Mohamad Noah bin Omar
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri
Haji Mohammad Noah bin Omar (1865–1991) was a Malaysian politician. He was one of the leading figures during the founding of the United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO) and became the first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
.
, Johor
in 1865. He is a descendant of the 17th century Bugis
Raja Chempa. His ancestors were the aristocratic Oran Kaya of Muar. He attended the Syrian Protestant College in Beirut
, Lebanon
, after which he acquired the nickname "Noah Beirut". After returning, he worked as a lorry driver and clerk before joining the Johor civil service.
, Haji Anwar bin Abdul Malik
and Haji Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh al-Hadi. Together they founded UMNO on 1 May 1946 as a means to rally the Malays against the Malayan Union
, which was perceived as threatening Malay privileges and the position of the Malay rulers.
After independence, he became the first Speaker
of the Dewan Rakyat
, the lower house of Parliament
between 1959 and 1964. Subsequently, he was President of the Dewan Negara, the upper house, from 1968 to 1970.
formed a private company called Genting Highlands Berhad, which was set up on 27 April 1965. Tan Sri Lim successfully obtained approval for the alienation of 12000 acres (48.6 km²) and 2800 acres (11.3 km²) of land from the Pahang
and Selangor
state governments respectively between the years 1965 and 1970. Genting Highlands is currently Malaysia's only casino and highland resort.
, the widow of Tun Abdul Razak, who was Prime Minister from 1970 to 1976, Suhaila
, the widow of Tun Hussein Onn, who was Prime Minister from 1976 to 1981, and Fakhriah, who married Abdullah Ahmad, a member of the Johor royal court. Noah and Siti Aminah had an elder child, Nabiha, who died at a young age. His grandsons Najib Abdul Razak is now the Prime Minister, while Hishamuddin Hussein is the current Minister of Home Affairs
.
His second wife Maimun bore him his only son, Abu Rais.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Haji Mohammad Noah bin Omar (1865–1991) was a Malaysian politician. He was one of the leading figures during the founding of the United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO) and became the first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat is the presiding officer of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. He is responsible for convening sessions of the Dewan Rakyat, organising debates, and examining the admissibility of petitions, bills and amendments.In the absence of the...
.
Early Life
Noah Omar was born in MuarMuar (district)
Muar District is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. The name "Muar" is also used for the name of its district, which formerly sub-divided between the Town of Muar and the sub-district of Tangkak. Tangkak sub-district has been upgraded into a full district known as Ledang District in year...
, Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
in 1865. He is a descendant of the 17th century Bugis
Bugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...
Raja Chempa. His ancestors were the aristocratic Oran Kaya of Muar. He attended the Syrian Protestant College in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, after which he acquired the nickname "Noah Beirut". After returning, he worked as a lorry driver and clerk before joining the Johor civil service.
Politics
Noah was very active in the Malayan nationalist movement along with his contemporaries, Onn JaafarOnn Jaafar
Dato' Sir Onn bin Ja'afar, KBE was a Malay politician and a Menteri Besar of Johore in Malaysia, then Malaya. He was the founder of United Malays National Organization and was also responsible for the social economic welfare of the Malays by setting up the Rural Industrial Development Authority...
, Haji Anwar bin Abdul Malik
Haji Anwar bin Abdul Malik
Tan Sri Haji Dato' Anwar bin Abdul Malik was a Malaysian Politician .-Political career:He was the man credited with giving United Malays National Organisation its name. After the second world war, the Malayan Union was formed by the British and it was strongly opposed by the Malays...
and Haji Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh al-Hadi. Together they founded UMNO on 1 May 1946 as a means to rally the Malays against the Malayan Union
Malayan Union
The Malayan Union was a federation of the Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca. It was the successor to British Malaya and was conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government so as to simplify administration. The Malayan Union later became the independent...
, which was perceived as threatening Malay privileges and the position of the Malay rulers.
After independence, he became the first Speaker
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat is the presiding officer of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. He is responsible for convening sessions of the Dewan Rakyat, organising debates, and examining the admissibility of petitions, bills and amendments.In the absence of the...
of the Dewan Rakyat
Dewan Rakyat
The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara , before they are given Royal Assent by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...
, the lower house of Parliament
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
between 1959 and 1964. Subsequently, he was President of the Dewan Negara, the upper house, from 1968 to 1970.
Business
Noah together with Tan Sri Lim Goh TongLim Goh Tong
Tan Sri Dato Seri Lim Goh Tong was a prominent wealthy Malaysian Chinese businessman. He was renowned for his vision and courage in transforming Genting Highlands from an unexplored hilltop into one of the world's most successful casino resorts...
formed a private company called Genting Highlands Berhad, which was set up on 27 April 1965. Tan Sri Lim successfully obtained approval for the alienation of 12000 acres (48.6 km²) and 2800 acres (11.3 km²) of land from the Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
and Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
state governments respectively between the years 1965 and 1970. Genting Highlands is currently Malaysia's only casino and highland resort.
Family
Noah married twice, firstly to Siti Aminah Kusuma and then to Maimun Abdul Manaf. His children from his first marriage are RahahRahah Noah
Tun Rahah binti Tan Sri Mohammad Noah is the widow of former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and the mother of current Prime Minister Najib Razak. She is the daughter of Mohamad Noah Omar, former Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.-Biography:...
, the widow of Tun Abdul Razak, who was Prime Minister from 1970 to 1976, Suhaila
Suhaila Noah
Tun Suhaila binti Tan Sri Mohammad Noah is the widow of former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn and the mother of current Minister of Home Affairs Hishamuddin Hussein. She is the daughter of Mohamad Noah Omar, former Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat....
, the widow of Tun Hussein Onn, who was Prime Minister from 1976 to 1981, and Fakhriah, who married Abdullah Ahmad, a member of the Johor royal court. Noah and Siti Aminah had an elder child, Nabiha, who died at a young age. His grandsons Najib Abdul Razak is now the Prime Minister, while Hishamuddin Hussein is the current Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs (Malaysia)
Ministry of Home Affairs in Malaysia is a Malaysian government ministry in charge of domestic affairs such as public safety, civil defence and immigration.- British colony :...
.
His second wife Maimun bore him his only son, Abu Rais.