Tun Syed Sheh Al-Haj bin Syed Hassan Barakbah

BIOGRAPHY

Tun Syed Sheh was born on 10 November 1906 in Alor Star, Kedah.

He received his education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College (SAHC) in Alor Star, Kedah before continuing his studies in England on a Kedah State Government's scholarship. He was accepted to read law at the Inner Temple. He graduated with a LL.B degree in 1934.

Tan Sri Syed Sheh Al-Haj bin Syed Hassan Barakbah was a judge and senior official in Malaya, starting his career under British rule and continuing in independent Malaysia.

He was an Arab descendant in Malaya. He was the first Arab-Malay to lead as chief judge (ketua hakim) in independent and modern Malaysia. He was the second chief judge after the Englishman, Tun Sir James Beveridge Thomson.

YAA James Beveridge Thomson, Tun Sir
S.S.M, P.M.N., P.J.K.
16.9 1963-31.5.1966
(Ketua Hakim Negara Pertama)

YAA Tun Syed Sheh bin Syed Hassan Barakbah Al-Haj
S.S.M., P.M.N., D.P.M.K., P.S.B.
1.6.1966-9.9.1968
(Ketua Hakim Negara Kedua)

YAA Tun Dato' Mohamed Azmi bin Haji Mohamed
S.S.M., P.M.N., D.P.M.K., P.S.B., P.J.K.
10.9.1968-30.4.1974
(Ketua Hakim Negara Ketiga)

YAA Tun Mohamed Suffian bin Haji Mohamed Hashim
S.S.M., P.S.M., S.P.C.M., D.I.M.P., J.M.N., S.M.B. (Brunei), P.J.K.
LL.D., D. Litt
1.5.1974-12.11.1982
(Ketua Hakim Negara Keempat) ... Note: He was mentioned in Dr Megat Khas's biography in Biography of the Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore. 

YAA D.Y.M.M. Sultan Azlan Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah
S.S.M., D.K., P.M.N., P.S.M.,
S.P.C.M., S.P.T.S., S.P.M.P., S.I.M.P.,
D. Litt, LL.D.
12.11.1982-2.2.1984
(Ketua Hakim Negara Kelima) ... Note: He passed away on 28 May 2014.

YAA Tun Dato' Mohamed Salleh bin Abas
S.S.M., P.M.N., P.S.M., S.P.M.T. D.P.M.T., J.M.N., S.M.T.
3.2.1984-8.8.1988
(Ketua Hakim Negara Keenam)

YAA Tun Dato' Seri Abdul Hamid bin Haji Omar
S.S.M., P.M.N., P.S.M., S.S.M.T., S.I.M.T, S.I.M.P. S.P.M.S., D.P.M.P. P.M.P.
9.8.1988-9.11.1988
(Acting Lord President)
10.11.1988-24.9.1994
(Ketua Hakim Negara Ketujuh/
Ketua Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan Pertama) ... Note: refer to Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid's biography.

YAA Tun Dato' Seri Mohd Eusoff bin Chin
S.S.M., P.S.M., S.P.C.M., D.P.M.J.
D.P.M.K., J.S.M., S.M.J.
25.9.1994-19.12.2000
(Ketua Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan Kedua)

YAA Tun Dato' Seri Mohamed Dzaiddin bin Haji Abdullah,
S.S.M., P.S.M., S.P.C.M.,
D.S.P.J., D.P.M.P, D.M.P.N.
20.12.2000-14.3.2003
(Ketua Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan Ketiga)

YAA Tun Dato' Sri Ahmad Fairuz Bin Dato' Sheikh Abdul Halim
Age: 62 years
Appointed as Judicial Commissioner: 1.12.1988
Elevated to the High Court: 1.8.1990
Elevated to the Court of Appeal: 1.12.1995
Elevated to the Federal Court: 1.9.2000
Appointed as Chief Judge High Court of Malaya: 1.9.2001
Appointed as President of The Court of Appeal: 1.12.2002
Appointed as Chief Justice of The Federal Court: 16.3.2003
(Ketua Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan Keempat)

YAA Tun Abdul Hamid Bin Hj. Mohamad
Age: 62 years
Appointed as Judicial Commissioner: 1.5.1990
Elevated to the High Court: 1.3.1992
Elevated to the Court of Appeal: 1.9.2000
Elevated to the Federal Court: 1.8.2003
Appointed as Chief Justice of the Federal Court: 2.11.2007
(Ketua Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan Kelima)

YAA Tun Dato’ Seri Zaki Bin Tun Azmi
SPCM, SPMK, SSM, PSM, SSDK,
PJN, DSMT (Terengganu), DSDK(Kedah), JSM, KMN
Ketua Hakim Negara Mahkamah Persekutuan Malaysia
18 Oktober 2008 - 09 September 2011

Career

• April 1946: Special Magistrate
• 1948: President, Kedah Sessions Court in the Colonial Legal Service
• October 1955 – June 1958: Judge, Seremban Court
• 1962: Judge, Court of Appeal
• 1963: Chief Judge of Malaya
• 1 June 1966 – 10 October 1968: Lord President of the Supreme Court Government 
• 1 June 1966 - 9 September 1968: Ketua Hakim Negara Ke-2
• Government Administrative Officer in Penang
• 1968: Senator
• 27 January 1969: Yang di-Pertua Dewan Negara (Governor) - appointed by Agong
•  Feb 1969-Feb 1975: 3rd Governor of Penang - he served two terms.

Awards

S.S.M.

P.M.N.

D.P.M.K.

P.S.B.

Name style
His name was styled in 2 ways.

1. Tun Syed Sheh Al-Haj bin Syed Hassan Barakbah
2. YAA Tun Syed Sheh bin Syed Hassan Barakbah Al-Haj, S.S.M., P.M.N., D.P.M.K., P.S.B., 1.6.1966-9.9.1968, (Ketua Hakim Negara Kedua)

Demise
Tun Syed Sheh passed away on 8 October 1975 in Alor Star, Kedah.

Relatives
His grandchildren and relatives are in Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/syarifah.barakbah
https://www.facebook.com/shareenabarakbah
https://www.facebook.com/zira.barakbah
https://www.facebook.com/sharyfah.sara
https://www.facebook.com/groups/177511132269056/ (Rangkaian Ahlulbait)

Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tan_Sri_Syed_Sheh_Al-Haj_bin_Syed_Hassan_Barakbah
http://www.mykedah2.com/e_20hall_fame/e201b_1.htm
http://www.kehakiman.gov.my/?q=node/60
http://kedah.kehakiman.gov.my/
http://kedah.kehakiman.gov.my/index.php?
http://www.kehakiman.gov.my/?q=node/535
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kompleks-Mahkamah-Alor-Setar/157376824311110

Kedah courthouses

The high court is situated in Alor Setar.
The session courts are situated in Alor Setar and Sg Petani.
The magistrate courts are situated in Alor Setar, Sg Petani, Jitra, Langkawi, Baling, Kulim, Gurun, and Kuala Nerang.

Kompleks Mahkamah Alor Setar
05150 Alor Setar
Tel: 04-735 2900
http://kedah.kehakiman.gov.my/

Kompleks Mahkamah Sungai Petani
Jalan Lencongan Timur
08000 Sungai Petani
Tel: 04-448 1770
http://kedah.kehakiman.gov.my/node/36
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kompleks-Mahkamah-Sungai-Petani/

Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Nerang
06300 Kuala Nerang, Kedah Darul Aman
Tel: 04-786 6628
Fax: 04-786 8224
http://kedah.kehakiman.gov.my

Other related links
http://lib.kedah.uitm.edu.my/psblibrary/Orang Asli land rights.pdf
http://jati-dseas.um.edu.my/filebank/Dutch VOC vs Malay Courts in Tanah Melayu.pdf

Syaikh 'Abdul Qadir ibni Husein Syah 'Alirah

This is the first evidence of the existence of Islam in Kedah's history in 904 AD (291 Hijrah). This was 280 years after Prophet Muhammad SAW passed away in 10 Hijrah, ie, Islam reached Malaya before the 3rd Century Hijrah.

Who was Syaikh 'Abdul Qadir ibni Husein Syah 'Alirah ('Alam)?

The plaque of Makam Syaikh 'Abdul Qadir ibni Husein Syah 'Alirah ('Alam)

Source:
http://usrah-jamadilkubra.blogspot.com/2009/08/manaqib-syed-jamaluddin-hussin-al-akbar.html
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=508442349174992&set=gm.399708856768215&type=1&theater

Future Research Projects

So far I have 2 research projects in the pipeline. They are very difficult to do. The difficulty lies in the fact that they touch on history, something that is retrospective, and as such searching for the correct information and survivors of the historic past is bleak. Many of the old people who could help have passed on. There are a few of the elderly left but they too are too frail and interviewing them can be stressful for them. There is a paucity of information in our archives and I'm practically using all possible means and modes to get credible evidence before I can write something useful. 

The 2 projects are (by their tentative book titles):

1. The Malayan Hajj Doctors 1900-2013

2. Nakhoda nan Intan Opens Singapore, Malacca and Penang 1720-1734

I have written parts of both projects online.

The Malayan Hajj Doctors is covered in The Early Malay Doctors blog (this blog). I will move it to another blog when I have time.

The Malayan Hajj Doctors 1900-2013 will also be my paper and presentation at "Penang and the Hajj 2013" conference and workshop on 17-18 August 2013 at the E&O Hotel, Penang.

Nakhoda nan Intan is covered in my family blog at 262 Banda Hilir.

Royalty for 28 May 2013

Royalty

I received USD$38.36 (ending 31 March 2013) and AUD$76.76 (ending 28 May 2013) - JP Morgan cheques.

The currency is either USD or AUD, depending on where the sales were made and who is issuing my cheque. USD is for sales in USA, Canada, UK and Europe; AUD is for sales in Asia Pacific.
Alhamdulillah.

The horrible thing about banking-in small amounts of foreign cheques in a Malaysian bank is I lose a lot of money for commission (~12.79%). In the end, after waiting 1 month, I get only a few Ringgit (from my AUD76.76 cheque which is valued at RM195.43, I only get RM165.28, after deducting commission and postage & stamp duty).

My Maybank account statement gives the following details:

MAKLUMAT KREDIT / ADVICE OF CREDIT

TEMPAT / PLACE: KUBANG KERIAN

TARIKH / DATE: 08/07/2013 (... which I received on 11 July 2013)

RUJUKAN KAMI / OUR REFERENCE: KKKFBC300009

Adalah dimaklumkan bahawa akaun anda telah dikreditkan seperti berikut:-

We wish to advise that your account has been credited today as follows:-

Being Proceed on Cheque No. 276522 drawn on J.P.Morgan
sent for collection on 12/06/2013 cleared: RM195.43

LESS : COMMISSION: RM25.00

LESS: POSTAGE & STAMP DUTY: RM5.15

NETT: RM165.28

CURRENCY AND AMOUNT:
Gross: AUD 76.76
Nett 1: AUD 68.19
Rate 1: 2.8660

LESS AGENTS CHARGES: AUD 8.57

My opinion and hope

Revenue from royalty is small but nevertheless continuous. The amount is unknown but I pray that my book will sell well on the Internet.

Biography of the Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore

I have still not received the 5 posters that were promised when I signed up with Xlibris Premier B/W publishing package early last year (Jan 2012). They were routed to a wrong address.

Hosting subscriptions

I have paid for 1 year hosting of my 2 books at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. The hostings end in September 2013. If I don't renew, nobody will get to see my books online except at my publisher's website www.xlibris.com. If I continue to pay annual subscription, hosting will continue till Sept 2014 (1 year). I haven't decided yet. But if you don't see my book(s) on Amazon.com, it means I didn't continue my subscription to host my books there. And the same for the other websites.

Author Learning Centre (ALC)

I have terminated my subscription to ALC because I don't have time for it. Anyway, it is best to learn to write and improve my writing on my own by experience and pick up the skills myself rather than pay for selective resources and be pushed when I can't waste time reading when I have to write and research. ALC is the principal for Xlibris. ALC is now a part of Penguin in the book industry.

Spring Book Sale

I signed up and paid for the Spring Book Sale in the USA. I hope some US, UK and Canadian universities will open their eyes wide and see my book, and will nominate it for class use, especially for courses on Malay History and Malay Medicine. The subscription comes to RM3,000 for 3 months campaign. I paid for the first installment so that Xlibris team can start work on the poster/flyers and other needed documents for the Spring Book Sale. It is a time when university professors buy or recommend new books to students. Bookstores will stock recommended books and students will only need to go to the respective university bookstores to purchase their books.
The Xlibris financial dept will automatically deduct installments from my credit card.
This is the Xlibris report for 22 June 2013, after the second installment was automatically deducted.

SUMMARY

Total Purchases		$1,303.00
Total Payments (THANK YOU)		($878.67)
Outstanding Balance		$424.33

PURCHASES

Book ID 501451

Order Date	Service	Qty	Price	Total
05/20/2013	Spring Mktg Package 3 (TP)	1	$1,273.00	$1,273.00
05/20/2013	Msvcs - Web Design Advanced	1	$0.00	$0.00
05/20/2013	MSvcs - Press Release 1000 - 052006	1	$0.00	$0.00
05/20/2013	Msvcs - Email Marketing Campaign Quad 1,000,000	1	$0.00	$0.00
05/20/2013	MSvcs - Book Review Campaign - TP Prof 052006	1	$0.00	$0.00
05/20/2013	Addon- Marketing Installment Surcharge	1	$30.00	$30.00

This is the printout of the details on 23 July 2013, after I paid up the last installment on 21 July 2013:

Marketing & Sales

My 2 books can be purchased at many online outlets. These include Xlibris, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, e-Bay, The Book Depository and many more. Just Google the individual book title. Please check my previous posts on these outlets.

My 2 books are not available in physical stores in Malaysia (i.e., they are not sold at MPH, Kinokuniya or Syarikat Muda Osman) because I want it to sell mainly on the Internet, and study how a book written by a Malay in Kelantan will do on Internet sales. It is a research in itself.

However, I made arrangements with a few people to help me sell my books to families, friends and students who do not have credit card or web cash to purchase online books. The small-time/part-time booksellers' names and contact # are posted below.

The book price covers my purchase from my publisher based in Australia, including charges for air courier (from UK printer to Malaysia via DHL and AirAsia shipment) and if I need to re-courier domestically via PosLaju to the people who are helping me to sell my books.

Courier price is very expensive and therefore the book becomes expensive in the end. Otherwise the book is quite cheap for a foreign/international book.


In Klang Valley

For rapid delivery within Klang Valley, my son-in-law (Mohammad Nizam bin Omar) can assist. He can be contacted by email, mobile or in Facebook. Who is Nizam? He has a diploma in IT. He is a part-time student of UKM. He works part-time for Pos Malaysia network security. You can type Biography of the Early Malay Doctors in Facebook and you should be able to reach him. You can also type Research on the Early Malay Doctors in Facebook to get the other book.

Contact:       Muhammad Nizam bin Omar
                    Mobile: 017-358 7010
                    Email: dgtalwa@gmail.com
                    Facebook:
                         http://www.facebook.com/Muhammad Nizam bin Omar
                         http://www.facebook.com/Research on TEMD
                         http://www.facebook.com/Biography of TEMD

In Penang

You can purchase my books from my elder sister Sharifah. Who is she? She works at the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP), Jalan Masjid Negeri in Penang. She is the Second Secretary to Mr Haji Idris, CAP President.

Contact:       Hajah Sharifah bt Haji Abdul Rashid
                    Mobile: 019-571 3995
                    She has no email
                    She is in Facebook but her housemate operates it for her.

In Kelantan

You can purchase my books from my husband Affandi. Who is he? He is a speech-language pathologist. He heads a unit called Unit Audiologi dan Patologi Pertuturan at Hospital USM. He has approximately 30 years of hospital administrative experience and over 12 years experience as a speech-language pathologist.

Contact:      Tuan Haji Affandi bin Haji Hussien
                   Mobile: 019-905 0397
                   http://speechaudiohusm.blogspot.com/
       
Booksellers

If you wish to sell my book(s), you can order direct from Xlibris. My caution is if you buy in bulk of 500 copies or more, you can get the books cheaply and make a lot of profit. However, if you purchase only a few copies, it will be expensive and you will only be able to make a small profit. This was what Xlibris taught me on the phone. But remember, every credit card has a spending limit.

All booksellers get 40% discount direct from the publisher (Xlibris Corporation) all the time, regardless of # of copies ordered. You do not have to know me (or 'Like' me in Facebook) to be a bookseller for my books on The Early Malay Doctors. Please contact Xlibris at their website or call them.

Please get back to me if you have any difficulties obtaining my 2 books. I will forward your difficulties to Xlibris. You can also contact Xlibris directly if you have any difficulties obtaining my books.

Newspapers & magazines

I have not publicised my 2 books in printed media (newspapers or magazines). You can read about my 2 books online. Just Google the titles.

I have also informed and requested Dato Yeoh Poh Hong (MMA) to help circulate news of my 2 books. Not heard back.

Tan Sri Dr Ridzwan Bakar is handling circulation news for MMA. Not heard back.

Exhibitions on The Early Malay Doctors

So far, two people have showed interest to host exhibitions about The Early Malay Doctors. They are Encik Anuar bin Isa and my sister Hajah Rabi'ah bt Abdul Rashid.

Encik Anuar bin Isa
Senior Curator
First Galleria
Taiping

Cikgu Hajah Rabi'ah bt Hj Abdul Rashid
Sekolah Menengah Jengka Pusat
Jengka Pusat
Pahang

Book launch

Prof Shaiful Bahari Ismail, Deputy Dean (Academic) suggested that our medical school hold a launch for my books. He asked that I contact the dean and the campus director. I contacted both the gentlemen by email.

How to contact me?

Click on The Author in the right panel. My email is embedded there.
I'm also in Facebook (add Faridah Abdul Rashid or drop me a message in Facebook).

Reviews

The 1-line reviews are as printed on the back cover of Biography of TEMD.

Fadzilah Abdul Ghani (Melbourne) says she gets engrossed reading my book and that the book is "precious". I believe so, and thanks. Her father's biography will be included next time when I do re-publishing, insyaAllah.

Noor-Ashikin Abbas (Singapore) recently visited the USM Library and obtained my books as a gift. She emailed to inform my books are precious, for her and everyone else who love Malay history. Noor-Ashikin helped tremendously in obtaining an NUS publication which helped me greatly in my research on The Early Malay Doctors. It was during the flood season in November, and she dared risk her life, to drive through the heavily flooded areas to reach Kelantan, to hand me the book herself. I almost cried. My sincere gratitude goes to her. Her name goes under the frontispiece (gambar depan) in the smaller book, Research on TEMD. The photo of KE VII which she took became a book cover for Research on TEMD. The same photo goes to make the posters, business cards and picture postcards (ppc). That's how far reaching photos can be in the book industry.

Please continue to send me short or long reviews. They are useful for me to work on, especially when editing my own books.

Second publishing

I have not set any date for a second publication of Biography of TEMD. I will publish again once I get the 2-3 remaining biographies in, hopefully in the next 2-3 years. Tentatively, these are the biographies which will be included or revised in the second publishing:

1. Dr Abdul Ghani bin Muhammad (new)
2. Dr Omar bin Din (revised)
3. Dr Syed Mohamed bin Alwi Alhady (revised)
4. Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmy (revised)
5. Dr Shamsuddin bin Cassim/Kasim (new)
6. Dr Syed Mahmud al-Kudsy (new)
7. Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad (revised)
8. Dr Salma bt Ismail (revised)
9. Dr K.M. Ariff (revised)

If you know of any other doctor not yet mentioned here or in my books and would like to get her/his biography published, you can contact me. I will assess and then decide whether to include or not. All biographies must have a head photo or portrait photo (gambar depan). Without a head photo, it is difficult for young people today to know who is who.

Research: Bacaan Surah Al-Fatihah

From: "Dr Azlan Husin" <azlanh@kck.usm.my>
To: staf@groups.wargakk.usm.my, akademik@warga.kck.usmnet
Cc: abudzarr@hematologi.net
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 5:39:37 PM GMT +08:00
Subject: [staf] Sukarelawan untuk penyelidikan - muslim sahaja

Salaam untuk semua kakitangan USM Kampus Kesihatan. Saya panjangkan di sini pemberitahuan daripada Dr Abu Dzarr Abdullah yang sedang menjalankan penyelidikan sepertimana di bawah 

-----Original Message----- 

From: Abu Dzarr Abdullah [mailto:abudzarr@hematologi.net] 

Sent: 19 May 2013 14:55 

To: drazlan8387@gmail.com; azlanh@kck.usm.my 

Subject: Untuk dihantar ke warga kck dan akademik 

Assalamualaikum, ini contentnya. 

----------------------------------------- 

Assalamualaikum w.b.k.t 

Saya sedang menjalankan penyelidikan yang memerlukan pembaca Al-Fatihah di kalangan lelaki dewasa berumur atas dari 18 tahun. Para sukarelawan yang dapat membaca bacaan Al-Fatihahnya dengan betul dialu-alukan untuk menyertai kajian ini. Bacaan anda akan dirakam manakala ciri-ciri peribadi anda akan dirahsiakan (anonymous/bertopeng) (audio & video) dan dinilai dari segi makhraj dan sifat huruf serta tajwid. Keupayaan bertaranum tidak diambil kira. Penilaian akan dilakukan oleh pakar qiraat. Pencarian akan diteruskan sehingga 60 orang yang betul bacaannya ditemui. Sesiapa yang berminat, sila hubungi Dr Abu Dzarr, 0139332372 (secara sms). Terima Kasih. 

----------------------------------------- 

Thank you 

Bedagai

Bedagai is a regency on the east coast of North Sumatra. It has a trading port. The capital is Sei Rampah. It once had 2 sultanates ruling the regency, the Serdang Sultanate and the Padang Bedagai Sultanate.

Bedagai is close to Batubara Regency. Batubara is noted for its docks and ship building. Its early ship captains landed in Penang well before Captain Francis Light arrived in Penang. One famous ship captain was Nakhoda nan Intan, whose descendants live in modern Penang today.

The word Bedagai was mentioned when I was writing the biography of Dr Ali Othman Merican (Dr A.O. Merican). One Malay man is a group photo was named Bedagai Aceh. He must have been a Sumatran trader from Bedagai or Aceh.

Bedagai Aceh is seated at leftmost. Seated in the middle is Othman Merican @ Che Teh. Che Teh's sons are the rest of the boys. Dr Ali Othman Merican (Dr AO Merican) is standing at leftmost, nearest Bedagai Aceh. Image originator: Ayah Wan Noordin Merican in Facebook. Image was obtained from Tamin Merican who obtained it from Ayah Wan Noordin Merican.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serdang_Bedagai_Regency

Resources on the Hajj

HAJJ DOCUMENTARIES

CHRISTIAAN SNOUCK HURGRONJE

Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje (8 February 1857 – 26 June 1936) was a Dutch scholar of Oriental cultures and languages and Advisor on Native Affairs to the colonial government of the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). He was a Dutch spy and masquerading as a Muslim. He was the first to record the Hajj in Makkah. He was discovered and fled the scene, leaving his recordings of the Hajj in Makkah. His films were recovered.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiaan_Snouck_Hurgronje

HAJJ 1885
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGZlJ-CH3Sk

Hajj 1885 by CS Hurgronje

Masjidil Haram in Makkah flooded 1941 AD
Photo from Umi Kalthom bt Mohd Yunus @ Wan Teh, Kg Melayu Batu Uban, Penang.

Masjidil Haram in Makkah 1372 Hijrah. Photo from Umi Kalthom bt Mohd Yunus @ Wan Teh, Kg Melayu Batu Uban, Penang.
Arabic numerals (٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎) 

The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 10 June 1927, Page 5

MATTERS MUSLIM.

"Assalamu-Alaikoum!"

News from Jeddah

His Excellency Sir Hugh Clifford announced, among the prominent Muslims from Malaya who are now in the Hejaz to perform the pilgrimage, are:

Inche Sawiah, widow of the late Sultan Sir Idris of Perak

Dato Muda Mentri of Perak

Inche Mohamed Salleh, Settlement Officer, Taiping

Inche Tajul Arus, Land Officer, Bandar Bharu, Kedah

Dato' Dalam of Trengganu

To' Puan Chu, widow of the late Dato' Laxamana of Perak

Inche Osman, late Assistant Collector of Land Revenue, Batu Pahat

Inche Mohamed Rajab of the Treasury, Alor Star, Kedah

Inche Mohamed bin Abdul Samad of the Ho Hong Bank, Batu Pahat

Demang Abdul Ghani and his son Inche Mahmud, Sanitary Inspector, Malacca.

The number of pilgrims, according to a letter received by Sir Hugh Clifford on 3 June 1927 from Jeddah, are: 

from the Netherland East Indies over 50,000

from Malaya over 12,000

from India, Egypt and other countries over 30,000 each

from Turkey 15,000 

There were no pilgrims from Turkey since the Great War.

There were no pilgrims from Persia.

Comparatively speaking, Malaya sends the biggest percentage of pilgrims every year.

Disembark from Hajj 1953 steamer (from YouTube video)

SUROOSH ALVI

The Makkah Diaries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7q_LcqbvKI


NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Inside Makkah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWhPSk5pfHg


ABDUL BASIT ABDUL RAHMAN

Amalan Haji Bahagian 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG-g-BhhTn0

Amalan Haji Bahagian 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLK9mGzsvxI


USTAZ FATHUL BARI MAT JAHYA

Haji Mabrur 2 (1/4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzlRKIJU-5k

Haji Mabrur 2 (2/4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOPy152t1L8

Haji Mabrur 2 (3/4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkrLrUhG3fA

Haji Mabrur 2 (4/4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5cWpilh8tQ

Arabia Felix

I was reading about Aden when I read about Yemen whose poetic old name was Arabia felix. Yemen lies on the 'right side' and that is considered 'good' as everything starts on the right or right side. A documentary on Yemen (on ASTRO) also featured its men as happy - they even danced at night. Yemen must be a happy place.

Yemen's relief is diverse, from the shoreline to the coastal plains to the wadis and mountains. Yemen is an ancient place with many ancient stories and monuments. It is hard to belief that Yemen is fertile as well as has a place called the Empty Quarter.

Almost every city in Yemen has its own character and long history.

Aden is by the sea and a volcano stands in its hinterland. It is an important seaport since time immemorial. Steamers stop at Aden for refueling and replenishing food supplies before proceeding northward to Jeddah, Port Said and finally passing through the Suez Canal and onward to Europe. Steamers from Europe also pass through the Suez Canal and stop at Aden for refueling and replenishing food supplies before sailing to India and onward to Southeast Asia. Aden harbour is busy.

Refueling

The Fairsea Roma steamer with its characteristic V marked on its funnel. The Fairsea is a fleet of elegant steamers. Photo from Dr Che Lah's Hajj collections, 1960s.

Hadramaut is the seat of scholars. Hadramaut has the largest archives holding Islamic manuscripts. Scholars here migrated to various parts of the world some 700 years ago to spread what they loved most - Islam.

Mokha is the town famous for its mocca coffee, a rich chocolaty coffee au lait mix

Sana'a is beautiful.

Tarim is an ancient burial ground.

Taiz has markets.

Sources:
Yemen Old Splendour Tours
http://www.yostours.com.ye/yemen.htm

Fairsea Roma steamer
http://www.ssmaritime.com/sitmar3.htm

Hajj Doctors and Pilgrimage in the Old Days 1960s

Hajj 1960s

I was going through 3 red boxes of old B/W photographs of the Hajj pilgrimage, belonging to my late grandfather, who served as a Hajj doctor/Hajj surgeon. The B/W photos were processed by Photo El Shark, Ahmad Mohamed Bakader, Mecca, Al Riad, Al Kharaj. P.O. Box 404, P.O. Box 309. The photographic paper used was GEVAERT. The boxes have some pencil scribblings of names of places or event. It is quite easy to follow his serial photographs and match them to the hajj rites. The living conditions and transportation back then are a far cry from what we have today (sheer luxury). It is his sheer courage to serve as a Hajj doctor not only once but numerous times, that I feel it is worth that I write and speak about him. In doing so, he had contributed greatly to our Ummah.

My grandfather is Dr Che Lah by his Malay name but at the back of one of his many Hajj photographs, his name was written in Jawi script as "Doktor Abdullah". This means his proper Muslim name was possibly Dr Abdullah and his call name was Dr Che Lah. A common Penang name prefix is Che or Che'. However, he had used his call name for his schooling and work certificates. People also knew him as Dr Che Lah. I have not been able to trace his Malay wedding certificate to see his full Malay name. His Latin name is Augustine on his English wedding certificate of 1931. Augustine is an Indian name used in India. Joonos is the Dutch spelling for Yunus. Joonos is pronounced as Yunus. His family arrived in Malaya from Hyderabad during the British colonial era, when Muslim names were spelled using Dutch spellings. His father and grandfather worked for the British colonial offices in Penang. Malay Muslim names were spelled as the Dutch would spell their names. Dr Che Lah was Indian-Malay by heritage and not Dutch. He was very tall, some say about 6 feet. His first wife was a Ceylon Dutch Burgher. His second wife was a Chinese whom he brought on 5 of his 7 hajj trips as a Hajj doctor.

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos Al-Haj, L.M.S. P.J.K.
Head of the Malaysian Medical Mission to Makkah in the 1960s.
Dr Che Lah had performed the Hajj in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968. He was a Hajj doctor (except in 1965) and headed the Medical Mission team to Makkah.

I looked at all the photographs and covers of the 3 boxes to see if I could find a date or get any hint of the date - unfortunately there was no date noted on any of the boxes. However, there was one photo which had my Chinese grandmother and her two children, a son and her adopted Chinese daughter. I tried to gauge the year by the Chinese girl's age - she is a year younger than me. She was born on 30 June 1959 and she was standing as a little girl in the family photograph. I gather that she would be about 4 or 5 years old. That would make it 1959 + 4 = 1963 or 1964. So the photos were of the early 1960s. That's the best I can get for the date. 

Anyway, I read somewhere that when the Hajj steamer sailed from Penang to Jeddah, it did not go straight there. The steamer would make one or more stops at the ports along the way, mainly to replenish food supply and water. One of the transit ports for refueling was Adan (Eden or Aden). Then the steamer continued its journey till it reached Jeddah port. It took 16 days to sail from Penang to Jeddah port. What happened in Jeddah? This is still a big mystery.

Haji Zul Tiger posted in my Facebook an article on Al-Balad. What is Al-Balad? Al-Balad is an acient historic city in Jeddah. It seems that the pilgrims would stay between 1-3 days at Al-Balad in Jeddah before they moved to Makkah or Madinah by overland route. I can't make out from the photos whether it was Al-Balad, Madinah or Makkah. In the photos, the medical team stayed at a brick hotel with several of their packed stuffs still remained tied. They went to market - a buffalo farm, a poultry farm and the general marketplace. They were surrounded by traders who tried to sell them stuff including hagar, the Arab headgear and tasbih or rosary. One picture showed an old car on the beach as they picnicked by the seaside in Jeddah. I gather the medical team had spent some days in Al-Balad in Jeddah before moving on to Makkah and Madinah.

Then they were photographed near some vans. They were probably negotiating a transport to travel from Al-Balad in Jeddah to Makkah or Madinah by road. There should be someone in the medical team who spoke Arabic in order for them to be able to negotiate a price to hire transport to go to Makkah or Madinah.

I counted the number of Malaysians in the photographs to estimate the size of the advanced medical team. There were 2 Hajj doctors (Dr Che Lah and a Dr Who), 3 Hajj nurses (Rabiah served as a pharmacist, the bigger lady's name is unknown, and one other nurse is Nik Zaleha), an elderly medical lab microbiologist and a few others were assistants. Altogether, there were 19 staff in the advanced medical team but not all were photographed at the same time (sometimes there were only 4, 7, 8 or 12 persons). There could be less or more than 19 persons because some of the people in the photographs might not be part of the advanced medical team but accompanied the team. They were probably related to the medical team members and took the opportunity to perform the Hajj together, or they could speak, read and write Arabic, or were ustaz and ustazah. There must be a reason for why they were travelling and performing the Hajj with the medical team.

Malaysian Medical Mission in the early 1960s (1964-1968).
Seated from left are Dr Haji Ahmad (Kedah), Hajj nurse Nik Zaleha, Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos (Penang), Hajj nurse Hafsah and Dr Inayat Hussain Amir Mohammad (Terengganu).

Malaysian Medical Mission in the early 1960s (1964-1968).
Seated from left are Hajj nurse Nik Zaleha, Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos, Dr Inayat Hussain Amir Mohammad and Hajj nurse Hafsah.

Men of the Malaysian Medical Mission to Makkah in the early 1960s (1962-1968). Dr Che Lah is seated third from the left. One of the other men is Haji Omar (as marked on one tin on the floor in the laboratory).

Members of the Malaysian Medical Mission visiting a date farm in Makkah. The man at far right is wearing ihram, indicating that the farm could be close to Makkah.

Dr Inayat Hussain Amir Mohammad (from Terengganu), working as a Hajj doctor with the Malaysian Medical Mission in Makkah, 1964-1968.

Dr Inayat Hussain Amir Mohammad (b.1928-d.1975).

Same as above. Photographed in Arafah, 1964-1968.

Nik Zaleha was a Hajj nurse and dispenser (pharmacist).

Hafsah (above) was the older nurse with Nik Zaleha.

Rabiah (left) and Nik Zaleha (right), Malaysian Hajj nurses.
Rabiah had probably just arrived in Makkah with her luggage at her side.

Pak Cik who?
Who was this elderly man?

Who is this man?
This is not Dr Haji Abbas. Is he Haji Omar?
He was also in a 1955 photograph with Dr Abdul Ghani bin Mohamad.

Who is this man? Is he a microbiologist or medical laboratory technician from IMR or Penang? He was the man who manned the microscope in the Malaysian Hospital laboratory in Makkah. What is his name? Is he Haji Omar?

The medical team arrived in Al-Balad, Jeddah on Day 20, after 16 days of sailing. They spent 3 days in Al-Balad and one day travelling. 

They reached Madinah in March 1963 and made a few visitations. They visited Masjid Nabawi in Madinah (Ziarah dalam). They also visited other areas around Madinah (Ziarah luar). 

From the photographs, the interior of Masjid Nabawi was crude. The exterior of Masjid Nabawi was paved, had young trees planted and looked acceptable.

One of the staff of the Malaysian Medical Mission (leftmost) outside Masjid Nabawi in Madinah, with two Saudi officials.

The medical team was photographed at various places as part of their Ziarah luar Madinah. They visited a small fort or masjid, Makam Syuhada Uhud at Mount Uhud, and a few unidentified places or buildings.

After they stayed in Madinah, as the Hajj season approached, the medical team moved to Makkah.

Rugged terrain around Jabal Nur, on the outskirt of Makkah. Jabal Nur is the mountain in the centre, with its peak pointing left. At the top of the peak is Gua Hirah, which faces Makkah.

The ladies in the medical team had adorned black Hajj garments (ihram) which were cloaks with hoods. They looked stylish with their selendang tied neatly but showing a turf of hair above their foreheads.

Malaysian Hajj nurses with heavy dark cloaks, dark shades and scarves. This looks like Ziarah Makkah in winter, i.e., in the colder months of 1964-1968.

The photos showed an old Masjidil Haram. The marble wall tiles were fixed as we have them today. The floor outside Masjidil Haram was not covered with marble floor tiles but was sand or earth and was dusty. There were many structures surrounding the Kaabah which cluttered the space near Kaabah (mataf). There were two staircases (one for each gender) to go down to the zamzam water wells. They are closed and cemented today (2013).

Outside the Saie venue of Masjidil Haram in the 1960s (1964-1968).

In Makkah, the medical team organised and set up the doctors' quarters, the nurses' quarters, male and female assistants' quarters, a kitchenette and a simple clinic. The corridor was narrow and rooms were very small. The doors were also small and near to each other. Patients sat on chairs and waited in the long narrow dingy corridor. The doctor's table was covered in a velvet tablecover and on top was displayed a stethoscope, a BP set and two other equipment. One of the Hajj doctors (junior) attended to an elderly man. One photo showed a nurse (bidan) attending to an elderly female patient. The younger nurse served as a dispenser or pharmacist during the Hajj.

Hajj medicines brought by the Malaysian Medical Mission by ship to Makkah between 1964 and 1968.

The conditions in the ward and clinic were clean. There was no air cooler or air conditioner in sight except for one air cooler at the chief doctor's bedside. Sunshine lit the spaces in the rooms. There were oil lamps and fans on the table and floor. Carpets covered the brick floor. Suitcases were piled up neatly and pushed against the wall. The room conditions were neat.

In Mina, the Malaysian hospital was a brick building perched on the hillside of a rocky mountain. There were tents close together and scattered on the plains below.

Hospital Malaysia with a Malaysian flag flying in Mina in the 1960s (1964-1968).

Reports of conditions and feedback during the Hajj and health outcomes of the Hajj were published by the chief Hajj doctor in the local newspapers upon return to Malaya/Malaysia.

TH Penang

TH PENANG INTERVIEW

We visited Lembaga Tabung Haji Negeri Pulau Pinang in Bayan Lepas, Penang on 5 June 2013. I interviewed Hj Ramli bin Hamid, Penyelia Haji/PTD at Pejabat Pentadbiran (go upstairs to first floor).

Q: I asked him where I could get information and reports on TH.

Ans: TH HQ in KL, Bahagian Kesihatan

Q: Whom to contact in TH HQ in KL?

Ans: Contact Hj Abdullah, Bahagian Kesihatan. They have an archive, Arkib.

Q:  When did TH change from kapal haji (steamers) to flights?

Ans: At the end of 1974

Q: Where can I get more information?

Ans: Check at TH website, under Bimbingan Haji

Q: What is the cost of Hajj package this year (2013)?

Ans: RM9,980.00

Q: When was this cost the same?

Ans: This price has been the same since last 3 years

Q: Is the pilgrim covered by any insurance policy?

Ans: Yes, they are covered as a group under insurans kelompok which covers accidents.

Q: Does the insurance cover death?

Ans: No. Death is managed differently. There is an arrangement that handles death. This does not need any insurance.

Q: How many pilgrims will be going to perform Hajj this year (2013)?

Ans: 28,000 pilgrims

Q: How is the number of pilgrims determined?

Ans: This is fixed (by Saudi Arabia) at 0.1% of the Malaysian population which is presently 28 million people.

Q: How many doctors are needed to serve during the Hajj each year?

Ans: The medical team comprise 1-2 specialists (pakar), many doctors (medical officers/MO or pegawai perubatan) and nurses. Now there are clinics at every maktab (residence). 

TH HAJJ GUIDEBOOK 2009

I then went downstairs to see what else I could get hold of before leaving TH. According to the man who was selling stuff for the Hajj, TH has recently published a guidebook. I bought a Hajj guidebook from him and then went to join the queue inside the TH banking office. There I asked if I could get the most recent TH Hajj guidebook. I had to hold on to my ticket (4008) and wait, just like the others. While waiting I copied a few things from the displayed information. Time was running out as I still had to return to Kelantan before dark. Then my number was called and I went to counter 7. At counter 7, Hj Shukri asked what I wanted. I told him I wanted the most recent TH Hajj guidebook. He asked which one I wanted, the big or the small. I said it didn't matter. He said only select pilgrims get the small TH guidebook. He gave me a small TH Hajj guidebook (2009) FOC. I asked if he had the TH Hajj poster which was displayed. He said to check at TH website. I didn't take a photo of the pilgrims' stuffs which were on display near counter 7. Now they have a bag cover with Penang emblem and pilgrim's details. The bags I saw were huge. I thanked Hj Shukri and quickly left for Kelantan. 

TH website: www.tabunghaji.gov.my

YouTube videos of Hajj and Umrah:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=8nYhS_NuESg&feature=endscreen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJHiqwMND4o

YouTube video of Haji Tamatuk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mux-BASmY

TH e-Book Kursus Haji:
http://www.e-sentral.com/book/publisher/leaderdimension

TH Hajj guidebook for pilgrims, published in 2009.

ORGANISATION OF TH PENANG

Organisation of TH Penang

1. Pengarah/Director: Hj Rozimin bin Ahamed Kamil

2. Setiausaha/Secretary: Nor Haniza bt Ahmad

3. Timbalan Pengarah/Deputy Director: Hj Amat Kassim bin Pait

Divisions of TH Penang

1. Kewangan/Finance

2. Pemasaran/Marketing

3. Pejabat Cawangan/Branch Offices

4. Pentadbiran/Haji / Administration/Hajj

5. Keselamatan/Security

Pilgrims and interested persons can call the TH Call Centre to ask or check anything.

TH Call Centre (THCC): 03-6207-1919

Uphill to the main entrance to TH Penang

Hotel rooms at TAHA D'Mutiara (www.tahadmutiara.com)
Lot 5789 & 5790, Jalan Dato' Ismail Hashim
11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
Tel: +604-641 2286 / 2284
Fax: +604-641 2297
Email: reservation_kthbl@lth.gov.my

There is a staircase to the right after the parked cars.
The porch is at the main building. There are people selling Hajj stuff in the foyer.

Porch of main building

TH Penang is set atop a hill and gives a good bird's eye view of Penang.

The Real Cry of Syed Shaykh al-Hady

The Real Cry of Syed Shaykh al-Hady (abbreviated here as TRCoSSaH)

by Alijah Gordon, 1999
The book sells for RM607 at Penang Bookshelf:
http://www.penangbookshelf.com/servlet/the-216/The-Real-Cry-of/Detail

Syed Sheikh al-Hady in Malay Wikipedia:
http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syed_Sheikh_Syed_Ahmad_Al-Hadi

Rizqi Mukhriz's blog
http://rizqimukhriz.blogspot.com/2011/09/kenang-kenangan-syed-sheikh-al-hadi.html

The Early Malay Doctors blog:
http://theearlymalaydoctors.blogspot.com/2011/10/the-arabs-in-penang-3.html


SYED ALWI AL-HADY

From TRCoSSaH pages 69-70 footnote 2:
Syed Alwi al-Hady mentioned about his grandfather, Syed Ahmad and his great-grandfather, Syed Hasan.

Name of great-grandfather: Syed Hasan bin Saqaf al-Hady al-Ba'Alawi
Birthplace: Kg Hulu in Malacca
Children: ?
Sons:
1. Syed Ahmad
2. Syed Muhammad

Name of grandfather: Syed Ahmad bin Hasan bin Saqaf al-Hady al-Ba'Alawi
Birthplace: Kg Hulu in Malacca
Date of birth: 1 Syawal 1253 Hijrah (29 December 1837)
Date of death: 15 Zulhijjah 1312 Hijrah (8 June 1895)
Grandfather's wives: 2?
Children: 7 children from 2 wives

Name of grandfather's first wife: Zulhijjah
Children of first wife:
1. Hasan     (1275-1290 H/ 1859-1873) - died aged 14 years
2. Noor      (1276 H / 1859) - died in infancy
3. Salmah   (1281-1288 H / 1865-1871) - died aged 6 years
4. Shaykh   (1284-1352 H / 1867-1934) - died aged 67 years (this is Syed Sheikh)
5. Fatimah  (1287 H / 1870) - died in infancy

Name of grandfather's second wife: _____?
Children of second wife:
1. Noor     (1309 H / 1891-1966) - died aged 75 years
2. Hussein (1312 H / 1895-1968) - died aged 73 years

Only his father Syed Shaykh, his father's half-sister Noor and half-brother Hussein survived to adulthood.

Syed Shaykh's uncle (younger brother of his father Syed Ahmad) is Syed Muhammad bin Hasan bin Saqaf al-Hady al-Ba'Alawi.

Name of Syed Shaykh's younger uncle: Syed Muhammad bin Hasan bin Saqaf al-Hady al-Ba'Alawi
Short name: Syed Muhammad al-Hady
Birthplace: Kg Hulu in Malacca
Date of birth: Rabi'ul akhir 1256 / June 1840
Date of death: Sabtu, 2 Zulhijjah 1334 H / Saturday, 30 September 1916
Place of death: Bandar Hilir in Malacca ... which house? Rumah 262 Banda Hilir?
Place of burial? Masjid Kg Hulu or Masjid Semabok?
Wife: Sharifah Hashimah bt Othman Alsagoff ... from Daeng Chelak (Bugis) family
Children: 8 ... all deceased before WWII (1941)
1. Saqaf
2. Hasan
3. Sharifah Sheikhun ... married to Syed Sheikh al-Hadi
4. 'Aishah
5. Fatmah
6. Maznah
7. 'Aloyah
8. Zeinab

Did any of the 8 children of Syed Muhammad marry?

Did Fatma marry? To whom? When? Who were her children?

By 1948, my grandfather appeared in a photo with his children and relatives but without his mother (Fatmah bt Muhammad) but her name is in her husband's Will (Wasiat Hj Mohd Sharif) of 1906. Hj Mohd Sharif died (probably) in 1912 after he wrote his Will in 1906. His father-in-law died shortly after in 1916.

SYED SHAYKH

From TRCoSSaH page 72 footnote 10:

Syed Shaykh married 3 wives:
1. Sharifah Sheikhun (his first cousin; eldest daughter of his uncle Syed Muhammad)
2. Singaporean wife (unnamed)
3. Sharifah Zainah (she had no children; she was from al-Mashhur family)
Children: 5 from 2 of 3 wives

Children of Sharifah Sheikhun: 4
1. Syed Alwi (born Pulau Penyengat 15 Muharram 1310 H / 8 August 1892) ... eldest; elder son
2. Ahmad (born 1314 H / 1896) ... second; younger son; died in infancy
3. Aishah (born 1315 H / 1897-1933)... elder girl, died in Penang in December 1933
4. Umhani (1316 H / 1898) ... youngest; younger girl, died in Penang in April 1931

Sharifah Sheikhun and her kids lived in Pulau Penyengat when Syed Shaykh married his Singaporean wife.

Child of second wife (Singapore): 1
1. Mariam (1321 H / 1903-1954) ... born in Telok Belanga, Singapore, died in Penang 5 June 1954

Children of third wife (Sharifah Zainah): 0
She had no children.

Sharifah Zainah al-Mashhur had no children but helped looked after Syed Shaykh's eldest grandson, Syed Mohamed bin Alwi al-Hady, a week after he was born at Syed Alwi's home, across the road from Syed Shaykh's house at 431 Jalan Jelutong, Penang. He became Datuk Dr Syed Mohamed bin Alwi al-Hady, an eminent surgeon in Penang, KL, Malaya and Malaysia.

External links
http://www.rmkhalid.com/2011_01_02_archive.html

Hajj in the Malay World 1850-1950

THE HAJJ IN THE MALAY WORLD 1850-1950: ITS HISTORICAL DIMENSION AND IMPACT
by Sharifah bt Ismail, MSc Thesis, IIUM, 2005
http://www.lib.iium.edu.my/

Islamic Studies, Duke University
http://guides.library.duke.edu/content.php?pid=17491&sid=1859560