TEMD 2021

Biography of the Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore (published in 2012 by Xlibris Inc., USA/Australia/UK)

I will be revising my manuscript for my book beginning April 2019 (it may take me 2 years). I hope to remove many pages and add a few more new chapters on doctors whom I was not able to include before. I hope to add new photos which I continued to receive post-publication.

You can check the old chapters online on Google. Please submit corrections to me.

I have retired and now work from home. Please email me on Gmail: faridahar@gmail.com.

Please let the doctors' families and relatives know, especially those whom I missed in the first book published in 2012.

I'm still looking for portraits and biographies of Dr Nizamuddin Ahmad, Dr Zakaria Salim, and others who graduated by Merdeka year (1957).


TEMD = The Early Malay Doctors

Pahang - Hospitals, govt clinics, police station and Sg Lembing tin mine

Gold mining vs. tin mining vs. iron mining

The Raub Australian Gold Mine operated in Raub while tin mining was operated by the British in Sg Lembing. Raub was producing much of Malaya's gold, that it was more appropriate to call it El Dorado. Sg Lembing was also nicknamed El Dorado because of the immense wealth it brought to its associated communities.

Two big iron deposits in Malaya were Bukit Besi in Terengganu and Bukit Besi in Kuala Krai, Kelantan.

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Sg Lembing Underground Tin Mine

Lombong Bijih Timah Bawah Tanah, Sg Lembing
(Tai Pei Tong)

Sg Lembing was once the richest tin mining town in Pahang Darul Makmur. This was because the area was the second richest tin deposit in the world after Bolivia.

Sg Lembing's mining shafts and subterranean tunnels which reached a depth of between 450 to 650 metres were said to be the deepest in Southeast Asia. The history of modern Pahang, which began with the British colonisation, is linked to the development of Sg Lembing.

Sultan Ahmad Al-Muadzam Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Bendahara Sri Maharaja Tun Ali (23 May 1836 – 9 May 1914) was the sixth Raja Bendahara of Pahang and the founder and first modern Sultan of Pahang.[1] Commonly known as Wan Ahmad before his accession, he seized the throne in 1863 after having defeated his elder brother Tun Mutahir in the Pahang Civil War, assuming the title Sri Paduka Dato' Bendahara Siwa Raja Tun Ahmad. In the early years of his reign, Pahang descended into turmoil, with various attempts made by the surviving sons of the late Tun Mutahir, based in Selangor, to overthrow him. This led to Pahang's decisive involvement in the Selangor Civil War that successfully brought it to a conclusive end.

The successive wars that ravaged the land had led to the rise of dissension among the ruling class and territorial chiefs who were thenceforth divided into factions. In 1881, prompted by his dwindling authority both within Pahang and among his counterparts in the western Malay states, Ahmad took upon the title of Sultan Ahmad al-Muadzam Shah and formally proclaimed as Sultan by his chiefs two years later. The event marked the revival of Pahang as a Sultanate after more than two centuries of union with the crown of Johor.[2] Ahmad gained formal recognition from the British Straits Settlements government in 1887, in return for signing a treaty with the British which compelled him to accept a British Agent in his court.

During his reign, Pahang politics came under the purview of the British government. Increasing pressure was exerted upon the Sultan by the residing British Agent to administer the state according to the British ideals of just rule and modernisation. This had effectively plunged the state into a seething cauldron of discontent with clashes between traditional chiefs and the British. The British ultimately compelled Ahmad to put his state under the British protectorate in 1888 and John Pickersgill Rodger was appointed Pahang's first Resident. The work of building up a State administration began with the creation of the Supreme Court, a police force and a State Council. In 1895, the Sultan entered into a Treaty of Federation to form the Federated Malay States. Ahmad transferred his executive and administrative powers to his eldest son Tengku Long Mahmud, due to old age in 1909, retaining his position and titles as Head of State until his death in 1914.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Mua%E2%80%99zzam_Shah_of_Pahang

Chinese tin mining in Sg Lembing 1886-1888

The Chinese miners were the first to mine tin ore in Sg Lembing. They started mining on small scale since 1886. This then gave way to the British miners.

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British tin mining exploration in Sg Lembing 1888-1986

The British began exploring the area in earnest in February 1888 when the then Sultan of Pahang, Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Muazzam Shah I agreed to a proposal by a London-based mining concern to set up the Pahang Corporation Limited (PCL) to commercially mine tin in Sg Lembing. The Company was given a 100-year concession in an area 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares) wide for a nominal sum of one cent per annum.

Sg Lembing was also the first town in the Malay States to be placed under the purview of a British mining company, the PCL. In 1915, the mining concession was taken over by the Pahang Consolidated Company Limited (PCCL), which in 1984 was changed to the Pahang Investment Public Limited Company (PIPLC).

Rocks containing tin ore were crushed inside the caves and tunnels in Sg Lembing. These were then placed in wooden barrels on trains and brought to the nearest river port on Sg Kenau. They were milled and then transported down the river to ships in the harbour at Kuantan. These ships shipped tin ore to Britain.

In its 100 years of mining the Sg Lembing mines produced approximately 13 million tonnes of ore that was able to produce 150,000 metric tonnes of pure tin valued at $2 billion. The mining activity contributed significantly to the local inhabitants and economy of the state.

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Visit to Sg Lembing Tin Mine 9 Sept 2015

I visited the Sg Lembing tin mine after the ICOMMM2015 international conference organised by UIA. We took the UIA bus to the tin mine. It was a hazy morning.

I didn't like the visit because the tunnels were dark and smelly, quite dangerous as the ground was wet and slippery in several areas. Claustrophobia was a problem. I liked the adventure but would have enjoyed it more if I was a lot younger or a teenager.

The tunnels leading inside the mine were safe and secured with cement walls, steel beams and cables etc, just as for bridges. The engineering feat is great and should be applauded. Ventilation was sufficient and was provided by natural air holes and those built by the British engineers back then. Large fans have been put in place, but adjusting to tunnel or cave environment raised anxiety.

There were no food stalls on the grounds of the tin mine. We brought our own water bottles and buns, which we ate on the bus on the way home. I thank UIA for making this trip possible.

UIA bus pick-up point for Sg Lembing tin mine visit

Muzium Sg Lembing up on the hilltop.

Close-up of Muzium Sg Lembing

Tourism Malaysia plaque of Sg Lembing history and tin mine

Former house of the General Manager, PCL (later renovated). 2015

Archway to the Sg Lembing tin mine. All vehicles must park outside in the big loose gravel parking lot. No vehicles are allowed on the grounds of the tin mine. Visitors have to walk in and purchase their tickets at the small building on the right just after the arch.

Welcome board and history of Sg Lembing tin mine

Unnamed mine entrance

Wilinks Mine entrance, which remained opened during the 1926 great flood

Tour guides drive this open rusty metal train with metal seats and take visitors into the tunnels of the mine. Each tour is about 30 minutes.

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The Great Flood of 1926

Banjir Besar di Sg Lembing 1926

Sg Lembing, Raub and Kuala Lipis are prone to flooding.

Disaster struck in December 1926 when the entire Sg Lembing town was submerged by one of the worst floods in Pahang's history. Food stocks were destroyed. Homes, hospital and schools were submerged, with plantations covered in 3 feet of mud. All communication lines with Kuantan were destroyed.

Food rationing began, and the town lived under seige-like conditions for 2 months.

All mines, except the principal Willinks mine, were abandoned due to flooding and the mining ceased for 3 months. Life only returned to normal 4 months after the flood had subsided.

However, the PCCL suffered £53,176 (RM265,880) in repair cost and £60,000 (RM300,000) in loss of profits. In those days, such losses usually meant the end, but, the PCCL soldiered on before it finally closed down in 1986 due to high operating cost, falling tin output and fall in tin prices.

External links

https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ehs2.1248

Winstedt, R. (1927). The Great Flood, 1926. Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 5(2 (100)), 295-309. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24249117
https://www.jstor.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Ni%C3%B1o%E2%80%93Southern_Oscillation

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Price of Tin

The price of tin was $474 per picul.
Source: Singapore Standard, 28 November 1951

Rubber and tin prices rose appreciably yesterday, rubber by 3 cents per lb and tin by $3 per picul.
Source: Singapore Standard, 5 July 1956

[One pound sterling equals RM5.33 (5 Feb 2019)].

Newspaper

Food control at Raub

Disastrous floods in Pahang. Havoc in tin mining area.

External links

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2014/03/17/tunnels-from-a-glorious-past-sungai-lembings-evolution-from-a-tinmining-hub-to-a-tourist-destination/

http://www.jmm.gov.my/ms/muzium/muzium-sungai-lembing

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2012/01/14/sg-lembing-cut-off-by-flood/

https://www.eztakaful.com.my/permata-tersembunyi-di-sg-lembing-kuantan-bahagian-3/

https://www.bharian.com.my/node/75274

http://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/sungai-lembing-bandar-mati-hidup-semula-bahagian-1-114659

http://www.astroawani.com/foto-malaysia/sungai-lembing-mati-hidup-semula-3957/sungai-lembing-001-40545

https://www.timothytye.com/malaysia/pahang/sungai-lembing.htm

https://www.facebook.com/pg/eldoradoinnsungailembing/photos/?tab=album&album_id=375414565897289

http://www.journeymalaysia.com/MC_sungeilembing.htm

https://emilayusof.com/2013/02/sungai-lembing-museum-kuantan-pahang/

https://thriftytraveller.wordpress.com/tag/tin-museum/

http://myredfingger.blogspot.com/2010/10/ada-apa-di-sungai-lembing-pahang.html

http://explorasa.my/2016/09/tempat-menarik-di-sungai-lembing-pahang/

http://www.suanie.net/2016/08/sungai-lembing-pahang/

http://www.suanie.net/2017/01/watch-shop-sungai-lembing/

https://redirecting.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/sungai-lembing-pahang/

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Sg Lembing Police Station

The old Sg Lembing Police Station was built in the 1960s. It is now defunct and has been given Warisan status.

My ex-classmate's parents had lived in Sg Lembing when her father was a policeman and posted to Sg Lembing Police Station. The family had lived in the police quarters.

The following photos are by Fatimah Mohamad. She, her 2 sisters and their mother visited Sg Lembing Police Station in early 2019.

Housing quarters for policemen's families.

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Hospitals in Pahang
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hospitals_in_Malaysia#Pahang

1. Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA)
2. Hospital Pekan - in Pekan
3. Hospital Kuala Lipis - in Kuala Lipis
4. Hospital Raub - in Raub
5. Hospital Bentong - in Bentong
6. Hospital Jerantut - in Jerantut
7. Hospital Jengka - at Bandar Tun Razak Jengka
8. Hospital Muadzam Shah - at Bandar Muadzam Shah
9. Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (HOSHAS, formerly Hospital Termerloh), Temerloh - est. 2005, 498 beds, RM480 million, http://hoshas.moh.gov.my/hoshasv4/
10. Hospital Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom (formerly Hospital Cameron Highlands) - at Tanah Rata
11. Hospital Rompin - in Rompin
12. Hospital Bera (new) - due 2019, previously RM88mil but delayed & re-cost RM121mil

Four early Malay doctors served in Pekan & Kuantan, Pahang. They were Dr Pandak Ahmad bin Alang Sidin, Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos, Dr Mohamed Said bin Mohamed and Dr Mohamed bin Taib (dentist). They were also royal doctors who attended to the Sultan's family.

In Pahang, Dr Che Lah had lived close to the Pahang Mentri Besar's residence.

External link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Menteris_Besar_of_Pahang

Dr Che Lah's 3rd daughter June and only son Kamaruddin.  Pahang 1956

Dr Che Lah retired as CMHO Pahang from the Government Medical Service in Pahang on 30 June 1958 

His last place of work in the Govt Medical Service in Pahang. 

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos seated 5th from left.

Retirement in 1958

Dr Che Lah was awarded the Meritorious Medal Award by Sultan Sir Abu Bakar on 30 June 1958.

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos and wife. 1958

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos receiving the Meritorious Medal Award from Sultan Sir Abu Bakar of Pahang. 1958

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Government Health Clinics in Pahang
Source: https://www.lookp.com/pahang/klinik-kerajaan?page_id=3
There are 100 Government clinics (Klinik Kesihatan Kerajaan) in Pahang:

1. Klinik Kesihatan Sungai Lembing
2. KK Beserah
3. KK Bandar Jengka
4. KK Benta
5. KK Jengka 2
6. KK Jengka 22
7. KK Bandar Tun Abdul Razak
8. KK Bandar Bera 32
9. KK Kemayan
10. KK Bukit Mendi
11. KK Bukit Betong
12. KK Bukit Ibam
13. KK Cheroh
14. KK Damak
15. KK Cini
16. KK Mempaga
17. KK Karak
18. KK Ibu dan Anak Kuantan
19. KK Lepar Utara 4
20. KK Jengka 8
21. KK Nenasi
22. KK Kg Bantal
23. KK Padang Rumbia
24. KK Jeruas
25. KK Kuala Krau
26. KK Ibu dan Anak Kuala Lipis
27. KK Tanjung Gemok
28. KK Rompin
29. KK Kuala Tahan
30. KK Kuala Tembeling
31. KK Lanchang
32. KK Lembah Klau
33. KK Lurah Bilut (Felda)
34. KK Mela
35. KK Bandar Mentakab
36. KK Ibu dan Anak Mentakab
37. KK Merapoh (Fasa 1)
38. KK Chanis
39. KK Perantau Damai
40. KK Ibu dan Anak Muadzam Shah
41. KK Padang Tengku
42. KK Peramu Jaya
43. KK Sanggang
44. KK Sg Tekam Utara
45. KK Tanah Rata, 3900 Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands
46. KK Tekek
47. KK Tersang
48. KK Triang
49. KK Dong
50. KK Ulu Gali
51. KK Perwira Jaya
52. KK Bukit Goh (Felda)
53. KK Jaya Gading
54. KK Balok
55. KK Gambang
56. KK Maran
57. KK Bandar Pekan
58. KK Ibu dan Anak Jerantut
59. KK Ibu dan Anak Raub
60. KK Pekan Awah
61. KK Pekan Tajau
62. KK Temerloh
63. KK Chenor
64. KK Bentong
65. KK Simpang Pelangai
66. KK Purun
67. KK Padang Luas
68. Klinik Desa Jengka 3
69. Klinik Desa Jengka 14
70. Klinik Desa Sg Jerek
71. Klinik Desa Jengka 15
72. Klinik Desa Jengka 5
73. Klinik Desa Kuala Sentul
74. Klinik Desa Jengka 16
75. Klinik Desa Jengka 6
76. Klinik Desa Jengka 7
77. Klinik Desa Ulu Jempol
78. Klinik Desa Jengka 1
79. Klinik Desa Jengka 21
80. Klinik Desa Jengka 10
81. Klinik Desa Jengka 11
82. Klinik Desa Kg Bangau
83. Klinik Desa Batu 8 Lepar
84. Klinik Desa Kuala Kenong
85. Klinik Desa Batu Malim
86. Klinik Desa Kg Kemahang
87. Klinik Desa Kg Budu
88. Klinik Desa Jerkoh
89. Klinik Desa Triang 3
90. Klinik Desa R/P Rentam
91. Klinik Desa Durian Tawar
92. Klinik Desa Triang 1
93. Klinik Desa Mayam
94. Klinik Desa Kuala Bera
95. Klinik Desa Kuala Triang
96. Klinik Desa Kumai
97. Klinik Desa Bukit Kepayang
98. Klinik Desa Bukit Puchong
99. Klinik Desa Mengkuang

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Masjid

Old Masjid Negeri, Kuala Lipis - est. 1888 by Yemeni founder

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Roads

There were no roads from Singapore to Kuala Lipis till the 1890s.
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Train station

Kuala Lipis train station - est. 1926, old wooden building with delicious Malay food
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Bus station

Kuala Lipis bus station has prayer spaces

Presentation slides of 8-9 Sept 2015 at UIA

ABSTRACT

Research Methodology and Challenges in Obtaining Historical Medical Biographies

Faridah Abdul Rashid

Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.


The books Biography of the Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore (B-TEMD) and Research on the Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore (R-TEMD) were published by Xlibris in 2012. They are available online at http://www.xlibris.com/ , http://www.bookdepository.com/ and from Kinokuniya at KLCC in Kuala Lumpur.

This presentation explains the approaches used to obtain resources and information on The Early Malay Doctors, the challenges met and motivation. The approaches included phone conversations plus interviews, letter-writing, emails, face-to-face interviews, short messages signalling (SMSes) and home visitations. Resources used included newspapers in local and overseas archives, school magazines, town council publications, doctors’ official records and travel documents, photographs in personal collections, national and overseas archives, state and national museums, and Tabung Haji publications and exhibitions. Various resources on The Early Malay Doctors were compiled, collated and organised online, initially at a USM Telehealth website, and later at Blogger, http://theearlymalaydoctors.blogspot.com/. Each book now has a Facebook page.

There were 75 searches between 2002 and 2006 and six interviews between 2006 and 2012. Author logs were prepared to keep track of the numerous communications between the author and each of the doctors’ families and relatives. Altogether, 50 doctors’ biographies were prepared (2 were dropped). Manuscript assessment and review were performed by USM and Xlibris. Manuscript and photo editing were by Xlibris. B-TEMD has 964 pages and 431 photographs. R-TEMD has 392 pages and 57 photographs. Altogether the two books have 48 biographies, 1,356 pages and 488 photographs.

Even though research on The Early Malay Doctors took many years (2002-2012), it provides insights for future research.

Keywords: British Malaya, Malay doctors, Malay medicine


International Conference on Malay Medical Manuscripts, 8-9 Sept 2015, IIUM Kuantan Campus, Pahang, Malaysia. www.iium.edu.my/icommm
Keynote IV

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77 Presentation slides

Publisher's website

Facebook page for the book, Research on The Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore (2012).

Old bookstalls on the second floor at Chowrasta Market, Penang Road, George Town, Penang. Old school magazines and history books can be bought here.

Dr Kamil Ariff's entry in Who's Who in Malaya 1925.

This book was published in 2005 and contains a list of names of all the doctors who graduated from the King Edward VII College of Medicine based in Singapore since 1910. This is useful in checking the date of graduation of each doctor. A slack is the names are short and are listed by the father's name or surname or a single letter instead of fullname. Sometimes the names were wrong and therefore misleading. 

Kelantan Museum had photos of the British doctors in Kelantan.

World War II (WW2) was mentioned by all the doctors' families.

Museums provided a clue about our medical history.

Arkib Negara Malaysia (ANM) was most helpful for my research. Dato' Zakiah Hanum's husband allowed me to use photos from Dato' Zakiah's book, which contained a brief biography of Tan Sri Dr Salmah Ismail.

Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid advised me to read JM Gullick's book on A History of Kuala Lumpur 1856-1939, in order to understand our history. Some articles were obtained online from J Stor. I also read books on Kelantan history.

Dr Mohd Ismail Merican was then DG Health Malaysia. His staff was most helpful in helping my research and supplied a list of doctors, with date of service. But it was missing information on a few early Malay doctors.

When the British officers left Kelantan in 1914/15, they left 2 photo albums with the Kelantan Sultan. These albums are now with the Kelantan Museum. Nobody at Kelantan Museum knows the British officers who gave away the 2 albums to the Sultan. Nobody knows their families. 

Many early Malay doctors served in Kedah. Some have ties to the Kedah Sultanate.

Tun Mahathir has written many books and many books have been compiled which contain his speeches. His photos are in many galleries across Malaysia. I visited his birth home in Alor Star, Kedah and spoke to the staff in-charge. There was a huge family tree chart being prepared for display. 

There were 2 useful archives - British and Australian archives. Both needed a long time to navigate to find relevant information on the doctors. Some articles had photos. But obtaining the photos was difficult. Dr Ruby Abdul Majeed is in the Australian archives.

These bookshops sold hardcover picture postcard books which were useful to understand history and historical setting to write on The Early Malay Doctors.

USM main library in Penang keeps the series Who's Who. This contains useful information on many early Malay doctors. They contain biodata with/without portraits of the young doctors. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) had names of those who took its exams in London. There are no photos of the doctors and the LSHTM at the time.

Those born between 1920s and 1930s were helpful as they had met the doctors either as a patient or seen the doctors, or knew something about the doctors or their clinic practice.

After graduation from the King Edward VII College of Medicine, the doctors either returned to their hometowns to practise medicine or worked outside their hometown. Knowing where they had worked made it easier to find their homes and clinics, or place of work.

Obtaining correct details of each doctor was tedious. Geni was helpful in a few instances, especially when a doctor's name was found. Access was not possible in most cases.

The Early Malay Doctors could be grouped into 2 factions. This research was made difficult as the surviving doctors had not met the earlier senior doctors who had passed on. They only heard about them. It was frustrating as searching for the families and family members of the earlier senior doctors was almost impossible for a researcher who was born after Merdeka. Detailed records of doctors between 1900 and 1957 were nonexistent.

Mr Mohd Fadli Ghani was a strategic and political researcher in KL. He was visiting someone in Hospital USM and visited me to contribute information about 2 doctors - Dr Kamil Ariff and Dr HS Munshi. He gave the fullname for Dr HS Munshi.

Tan Sri Dr Abdul Majid was the second DG Health Malaysia. He provided information on his successor, Tan Sri Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin (3rd DG) and other doctors - Dr Mustapha Osman, Dr SMA Alhady, Dr Latifah Ghows. Tan Sri Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin's wife, Toh Puan Sri Saliah Wahab provided information on Dr Ungku Omar. Toh Puan Sri Saliah and Norman Said assisted with Tan Sri Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin's biography before and after his demise. Relatives, Norman Said and Raja Parish Adley assisted with photos for Tan Sri Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin's biography. Paulinawati contributed a tribute for his biography.

Prof Datuk Dr Mohammed Anwar Fazal provided information on 3 doctors - Dr Kamil Ariff, Dr Ismail Ghows and Dr Latifah Ghows.

Dr Mohamed bin Taib's biography and photos were provided by his youngest daughter Hjh Salmah bt Hj Mohamed and 3 grandsons.

Dr Pandak Ahmad's biography was narrated by his son, Cikgu Mohd Salleh bin Ahmad, many other family members as well as relatives. Both men are deceased.

Visit to PKKN to interview 2 staff. En Azman retired before books on The Early Malay Doctors were published.

First website on The Early Malay Doctors

Second website on The Early Malay Doctors

First search for The Early Malay Doctors was in 2002.

Two early contributors who knew about Dr Ungku Omar.

First person to contact the author/researcher about The Early Malay Doctors. She was the granddaughter of the first Malay doctor.

Outline of the biography of Dr Abdul Latiff in the book, Biography of the Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore (published in 2012 by Xlibris Corp, USA. Printed in the UK.)

Dr Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak was the first Malay doctor

STRENGTHS (S) - no slide

OPPORTUNITIES (O) - no slide

Facebook page for Biography of the Early Malay Doctors

On of the many Internet distributors selling my books

Publisher's website

The End