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Do You Know? That although Malaya officially achieved Independence on Aug 31, 1957 when Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed the declaration of Independence and led the crowd to shout 'Merdeka' 3 times at the Merdeka Stadium (pix above), the British actually granted the would-be new federation self-rule in 1955 as a preparation for full independence.
Thus, the first ever Malayan Cabinet (also known as the Pre-Independence Cabinet) was formed on Aug 3, 1955. However, as full independence was yet to be granted, the Tunku was initially known only as Chief Minister. He only became Prime Minister after Aug 31, 1957.
Thus, the first ever Malayan Cabinet (also known as the Pre-Independence Cabinet) was formed on Aug 3, 1955. However, as full independence was yet to be granted, the Tunku was initially known only as Chief Minister. He only became Prime Minister after Aug 31, 1957.
Apart from being Chief Minister, the Tunku (prince) was also Minister for Home Affairs. Unlike today when we have more than 20 Malaysian ministers, the first Malayan Cabinet only had ten, including the Tunku. Out of these, there were three Chinese from the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and one Indian (Malayan Indian Congress). The rest were Malays from the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO). MCA, MIC and UMNO were members of the Alliance Party which won the first ever local elections handsomely in 1955 and thus the trust of the British in them.
The other Ministers were Dato' Abdul Razak Hussein (Education), Datuk Sulaiman Datuk Abd Rahman (Local Government and Housing), Datuk Ismail Datuk Abdul Rahman (Land and Mines), Col. Sir H.S. Lee (Transport), Sardon Hj. Jubir (Works), V.T. Sambanthan (Labour), Leong Yew Koh (Health), Ong Yoke Lin (Posts and Communications) and Abdul Razak Ishak (Agriculture).
Dato' Razak, father of present Malaysian deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib, went on to replace the Tunku as PM in 1970. Datuk (later Dr) Ismail was chosen Razak's DPM while Sardon eventually became Penang Governor. Ong (later Omar) later became President of the Malaysian Senate, the Upper House of Parliament. Razak, Dr Ismail, Sardon, Col. Lee, Sambanthan, Leong and Ong were later conferred the Tunship, the highest award for civilians in Malaya (later Malaysia). To the best of my knowledge most, if not all, of this pioneer batch of Malayan ministers had died.
You would notice that there were no Finance, Defence and Foreign Affairs ministers. This was because these portfolios were still handled directly by the British High Commissioner to Malaya and his officials. Defence especially as the Malayan army was still small and not well-equipped and after all, independent Malaya would continue to become a British protectorate for some time even after 1957.
In this first Malayan Cabinet there were also two Assistant Ministers: Mohd Khir Johari (UMNO) and Too Joo Hing (MCA). Khir went on to become a full Minister. In 1957 the Malayan population was a mere 6 million and of course I was only 3 years old.
On Sept 16, 1963 Malaya teamed up with the city-state of Singapore and the Borneon states of Sabah and Sarawak to form the enlarged Federation of Malaysia. Singapore however left in Aug 1965 to become an island-republic. Today both Malaysia and Singapore are members of ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations).
The other Ministers were Dato' Abdul Razak Hussein (Education), Datuk Sulaiman Datuk Abd Rahman (Local Government and Housing), Datuk Ismail Datuk Abdul Rahman (Land and Mines), Col. Sir H.S. Lee (Transport), Sardon Hj. Jubir (Works), V.T. Sambanthan (Labour), Leong Yew Koh (Health), Ong Yoke Lin (Posts and Communications) and Abdul Razak Ishak (Agriculture).
Dato' Razak, father of present Malaysian deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib, went on to replace the Tunku as PM in 1970. Datuk (later Dr) Ismail was chosen Razak's DPM while Sardon eventually became Penang Governor. Ong (later Omar) later became President of the Malaysian Senate, the Upper House of Parliament. Razak, Dr Ismail, Sardon, Col. Lee, Sambanthan, Leong and Ong were later conferred the Tunship, the highest award for civilians in Malaya (later Malaysia). To the best of my knowledge most, if not all, of this pioneer batch of Malayan ministers had died.
You would notice that there were no Finance, Defence and Foreign Affairs ministers. This was because these portfolios were still handled directly by the British High Commissioner to Malaya and his officials. Defence especially as the Malayan army was still small and not well-equipped and after all, independent Malaya would continue to become a British protectorate for some time even after 1957.
In this first Malayan Cabinet there were also two Assistant Ministers: Mohd Khir Johari (UMNO) and Too Joo Hing (MCA). Khir went on to become a full Minister. In 1957 the Malayan population was a mere 6 million and of course I was only 3 years old.
On Sept 16, 1963 Malaya teamed up with the city-state of Singapore and the Borneon states of Sabah and Sarawak to form the enlarged Federation of Malaysia. Singapore however left in Aug 1965 to become an island-republic. Today both Malaysia and Singapore are members of ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations).
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