Tunku Abdul Rahman (The first malaysian leader)

Famous As: First Prime Minister Of Malaysia

Nationality: Malaysian

Political Ideology: United Malays National Organisation (1946–1971)

Birth Date: February 8, 1903

Died At Age: 87

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Born In: Alor Setar

Father: Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah

Mother: Cik Menjalara

Siblings: Tunku Mahmud

Spouses/Partners: Meriam Chong (1933–1935), Violet Coulson (1935–1946), Sharifah Rodziah Alwi Barakbah (1939–1990)

Children: Tunku Khadijah, Tunku Ahmad Nerang

Religion: Sunni Islam

Died On: December 6, 1990

Place Of Death: Kuala Lumpur

Sir Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah was the Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955 and became the country’s first Prime Minister after its Independence in 1957. Born in a royal family in Kedah, Abdul Rahman was the son of 24th Sultan of Kedah and went to become the founding father of the independent Malaysia. Abdul Rahman was also a member of the United Malays National Organization, an organization struggling against Britain’s Malayan Union. Also known as Bapa Kemerdekaan, he became the first Prime Minister of the country after Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore merged to form Malaysia in 1963. He played a key role when the Organization of Islamic Conference was established in 1969 and served as its first Secretary-General.


Early Career

After finishing his graduation, Abdul Rahman served in the Kedah public service and was made the District Officer of Kulim and Sungai Petani. At that time, the colonial Malaya was totally dominated by the British officers, with the only exception of Abdul Rahman who was a Malaya and had concern for his fellow people of Malaya. The two could never come to terms and he often had to pay for it by loosing promotion to higher positions. However, the British Administration did not dare do anything against him, as he was a son of the Sultan and a price of Malaya. Few years later, Abdul went to England and stayed there briefly before finally returning to Malaya following the eruption of the World War II.

 

He continued his law studies at Inner Temple in 1947 and after admitted to bar in 1949, he returned to Malaya where he was appointed at the Legal Officer’s office in Alor Star in the same year. Further, he was made a Deputy Public Prosecutor in Kaula Lampur and president of the session’s court. Abdul Rahman was also a member of the United Malays National Organization, an organization struggling against Britain’s Malayan Union. In 1951, a conflict surfaced within the UMNO forcing its president Datuk onn Jaafar to resign and the person replacing him was Abdul Rahman, who eventually seized the position for the next twenty years. 

Independence of Malaya

Abdul Rahman began his campaign for Malaya’s independence in 1954. His initial efforts failed to achieve anything as the British Administration was averse to grant independence unless it was assured of the racial harmony and equality in a new independent Malaya. As President of the UMNO, Abdul Rahman consolidated a political alliance with the Malaya Chinese Association to form the Alliance Party and later the Indian community Malayan Indian Association joined them in 1955. The coalition gained huge popularity among people though the UMNO members were initially reluctant to open the party to Chinese and Indian community. Abdul Rahman became the first Chief Minister of Malaya with the Alliance Party winning the first federal general election held in the same year. In 1955, he traveled to Japan, where he negotiated the Malaya Independence and 31 August 1957 was finally decided for its independence.

 

TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN TIMELINE

1903-:

Abdul Rahman was born on 8 February 1903.

1909-:

Abdul was sent to a Malay Primary School in 1909.

1911-:

Abdul was sent to Debsirin School in Bangkok.

1918-:

He enrolled at St. Catharine’s College in Cambridge University.

1925-:

He graduated with a bachelor degree in Arts in 1925.

1949-:

Abdul Rahman was admitted to bar in 1949.

1951-:

He was made the president of UMNO.

1954-:

Abdul Rahman began his campaign for Malaya’s independence in 1954.

1955:

Abdul Rahman became the first Chief Minister of Malaya.

1957-:

Malaya was declared independent on 31 August.

1957-:

He started an international football tournament in 1957.

1958-:

He was elected as the first president of Asian Football Confederation.

1960-:

Abdul Rahman declared Islam the official religion of Malaysia.

1960-:

He established the Islamic Welfare Organization (PERKIM).

1963-:

Malaya became Malaysia in 1963.

1963-:

Abdul Rahman became the first Prime Minister of Malaysia.

1965:

Singapore seceded and declared its Independence on 9 August 1965.

1970:

Abdul Rahman resigned from the position of Prime Minister on 22 November.

1971:

He resigned from the presidency of UMNO.

1977:

Abdul Rahman became the chairman of The Star.

1982:

He became the president of the Regional Islamic Da’wah Council of South East Asia and the Pacific (RISEAP).

1987:

The Star was banned in 1987.

1990:

Abdul Rahman died on 6 December 1990.

Source https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/tunku-abdul-rahman-93.