and I think every woman must try to meet her and talk to her. She is Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi (80 years). She asked me who I am and we started talking to see how we could be related. I talked mostly to Siti Salamah for my family links to Tuan Syed. I will therefore update information obtained from my first visit.

The information below was obtained from Siti Salamah, Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi and Sharifah Alwiah Syed Sahil, day after Prof Syed Mohsin passed away, at the first tahlil on 7 November 2011, at his home in Kg Huda, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

Photos of second visit, 7 November 2011:

PHOTO 9. Sharifah Muna Maisara (Prof Syed's only daughter) and Siti Salamah bt Sk. Mohammed

PHOTO 10. Sharifah Muna Maisara, Siti Salamah bt Sk. Mohammed and me

PHOTO 11. Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi (Prof Syed's mother, 80, lives in Jitra) and Sharifah Alwiah Syed Sahil (Prof Syed's sister, sib #5, lecturer UiTM Shah Alam)

PHOTO 12. Puan Hasnah bt Ishak (left) and Sharifah Sakinah bt Syed Aidid (in white baju kurung).

PHOTO 13. Tuan Haji Ishak, father of Puan Hasnah, Prof Syed's father-in-law. He recalls history from the time of Konfrantasi. He lives in KL.

PHOTO 14. From left: Puan Hasnah's brother (man in white shirt with kopiah, and his son - boy with songkok), Syed Haizar Syed Sahil (Prof Syed's brother, sib #7, yellow shirt), Affandi Hussain (jubah putih), Syed Omar (man in blue striped shirt; husband of Siti Salamah bt Sk. Mohammed, who knows about Ami Aziz Al-Yamani of Jelutong. Ami Aziz of Jelutong owned the foreign car business at Jalan Anson, Penang.) Link to Ami Aziz of Penang

PHOTO 15. From left: Dr Syed Mohamad Syed Sahil (Prof Syed's brother, sib #6, dark blue shirt), Puan Hasnah's brother (man in white shirt & white kopiah, and his son - boy with songkok), Syed Haizar Syed Sahil (sib #7) and Affandi Hussain.

Associate Professor Sharifah Alwiah Syed Sahil
Lecturer
Faculty of Art and Design
Universiti Teknologi MARA
40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: 03-5544 4057
H/P: 019-387 2578
Fax: 03-5544 4011
E-mail: syedsahilshari@yahoo.com

Dr Syed Mohamad Syed Sahil
Director Business Development
H/P: 019-3877 313
E-mail: smsahil191@gmail.com
Alfa Inter Services Sdn Bhd
No 9 Jalan Putra Permai 10/2E
Seksyen 10, Putra Height, Subang Jaya
47650 Selangor
Tel: 603-5191 0991
Fax: 603-5191 0992
alfais@streamyx.com

This is the Al-Khaiyath name that arwah Tuan Syed mentioned. I'm not familiar with the name.

Mohd Hussain Khaiyath has 2 daughters:
1. Siti Noor
2. Siti Rogayah

Siti Noor bt Mohd Hussain Khaiyath has 2 children:
1. Sharifah Mariam (Prof Syed's mother, has 8 children)
2. Syed Mohd

Siti Rogayah bt Mohd Hussain Khaiyath has 2 children:
1. Siti Kalsom
2. Mohd Salleh

Siti Kalsom has 2 children:
1. Sk. Abdul Aziz
2. Siti Salamah

Mohd Salleh has 3 children:
1. Sharul Nizam
2. Sabarina
3. Siti Wahidah

Sk. Abdul Aziz married to ____________?

Siti Salamah bt Sk. Mohammed is married to Syed Omar Syed Sahil Jamallulail? Her mother is Siti Kalsom. Her aunt is Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi.

Siti Kalsom is Siti Salamah's mother. She is the cousin of Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi (Prof Syed's mother). Her mother is Siti Rogayah bt Mohd Hussain Khaiyath. Her mother and Sharifah Mariam's mother are sisters.

MALACCA LINK
This piece of information comes from Siti Salamah bt Sk. Mohammed, Sharifah Alwiah Syed Sahil and Sharifah Mariam bt Syed Alwi.

Abdul Rashid Makawi married to Siti Seha. Siti Seha is called "Su Seha". They have 2 children:
1. Wan Teh
2. Siti Rahmah

Wan Teh has 2 children:
1. Siti Kalsom
2. Mohd Salleh

Siti Rahmah bt Abdul Rashid Makawi married to Abdul Aziz Al-Yamani (he was called Ami Aziz) who owned a foreign car business at Jalan Anson in Penang. They have 3 children:
1. Fatmah
2. Abdul Latiff
3. Abdul Rashid

Fatma bt Abdul Aziz Al-Yamani has 6 children:
1. Syed Mohd
2. Sharifah Mahani
3. Syed Ali
4. Syed Mansor
5. Syed Yussuf
6. Syed Abdullah

Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Aziz Al-Yamani has 3 children:
1. Najib
2. Nawal
3. Najwa

Please download photos for private use only.

JELUTONG TIMUR, MUKIM JELUTONG (Part 2)

2011-10-23T16:35:00.000+08:00

INTRODUCTION

I visited Masjid Jamek Jelutong & its associated graveyard on 22 October 2011 to locate some graves for TEMD. Jelutong is a tree noted for its gum which is used for making chewing gum. This is my second time visiting the mosque and graves. I visited them about 2 weeks ago on 9 October 2011 but did not have time to look around and study the information here. I went back this week.

1. Masjid Jamek Jelutong, Mukim Jelutong

This is a very old mosque in Penang. It could have been built circa 1820 by the same set of Hadrami Arabs who opened Masjid Banda Hilir in Banda Hilir, Malacca. It is therefore approximately 191 years old in 2011.

2. Kubur Jelutong

a. Kubur beside the parking lot

On the right side of the mosque (standing facing qiblat) are 4 plots of graves. The frontmost plot is Kubur Syed, followed by Kubur Syed Yasin & Kwangtung China, followed by another set of (older) Kubur Syed with no names visible on the tombstones (batu nisan) and a rear plot within thick enclosed walls. All Syed are buried within Kubur Syed, especially the frontmost plot. Syed Sheikh is buried here.

Entrance to mosque and public parking

Kubur Syed (frontmost plot)

A different view of Kubur Syed (frontmost plot)

Middle plot. Kubur Syed Yasin (in foreground) and the Kwangtung man (rear grave)

Another plot of Kubur Syed (they seem more weathered and without names)

Rear plot of graves within thick brick enclosure

b. Kubur near van jenazah side

On the left side of the mosque are graves of non Syed (non Arabs). There is a big brick wall enclosure and is almost filled with graves. Within the brick wall enclosure is the grave of Hjh Fatimah bt Hamidon. There are more graves beyond the brick wall enclosure. There are many graves all around the brick wall enclosure.

Left side of mosque that opens to the public non-Syed graves

Graves between the mosque and brick wall enclosure

Graves within the brick wall enclosure

More graves beyond the brick wall enclosure

View of the left side of the mosque from the graves

Aluminium usung for keranda. They are made with wider bottom so many more people can help carry the jenazah

Roll-down aluminium doors through which the jenazah is carried to the grave after solat jenazah

Graves at kampung or van jenazah side

Affandi performing wudhu'

Most of the graves at Kubur Jelutong do not follow any arrangement (except they all face qiblat) and some graves can be easily stepped on if one is not careful.

Syed Syeikh al-Hadi (1867-1934)

2011-10-21T13:56:00.001+08:00

Sources
Siri Kefahaman Budaya (1) Cendekia Melayu di Pulau Pinang. Syed Syeikh al-Hadi. Cendekia dan Sasterawan Ulung. Sohaimi Abdul Aziz (Ed). Published by Universiti Sains Malaysia. 2003. ISBN 983-861-250-2 [Citation for the book above is (Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003).]

I visited Penang on 21-22 October 2011. I read the book above and visited Syed Sheikh's residence and grave at Masjid Jelutong (as mentioned in the book above) on 22 October 2011, in the morning.

Below is compiled information on Syed Sheikh and his family. It is incomplete but this is all that I have on him at this moment.

BRIEF BIODATA

Name (Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003): Syed Syeikh bin Syed Ahmad Hassan al-Hadi

Gravestone (nama pada batu nisan): Syed Sheikh b. Ahmad b. Hassan Alhady

Popular name: Syed Syeikh al-Hadi

Name as author of his book, Faridah Hanoum (Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003): Al-Syed Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hadi

Referred name after his demise (Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003): Almarhum Syed Syeikh al-Hadi

Date of birth (Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003): He was born in the evening, on Tuesday, 25 December 1867 (25 Rejab 1281 Hijrah)

Gravestone (tarikh lahir pada batu nisan): Lahir 25 Rejab 1281 <1867>

Place of birth (Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003): Kampung Hulu, Melaka

Date of death (Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003): 20 February 1934 (6 Zulkaedah 1352 Hijrah), aged 67

Gravestone (tarikh meninggal pada batu nisan): Meninggal 6 Zulkaedah 1352 <1934>

Place of burial
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
Buried at Masjid Jelutong

(My visit to Jelutong, 22 Oct 2011):
Syed Sheikh was interred at Tanah Perkuburan Masjid Jamek Jelutong. At the right side of the mosque (standing facing qiblat) in a set of graves known as "Kubur Syed". There are 2 sets of Kubur Syed, one nearer the rear toilets, and the other nearer the front of the masjid. Both the Kubur Syed burial plots are separated by a small burial plot belonging to Syed Yasin (an Indian Muslim) and a Kwangtung (Chinese Muslim from Yunan). Syed Sheikh is buried in the front Kubur Syed. The exact spot is the frangipani tree nearest the mosque entrance (there is another entrance from the roadside). His grave is among a cluster of 8 graves under the frangipani tree. Standing in front of the cluster of graves at the headside, Syed Sheik's grave in the 4th grave from the left. It bears his name.

Syed Sheikh's resting place, inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rojiuun

Ancestry
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
Arab-Malay (Melayu-Arab); father was an Arab descendent (berketurunan Arab); mother was Malay

Education
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
Early education in Melaka. Went to Terengganu but did not like the pondok system. He returned to Pulau Penyengat before going to Middle-East. He was a student of Syeikh Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905).

Occupation
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
Penasihat Sultan Riau (Advisor to Sultan Riau), Raja Ali Haji Kelana bin Yang di-Pertuan Besar Riau-Lingga. He accompanied royal princes to study at Al-Azhar University in Egypt. He also had close ties with Yang di-Pertuan Besar Riau.
He was Syariah lawyer to Johor Sultanate but he was sacked after he gave a fatwa which did not favour the marriage of Sultan Johor to Lady Marsila (Syed Syeikh said the nikah did not follow Islam: ... tak sah dari lunas Islam). He left Johor and went to Malacca.
Writer

Migration
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
He worked for 25 years for the Riau Sultanate. He went to Makkah and Egypt to study Arabic and Islam. He returned but to Singapore to set up a religious school.

What he pushed for
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
Dakwah Islamiah (Islamic teaching)
Kesusasteraan (literature)
Persuratkhabaran (journalism)

Reputation
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
He was known as "Bapa Novel Melayu" (Father of Malay Novels)

Contributions to Society
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
He built 3 religious schools at 3 locations:-
1. Madrasah al-Iqbal, Seligi Road, Singapore (established 1907 but closed down after 2 years as his form of teaching was considered controversial)
2. Madrasah al-Hadi, Banda Kaba, Malacca (established 1917, also closed down for the same reason)
3. Madrasah al-Mashoor (established 1919) on a land donated by Al-Mashoor.

(Siti Mariam bt Yusof, Pers. Comm. 20-21 October 2011):
There are 2 Madrasah al-Mashoor, one for boys and another for girls. The boys' school is in Jalan Ayer Itam, across from Chung Ling High School. The girls' school is in Burma Road.

(Siti Mariam bt Yusof, Pers. Comm. 20-21 October 2011):
Jalan Kelawei is an Arab settlement or "Kampung Syed". A lot of Syed & Sharifah live here. There is a big arch (pintu gerbang) that says Selamat Datang ke Kg Syed.

Property
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
He owned Percetakan Jelutong (Jelutong Press) which published a lot of books in Jawi script, including novels.

Publications
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
He was a prolific writer and published a lot of stuff including books/novels, magazines and newspapers.

1. Novels (5 novel saduran)
Hikayat Faridah Hanoum (Penggal 1, 1925; Penggal II, 1926)
Hikayat Setia ____
Hikayat Taman Chinta Berahi / Mahir Afandi dengan Iqbal Hanoum
Hikayat Anak Dara Ghassan / Hendon dengan Hammad
Hikayat Chermin Kehidupan
Hikayat Puteri Nurul Ain
Hikayat Pembelaan dalam Rahsia / Kasih Saudara kapada Saudaranya
2. Siri Cherita-Cherita Rokambul (7 buah)
3. Islamic books (7 buah)
Al-Tarikh al-Islami (previously published as a serial in Al-Ikhwan)
Tafsir Juz 'Amma (1927)
Tafsir al-Fatihah (1928)
Alam Perempuan (1930)
Ugama Islam dan 'Akal (1931)
Hadiah Kebangsaan (1933)
?
4. Magazines
Al-Imam (1906)
Al-Ikhwan (1926)
5. Newspaper
Saudara (first published 29 September 1928; he was involved for a few months between 1933-February 1934, before he died.)

Saudara was mentioned in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 25 November 1931, Page 12. MATTERS OF MUSLIM INTEREST. Retrieved 28 October 2011, from
http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19311125.2.97.aspx
Link 1

Residence in Penang
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
His home address was 410, Jalan Jelutong, Penang

(Siti Mariam bt Yusof, Pers. Comm. 21 October 2011):
His house is just beyond Masjid Jamek Jelutong, by the roadside near the traffic lights, ~~beside Shell~~. It has been sold to the Chinese. The house is now a Chinese temple (to'kong Cina).

(My visit to Jelutong, 22 Oct 2011):
Syed Sheikh's former house is located next to Esso petrol pump, at the traffic light junction of 3 roads - Jalan Jelutong, Solok Perak, and Jalan Tengku. The house is located at the corner of Jalan Jelutong (housefront) and Solok Perak (left side of house). The house address is 410 Jalan Jelutong, Penang. It is a single single-storey bungalow, after the end of a row of modern double-storey terraced shophouses; the last shophouse bears the address 410A. It occupies a separate compound from the row of shophouses, and has chain-linked fence with 2 entrances in different streets. The house is painted in soft yellow and has light green windows. The house has been taken over by the Chinese and now functions as a house of faith (Malay, to'kong Cina).

410 Jalan Jelutong, Penang opposite Esso

Married:
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
First wife: Syarifah Syeikhun. Second wife: Singaporean

My query:
Is Syarifah Syeikhun actually her call name or how she was addressed or alluded to in her family circle? Is her real name Sharifah Azizah bt Ahmad Almashoor? Is Ahmad Almashoor, Syed Sheikh's father in-law? Is that why the madrasah in Penang was named Madrasah Al-Mashoor because it was his land which he donated for the madrasah which began at Masjid Melayu Aceh? Need to re-study the Masjid Melayu Aceh history as Madrasah Al-Mashoor actually began at Masjid Melayu Aceh before it shifted many places. Are the 2 + 1 old houses in the grounds of Masjid Melayu Aceh, those of Ahmad Almashoor? Need to ask people at Masjid Melayu Aceh.

Children:
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
4 children by first wife (2 boys and 2 girls). One daughter by Singaporean wife.

Children from first wife
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
1. Syed Alwi al-Hadi (born 8 August 1892, 15 Muharam 1310 Hijrah at Pulau Penyengat Indera Sakti; died 6 January 1970)
2. Syed Ahmad
3. Aisyah
4. Umhani (My query: is it Umi Hani?)

Daughter from second wife
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
5. Mariam (Teluk Belanga)

ELDEST SON

Syed Alwi al-Hadi's family? / Haji Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh al-Hadi
Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh al-Hadi was born on 8 August 1892 (15 Muharam 1310 Hijrah) at Pulau Penyengat Indera Sakti in Indonesia and died on 6 January 1970 in Penang.

Haji Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh al-Hadi was involved with the founding of UMNO in Johor along with Onn Jaafar, Haji Anwar bin Abdul Malik, and Mohamad Noah Omar.

Malay nationalism and politics

Early Malay nationalism took root in Johor during the 1920s as Onn Jaafar, whom Sultan Ibrahim had treated as an adopted son, became a journalist and wrote articles on the welfare of the Malays. Some of Onn's articles were critical of Sultan Ibrahim's policies, which led to a strained personal relations with the Sultan. In particular, Sultan Ibrahim expelled Onn from Johor after he published an article in the Sunday Mirror, a Singapore-based English tabloid, which criticised the Sultan's poor treatment of the Johor Military Forces personnel and the welfare of the Orang Asli. Onn became very popular after he continued to cover issues on Malay grievances, and Sultan Ibrahim invited Onn to return to Johor in 1936. Along with his companions, Haji Anwar bin Abdul Malik, Haji Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh al-Hadi and Mohamad Noah Omar, they founded the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) as a means to rally the Malays against the Malayan Union, which was perceived as threatening Malay privileges and the position of the Malay rulers. Onn took up the role of UMNO's president on May 1, 1946. (Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onn_Jaafar Accessed 23 Oct 2011)

My thesis

Syed Alwi al-Hadi is the eldest son of Syed Sheikh. Syed Alwi al-Hadi was born on 8 August 1892, 15 Muharam 1310 Hijrah at Pulau Penyengat Indera Sakti and died 6 January 1970.

Did Syed Alwi al-Hadi marry Sharifah Rahmah bt Syed Ahmad al-Mashoor? She is buried next to him.
Was she called Sharifah Sheikhun? Is it her callname? What does Sharifah Sheikhun mean? Does it mean Sharifah the wife of Sheikh (Syed Alwi) or daughter-in-law of Syed Sheikh?

If they are couple, how many children did they have?
Who are their children?

Their children are (possibly):
1. Dr A.M. al-Hadi (circa 1921-2003)
2. Syed Fuad bin Alwi Alhady (died 2001)
3. Syed Ahmad bin Syed Alwi Alhadi (died 2001)
4. Sharifah Mahani bt Syed Alwi Alhady (1937-2011)

Syed Alwi al-Hadi is buried in a cluster of 3 graves; his is the middle grave (born 8 August 1892, 1303 Hijrah; died 6 January 1970). On the left is that of Sharifah Rahmah bt Syed Ahmad Al-Mashoor (born 1906; died 22 December 1984, 29 Rabiul Awal 1405 Hijrah) (probably Syed Alwi al-Hadi's wife). On the right is that of Syed Fuad b. Alwi Alhady (died 1 October 2001, 13 Rejab 1422 Hijrah) (probably his son).

Graves from left: Sharifah Rahmah bt Syed Ahmad Al-Mashoor (wife), Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh Al-Hadi (husband; eldest son of Syed Sheikh) and Syed Fuad bin Syed Alwi Alhady (son)

His son Syed Ahmad (died 14 June 2001, 22 Rabiul Awal 1422 Hijrah) is buried beside the cluster of 3 graves of Syed Alwi.

Syed Ahmad bin Syed Alwi Alhadi (son)

(Syed Alwi al-Hadi's daughter,) Sharifah Mahani bt Syed Alwi Alhady (died 21 June 2011, 16 Safar 1432 @ 74 years) is buried in front of the roadside entrance.

Sharifah Mahani bt Syed Alwi Alhady (daughter)

SECOND SON

Syed Ahmad's family?
Nil is known

FIRST DAUGHTER

Aisyah's family?
Nil is known

SECOND DAUGHTER

Umhani's family?
Nil is known

THIRD DAUGHTER

Mariam's family?
Nil is known

GRANDSON

Dr A.M. al-Hadi's family?

(TEMD research):
Dr SMA Alhady is Syed Sheikh's grandson, and the son of Syed Alwi Alhady (Al-Hadi).

Dr SMA Alhady resumed studies at the KE VII in June 1946 and graduated in the Class of 1950 along with Coco, five years after the Japanese Occupation ended.

(TEMD research):
If they were classmates, they could have been born in the same year. Abdul Majid bin Ismail bin Nae’mat (Coco) was born on 15 November 1921 in his grandfather's house in Kampong Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Dr SMA Alhady was probably born in 1921. How do I verify his DOB?

Dr SMA Alhady performed his Housemanship at the General Hospital in Penang. He was known as Mr SMA Alhady in his circle. Mr SMA Alhady was a gastric surgeon in Gastroenterology at the General Hospital Penang where he headed a Surgical Unit in 1955. He had introduced and performed gastrectomy.

(TEMD research):
Whether is it known or not, by genealogy, Dr SMA Alhady and Coco are related by way of marriage of their Malacca and KL Hadrami Arab ancestors. Dr SMA Alhady's ancestors are also the Hadrami Arabs who had resided in Jelutong and constructed Masjid Jamek Jelutong (date of establishment is unknown but could have been circa 1820, i.e., at the same time as Masjid Banda Hilir, now renamed Masjid An-Nur). The Kubur Syed point to these early Arabs who came to Tanah Melayu. Their role was to bring Islam to Jelutong and Penang. Whether this group of Hadrami Arabs practised any form of tariqat is unknown for now. The other strand of this Hadrami Arab is the Alattas, the group that opened Masjid Ba'alawi in Singapore.

(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
Dr A.M. al-Hadi - an early Malay doctor; a Senior Surgeon at General Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He entered into stock investment as Director SEACORP in Kuala Lumpur in 1994.

(TEMD research):
Dr SMA Alhady married Datin Ruby. Their daughter is Professor Dr Sharifah Fareeda Alhady (SF Alhady), previously with UM.

Dr SMA Alhady's son's name is unknown.

END NOTES

Interviews
(Sohaimi Abdul Aziz 2003):
Sohaimi Abdul Aziz interviewed Syed Ahmad al-Yahya at Jelutong on 27 January 1994 and USM published his book in 2003.

Unknown
Who is Syed Isa?
Who is Sharifah Nabilla Alhady bt Syed Isa? (born 5 November 1987; died 1 May 2009, 6 Jamadil Awal 1430)?
Where & when did Dr SMA Alhady die?
What is the name of Dr SMA Alhady's son?
Who is Syed Ahmad al-Yahya in Jelutong?
Who is Syed Omar in Jelutong?

Test page for Tynt

2011-10-21T06:55:00.002+08:00

This is a test page for Tynt.

Malay male perceptions of hospitals

2011-10-19T11:11:00.002+08:00

While Malay mothers have taken to hospitals for maternal delivery, Malay fathers have not followed this new wave of going to hospital.

Why do men need to go to hospital? They don't give birth, so why should they take any interest in hospitals?

Men accompany their wives to hospital but at times they too need to be hospitalised and need medical attention.

Why do men need medical attention?

Today, there is a rise in prostate cancer among men. How and why have this affected men today? Is it their food habits? Is it their lifestyle? Is it in their genes?

Men are strong and only a heart attack or stroke take them down. They survive heart problems and stroke, only to die from it later.

Men are rich today. They eat good food at exclusive places and become overweight and obese in some cases. However, a few men have managed to successfully lose weight and have normal BMI (body mass index). Some men just don't seem to be able to effect any weight loss but continue to put on excessive pounds.

Men are drivers, some careless, and some dangerous. We have seen the rise in road traffic accidents and some of the worst have occurred in the last 20 twenty years when speed limits were as high as 120 km/hr. We get anywhere very fast nowadays but sometimes as corpses, some severely mutilated. They go straight to the morgue.

Men are less concerned about their health. Let me qualify that. They are concerned about their health but at the same time they cannot refuse nasi briyani and roti canai. This compulsive urge to eat is what put men at risk of the weird types we can think of. And as a result, men land up on hospital beds, some with food restrictions.

Does a man's occupation keep him safe and away from the hospital? Yes and no. We all have great respect for our imams and the rank. It is strange that good men end up on hospital beds. Why? By reason we would think they know the supplications and prayers to keep them well and healthy. Why then do they end up in hospital? We forget that imams and the rank are humans. As human we consume food when we are hungry. Humans also consume food when they are not hungry. In our Malay culture and tradition, we give a lot of respect to men. When we plan on a kenduri (party), we invite men and then women and kids. When we serve food, we serve the men first and then the women and kids. When we have to keep food for a function, we save them for the men first, and we forget about the women and kids. So men get first mention and attention when it comes to food. Glorious food! Men thus have a go at good food saved for them and they get prime servings. The best foods go to men. Since in the Malay community, men frequently get invited to every function and usually food is served at the end of a Malay function - men get their grubs and grabs. The can to gobble ... gobble to their fullest if possible. In the Malay community and lifestyle, there is no smorgasboard where people eat to their hearts content. But kenduri-kendara makes up of this. If Westerners binge on buffet or smorgasboard food, Malay men binge on kenduri food. So we should be able to see Malay men landing on hospital beds just like Caucasian men end up in hospitals from various ailments. There should not be differences in diseases when they are resultant form binging or "full eating".

Now even the good men suffer from cancer of the pancreas. I remember one Uztaz read the Quran for warding off diseases of the organs, including the pancreas. Maybe we are no longer in touch with the Quran. I don't know but still I worry.

Cancer of the prostate, stage IV is about the worst I have heard this year. I don't know what else will come to my ears. Maybe we don't feel the urgency to investigate the causes for this disease. Why don't we have any urgency for grave diseases like this? Have we all lost ourselves?

If Malay men go to hospital at the late stage of their diseases and then die in our hospital, will the family blame the patient, the nurses, the doctors or the hospital management? Will Malay men refuse to come to hospital at the late stage of their diseases? Will Malay men come to hospital knowing that will come to die in the late stage of their diseases? Why don't Malay men blame their families? Why don't the families blame themselves for bringing their men to hospital but only at the late stage where a little cure at the early stage would suffice? Why are Malay men hesitant to come to hospital?

Malay men treasure their manhood and maleness (jantan). Would coming to hospital and laying in a hospital bed affect their ego? Is it this that hold back Malay men from coming to hospital? I don't know but I feel this is what is holding them back and they don't seem to seek cures at the early stage of any disease. I think they feel more manly to hold on till things get out of control. They would rather hold on and die from a disease rather than go to hospital at the early stage of any disease and try to get a possible cure.

Faith is a factor for an effective cure regardless of the nature of treatment. Even a placebo works when it comes to having faith. Do Malay men have faith in Western-trained doctors? No, they don't. That aptly sums my opinion. Malay men have no faith in doctors or they would have become doctors themselves. Why don't Malay men have faith in Western-trained doctors? I have no clue but I suspect they believe and have faith in other things. What could that be?

The Malay people are derived from the Indians who once dominated this region. The Borobudur and Angkor Wat are enough to remind us of our ascendants. The Indians have practised their own medicines for centuries and this had descended upon the Malay people today. The Malay people have their own set of practices which they have faith in. Why do they have to adopt the White man's medicine? So we see a clash of thoughts, preferences and egos when it comes to Malay men taking on Western medicine (allopathy), having faith in Western medicine and reluctance in coming to hospital. They would rather suffer the entire course of a disease and die at home, without any Western medicine interference. That is Malay men. They are tough!

Malay Pregnancy

2011-10-18T10:23:00.000+08:00

This is from my own assignment on Malay pregnancy, when I was a CFCS facilitator for our Medical School. CFCS = Community and Family Case Study. CFCS is a community-based program which begins in Year 2 Medicine and ends in Year 4 or 5, depending on the nature of each case under study. It is a program managed by the Dept of Community Medicine and lecturers from various departments are roped in to assist as facilitators. It is quite time-consuming to be a CFCS facilitator but the experience far outweighs the KPI for a senior lecturer. KPI = Key Performance Index, a measure of success at job performance; used for promotion by universities and businesses worldwide.

For this assignment, I went to Ulu Kusial in Ulu Kelantan, near the virgin jungles of Kelantan. Not many people live there. The community is that of timber loggers, lorry drivers and a few Malay households. There was one main street that had a petrol pump, a satay shophouse, a provisions shop and no commercial clinic. The nearest community clinic was Klinik Desa, Ulu Kusial. In a small community such as this one, everyone knows the other person. Even the big bully is a well-known figure. Even ladies who offer one-night stands for the lorry drivers are known. And ladies who married many times to different husbands are also known. Such is life in a remote area.

This is my story from my diary of 11 March 1993 (page 1). I have only recently retrieved this diary and I had only written 3 pages when this diary went missing. My family found it while cleaning the storeroom from white ant infestation. My other diaries have gone into the bonfire outside our house. This is the only way to get rid of the white ants - by burning. Page 2 had a tracing of my eldest daughter's right foot. Page 3 had a tracing of my elder son's right foot. The other pages of my diary were just the children's scribblings and sheer little-hand forces at work (conteng spree). The children's scribblings make me happy.

In my quest to learn about Malay pregnancy and care, I was interested to meet and talk face-to-face with the practitioners, persons whom the Malay people refer to as "bidan" (midwife). I had asked around if anyone knew of any good midwife whom I could interview. There were a few whom I met but most refused to be interviewed, and more so by me (a young mother with 4 kids; I was 34 and 4 months pregnant with #5). Anyway, after a long search I managed to talk to a boy at a shop. His mother was a Malay midwife. I have never met her. I decided on a date to return to interview his mother at her house (she lived alone).

I returned a week later and went to the shop where the boy worked for his grandfather's provision shop along main street, a dusty street with many timber lorries parked by the roadside as the drivers enjoyed satay at the shop across the road from his grandfather's shop.

He obtained leave from his grandfather to bring my husband and I to his mother's house. Before we ascended the mud steps to her abode on the hillside, I noticed he called out to his mother in a language I did not understand. We waited a few minutes for the mother's reply before we were allowed to ascend to her house. I did not know where the front door was (there was none). However, we went to the back of the house and there was a creaky old door. She called us in and asked us to sit. We sat in a semi circle facing her. She was known by her midwife name, Bidan Lijah. I don't know her real name as most Malay folks do not give their full name for fear of black magic and spells that are possible with knowing full name, mother's name and birth date. My diary says her name is Lijah bt Awang. She was 55 years old. She married and had 4 children, 3 sons and a daughter (second child). Her son who brought us to see her was called Idi (maybe short for Rosdi, Rosmadi or smthg). It is quite intriguing that her father's name is Awang. In the Malay circle and health practices and especially involving the supernaturals, Awang refers to a male spirit, a male servant or a male genie. Whether she was referring to her spiritual name, I haven't the faintest clue. I learned very much later, that in Malay conversation (including interview), I must not ask for a person's real name, or name for that matter. In this interview, I broke that rule as I had asked for her name for my record. Because I had asked for her name for record's sake, she became a bit hesitant to carry on being interviewed. I backed off a bit and said I only needed to interview her for her practices as a midwife as I had no knowledge about the practices of Malay pregnancy. She agreed and we continued our conversation in Kelantan dialect. Since I was not familiar with the Kelantan dialect, my Chinese-Malay husband (Affandi) was the go-between and he jotted down notes for me. Later when we reached home, I wrote my own notes with his guidance.

First we talked about Malay pregnancy (mengandung). According to her, the mother-to-be must refrain from a lot of things (pantang) even before pregnancy takes place. These included many taboos which I never knew.

For example, when cutting the chicken, the mother must constantly remind herself that she maybe pregnant and as such she should cut the chicken gently and not use chopping actions as these will cause her unborn child to suffer limb deficiencies (cacat). She must not kick the cat. All her actions to other creatures will affect her unborn child somewhat.

Another example she cited was about using a container for collecting nectar (tukil untuk air tuak). The mother-to-be must not tie a rope to the container or to her legs (genting kaki).

Yet another example was frankincense or sandalwood. The mother-to-be must not burn frankincense or sandalwood and call out to any spirit (bakar cendana dan seru). If she does that her unborn child will become deaf and mute. Beckoning the spirit includes saying things like: Bangun make Awae (rise and eat, son ...).

The spirit is referred to as Awae (Awang) in Malay. It is known to enter the body when a person opens his mouth wide as in yawning. It can also enter the body through any orifice - mouth, ear canal, nostrils, vagina, penis, and anus. When it enters the human body, it settles in the organs - heart, liver, kidney, intestines etc. It flows in the body in the blood. It manifests as a difficult to cure disease, a diseased body part or an ugly body part. It can manifest as a miscarriage or death in utero.

I have also heard cases of missing fetus and this is also accepted as manifestation of the underworld where the spirits are thought to impregnate the mother and which return later to claim the unborn child. The mother is pregnant for a few months only and then becomes 'not pregnant' when her fetus is removed by the spirit which impregnated her. She has no bleeding as occurs after a normal delivery.

The Malay people call this spirit bunyan and the immortals orang bunyan. Bunyan are like 'little people' or elves and knolls in British folklore. The bunyan are thought to be underworld royalties and therefore their presence on earth are marked with yellow satin during homebirth and even birth at hospitals. Similarly, gravestones are sometimes tied or covered with yellow satin. Sometimes the entire room is decorated with yellow satin as the fetus is thought to be descended from the royal underworld. For this type of birth, the Malay people therefore name their assuming royal sons "Raja" and their daughters "Puteri". I have no objection with these royal name prefixes.

As the day approached nightfall, she gave us an example that a mother-to-be must not walk about at dusk (berjalan waktu Maghrib). If she walks about outside her home at dusk, she will have a difficult delivery.

Our conversation quickly moved to another topic - breech child (menyongsang). Breech is songsang and a breech baby is bayi menyongsang. Her advice was about using a wooden stove (as in the old days before the mid-1970s). When the mother is pregnant, she must not push in the firewood in oblique direction or she will have a breech child (anak songsang).

At Maghrib, we quickly thanked her and left.

Malay Health

2011-10-17T09:28:00.002+08:00

I am intrigued by Malay Health and how the Malay people maintain their health. Their routine is different from what I have been taught in school & universities, and what I have known this far from books and textbooks. This post is about Malay Health from my own observation. I will highlight just a few things to let you re-think whether Malay Health is actually worth a re-study. It is a pity that the general mass today is pushing Malay Health aside as unnecessary and irrelevant as they fail to understand the basis of Malay Health & Practices. Though their practices are alluded to in modern online blogs and TV programs, there is nothing like taking a close look and searching for the right reasons as to why they were preferred practices within the Malay community for so long, even before Western Medicine reached the shores of Tanah Melayu. Let's see what has been on my mind ...

Bath

The Malay people bath daily. The elderly do not use any soap for the skin, body and face. They bathe with cold water in the morning before Subuh prayer. They bathe with luke warm water in the evening. They avoid baths at night. The do not bathe at night - the reason being it will be easy to catch a cold if one bathes at night. The leats bath is in the evening, before the Maghrib prayer.

House cleaning

The Malay people put out their bedding materials out in the sun every morning. They beat theor pillows and put them on the window sills to get the morning sun. The bedding materials are left to dry in the sun till noon when they are taken in - very hot! They are puffed and given new covers. This gets rid of bed bugs, ticks and lice, if any. The Malay people hardly suffer from skin diseases; they have very good and clean skin.

Skin inflictions

Malaysia is hot humid weather. There are cases of ringworm on the face and other body parts. The Malay people avoid washing the face when one is sweating profusely as after a game or working in the fields. This is to avoid ringworm infestation. However, male schoolchildren do get ringworm infestation on the cheeks and necks. With the imposition of closed shoes with shoe laces, schoolchildren (and adults) suffer from athlete's foot, which is quite difficult to cure in some stubborn cases. Schoolchildren even walk to school (and go home) in wet shoes in the monsoon season. Foot infections are a big problem especially if wearing closed shoes. Sandals were not allowed in Malayan schools; they are not allowed in Malaysian schools. Unlike in Australia, footwear has not received proper attention in Malaysian schools. In Australia, schoolchildren wear closed shoes in winter and wear sandals in summer.

Eyesight

The Malay people have very good eyesight. Most Malay schoolchildren do not wear any glasses or contact lenses throughout school and university. Many do not need glasses throughout their working lives. Many continue to enjoy good eyesight in old age. They have good eye practices to maintain eye health. Ask them.

Oral health
The Malay people have very good dentition and maintain oral health very well. In the olden days, they used powdered charcoal (from pounded burnt areca nut) mixed with ash and salt, to brush their teeth white and clean. They gargle with a solution made from strained pounded cloves with added salt. Some chew cardamom pods with uncooked rice grains (and spit the spent matter). Some prefer to chew betel leaves and areca nut. In the olden days, the rich men and women coat their teeth with gold leaf, thus they have golden teeth to show off. They remove collected pus from their tonsils by clearing their throats early in the morning when they bathe. Though the throat-clearing sound is awful, it is effective and works well for many and the likeliness of tonsilitis is nil. Men clear their throats more than women. Thus, they do not suffer from bad breath. However, acetone can be smelled in their breath when they fast. Patients with oral cancers do have bad breath.

Hand washing
The Malay people eat with their right hand. They wash the hands (or the fingers) with running water at the tap, by dipping their fingers in a bowl of water, or the washing the fingers from a small metal or plastic kettle. Raw water is used for washing fingers/hands before eating. Foe home eating, the Malay people do not use any utensils - no spoon or fork.

Food

The Malay people prefer home cooking for its freshness and cleanliness. The Malay people take hygienic food and avoid carcass. They eat halal food as opposed to koshered food preferred by the Jews. Halal food is prepared by reading Bismillah (in the name of Allah); koshered food maybe similar but Bismillah is never read for its preparation. They eat mainly rice with gravy and a good source of proteins. The health-conscious ones take a hefty amount of greens. However, that habit of eating greens has died down a bit in today's young Malay people as they migrate away from traditional Malay food to fast food. There are various foods prepared for various ailments. Soups containing fish (tuna variety), asam keping, lemon grass and galangher are for reducing the symptoms of asthma. Vegetables prepared with coconut milk, sweet potatoes and dark green leafy vegetables are for overcoming anaemia - 2 greens of special mention are daun cekak manis and daun keloh.

Blog stat (16 Oct 2011): 14,452

2011-10-16T21:50:00.001+08:00

I have changed the appearance of TEMD blog. This is the Dynamic view. You can click on the tab at far left to view various possible layouts for this blog. Click the title (The Early Malay Doctors) to return to the most recent post.

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Prof Faridah

Che Siti Wan Kembang and Kubur Che Siti

2011-10-15T23:48:00.000+08:00

Che Siti Wan Kembang was a Kelantan royalty. She was an intelligent and beautiful princess. Kelantan was named in her honour, Negeri Che Siti Wan Kembang.

She is buried in Kubur Banggol in Mukim Banggol. Since she was a royalty, yellow is used for her grave, columns, gravestone and retaining wall. She had lived in early Kelantan, at the time when Hindu reigned in this region, some practices of that era have lingered on and can be seen at some of the graves within this enclosure. Whether it is grave worship, I haven't the faintest idea.

There were some long wooden dolls planted in some of the graves here. There were female dolls with scarves and long skirts (like they use for Mak Yong dances or Wayang Kulit). I would think that the people who planted these dolls in these graves could still be practicising some form of grave worship from a past era (from the times of the Hindu reign in this region). The men here have dark brown skin - maybe from being fishermen and exposed to the sun for extended periods. They could have descended from Tamil Indians. The "Raja" prefix in their names gives a clue to their origin. However, the ladies here have fair complexion and look in between Chinese/Thai/Cambodian.

The word banggol refers to a mound, a high land (higher than the river or lowland) or embankment. The graveyard of Kubur Banggol is on a mound and is surrounded by swamp or marsh which open to the South China Sea.

Kubur Che Siti Wan Kembang, the princess and founder of Negeri Kelantan Darulnaim