Majlis Bacaan Yasin dan Tahlil

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

The Dutch occupied the Indonesian islands and ruled Indonesia before the Indonesian independence. They set up schools, including two for training of medical doctors. The medical schools were set up at Batavia and Surabaya on Java island. The first medical school was Sekolah Dokter Djawa or later known as the School Tot Opleiding Van Inlandsche Artsen (STOVIA) at Batavia. The second school was Netherland Indies Medical School (NIAS) at Surabaya.

Milestones of Dutch VOC medical schools in Indonesia:

• In 1851, the first medical school, Sekolah Dokter Djawa, was opened by the VOC in Batavia, Java. It trained 20 Javanese men. Two more men joined later.
• Dokter Djawa was later renamed STOVIA.
• In 1912, a second medical school, the Netherland Indies Medical School (NIAS), was opened in Surabaya, Java.
• Local Indonesian women were allowed to attend the two medical schools (STOVIA and NIAS) after the first Dutch female doctor, Dr Aletta Jacobs, intervened and met with AWF Idenburg, the VOC Governor-General, on 18 April 1912.  She pushed for local women to be allowed to be accepted into Sekolah Dokter Djawa and to be trained as doctors.
• The first Indonesian woman to graduate from Sekolah Dokter Djawa was Dr Marie E. Thomas (1896-1966). She was born at Likupang, near Manado Minahasa. She was from the Minahasa tribe of Manado. After 10 years of medical studies, she graduated in 1922. She worked as a midwife (bidan; Midwifery is now Obstetrics). She first worked as an assistant obstetrician at Weltevreden on the outskirt of Batavia. 
• Dr Marie E. Thomas married to Dr Mohamad Yusuf, who was from Solok, Sumatra. He too graduated from Sekolah Dokter Djawa. He worked as a private doctor (ophthalmologist?) in Padang, Sumatra. Dr Mohamad Yusuf's private practice went bad and he was incarcerated at Penjara Struiswijk. He died in 1958.
• Dr Marie had worked as a Government doctor in Padang till 1931 when her husband was working in Padang.
• Dr Marie returned to her homeland, where she joined the Dewan Persatoean-Minahasa in 1932. She died in 1966. It is unknown if she had any issue.

External links:

Dokter Djawa
https://serbasejarah.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/ketika-nasib-bangsa-diperbincangkan-di-sekolah-dokter-jawa-3/ http://b-doctor.blogspot.my/2016/09/dokter-djawa.html

STOVIA 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Indonesia

http://bimbimblues.blogspot.my/2011/04/sejarah-pendidikan-kedokteran-gigi-di.html

http://adiasadewa.blogspot.my/2013/02/stovia-sekolah-dokter-gratis-indonesia.html

Dr Marie Thomas (1896-1966)
https://javapost.nl/2012/09/06/marie-thomas-1896-1966-de-eerste-vrouwelijke-arts-in-nederlands-indie/

http://alffianwalukow.blogspot.my/2014/06/tau-i-kite-dr-marie-thomas-dokter.html

Minahasa, Manado
http://bode-talumewo.blogspot.my/2008_11_01_archive.html

Overview dan Sejarah Kurikulum Pendidikan Dokter Indonesia
by Dr Masrul, Unand, Indonesia.
https://www.slideshare.net/mhicyr/bahan-kuliah-blok11tahun2011

Aishah's (medical student) blog on STOVIA (Museum Kebangkitan Bangsa)
http://aish-idea.blogspot.my/2010/10/perjalanan.html

Koleksi Sejarah Kesehatan Indonesia
http://www.kompasiana.com/iwansuwandy.wordpress.com/koleksi-sejarah-kesehatan-indonesia_5518c699a33311a110b65966

KITLV Press
Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde
(Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies)
P.O. Box 9515
2300 RA Leiden
The Netherlands
website: www.kitlv.nl
e-mail: kitlvpress@kitlv.nl
KITLV is an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)

{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

MMA building, 12 May 2007

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

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

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. This is information of his schooling and higher education from his CV.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Primary Schools

1957 – 1959 Government English School, Port Dickson

1960 – 1962 Abu Bakar School, Mentakab

1962 – 1963 Cator Avenue School, Ipoh

1963 – 1964 Kangar English School, Kangar

Secondary Schools (Main)

1965 – 1966 Abu Bakar School, Temerloh

1967 – 1968 Anglo Chinese School, Ipoh

1968 – 1970 Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Setar

Higher Education

1971 – 1973 (B.Sc.) Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

1974 – 1975 (M.Sc.) University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

1983 – 1986 (Preclinical Sciences) Middlesex Hospital Medical School, University of London, United Kingdom

1989 – 1992 (Doctor of Medical Sciences-D.Med.Sc.) Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Tokyo, Japan

WORKING EXPERIENCE

1974 – 1976 Tutor Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

1976 – 1979 Lecturer Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

1979 Acting Head of Dept. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

1979 – 1983 Foundation Head of Dept. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, K. Kerian, Kelantan.

& Assisted and Represented the Foundation Dean of the Medical School with administrative duties and at meetings during the formative years of the Medical School.

1983 Associate Professor Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

1987 – 1992 Head of Dept. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

1991 – 2001 Associate Professor Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

2001 – 2005 Deputy Dean School of Health Sciences, Academic & Student Development, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

2002 – 2011 Professor of Pharmacology School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

2006 – 2011 Dean of Research Biomedical & Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

This information is about his teaching experience and academic milestones at UKM and USM.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

• Undergraduate Medical Students, UKM (1975-1979) 
• Undergraduate Pharmacy Students USM (1979-1982) 
• Diploma Nursing Students, USM 
• Diploma Medical laboratory Technology, USM 
• Undergraduate Medical Students, USM 
• Postgraduate -Masters in Medicine Programs USM 
• Undergraduate Dietetics Students 
• Undergraduate Biomedicine Students
• Undergraduate Medical Radiation Students
• Undergraduate Forensic students
• Undergraduate Nursing Students
• Undergraduate Exercise and Sport Sciences student
• Undergraduate Speech Therapy students
• Undergraduate Audiology students
• Currently teaching undergraduate Health Sciences students for three courses – Pharmacology I, Pharmacology II and Toxicology.

ACADEMIC MILESTONES

• Pioneering staff of the USM Medical School 
• In charge of Staff Recruitment and Human Resource
• Foundation Head of the Department of Pharmacology, USM (1979)
• Promoted to Associate Professor by UKM (1983)
• Member of the Committee for the Formation of the School of Health Sciences, USM
• Invited lecturer in Pharmacology to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (2000)
• Promoted to Professor by USM (2003)

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 4 founding lecturers of the USM Medical School in 1979. The 3 others from UKM were Prof Mohd Roslani bin Abdul Majid. Dr Saidi bin Mohd Hashim Tahir and Dr Ong Kok Hai. At the time Prof Syed Mohsin was known as Tuan Syed as he was the only lecturer with a Syed name. He became a full professor at USM (in 2003), 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. His experience at the USM Medical School and at the University level are stated in his CV:

EXPERIENCE AT MEDICAL SCHOOL

1979 – 1980 Invited member of the task force for the development of the Medical School

1979 – 1981 Member of the Board of Studies of the Medical School

1979 – 1983 Member of the Medical School, Dean’s executive committee

1979 – 1983 Member of the Medical School School’s Technical committee

1979 – 1983 Member of the School’s Staff selection committee

1980 – 1983 Chairman of the Medical School’s Bahasa Malaysia Implementation Committee

1979 – 1983; 1987 – 1991 Member of the Medical School Interview Board for Selection of Medical Students

1980 Secretary, International Workshop on Medical Education ‘A Relook at Medical Education in the Eighties’ Penang

1980 Member of the Committee for the Development of the Medical School Curriculum Workshop, Genting Highlands

1981 – 1983 Chairman, Medical School’s Medical Museum Committee

1981 – 1983 Medical School representative to the Safety Committee USM

1987 – 1989 Academic Editor of Medical School

1987 – 1989 Represented the Medical School to the USM Publication Committee

1988 – 1989 Member of the Medical School ‘Surau’ Committee

EXPERIENCE AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL

1979 Member of the University Senate, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

1979 – 1980 Quiz-master, Kuiz Siswa – Student Representative Board USM

1981 –1983 Advisory Panel member for Muslim students, USM

1982 – 1983; 1996 – 1997, & 2005 – 2011 Member of the Universiti Sains Malaysia Senate

1990 Acted as the Master of Ceremony, International Islamic Conference, USM

1992 Chairman for Prof. Mohd Roslani Professorial Public Lecture.

1992 Chairman, Subcommittee for the USM Professorial Public Lecture of Prof. JN Sharma.

1992 Committee for the USM Professorial Public Lecture of Prof. Mohd Roslani Abdul Majid

1992 Member of the Campus Beautification Committee of the USM Kelantan Sub Campus.

1992 Co-Chairman and Panel Member for the Interview of students for the MATES program of USM and Australia and Ireland.

1992 Secretary, Golf Club of the USM Kelantan Sub Campus

1994 – 2003; 2006 – 2009 Vice President, Golf Club of the USM Kelantan Sub Campus. (V/P runs the club as the President being the Campus Director who do not play golf as he is by rule the president of the club)

Prof Syed Mohsin contributed considerably at the Ministerial level. He negotiated for a lot of useful things for lecturers, especially for their postgraduate studies overseas. Not only that, he was also the Head of Malay Pharmacological Medicine. 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. Some of his untiring efforts are given below based on his CV.

ADVISORY SERVICES

At Ministerial Level

2009 Member, panel to audit academic performances, MQA P.J.

2008 Committee member – ‘Kajian Pengumpulan Maklumat Pengggunaan Formulasi Tumbuh-tumbuhan Berubat dalam Perubatan Melayu’

2008 Member, panel to assess the health sciences curriculum of local IPTs, MQA P.J.

2007 - 2011 Head, delegation to assess Universities in Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing, Public Service Department, Malaysia

2005 - 2011 Committee member - Criteria & Standards Formation, Traditional & Complimentary Medicine Programs, Ministry of Health Malaysia

2007 - 2011 Chairman - Panel for the Qualification Assessment of the Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Chinese Peoples Republic, Public Service Department, Malaysia

1977- 1980 Member/Representative ‘Istilah’ Committee, Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka

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).

He was an advisor to many governmental and private bodies, including drug companies.

At Agencies Level

2009 Board Member – KDU College, Penang Campus

2008 – 2011 Editorial & Advisory Board Member – Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal

2008 Negotiator for Bio-Ti International Sdn Bhd

2007 Chairman - Program Evaluation Committee, LAN (now MQA)

2007 Panel - Selection of the Best Publication in Science, Technology and Medicine, MAPIM, Majlis Penerbitan Ilmiah Malaysia 2007

2007 Chairperson - Committee for Program Evaluation: Diploma Pharmaceutical Assistant, Unity College International, LAN. *Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Penilai Program

2007 Committee member –Accreditation Committee, MQA, Malaysian Qualifications Agency. *Ahli Jawatankuasa Akreditasi, LAN

2006 Malaysia Novartis Propose Biotechnology Initiative Working Group Member

2005 Member - PEMADAM, Kelantan

At University Level

2009 Advisor Persatuan Sarjana Lanjutan (PERSALA), Health Campus 2008/09

2009 Fasilitator, J/K Bertindak KPI Penerbitan USM

2009 Ahli J/K Anugerah Akademik Negara 2008

2009 Chairman “J/K Sambutan Ulangtahun ke-10 PPSK”

2009 Committee member in publication evaluation of PPSK

2009 Interview Panel – IPPT, USM, Penang

2008 – 2009 Interview Panel – School of Medical Sciences

2008 – 2009 Interview Panel – School of Dental Sciences

2008 Committee member ‘Jawatankuasa Penganugerahan Dekan Pengasas’

2008 Ahli J/K Kecil Pemilih, Pengesahan, Lanjutan Perkhidmatan, Cuti Sabbatikal, RLKA dan RPTKA, PPSP

2008 Ahli J/K Kecil Pemilih, Pengesahan, Lanjutan Perkhidmatan, Cuti Sabbatikal, RLKA dan RPTKA, PPSG

2008 Advisor 1 - Persidangan Kebangsaan Sains Makmal Perubatan Kali ke-2 (2nd NaCMeLS)

2006 Senate Representative ‘Jawatankuasa Perolehan’

2007 – 2008 Committee member Internal Audit Research University, USM

Since inception Member of the board, INFORMM (Institute for Molecular Medicine)

2007 – 2008 Appointed member, Academic Planning Committee, USM

2007 Committee member, University Audit, USM

2007 Committee member, Implementation of USM. Performance Evaluation.
*Ahli Jawatankuasa Pelaksanaan Pengukuran Prestasi USM.

2007 Technical evaluator, Committee of Life Sciences, Research Platform.
*Penilai Teknikal, Jawatankuasa Penyelidikan Pelantar Sains Hayat

2007 Committee member, Appeal Committee, USM
*Ahli Jawatankuasa Rayuan

2007 Chairman, Promotion Endorsement Committee, School of Health Sciences, USM
*Jawatankuasa Kenaikan Pangkat PPSK.

Other Advisory Services

1983 – 2011 Medical Laboratory Technologist Society, AMELS

1989 – 1994 USM Medical Alumni Society, PADU

1993 – 1995 Students' Medical Science Society, PPSP

2001 – 2011 Students' Health Science Society, PPSK

1997 – 2007 Students' Medical Adventure Team (MEDICAT)

Student Representative Council - SPM Excellent Perfornance Programme for rural schools in Kelantan

1989 – 1990 Advisor for the publication of Abdul Rahman Isa et al: First Aid: Principles and Practice (in the Malay Language) Crescent News (KL) Sdn. Bhd

2002 Run workshop on ‘Perubatan Tradisional Melayu’, organized by Malaysian Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur International Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

2003 Run workshop on ‘Perbidanan Melayu’, Organized by Malaysian Ministry of Health & USM, Perdana Hotel, Kota Bharu, Kelantan

2004 Run Homeopathy Workshop, Organized by thr Federation of Homeopathy Society of Malaysia & Malaysian Ministry of Health, Brisdale Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

2008 Run Workshop for the development of curriculum of the Malay Traditional Therapy - Malay massage for M.O.H., Hotel Seri Malaysia, Malacca

2009 Run Workshop ‘Perkongsian Maklumat Kepakaran Sains Perubatan UTHM’, Batu Pahat, Johor

PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH ADVISORY/CONSULTANCY

• Personal advisor to Sabira Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd. and Sabira Marketing Sdn. Bhd. Manufacturer and distributor of Malaysian herbal Products - Assist in achieving the Health Ministry, GMP status for the company’s factory in 1999. 
• Advisor to Nona Roguy Sdn. Bhd. - Initiated the discussion, which lead to the Memorandum of Understanding between Nona Roguy Sdn. Bhd. and USM. 
• Research Advisor to Cerebos (M) Sdn Bhd. - The producer of Brand’s Essence of Chicken. 

PROFESSIONAL TALK/INVITED SPEAKER

2009 Speaker. Challenges faced by young researcher in doing research, 7th Student Scientific Conference, PPSG

2009 Speaker. Biotechnology Industry in Malaysia, Opportunities and Challenge, Research Enrichment Seminar

2009 Facilitator. Manuscript Inscription Workshop

2008 Invited Speaker. 2nd National Seminar, Medical Laboratory Sciences

2008 Speaker. 2nd Health and Medical Sciences Conference (HMSC)

2008 Talk on career guidance, MRSM, Jeli

2008 CPD Lecture, USM Staff.

2008 Talk to participants of the Young Scientist Programme, School of Health Sciences, USM, (2007-2008)

2007 Speaker. (i) A Potential Source of Anti-Aging, (ii) Some Aspects of Traditional Malay Medicinal Approach to Drug Abuse, 6th International Traditional & Complementary Medicine Conference & Exhibition (INTRACOM); Post Conference on Anti-Aging, Organized by Malaysian Ministry of Health, PWTC.

2007 Speaker. (i) Thermal, XRD and FT-IR Investigations of Swiftlets (Collocalia), (ii) Content of Cu (II) and Zn (II) in Ten Selected Tobacco Field Soils of District Bachok, Malaysia, International Conference on Chemical Sciences, Yogyakarta.

2007 Chairperson. International Medical & Health Congress 2007, organized by USM, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

2007 Speaker. Best Business Practices in Herbal – Based Industry, The Case for Healwell Pharmaceuticals Sdn. Bhd., ‘Seminar IMT-GT-SME’, Equatorial Hotel, Penang. Organised by SMEDEC

2007 Speaker. Therapeutic Properties of ‘Gamat’ & ‘Gamat’ Products, organized by Malaysian Ministry of Health, PWTC.

2007 Chairperson. AEI Postgraduate Seminar 2007, Organized by the Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur.

2005 - 2007 Speaker. PTK Lecture to USM staff.

2006 Chairperson. AEI Postgraduate Seminar 2006. Organized by the Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur.

2006 Chairperson. ‘Persidangan Biologi Kebangsaan 2006’. Organized by the Biology Department, UPSI, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur .

2006 Chairperson. 11th National Conference on Medical Sciences. Organized by USM, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

2006 Chairperson. 1st International Conference on the Medicinal Uses of Honey, Grand Riverview Hotel, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

2006 Speaker. Challenges in the Commercialization of Research Products: The Case for Biologicals in Developing Countries, organized by UPSI, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Legal Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

2006 Speaker. ‘Burung Walet : Penemuan Hasil Penyelidikan Ilmiah’, ‘Kursus Perladangan Burung Walet, Organized by Kelantan Veterinary Department, Perdana Hotal, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

2006 Speaker. ‘Aplikasi & Perkembangan Terkini Bioteknologi dalam Bidang Perubatan & Kesihatan’, ‘Seminar Halatuju Bioteknologi Negeri Kelantan’, organized by Kelantan Biotech, Perdana Hotel, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

2005 Speaker. ‘Persidangan Jurupulih Carakerja Kebangsaan Dalam Pemulihan Kanak-Kanak, Jointly Organized by HUSM, USM & Persatuan Jurupulih Carakerja Malaysia, New Pacific Hotel, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

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 (b.31 August 1951-d.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 was the Head of Graduate Studies (Institute Pengajian Siswazah, IPS) at the USM Health Campus before she retired in September 2012. 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 underwent training as surgeon in the MMed Surgery Programme at the USM Medical School. He completed his MMed degree in 2013.
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

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

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

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 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.

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 Malaysia 1971-1972 (Morais 1972: 201). He was a brilliant doctor and the first Malay to obtain MRCP (Member of the Royal College of Physicians), UK in 1950.

Link to French translation

Other photos of MCKK

Prof. Zulkifli Ahmad

Prof. Dr Haji Zulkifli bin Ahmad (USM)

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

Biodata
Prof. 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 Prof. 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

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

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 (1905-1994)

Mubin Sheppard (1905-1994)

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 on 21 June 1905 in Kent, England. 
Educated: Marlborough College, Magdalene College Cambridge (BA Hon History)
In 1927 he sat for the Malayan Civil Service (MCS) Competitive Examination in London.

Joined Malayan Civil Service (MCS) 1928.

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.

First Director of Public Relations 1946-47;
British Adviser, Negeri Sembilan 1951-56;

Head, Emergency Food Denial Organisation 1956-61;
First Keeper of Public Records 1957-61
Director of Museum, Federation of Malaya (FoM) 1958-63;
Retired 1964;
Made a Tan Sri on 31 August 1969;

TEMD Research: I noticed Mubin Sheppard 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:

1. MCS Malaya 1928-1963
2. Company Commander FMS 
3. FMS Volunteer Force (FMSVF) during the war from 1941-42
4. Prisoner of War (POW) 1942-45 
5. 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:

1. Tunku Abdul Rahman; Father of Independence (1957–1970) 
2. Taman Budiman: Memoirs of an unorthodox civil servant
3. Singapore 150 Years. 1982. ISBN 9971-65-092-4
4. The Adventures of Hang Tuah. 1984
5. The Malay Regiment 1933-1947
6. His other books
7. Historic Malaya 
8. Malay Courtesy 
9. Mayong stories 
10. Tun Perak

Joint author: Malayan Orders and Decorations

Recreation: Historical and Cultural Research

Founder Federal Arts Council;
Vice-President Malaysian Branch, Royal Asiatic Society
Editor Malayan History Society; Trustee National Art Gallery
See: Muzium Negara

The Who's Who in Malaysia 1971-1972

entry by Ahmad Rizal b. Ali

This family photograph was taken in 1957, together with the late Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard (2nd from left), when he visited my late great grandfather, A. Bakar bin Mohd Amin (2nd from right). The late Tan Sri was a former British Adviser (BA) and my late great grandfather, worked under him as chief clerk in the Kemaman District Office, Terengganu. http://www.flickr.com/photos/the1957album/937142240/in/photostream

Sources:
Wikipedia
SembangKuala Retrieved 21 November 2011
The Who's Who in Malaysia 1971-1972
Flickr

Penang Mosques

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.

On 27 May 2012, I met with Tok Chu at his residence in Air Itam. Tok Chu's wife is the youngest and only daughter of the Imam of Masjid Titi Papan. His wife is Hendon bin Ahmad, who is also the mother of Prof. Ahmad Murad Merican (graduated in Mass Communication, USM).

According to Tok Chu, in the old days, the drain (parit) was so big that even sampans and tongkangs sailed right up to the mosque. A wooden plank was used as a footbridge to get to the mosque, and hence the mosque was named Masjid Titi Papan. Titi papan is Malay for a wooden plank that was used as a footbridge.

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

Other mosques in Georgetown, Penang are the Malay Acheen Street Mosque (Masjid Melayu Aceh) and the Masjid Kapitan Keling (the Indian mosque).

Links:
Masjid Melayu Aceh
Masjid Kapitan Keling

Singapore Mosques

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 immemorial, 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 China. 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, but missed a lot of mosques as I did not have time.


Masjid Sultan (built 1826)
This mosque is in 3 Muscat St, and faces Bussorah St. It is indeed a big mosque. Its history in displayed in the lobby - it showed a much smaller original mosque. The mosque had belonged to the Sultan of Johore (from which the mosque derives its name). It was built in exchange for yielding 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 is the story we have at present. I have not heard from the royal family itself. The royal great-grandson is still alive (in Facebook, add Tengku Shawal?). This was the first mosque I entered on 23 July 2011 when I first arrived in Singapore.

How to get to Masjid Sultan:
From Woodlands train terminus, take the bus to the nearest MRT station. Ask the officers there for assistance for how to get to Bugis MRT. Take the MRT to Bugis MRT and get off at Bugis MRT. Walk through the Raffles Hospital lobby and exit at the front entrance. Continue walking to Arab St-North Bridge Road junction. The Sultan Mosque is a big mosque but the main entrance is to the left. Cross the street and go round the mosque periphery to the main entrance, which is actually the rear of the mosque (the front is the Qiblat). Enter the mosque ground via Gate 4 (near toilets) or Gate 5 (near shops). The red paved brick street is Bussorah Street.

Ladies prayer space:
The ladies prayer space in on the second floor (go in through the main entrance of the mosque and take the stairs at both sides). Slippers can go on the shoe rack outside the mosque, before the steps.

Friday prayer:
The men pray in the large main prayer hall where the mimbar and mihrab are (that is the direction of Qiblat or front of the mosque). The mosque is packed on Friday. It is better for women to wait till the men have completed Friday prayer before entering the mosque to pray.

At Bugis MRT, there are no roadsigns that tell which way is to the mosque. We had to ask the people there.  Schoolboys showed us the way from Bugis MRT to the Sultan Mosque. This is the front of the Sultan Mosque, it faces North Bridge Road. The main entrance is at the rear (go round to the right in this pic). This junction is at Arab St and North Bridge Rd. Just follow the schoolboys with songkok as they are going for Friday prayer too.

Masjid Sultan, main entrance at rear, fronting Bussorah St.
Masjid Sultan in Facebook

Syed Habib lecturing. Photo from Picasa album of Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique.

Same as above

Arches and roof lighted in green. This is the men's prayer hall which is the largest hall. It is a huge hall. The carpet is red and without mosque design. Affandi is performing Solat Dhuha (he blends with the carpet! - camouflage?).

Enormous chandelier in the lobby. The white frosted light bulbs bear light blue Islamic calligraphy, accompanied by light pink floral motifs. This is the cover photo for the book, Biography of the Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore.

Different view of the same chandelier.

Front lawn and nursery

Map showing all the entrances (gates) of Masjid Sultan and the 4 roads that surround it. The main road where you see buses and traffic lights is North Bridge Road. Kandahar St separates the mosque from Istana Kampong Gelam. Muscat St separates the mosque rear from the shops. Arab St runs parallel to Kandahar St.

Entrance to Makam is closed off

Makam Sultan in front of Masjid Sultan. The last sultan of Singapore at the time of Raffles, Sultan Hussain, was not buried here. He was buried behind Masjid Tranquera (Masjid Tengkera) in Malacca. There are better photos in the Facebook album of Tengku Aziz, a descendant of the last Singapore 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. I did not enter this mosque. I didn't know how to get to the other side or the main entrance/front side as it was being repaired. There were some labels but I couldn't make out what was written on them.

Masjid Abdul Gaffoor

Masjid Angullia
 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 Angullia 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, Angullia or reflects his home country (India).

Second generation Ahmad Mohamed Salleh Angullia in The Who's Who in Singapore 1963. (Article  was obtained from USM library in Penang.)

Second generation AMS Angullia and family as featured in The Straits Times, Friday, 5 August 1988. From humble traders to rich land-owners. (This newspaper article was received from Dr Mohamed Tahir, who in turn received it from AMS Angullia. The article was e-mailed to me on 22 March 2012.)

Masjid Angullia (from Google Maps).

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, in sya Allah. As for history of the mosque, Abdul Aleem Siddique 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. Abdul Aleem Siddique was also known as The Roving Ambassador of Islam, which is also a title of a book written about him by Tan Sri Prof Ahmad Ibrahim. I haven't seen the book yet. Some websites mentioned him but there is no mention of the book.

Abdul Aleem Siddique

Abdul Aleem Siddique

Footprints on the Journey of Human Fellowship, written by Zainudin Mohd Ismail, Jamiyah Singapore. Download from: http://www.jamiyah.org.sg/Arabic/sharing%20file/footprint.pdf

The Straits Times, 5 May 1931, Page 8

Untitled

His Holiness Hazrath Maulana Shah Mohamed Abdul Aleem Saheb Siddiqui Al'quadri, etc., the well-known qualified theologian of Meerut City, India, addressed a large gathering at the Aljunied Islamic School, Victoria Street, last Sunday on the subject "How to understand the Holy Quran." Among those present were Mr Soon Kim, Syed Abdul Rahman Aljunied, Mr A.M.S. Angullia, Haji Manjoor Saheb, and many other prominent Mohammedans. Dr H.S. Moonshi also addressed the gathering.

The Straits Times, 20 December 1936, Page 22

GOING TO MECCA

Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique (from Google Maps).

Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique (via StreetView in Google Maps).


I was informed by Dr Mohamed Tahir that this mosque now has a beautiful interior. The front wall and the mihrab (prayer pulpit) have a lot of Islamic calligraphy relief and they were made by artisans from Morocco, who were specifically flown in just for the renovation of this mosque in 2005.

All photos below are from Masjid Abdul Aleem Siddique gallery which I found in Picasa. 

Interior of dome and spacious prayer hall

Qiblat, mihrab and front of mosque interior

Al-Asma al-Husna calligraphy all over on the walls. Syahadah calligraphy inside the mihrab. Even the mimbar/lecturn has Islamic geometric designs and objects.

Beautiful al-Asma al-Husna calligraphic relief on the back wall

Spacious prayer hall

Masjid Kassim
Can be found using Google maps. It is a "flat" mosque, with tiny steps leading up 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 was 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. The descendants of Habib Noh can be found in Penang and elsewhere. Habib Noh's close friend was Haji Muhammad Salleh @ Nakhoda Nan Intan, whose grave lies at the graveyard adjoining Masjid Batu Uban in Penang. Batu Uban was the first Malay settlement in Penang before Captain Francis Light arrived on the island.

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