Burhanuddin bin Muhammad Nur al-Hilmi, commonly known as Burhanuddin al-Helmy (1911–November 6, 1969) was a Malaysian politician. He was the President of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) from 1956 to 1969.

Early and personal life

Burhanuddin was born in Kota Bharu, Perak

Kota Bharu, Perak

Kota Bharu is a small town in Perak, Malaysia. It is a very small railway town with a police station, a community clinic and a shop, plus a few abandoned shophouses. It is approximately 7 kilometers away from the largest town of Mukim Teja, Gopeng. There is only one known single road connecting...

 in 1911 and studied at India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

's Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...

.

Post-war activism

After World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, Burhanuddin set up the Malay Nationalist Party. The party advocated Malay

Malaysian Malay

In Malaysia, the Malay population is defined by Article 160 of the Malaysian Constitution as someone born to a Malaysian citizen who professes to be a Muslim, habitually speaks the Malay language, adheres to Malay customs and is domiciled in Malaysia or Singapore...

 rights and proposed a "political union" with Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

.

PAS Presidency

Burhanuddin assumed the Presidency of PAS in 1956, and held the post until his death in 1969. PAS had a left-wing orientation under Burhanuddin's leadership: he supported trade unions and anti-colonialism. He has been described as a "radical nationalist and Islamic thinker". His Presidency was interrupted by his arrest under the Internal Security Act

Internal Security Act (Malaysia)

The Internal Security Act 1960 is a preventive detention law in force in Malaysia. The legislation was enacted after Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. The ISA allows for detention without trial or criminal charges under limited, legally defined circumstances...

 in 1965 and subsequent imprisonment for one year on charges of plotting to overthrow the Malaysian government and install an Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

n-friendly replacement.