Obituary: Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid bin Ismail

Abdullah Hamid has emailed to inform me that my granduncle Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid @ Coco or Koko Majid, has passed away yesterday, 24 March 2013. Tan Sri wrote the Foreword for my book. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rojiuun.

Dear Prof, assalamu 'alaikum

This is to inform you that Tan Sri Dr A Majid Ismail (Koko Majid) passed away this afternoon.Jenazah akan diuruskan dari rumah allahyarham di Taman Duta KL pagi esok dan akan dikebumikan di Royal Mausoleum Selangor. I recall reading in your blog that you're related to Allahyarham. My wife was classmate with one of the daughters, Elena.

Wassalam

BIOGRAPHY

Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid bin Ismail (1921-2013)

Summary

Dr Haji Abdul Majid bin Ismail (b.1921). He was born in Kampong Baru, Kuala Lumpur. He attended schools in Kuala Lumpur, first Sekolah Melayu Segambut, then Maxwell School, and Batu Road School before he was accepted into Victoria Institution. He won a Selangor State Scholarship to study medicine. He graduated with MBBS from the University of Malaya in Singapore in 1950. He was a Queen’s Scholar and pursued his postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh and then at the University of Liverpool. He became the first Malay Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in 1958. He had served at General Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Seremban. He was the first Eisenhower Fellow in 1963. He became the Director of Planning & Research in the Ministry of Health before he became the second Director-General of Health Malaysia till his retirement in 1976.

Abdul Majid was born to Ismail bin Nae’mat on Tuesday, 15 November 1921, in his grandfather’s house in Kampong Baru, Kuala Lumpur. The house has ceased to exist. Today, this spot would be at the intersection of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Raja Abdullah. 

He obtained a Selangor Education Department Scholarship 1932-39; Selangor Government Scholar 1940; enrolled at King Edward VII College of Medicine Singapore 1940-42 (pre-war) and 1946-49 (post-war); Japanese occupation in Malaya and Singapore 1941-45; Japanese Army Medical Corp took charge of hospitals; laboratory assistant to a Japanese chemist; his family home in Kuala Lumpur was bombed, and he lost all his photographs; returned to Ujong Pasir within Kampong Baru in Kuala Lumpur during the Japanese occupation; earned a living by selling salted fish, kerosene, birds, chickens, and tapioca; joined the Ikka Daigaku at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and moved to Malacca General Hospital in 1943; resumed medical studies at College of Medicine Singapore 1946-49; Social Secretary Medical College Union; King Edward VII Medical College and Raffles College merged in 1949 to form University of Malaya based in Singapore 1949; MBBS UM (Singapore) 1950; Medical Officer (MO) General Hospital Kuala Lumpur (GHKL) 1950-53; Program Doktor Radio 1950s; first Malay Queen’s Scholar in Medicine from UM (Singapore) 1950; Queen’s Scholarship 1950; pursued postgraduate studies in Edinburgh and Liverpool; Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh 1953-55; FRCS Edinburgh 1955; returned to Malaya 1955; State Surgeon Negeri Sembilan 1956; University of Liverpool 1957; M.Ch.Orth. Liverpool 1957; returned to Malaysia; first orthopaedician in Malaysia 1958; first Malay Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in Malaysia 1958; Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon FoM/Malaysia GHKL 1958-69; regarded as Father of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery in Malaysia; first Eisenhower Fellow from Malaysia 1963; Eisenhower Fellowship Pennsylvania, USA, 1963; Council Member UM 1959-87; Council Member UKM 1970-78; Chairman Council UM 1978-87; Founder Member and President College of Surgeons Malaysia; Founder Member and first President Malaysian Orthopaedic Association (MOA) 1967-82; Past-President Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation; Past-Chairman/Vice-President National Council of Social Welfare Malaysia; Past-President Persatuan Dato’—Dato’ Di Raja Selangor; Member of Board of Trustees Malaysian Medical Association (MMA); Past-President Selangor Government Servants Cooperative, Thrift and Loan Society; Ahli Dewan Di Raja Selangor (Member of the Ruler’s Advisory Council Selangor) 1996-98; Past-President Senior Government Officers Association (SGOA) Malaya; Founder Member and Past Vice-President Asean Orthopaedic Association; President Yayasan Sultan Abdul Aziz (Sultan Abdul Aziz Foundation); Past-Member of Board of Trustees National Welfare Foundation; Past-President Kelab Taman Perdana Di Raja (Royal Lake Club); Founder and Past-President Western Pacific Orthopaedic Association (WPOA); Founder and Past-President Malaysian Association of Sports Medicine (MASM); Past-Chairman National Medical Research Council (NMRC); Chairman, Campus Life Committee UM 1973; Member of the Board of Visitors GHKL; Chairman The Heart Foundation of Malaysia; Vice-President Eisenhower Fellows Association Malaysia; Foundation Fellow for Medical Science, Academy of Science Malaysia; Founder Chairman Pantai Hospital (later became Pantai Medical Centre); Founder Chairman INTI College; Chairman Director and Shareholder Syarikat Endah Sari Sdn Bhd, Tron Development Sdn Bhd, United Highlands Sdn Bhd, Selesa Health Farm Berhad, Maddusalat Berhad, Inti Universal Bhd, Syarikat Enjah Arif Sdn Bhd, and Syarikat Endah Sari Electronics Sdn Bhd; Hajj 1968; Director of Planning and Research, Ministry of Health (MoH) 1970-71; involved with the development of medical programmes and hospitals for Malaysia; appointed Malaysia’s second Director-General (DG) of Health MoH 1971-76; Hon FRACS 1972; retired as DG MoH 1976; F.A.Sc. Medical Sciences Malaysia 1995; published his book An Old Man Remembers 2006; awarded PPT by Negeri Sembilan 1965; JMN by DYMM SPBYDP Agong 1965; Dato’ Seri Maharaja DiRaja Selangor by DYMM Sultan of Selangor 1966; SPSK by Sultan of Kelantan 1972; PSM (Tan Sri) by DYMM SPBYDP Agong 1973; SSSA by Sultan of Selangor 1985; Board of Governors 1950s; Guest of Honour Victoria Institution Speech Day 1986; Chairman Yayasan Jantung Malaysia (Malaysian Heart Foundation); Board Member Yayasan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz; Committee Member Rumah Amal Cahaya Tengku Ampuan Rahmah (RACTAR); Director Yayasan Tun Abdul Hamid.

Tan Sri Abdul Majid married Puan Sri To’ Puan Khairany bt Mahyuddin (b. 1924). They have three children, a son and two daughters—Prof Aljafri Majid (retired from UM), Elisha, and Ellina.

- Faridah Abdul Rashid, 25 March 2013. Reproduced from the book, Biography of the Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore, 2012, pp248-261.

PHOTOS

Coco's sister Maznah, my mother Tulip, Bik Endon isteri Tok Ali Alor Star, Mak Lang isteri  Tok Alang Kg Baru, Kamariah Bujang with  baby Afiq my sister-in-law, and Muzlifah Abdul Aziz anak Mak Nya (Jami'ah Gombak). 26 June 1988. Photo from Bapak's collection.

Two of Coco's sisters, one in blue tudung and the other seated on the chair. Photo from Bapak's collection.

My father Abdul Rashid bin Mohd Yusope as Imam, and the makmum were his brothers. The one in striped shirt and kain pelikat is Baharudin bin Mohd Yusope, private secretary to Tun Hussien Onn when he was PM. Photo from Bapak's collection.

Coco's mother, Enjah bt Muhammad Ariff, a Quran teacher in Kg Baru, KL. Photo from a book in Arkib Negara Malaysia.

Coco's last book was published in 2006
Available from Amazon.com

External links
http://rehabmalaysia.org/background/committee-members/
http://www.nst.com.my/latest/sultan-of-selangor-visits-former-health-d-g-majid-1.78318
http://tengkusyah.blogspot.com/2012/04/sultan-selangor-menziarahi-tan-sri-dr.html
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=936992
http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/former-director-general-of-health-dies-1.241878
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/bekas-kp-kesihatan-dr-abdul-majid-ismail-meninggal-dunia/
http://my.news.yahoo.com/bekas-ketua-pengarah-kesihatan-dr-abdul-majid-ismail-095232494.html
http://www.keadilandaily.com/takziah-buat-keluarga-tan-sri-abdul-majid-ismail-mb-selangor/
http://www.malaysiandigest.com/bahasa-melayu/293751-pm-ziarah-jenazah-bekas-ketua-pengarah-kesihatan-dr-abdul-majid.html
http://www.arkib.gov.my/en/abdulmajidismail
http://www.tourismselangor.my/sultan-abdul-samad-mausoleum/
http://artmelayu.blogspot.com/2011/01/makam-diraja-royal-mausoleum-of.html
http://www.moa-home.com/history.html
https://www.morthoj.org/2013/v7n2/Tan-Sri-Dr-Abdul-Majid-bin-Ismail.pdf 

Batu Road School, Kuala Lumpur

I don't know the history of the school. I have only heard of the school from 2 people - Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid and my late mother.

So far, I have Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid who stated in The Who's Who in Malaysia 1965 that he attended Batu Road School (refer to my previous post on him).

I went to Kuala Lumpur many times to search for the school between 2007 and 2009. However, when I passed in front of the school, I was confused because the plaque read as shown below. It seems the school is now 3-in-1. It is a special school for the blind, an integration program and a boys' school. Just across the road is the Batu Road Girls' School.

Pendidikan Khas (Cacat Penglihatan) Jalan Batu
Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Kuala Lumpur
(Special School for the Blind)

Program Pendidikan Khas Integrasi

Sekolah Kebangsaan Lelaki Jalan Batu
Jalan Raja Laut
50350 Kuala Lumpur
Tel/Fax: 03-2692 7297

Recently, my eldest daughter also took pictures of the same old school. She emailed me the photos without any text or caption but I noticed the bright yellow and brown colours, and instantly knew it was the same school I had photographed before.

These photographs were taken from my moving car (so some photos are blur) (7 June 2009):

Orthopaedic Pioneers

This website contains names of pioneers in orthopaedics:

http://www.medic.ukm.my/sps/department/dep14.html

Other websites:

http://onedaymd.blogspot.com/2012/04/orthopedic-surgeons-national-specialist.html

http://www.medic.ukm.my/laru/OPA.pdf

http://pm10.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html
http://www.moa-home.com/newsletter/BeritaOrtopedikApr07.pdf

Orthopaedic pioneers:

1. Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid bin Ismail (Coco)
2. Prof. Dr Masbah Omar
3. Dr Shamsuddin Osman Cassim / Dr. Samsudin Osman Cassim, B.Sc.Med, M.D, M.S.Orth (UKMalaysia), / Dr Samsudin Osman Cassim (Gleneagles Hospital KL), grandson of Dr Samsudin bin Kassim / Cassim
4. Prof Dr Saw Aik

Tokoh-Tokoh Dalam Sejarah Malaysia

1978 PSM awards

1978 PSM awards from Agong (Tan Sri)

Malaysian Orthopaedic Association (MOA)
http://www.moa-home.com/history.html

Dr Abdul Majid bin Ismail

Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid was the first Malay Queen's Scholar, first Eisenhower Fellow and second Director-General of Health Malaysia.

Dr Abdul Majid bin Ismail in The Who's Who in Malaysia 1965

Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid Ismail, the first Malaysian Fellow, talks about the lifelong impact of his fellowship experience at the Eisenhower Fellowship on 15 October 2008.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eisenhowerfellowships/3232318794/

He was Tunku Abdul Rahman's golf buddy.

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2007/7/9/central/18215906

An old photo of the Victoria Institution I found in my father's collection in his home in Penang. This photo was taken by my grandfather (Walid). This could be an early photo of the Victoria Institution since there were no trees yet.

Std 6A Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur
Abdul Majid bin Ismail is seated 3rd from left.
Mohamed Noor bin Marahakim is seated 3rd from right.
Photo from Victoria Institute website by Chung Chee Min.

Photo from VI website by Chung Chee Min

US President Dwight Eisenhower

Book written by John Michael Gullick (JM Gullick) about Henry Syers and the Selangor Police. Syers ordered a group of Malacca Malays to move to Kampong Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Tan Sri's grandparents were among those who relocated to Kg Baru. His parents were from Kg Baru. Ujong Pasir in Kg Baru is named after the original village in Malacca (Ujong Pasir after Banda Hilir and before Umbai). JM Gullick was featured on Malaysian TV.

A History of Kuala Lumpur 1856-1939 by JM Gullick (MBRAS). Tan Sri recommended me to read this book to understand Kuala Lumpur. I borrowed the book via Inter-library Loan at USM.

Jebak as mentioned in Tan Sri's book. He loved the story where he caught birds

Tan Sri mentioned The Coliseum (1920), where he used to hang out as a young man.
Dr Mohd Bakri Musa informed me that Tan Sri often hangs out here.
I didn't see this building in KL.

The Coliseum Cinemas of 1920 viewed in 2012.

Photo from Kuala Lumpur Old Photos at www.skyscrapercity.com.

The Jungle Princess is an American movie which Tan Sri watched as a medical student and later  acted in a play when he returned to the hostel.  He played the part of Coco the chimpanzee. The name has stuck since that time.

Dorothy Lamour who was the heroine in The Jungle Princess movie. Back at the hostel, the medical student who played the part of Dorothy was killed when a bomb struck him during the bombing at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in the Battle of Singapore in February 1942.

The Carcosa was Frank Swettenham's residence. Tan Sri was a young waiter at some of the  celebrations here.

Bangsar Hospital was formerly the European Hospital in Bangsar. Tan Sri's younger daughter Ellina was born here in 1959

District Hospital Kuala Lumpur (later General Hospital Kuala Lumpur). This photo of the old hospital in Kuala Lumpur was confirmed by Tan Sri who said the old buildings were wooden and on stilts. This photo was provided by the Malaysian Orthopaedic Association (MOA) where Tan Sri was the Founder-President. Dr Saw Aik gave permission and mentioned the original photo could have been taken by Prof Sengupta, a pediatrician who has returned to Singapore. I tried to call him, but I didn't manage to get in touch.

Tan Sri related the story of "Huxley's ruins", the unfinished building-development of the hospital that looked like ruins, which embarrassed the British person in charge of the construction whose name was Huxley. The expenses incurred by the Government and Major Huxley for the planned hospital buildings are explained in the book, Records and Recollections. Here are extracts of The Huxley Contracts on pages 83-86  of the book:

Link

The Eurasian Club at Jalan Pudu in Kuala Lumpur. Photo from Kuala Lumpur Old Photos at www.skyscrapercity.com.

Sultan Abdul Samad building, Jalan Raja in Kuala Lumpur

Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur is near where Tan Sri's mother was born. He wrote in his book about the location of the house where his mother was born.

Sg Klang and Sg Gombak confluence and the Benteng on the right.

Confluence of 2 rivers from my hotel room

Tan Sri and his memoir An Old Man Remembers (2006). Everything you need to know about him is in his book. He gave me a free copy. Photo from the Star.

Dato Harun bin Haji Idris was a close friend and they went for Hajj together, with 2 others

FAMILY

Federated Malay States Railway (FMSR). Photo from Walid's collection. Walid is Tan Sri's cousin and my paternal grandfather Mohd Yusope bin Hj Mohd Sharif.

Railway workshop office at Sentul. Tan Sri Abdul Majid's father worked in the repair section of the FMSR. Photo from Kuala Lumpur Old Photos at www.skyscrapercity.com.

Tan Sri Abdul Majid's mother, Enjah bt Muhammad Ariff, a Quran teacher.

I remember calling her Nenek Enjah when it should have been Moyang Enjah.

Tan Sri & Toh Puan Khairany have 3 children - Aljafri, Ellisha and Ellina.

Prof Aljafri's book

Fundamentals of Surgical Practice

Ellisha Majid's book

A Sausage Went for a Walk by Ellisha Majid and Peter Kendall

Tan Sri is seated at left. His younger daughter Ellina is standing at 2nd right. Her husband Azizuddin is beside her. Photo from Yayasan Tun Abdul Hamid (YTAH). Azizuddin is Chairman YTAH. YTAH does a lot of charity work in Selangor. Tan Sri and daughter are Directors of YTAH. The other 2 children are Prof Aljafri and Dr Ellisha (not shown). Prof Aljafri appeared on TV briefly when the TV reported there was a landslide at the Selesa Hillhomes Resort, maybe last year (2011). I have never met Prof Aljafri, Ellisha and Ellina in person.

Ellina's family. Captured from YTAH.

External links:

Travel in Style - Edinburgh & Geneva
http://www.moa-home.com/history.html
www.skyscrapercity.com