Search 1

SEARCH 1

15 September 2002

In my wild quest to obtain the names of the early Malay doctors of Malaya who graduated from Raffles College, Singapore, I checked Yahoo Search under "Raffles". The results returned a website on one of the sons of the first Malay doctor (http://viweb.freehosting.net/viint_Yaacob.htm). Tan Sri Yaacob bin Latiff was featured on this website, and something was mentioned about his father, Dr. Abdul Latiff bin Abdul Razak.

I decided to e-mail the writer of Tan Sri Yaacob's web page, Mr. Chung Chee Min (cmchung@excite.com), to find out if he knew the other Malay doctors. Mr. Chung responded. He is a retired teacher and now lives in Vancouver, Canada. Mr. Chung contacted a colleague at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and a search followed. 

A surprise e-mail from Mr. Chung came back with the list of names of the first 11 Malay doctors. I could not believe my eyes! I was overjoyed! I e-mailed Mr. Chung to thank him for his wonderful help and in forwarding the list to me. It is this happiness that makes me want to share this list with you.

Here is the list of early Malay doctors who graduated from Raffles College, Singapore.

[Name | Date of Graduation | Other Details | Life Status | Contact]

--
Abdul Latiff b Abdul Razak (1885?-1958)
August 1911
First Malay doctor to graduate from King Edward VII College (KEVII) in Singapore; first Malay doctor in Malaya; eldest son of a territorial chief; ex-VI. Probably graduated in the second batch of doctors in 1911 (the first batch graduated in 1910)*.
Contact:
Ex-VI cmchung@excite.com 
Son - Tan Sri Yaacob bin Latiff, Mayor of KL 1972-1983
Granddaughter - norsidah@mail.hukm.ukm.my
*Writer - En. Mohd. Fadli Ghani (see Search 4)
See also Search 7 
--
S Kassim (Dr Samsudin bin Cassim)
March 1912
--
HS Moonshi 
March 1916
--
Pandak Ahmad b Allang Samin (Pandak Ahmad b Alang Sidin)
March 1916
Address in Malaysia is no longer valid
Deceased
Contact:
NUS - oarsorr@nus.edu.sg
--
Md Ibrahim 
August 1916
--
Md Baboo 
March 1917
--
IM Ghows 
August 1917
--
Hamzah b Taib 
March 1923
Contact:
Writer - En. Mohd. Fadli Ghani (see Search 4)
--
Hussein b Md Ibrahim
(Hussin b Mohamed Ibrahim)
March 1924
Last known address is 57 Pahang Rd, KL, Malaysia
Alive
Contact:
NUS - oarsorr@nus.edu.sg
--
Nizamuddin Ahmad
(Nizamudding Ahmad)
March 1929
No address given
Deceased
Contact:
NUS - oarsorr@nus.edu.sg
--
Che Lah b Mohd Joonos
March 1930
Graduated with a Licentiate in Medical Surgery (LMS) from King Edward VII College of Medicine, Class of 1930. Address in Malaysia is no longer valid
Deceased 26 January 1986
Contact:
NUS - oarsorr@nus.edu.sg 
Son - kamaruddin@mpsp.gov.my
Granddaughter - faridah@kb.usm.my  (see Search 5)
--
Raja Ahmad Noordin
Contact:
IMR - nazni@imr.gov.my
--
Ungku Omar Ahmad
Contact:
IMR - nazni@imr.gov.my
 

I do not have any other information pertaining to the early Malay doctors above nor their photographs but if you do, please let me know.

---

Acknowledgement

Search 1

The following persons were instrumental in obtaining details of the early Malay doctors. May their lives be blessed.

Mr. Chung Chee Min
Vancouver, Canada
E-mail: cmchung@excite.com
Web: http://viweb.freehosting.net/viint_Yaacob.htm 

E-mail received: Thursday, 12 September 2002 at 9:57:08 pm

Reply: Gave list of 11 names of Malay doctors
E-mail received: Sunday, 15 September 2002 at 2:05:31 pm
Reply: Mentioned that the name list was obtained by an Old VI in Singapore's NUS from a copy of the 1955 anniversary magazine belonging to someone else.

Hanom bt. Hamsam (and her colleague, Chong Tarn Lee)
Dean's Office
Faculty of Medicine
National University of Singapore
Tel: 6874-3299
Fax: 6778-5743
E-mail: hanom@nus.edu.sg
E-mail received: Monday, 14 July 2003 at 9:43:33 am
Reply: Confirmed list of medical graduates extracted from alumni database, Office of Alumni Relations, NUS

Chong Tarn Lee
Suggestion: To check with Medical Alumni Association (malumni@starhub.net.sg) and Singapore Medical Council (moh_smc@moh.gov.sg  )

Daphne Ong
Singapore Medical Council (SMC)
Web: http://www.smc.gov.sg
E-mail: MOH_SMC@moh.gov.sg
E-mail received: Friday, 18 July 2003 at 11:58:43 am
Reply: SMC unable to provide information for the 11 Malay doctors.

Rosie Sor Ah Moi
Office of Alumni Relations, NUS
E-mail: oarsorr@nus.edu.sg
E-mail received: Friday, 18 July 2003 at 12:51:46 pm
Reply: Gave 4 names of Malay doctors and details

Assoc. Prof. Mohd Shukri Othman
Dept of O&G
School of Medical Sciences
Universiti Sains Malaysia
16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan
E-mail: mshukri@kb.usm.my
E-mail received: Sunday, 20 July 2003 at 12:18:50 pm
Reply: Gave direction for Pahang Road* - road from roundabout at corner of GHKL to Setapak/Gombak. Used to take that road to the East Coast.

*Please refer to the New Straits Times (NST) article on Friday, 7 January 2005, under Letters section, page 20, entitled "Maintain scenic old Pahang road" by Datuk Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor, President, Malaysia Nature Society. This is the old Pahang road to Genting Sempah. The old road is a winding, narrow road from Gombak to Genting Sempah. From Genting Sempah you can either go to Bentong, Genting Highlands or KL-Karak Highway.

Contact:

Letters to the editor

Mail: The Editor, New Straits Times, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur

Fax: 03-2282 3001

E-mail: letters@nst.com.my

*Datuk Dr. Salleh Mohd Nor

President

Malaysia Nature Society

Wrote the New Straits Times (NST) article on Friday, 7 January 2005, under Letters section, page 20, entitled "Maintain scenic old Pahang road".

En. Jahangir Kamaldin
JK at USM Kubang Kerian
E-mail: jahangir@kb.usm.my
E-mail received: Sunday, 20 July 2003 at 2:20:45 pm
Reply: Mentioned that the pioneers of the research at Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Kuala Lumpur were medical doctors; possibility that some could be Malays. Gave a contact at IMR - Puan Nazni in Dept. of Entomology.

Puan Nazni
Dept. of Entomology
Institute of Medical Research (IMR)
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
E-mail: nazni@imr.gov.my
E-mail received: Tuesday, 22 July 2003 at 9:49:19 pm
Reply: Informed that one of the Malay doctors was Dr Ungku Omar Ahmad. Mentioned of a book entitled "Collected Works of Ungku Omar"; this book mentioned Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norsidah A Manap
Dept of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Malaysia
E-mail: norsidah@mail.hukm.ukm.my
E-mail received: Thursday, 18 December 2003 at 3:16:37 pm

Content: She shares the same interest of the early Malay doctors. She said very little has been written about them. She mentioned that she is the granddaughter of Dr. Abdul Latiff b Abdul Razak and that she wished she knew more about him. According to her there is more written about her uncle Tan Sri Yaacob bin Latiff (ex-mayor of KL).

---

Telehealth Research Group
http://www.medic.usm.my/rnd/~telehealth
School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dr Mohamed Ibrahim's lineage

This is a YouTube video on Prof Ahmad Ibrahim, the eldest son of Dr Mohamed Ibrahim bin Shaik Ismail.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG3PyCAUki8&feature=related 

These are the male names known in Dr Mohamed Ibrahim's lineage: 

First generation (G1)
Shaik Ismail Ballah (c1843-1928) - an archivist with the German Embassy in Singapore since 1892 till his death; his details are published in The Straits Times. 

Second generation (G2)
Dr Mohamed Ibrahim bin Shaik Ismail (1892-1962) - a medical doctor; his details are published in The Straits Times. 

Third generation (G3)
Prof Ahmad bin Mohamed Ibrahim (1916-1999) - a lawyer; served Singapore and Malaysia; popularly known as Prof Ahmad Ibrahim, founder of law faculties for UM and UIAM; his details are widely published. He was involved with the talks for the creation of Malaysia between 1960 and 1963, merging Singapore with Malaysia. 
http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_529_2005-01-07.html 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Mohamed_Ibrahim

Fourth generation (G4)
Dr Mohamed Tahir bin Ahmad Ibrahim - medical doctor; popularly known as Dr Mohamed Tahir bin Ahmad or Dr Tahir. He is not the oldest Malay doctor in Singapore today (born 26 April 1944). There are 5 others who are older than him who are practising in Singapore. He still practices at the Crescent Clinic and Surgery, Eunos Crescent, Singapore. 
http://www.sma.org.sg/membership/DirectoryDoctorDetail.aspx?ID=1814 
http://www.darul-arqam.org.sg/embracing-islam/circumcision/  http://www.accordingtopatients.org/singapore/22056/medical-doctors/mohamed-tahir-bin-ahmad/

Fifth generation (G5)
Iskandar bin Mohamed Tahir - a lawyer in Kuala Lumpur
Ibrahim bin Mohamed Tahir - an editor and bookstore owner (Wardah Books in Bussorah St) in Singapore

Sixth generation (G6)
Sons of Iskandar and Ibrahim Tahir.

5. Dr Mohamed Ibrahim bin Shaik Ismail (1892-1962)

Dr Mohamed Ibrahim bin Shaik Ismail (1892-1962)
LMS 1916 KE VII
Graduated in August 1916 from the King Edward VII Medical School, Singapore

Date of birth: 9 September 1892
Place of birth: Singapore
Date of death: died during Hajj in 1962 . ... to check Hajj schedule for May 1962
Place of death: Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Place of burial: Makkah, Saudi Arabia


Analysis of Singapore's first Malay doctor

1. Both Dr H. S. Moonshi and Dr S. I. M. Ibrahim graduated in medicine in Singapore in 1916.
2. However, Dr H. S. Moonshi graduated in March 1916 while Dr S. I. M. Ibrhaim graduated in August 1916.
3. Dr H. S. Moonshi was born in Surat, India and came to live to Singapore, graduating as the first Muslim doctor. He opened the first Muslim clinic. However, he cannot be considered as Singapore's first Malay doctor for he was not born in Singapore.
4. Dr S. I. M. Ibrahim was born on 9 September 1892 in Singapore. His father was an archivist with the German Embassy when it first opened in Singapore in 1892. His mother was a noble Bugis lady descended from Dang Anum. His mother was the 4th generation of Dang Anum.
5. Since Dr S. I. M. Ibrahim was born in Singapore, he qualifies as Singapore's first Malay doctor (born, raised, schooled and educated in Singapore). He had worked a few months/years in Kajang and also in London, but worked mainly in Singapore, till his untimely death during the May 1962 Hajj season. He died in Madinah but was laid to rest in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
6. Historian, J. M. Gullick had cited Dr Abdul Samad bin Pagak as the 'first Malay doctor' in Singapore when Dr Abdul Samad was involved in Singapore politics in 1921. He noted that Dr Abdul Samad had graduated from the KE VII but did not hold any political posts. However, this information on Dr Abdul Samad as a graduated doctor turns out to be inaccurate. Abdul Samad was born in 1902 and probably just a newly registered medical student in 1921, and not yet a doctor. He was only 19 in 1921, and not a graduated doctor, not 'Dr Abdul Samad' yet.
7. A check with Prof Edmund J. D. Lee's book, To Sail Uncharted Seas (2005) provided evidence that Dr Abdul Samad graduated in 1928, i.e. 12 years after Dr S. I. M. Ibrahim had practised medicine in Singapore.
8. Dr Abdul Samad's full name is Dr Abdul Samat bin Haji Pagak as appeared in a newspaper article that listed visitors to the Asylum; his name was the last entry of 32 names. He was of Bugis descent.
9. In a newspaper article re a Singapore election campaign, it had Dr Abdul Samad's portrait and his birthplace. Dr Abdul Samad was born in Malaya, however, the locale in Malaya was unspecified. If he was born in Singapore, he would have stated Singapore as his birthplace. So he was not born in Singapore but in a state in Malaya. Where? Which state? Why didn't he state Johor or any state? Why did he state Malaya? Had he obtained Singapore citizenship and therefore the state where he was born did not matter? Did he move to Singapore as a child or after he graduated as a doctor? Why was he involved in politics when he entered medical school?
10. I have eliminated both Dr H. S. Moonshi and Dr Abdul Samad as described above.
11. In conclusion, Dr S. I. M. Ibrahim is Singapore's first Malay doctor.

Author's Log:

1. 26 Jan 2011 - Searched for 'Prof Ahmad Ibrahim' at www.geni.com and identified 2 contacts - granddaughter and great granddaughter. I left a message on Geni.com - gave great granddaughter link to TEMD blog and request to join Facebook. I left a second message on Geni.com - gave granddaughter link to TEMD blog.
2. 27 Jan 2011 - Managed to obtain family contact and details from a 3rd contact (also informed him of TEMD blog). No photos yet (need to scan first)
3. 28 Jan 2011 - Received a portrait of Dr Mohamed Ibrahim from his great grandson, younger son of the eldest grandson. Prepared first draft and e-mailed to his eldest grandson. Waiting for responses & feedback from his eldest grandson and the respective families.

Newspaper articles

MOSLEM ASSOCIATION.
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 11 August 1921, Page 7

The Hajj ship, Sealda

The Hajj conference at the E&O Hotel in Penang was interesting. The secretariat had circulated all papers submitted by the invited speakers. One paper had mentioned the Hajj ship Sealda was in use in 1923. The source was from an Indonesian archive.

Hajj Pilgrimage

He went for Hajj pilgrimage in 1935 and 1962.

He went to for Hajj in 1962 and competed the Hajj in 1962.

But he died in Madinah but in buried in Makkah.

Seen here are his relatives.

Seen here with relatives.

Al-Mahtabah Sharayah