SEARCH 63
7-8 November 2005
Monday, 7 November 2005, 11.24 pm - Tuesday, 8 November 2005, 12.46 am.
I received an e-mail from Dato' Anwar Fazal dated 23 September 2005. The subject read "Dr che lah ... and the others in the medical fraternity".
He asked how my research was going on. I replied alright.
He said at least two persons have clear memories of my grandfather, Dato' Dr. Che Lah bin Mohd. Joonos. He was known as 'Jelutong boy'.
He asked if my grandmother was a matron at the Penang General Hospital. I replied yes.
According to Dato' Anwar Fazal, Dato' Seri Mushir Ariff has great memory of happenings. His father was Dr. Ariff, an eminent doctor.
According to Dato' Anwar Fazal, there is a book which tells the story of Dr. Ariff. Dato' Anwar Fazal urged me to see Dato' Seri Mushir Ariff in Penang. He can arrange for me to meet him. According to Dato' Anwar Fazal, Dato' Seri Mushir Ariff is 89 years and a terrific story teller.
En. Fadli Ghani has also mentioned about Dr. Ariff and his son. But his son's name differs slightly here.
The other person is Dato' Lakbir Singh Chall (lakhbir@tm.net.my) who was Secretary of the Rural District Council where he worked.
The other doctors were:
- Dr. Mohamed Baboo who joined the medical department in 1917;
- Dr. Mustapha bin Osman (1900?) who was Professor of Pathology in Hong Kong, state surgeon in Kedah and settled in Penang. The University of Hong Kong will have more information about him;
- Dr. Haji Abdul
lahGhani bin Mohammed (1906?), Senior medical officer, Penang. His daughter settled in Australia. Her house in Babington Avenue was sold to Temple of Fine Arts.
Dato' Anwar Fazal asked if I had checked the earliest WHO's WHO books on Malaya/Malaysia. I replied I had not.
Dato' Anwar Fazal suggested to check the Malay language newspapers, Warta Negara of Penang. He said it will be alot of hard work unless someone has indexed them all. He said NST has the best resource centre. He said medical departments annual reports from day one will be a must. He suggested National Archive (Arkib Negara) and Singapore (Archives of National Board or National Heritage Board of Singapore - see Search 20).
He wished me the best and hoped that the two books were useful as background. Thanks, they are indeed. He will continue to send more stuff as they come.
Acknowledgement
Dato' Anwar Fazal
Worked with Penang Town Council in 1960s
Retired from UNDP
Works for World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)
E-mail: anwarfazal2004@yahoo.com
Dato' Dr. Haji Che Lah bin Mohd. Joonos (Class of 1930; December 1902-26 January 1986)
He was known as 'Jelutong boy'
He was a Penang icon
Worked with the Rural District Council, Penang
Second marriage was to Chong Nyet Lin @ Maria
Chong Nyet Lin @ Datin Hajah Maria
Worked as a matron at the Penang General Hospital
Second wife of Dato' Dr. Haji Che Lah bin Mohd. Joonos
Her son was Kamaruddin bin Che Lah
Dato' Seri Mushir Ariff
Has great memory of happenings
He is 89 years old
He is the son of Dr. Ariff
Dr. Ariff
He was an eminent doctor
There is a book written about him (author? year?) Could this be the book written by Sheikh Tahir Jalaluddin, Tun Dr. Hamdan's father?
His son was Dato' Seri Mushir Ariff
En. Mohd. Fadli Ghani
Pengarah Akademi Kajian Kota, Kuala Lumpur
E-mail: fadliayman@yahoo.com
Dato' Lakbir Singh Chall
Secretary of the Rural District Council, Penang
E-mail: lakhbir@tm.net.my
Dr. Mohamed Baboo (Class of March 1917)
Graduated from KE VII Medical School
Dr. Mustapha bin Osman (1900?)
Professor of Pathology in Hong Kong
State surgeon in Kedah
Settled in Penang
The University of Hong Kong will hove more information about him
The University of Hong Kong
Will have more information about Dr. Mustapha bin Osman (1900?)
He was a Professor of Pathology in U. of Hong Kong
Dr. Haji Abdullah Ghani bin Mohammed (1906?)
Senior medical officer, Penang
His daughter settled in Australia
House in Babington Avenue was sold to Temple of Fine Arts
New Straits Time Press Archive (Arkib NSTP)
NSTP Archive existed in Singapore since 1845
Puan Ramjan Hamzah
Assistant Manager
Reference & Customer Services
New Straits Time Press (NSTP)
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2056 9318/9388
E-mail: ramjan@nstp.com.my
Medical departments annual reports:
MOH
IMR
Hospitals
Clinics
Arkib Negara
May have photographs of the early Malay doctors
Photographs are ~RM120 per piece
When was Arkib Negara set up?
Archives in Singapore (see Search 20)
NST Archives existed in Singapore since 1845
Archives of National Board, Singapore
National Heritage Board of Singapore
Malay language newspapers
Warta Negara of Penang
Utusan
Books:
WHO's WHO
Check the earliest on Malaya/Malaysia
"Studies from the Institute of Medical Research, Federation of Malaya, Jubilee vol. 25, 1990-1950"
Written by the Institute of Medical Research (IMR), Kuala Lumpur.
"To Heal the Sick, the story of healthcare and doctors in Penang, 1786-2004"
Published in 2004, Dr. Ong Hean Teik, editor.
Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia
