Politician. He served as the 7th Menteri Besar of Johor from 1947 to 1950, and the founder and 1st president of the UMNO party (United Malays National Organisation) from 1946 to 1951. He was also the son of Jaafar Muhammad, the first Menteri Besar of Johor. In 1904, he attended Aldeburgh Lodge School, a private school in Suffolk, England. When he returned to Malaya, he enrolled at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar where he studied for two years. In 1911, he began serving in the Johor State Secretary's Office as a trainee clerk. In 1917, he joined the Johor Military Forces with the rank of lieutenant. In the 1920s, Malay nationalism started developing in Johor, and he became a journalist and wrote articles on the welfare of the Malays. In 1927, he was expelled from Johor by Sultan Ibrahim after he published an article criticising him. In 1930, he became an editor for Warta Malaya while in exile in Singapore. He was finally invited to return to Johor in 1936. In 1946, he, along with some of his friends, founded the UMNO party in order to rally against the Malayan Union. In the following year, he was appointed the Menteri Besar of Johor. He resigned three years later as he wanted to devote full time to UMNO. However, he left the party in 1951 after his proposal to open the membership to non-Malays were disregarded. He went on to form the IMP (Independence of Malaya Party). He died of a heart attack.
Politician. He served as the 7th Menteri Besar of Johor from 1947 to 1950, and the founder and 1st president of the UMNO party (United Malays National Organisation) from 1946 to 1951. He was also the son of Jaafar Muhammad, the first Menteri Besar of Johor. In 1904, he attended Aldeburgh Lodge School, a private school in Suffolk, England. When he returned to Malaya, he enrolled at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar where he studied for two years. In 1911, he began serving in the Johor State Secretary's Office as a trainee clerk. In 1917, he joined the Johor Military Forces with the rank of lieutenant. In the 1920s, Malay nationalism started developing in Johor, and he became a journalist and wrote articles on the welfare of the Malays. In 1927, he was expelled from Johor by Sultan Ibrahim after he published an article criticising him. In 1930, he became an editor for Warta Malaya while in exile in Singapore. He was finally invited to return to Johor in 1936. In 1946, he, along with some of his friends, founded the UMNO party in order to rally against the Malayan Union. In the following year, he was appointed the Menteri Besar of Johor. He resigned three years later as he wanted to devote full time to UMNO. However, he left the party in 1951 after his proposal to open the membership to non-Malays were disregarded. He went on to form the IMP (Independence of Malaya Party). He died of a heart attack.
Bio by: Tasik Austin
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