Leader Figure of Johor (Tokoh Kepimpinan Johor) - Dato' Onn Jaafar

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Hi everyone. I am Adilah. I am 12 years old from SK Tunjuk Laut, Kota Tinggi . To be chosen as a
candidate to represent my school in this scrapbook project was a great experience for me as student and as
SLB committee. Knowing a little bit about Dato’ Onn Jaafar , a great leader from Johore, made me feel great
and pround to be Johorean .

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher , Puan Rosiah rasul, who had
gave me this golden oppurtunity to do this valueable project. Also to Mr Mohd Alif Amirol bin Md Suhaimi,
which also helped me in creating this digital scrapbook and guide me on how to use technologies, digital
resources and many more . I am really thankful for their guidance.

I also want to say thank you to my father and mother, Mazlan bin Ismail and Waheda binti Mohd Sau
, for their support and help in finishing this scrapbook within the limited time. Lastly, I want to say a very
thank you to everyone that helped me to finish this digital scrapbook.

This project not just to fulfill the need of the competition but also had increased my knowledge about
history of Johore and Malalaysia .
Thank you

INTRODUCTION

Dato Onn Jaafar was born in 12 February1895 and passed away in 19 January 1962. He was a
Malayan Politician who served as the 7st Menteri Besar of Johor from 1947 to 1950, then Malaya[now
Malaysian].He is also the founder and was the 1st president of United Malays National Organisation[
UMNO] from its formation in 1946 to his resignationin 1951 and was also responsible for the social and
economic welfare of the Malays by setting up the Rural Industrial Development Authority [RIDA].

He was as much influenced by the emerging age of democracy as he was by the icon of his period.
His ability to cooperate with the non-Malay constituents was a political necessity as he hoped to successfully
champion the interests of the Malay community.

It can be said that Onn had an enormous impact on the independence movement and helped to shape
the emerging pattern of Malayan politics in more ways than he is often credited with. Dato’ Jaafar On is a
true leader from his period because his leadership has shown that he had all the quality of a leader like
prioritizing inclusivity, togetherness and responsibility when leading his people.

BIOGARPHY OF ONN JAAFAR

➢ His father, the late Dato ’Jaafar Haji Mohamed (1838-1919) was the first Menteri Besar of Johor and
the founder of the Johor Government’s administrative system.

➢ He was born in 1838 in the Gulf pans, Singapore, and studied French and English. He is a
descendant of Bendahara Paduka Raja Johor and Bendahara Kerajaan Melaka.

➢ Dato Onn Jaafar's mother is Hanim Rogayah, a Near Timorese woman of Turkish descent. He has 15
brothers and sisters .

➢ He was the adopted son of the sultan. He was brought up by an English woman in Johor Bahru
before continuing his studies in England with the three sons of Sultan Ibrahim, namely Tunku
Mahkota Ismail, Tunku Abu Bakar and Tunku Ahmad.

➢ In 1903, he furthered his studies at Alderburgh Lodge School, Suffolk, England. He went there as an
escort for the princes of the Sultan of Johor.

➢ Dato' Onn died at the age of 67, on 19th January 1962 at the Officers' Ward, General Hospital, Johor
Bahru.[10] He was laid to rest beside the grave of his father, Dato' Jaafar Haji Muhammad at the
Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum in Johor Bahru

ONN JAAFAR’S LEGACY

His father, the late Dato ’Jaafar Haji Mohamed (1838-1919) was the first Menteri Besar of Johor and the
founder of the Johor Government’s administrative system, as it exists today.

Dato Onn Jaafar's mother is Hanim Rogayah, a Near Timorese woman of Turkish descent.



ONN JAAFAR’S EDUCATION BACKGROUND

❖ He started his education in a Malay school in Johor
Bahru. In 1904, he went to England to attend Aldeburgh
Lodge School, a private school in Suffolk, with the then
Tengku Mahkota until 1909.

❖ He excelled in sports and captained the school’s
cricket and football teams.

❖ He returned to Malaya and was enrolled at the Malay
College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) where he studied there for
two years from 1910 to 1911. The main reasons for him to enroll at MCKK was the need to improve
his Malay language proficiency that had weakened considerably following his time in England
❖ After graduating from MCKK, he worked as a trainee clerk at the Johor Government Secretary office
and was made a permanent clerk a year later. He served in this capacity in several departments
before joining the

DATO’ ONN JAAFAR TIMELINE CAREER

❖ 1904 He went to England to attend Aldeburgh Lodge School, a private school in Suffolk, with the
then Tengku Mahkota until 1909.

❖ 1910 to 1911 He returned to Malaya and was enrolled at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar
(MCKK) where he studied there for two years

❖ 1911 He worked as a trainee clerk at the Johor Government Secretary office and was made a
permanent clerk a year later.

❖ 1917 He served in this capacity in several departments before joining the Johor Military Forces
with the rank of lieutenant.

❖ 1919 He rejoined the civil service
❖ 1920 Due to his trouble with the Johor palace after expressing his unhappiness over the sale of his

family’s ancestral home. The royal palace did not take the issue kindly and terminated his service in
June
❖ 1921 He rejoined the civil service again as an Assistant Collector of Land Revenue
❖ 1920s He became a journalist and wrote articles on the welfare of the Malays
❖ 1930 Became the editor of a Malay paper, Warta Malaya, in 1930
❖ 1936 Sultan Ibrahim invited Onn to return to Johor in 1936. After six years, he edited four other
newspapers including Lembaga Malaya, Warta Ahad and Lembaga.
❖ 1941 Onn was drafted into the administrative system and served as a food controller in Johor.
❖ 1 February 1946 Dato’ Onn Jaafar joined a rally to protest against the Sultan's decision for
signing the treaties, with Harold MacMichael, and voiced out that the Sultan had violated the terms
in the Johor state constitution which explicitly forbade any foreign powers to assume legitimate
control over the state. The rally was held on at the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, and protesters
shouted nationalistic slogans and called for the dethronement of Sultan Ibrahim.
❖ 1946 Became the founder and was the 1st President of United Malays National Organisation
( UMNO) . He was also appointed as the Menteri Besar of Johor by Sultan Ibrahim .
❖ 1950 Was approached by Sultan Ibrahim, who asked him to choose between committing his efforts
for UMNO and the state. He chose to the former, and resigned as the Menteri Besar of Johor in May.

❖ 26 August 1951 He left UMNO as the party , to form the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP).

However, the IMP failed to receive sufficient backing from Malayans
❖ 1955 He failed to win in the General Election to become the first Prime Minister of Malaya, but he

had played an important role in paving the way for Malaya to achieve independence on 31st August

1957
❖ 19th January 1962 Dato' Onn died at the age of 67, at the Officers' Ward, General Hospital,

Johor Bahru. He was laid to rest beside the grave of his father, Dato' Jaafar Haji Muhammad at the

Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum in Johor Bahru

Dato’ Onn Jaafar was enrolled at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) where he studied there for
two years from 1910 to 1911

❖ Became the founder and was the 1st President of United Malays National Organisation
( UMNO) .

❖ Leading a meeting with all sides of groups to ensure togetherness

❖ Discussing about out national independence with the delegates from British. A fearless leader that
put the people first in his heart

❖ Onn's tomb at the Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum,
Johor Bahru.

LEADERSHIP VALUE OF ONN JAAFAR

The success of Dato’ Onn Jaafar in fighting for our national freedom is a proof that he is a true
leader.

His contribution to the unity of the Malays and the struggle for and the achievement of independence
for Malaya made him selected as winner of 'Tokoh Anak Gemilang Malaysia'.

One of the most important value from his leadership is the value of responsibility. Responsibility is very
important to a leader because without it, the leader can’t run and accomplish the tasks given. For example,
Dato’ Onn is very responsible towards his family and country as he led the people to fight for independence.
Although he did not succeed in Umno , he has been described as 'a farsighted leader not of his time'.

Apart from that, Dato 'Onn is a Malay leader who is inclusive, in the sense that he was a spirited and
independent-minded, fighting for the dignity of his people, without discriminating against other ethnic
groups, the differences that exist in society as a cry for his leadership and not be manipulated to get or retain
power.

Next, togetherness is the value that we can learn from Dato’ Onn Jaafar. He always applied the value
when uniting the people. For instance, he always planned and carried out meetings with all sides and groups
of people to work and fight for independence. As a leader, it is a must to put togetherness as a vital value
when making decision for the betterment of all. Togetherness can ensure that the decision is made fairly and
peacefully for the good of all parties.

CONCLUSION
It is a definite conclusion that Dato’ Onn Jaafar is a true Malay leader with sharp mind, articulate;
The Malaysian uniter, a warrior for all generations.

His strength is very significant in fighting towards national independence. The only figure who are
able to collect their strength against the occupation of Tanah Melayu. It is not surprising if he utters the
words of wisdom that is ‘The king is the people, the people are the king”. Because it is in line with his soul
that lives for the people.

His legacy and value of leadership that focuses on togetherness, inclusivity and kindness will
flourish for generations to come and stay as the leadership standard for all Malaysians.

REFERENCES

Datuk Onn Jaafar. UMNO. (2019, June 21). https://umno.org.my/presiden/datuk-onn-jaafar/.
Oasis, O. (2017, August 24). E-Folio (DATO’ ONN JAAFAR). Http://Oscaroasispmjb.Blogspot.Com/.
http://oscaroasispmjb.blogspot.com/2017/08/

Ahmad, A. (2016, January 22). Onn Jaafar, Perjuangannya dan Sejarah Kita. Leadmy.Wordpress.Com.
https://leadmy.wordpress.com/2016/01/22/onn-jaafar-perjuangannya-dan-sejarah-kita/

Nor Azman, A. N. (2011, July 14). Dato’ Onn Jaafar. Http://Tokohsejarahmalaysia-

a1.Blogspot.Com/2011/07/Dato-Onn-Jaafar.Html. http://tokohsejarahmalaysia-

2a1.blogspot.com/2011/07/dato-onn-jaafar.html