Syed Mohamed Syed Ahmad Alsagoff
Encyclopedia
Syed Mohamed bin Syed Ahmad Alsagoff was an Hadhrami Muslim
born in Singapore
. He had his education at Victoria School
and later joined the Malayan Armed Forces, the predecessor of the Malaysian Armed Forces. He rose to the rank of major-general before his retirement in the 1970s.
When Singapore
was part of Malaysia from 1963–1965, he was the commander of the Singapore armed forces, holding the rank of brigadier
. The Singapore armed forces consist of the 4th Malaysian Infantry Brigade which has two infantry regiments of about 1000 soldiers each. The forces moved out of Singapore
completely in November, 1967.
, revealed that it was Brigadier Alsagoff who was instrumental in prompting him to embark on an ambitious plan to modernise the Singapore Armed Forces
.
In his memoirs, From Third World to First: The Singapore Story (ISBN 0060197765), Lee stated that he had taken offence that Brigadier Syed Mohamed had "insisted" that his Malaysian motorcycle outriders escort him from his City Hall office to Parliament House for the ceremonial opening of the first Parliament of Singapore.
Lee was also fearful that Brigadier Alsagoff may be persuaded by Syed Ja'afar Albar to stage a coup months after Singapore's separation from Malaysia. Brigadier Alsagoff with his brigade based in Singapore could have easily captured him and his ministers. Lee and his family eventually moved from their family home to the Istana
guarded by a company of Gurkha
guards.
Syed Ja'afar Albar had strongly opposed Singapore's separation from Malaysia, and had resigned as UMNO secretary-general in protest.
However, one of Alsagoff's former subordinates, Lt-Col Fathol Zaman Bukhari, stated that Alsagoff was a jovial, larger-than-life figure who liked to instil fear in his subordinates; and that Lee would not have acted so impetuously if he had known Alsagoff's sense of humour.
http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/getTitle.aspx?SBNum=030614
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
born in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. He had his education at Victoria School
Victoria School
Victoria School in Singapore is a government secondary school for boys, founded in 1876, at Siglap Link, about one kilometre from affiliated Victoria Junior College....
and later joined the Malayan Armed Forces, the predecessor of the Malaysian Armed Forces. He rose to the rank of major-general before his retirement in the 1970s.
When Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
was part of Malaysia from 1963–1965, he was the commander of the Singapore armed forces, holding the rank of brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
. The Singapore armed forces consist of the 4th Malaysian Infantry Brigade which has two infantry regiments of about 1000 soldiers each. The forces moved out of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
completely in November, 1967.
Modernization of Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan YewLee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
, revealed that it was Brigadier Alsagoff who was instrumental in prompting him to embark on an ambitious plan to modernise the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
.
In his memoirs, From Third World to First: The Singapore Story (ISBN 0060197765), Lee stated that he had taken offence that Brigadier Syed Mohamed had "insisted" that his Malaysian motorcycle outriders escort him from his City Hall office to Parliament House for the ceremonial opening of the first Parliament of Singapore.
Lee was also fearful that Brigadier Alsagoff may be persuaded by Syed Ja'afar Albar to stage a coup months after Singapore's separation from Malaysia. Brigadier Alsagoff with his brigade based in Singapore could have easily captured him and his ministers. Lee and his family eventually moved from their family home to the Istana
Istana Singapore
The Istana is the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. Meaning "palace" in Malay, it is where the president receives and entertains state guests. The Istana is also the working office of the Prime Minister of Singapore...
guarded by a company of Gurkha
Gurkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the Gorkha District. Gurkhas are best known for their history in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments, the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Nepalese Army. Gurkha units are closely associated with the kukri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife...
guards.
Syed Ja'afar Albar had strongly opposed Singapore's separation from Malaysia, and had resigned as UMNO secretary-general in protest.
However, one of Alsagoff's former subordinates, Lt-Col Fathol Zaman Bukhari, stated that Alsagoff was a jovial, larger-than-life figure who liked to instil fear in his subordinates; and that Lee would not have acted so impetuously if he had known Alsagoff's sense of humour.
Books
From Third World to First: The Singapore Story (ISBN 0060197765)http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/getTitle.aspx?SBNum=030614