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Hussein Onn

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Onn is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Hussein. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Hussein bin Onn (Jawi: حسين بن عون; 12 February 1922 – 29 May 1990) was a Malaysian lawyer and politician who served as the third Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1976 to 1981.

Early life, family and education

Hussein Onn was born on 12 February 1922 in Johor Bahru to Onn Jaafar (1895–1962) and Halimah Hussein (1900–1988). His father was a fighter for Malaysian independence and co-founder of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).[1] Hussein's grandfather, Jaafar Haji Muhammad, was the first Menteri Besar of Johor while his grandmother, Rogayah Hanim, came from the Caucasus region of the Ottoman Empire. She was likely presented as a concubine (see Circassian beauties) by the Ottoman court to the Sultan of Johor.[2]

Additionally, Hussein was the brother-in-law of Abdul Razak Hussein, his predecessor as prime minister, for whom Hussein wed Suhailah Noah, a daughter of first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Mohamed Noah Omar, in 1948. Abdul Razak was also concurrently married to another of Mohamed Noah's daughter, Rahah Noah.[3]

Hussein received his early education at Telok Kurau Primary School, Singapore, and at the English College Johore Bahru. After leaving school, he joined the Johor Military Forces as a cadet in 1940 and was sent a year later to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, India. Upon completion of his training, he was absorbed into the Indian Army and served in the Middle East when the Second World War broke out.[1] His vast experience prompted the British to employ him as an instructor at the Malayan Police Recruiting and Training Centre in Rawalpindi.[1]

Early career

Hussein came back to Malaya in 1945 and was appointed Commandant of the Johor Bahru Police Depot. The following year, he joined the Malaya Civil Service as an assistant administrative officer in Segamat, Johor. He was later posted to the state of Selangor, becoming Klang and Kuala Selangor's district officer.

Political career

Hussein, who came from a family with a deep nationalistic spirit and political roots,[1] resigned from the civil service to go into politics. In 1949, he became the first youth chief of UMNO, a party his father helped establish. In 1950, he was elected UMNO secretary general. Hussein, however, left UMNO in 1951 to join his father in forming the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP).[1]

With IMP losing momentum, Hussein went to London to study law and was called to the Bar and admitted as a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, qualifying as a Barrister-at-Law. He came back as a certified lawyer and practised in Kuala Lumpur.[1]

Hussein returned to politics by rejoining UMNO in 1968.[1] He stood and won the general elections in 1969 and was appointed as the Education Minister. On 13 August 1973, he took over as Deputy Prime Minister.

Prime Minister (1976–1981)

On 15 January 1976, Hussein, who was the Deputy Prime Minister, was appointed as Prime Minister after the death of his predecessor, Abdul Razak.[4]

Hussein underwent a coronary bypass in early 1981. His deputy, Mahathir Mohamad become acting prime minister. On 17 July, the same year, Hussein retired from active politics and resigned from the office of prime minister due to health concerns.[1] He was succeeded by Mahathir.

Personal life

Hussein and Suhaila had six children, including their fourth child, Hishammuddin Hussein, who is a senior UMNO politician since the 1990s.[3] Their eldest daughter, Datin Roquaiya Hanim (born 1950), died on 17 September 2006 from breast cancer.[3]

Death

Hussein died on 29 May 1990 of heart disease at Seton Medical Center in San Mateo, California, at the age of 68.[1] He was buried next to his predecessor, Abdul Razak, at Makam Pahlawan near Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur.[5]

Controversy

Hussein Onn era took the easy way out by putting opposition leaders into detention without trial, banning public rallies and controlling all the media.[6]

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1969 P100 Johore Bahru Timor Hussein Onn (UMNO) 12,565 63.59% Lee Ah Meng (DAP) 7,193 36.41% 20,767 5,372 72.29%
1974 P109 Sri Gading Hussein Onn (UMNO) Unopposed
1978 Hussein Onn (UMNO) 19,761 89.06% Hassan Hussein (PAS) 2,427 10.94% 17,334

Awards and recognitions

Honours of Malaysia

Places named after him

Several places were named after him, including:

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tun Hussein Onn". Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  2. ^ Mehmet Ozay; Ekrem Saltık (June 2015). "The Myth and Reality of Rukiye Hanim in the Context of Turkish Malay Relations (1864–1904)". İnsan & Toplum Dergisi (The Journal of Human & Society). 5 (9): 55–74. doi:10.12658/human.society.5.9.M0116.
  3. ^ a b c "Tun Suhailah, widow of 3rd PM Tun Hussein Onn, dies at 82". The Malaysian Insider. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  4. ^ Tan, Chee Khoon & Vasil, Raj (ed., 1984). Without Fear or Favour, p. 38. Eastern Universities Press. ISBN 967-908-051-X.
  5. ^ Zainah Anwar (2011). Legacy of honour. Kuala Lumpur: Yayasan Mohamed Noah. p. 275. ISBN 978-967-10382-0-8. OCLC 816815135.
  6. ^ Tong, Liew Chin (2021). Lim Kit Siang: Patriot, Leader, Fighter. p. 71.
  7. ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1981" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Anugerah Tun untuk Hussein kerana jasanya pada negara" (PDF). Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Perdana Leadership Foundation. 17 July 1981. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  9. ^ Ministers head Sultan's awards list. New Straits Times. 16 November 1972.
  10. ^ A Royal call to live in peace. New Straits Times. 29 October 1975.
  11. ^ "Hussein orang pertama terima darjah Seri Paduka Negeri Sembilan" (PDF). Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Perdana Leadership Foundation. 26 February 1980. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  12. ^ Pahang ruler birthday message. New Straits Times. 24 October 1975.
  13. ^ "梹州元首庆六十华诞 三百五十六官民 受封赐各级勳衔" [Yang-Dipertua Negeri Penang celebrate 60th birthday 356 individuals conferred over awards]. 星洲日報. 16 July 1977. p. 6.
  14. ^ "SPCM 1976". pingat.perak.gov.my. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  15. ^ Hussein and Rahah get top Sabah awards. New Straits Times. 14 September 1974. p. 1.
  16. ^ "DK II 1977". awards.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 23 January 2022.


Political offices
Preceded by Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
1973–1976 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Malaysia
1976–1981
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Chairperson of ASEAN
1977 		Succeeded by