Tun Hussein Onn
Another distinguished son of Johor who has brought honor to the Royal Johor Military Force (JMF) is Tun (Captain) Hussein Onn, the former Third Prime Minister of Malaysia (1976-1981). His presence in the JMF made him a highly disciplined individual, firm, and resilient in facing various trials and challenges throughout his career as a soldier, lawyer, and ultimately as a successful leader who brought about significant changes to the country.
Hussein Onn was born on 12th February 1922. After completing his English education at the English College in Johor Bahru, he joined the JMF as a Cadet Officer. With three other cadets, Ibrahim Ismail and Ungku Ahmad Abdul Rahman, he was sent to the Indian Military Academy in Dehra Dunn for further training. The training course was truncated due to the invasion of the Japanese.
He was deployed into the 19th Hyderabad Regiment and nine months later sent for active duty to Egypt and later to Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq.
In 1943, he was instructed to return to Malaya and detailed to serve the Malayan Bureau responsible for strategic defences against the Japanese. He was later sent to Rawalpindi to serve the Malayan Police Training Depot as a Captain.
In August 1945, he departed from Madras, intending to land in Morib in a move to counterattack the Japanese. However, with the surrender of the Japanese, he was sent to Rangoon and later to Singapore. He was made the Officer Commanding Police Depot in Johor Bahru. He served as CO of the Home Guard with 10,000 men under his command. After the war, he served as Assistant District Officer of Kuala Selangor, Klang and Segamat. He was conferred the M.B.E (Military) for his service and commitment during the war.
Hussein Onn played an active role in UMNO, assisting his father, Dato’ Onn Jaafar. He was elected head of the party’s youth movement and later Secretary General of UMNO. He served as the third Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1976 to 1981.
Indeed, the seeds of valor and the steadfast spirit of nationalism that were nurtured in the early stages of his involvement with the Royal Johor Military Force (JMF) further solidified his leadership in various careers he pursued. Ultimately, before retiring from politics, he dedicated himself to the service of religion, nation, and country. The fruits of his efforts have been enjoyed not only by the nation at large but also by the people of Johor in particular.
References:
- National Archives of Malaysia, Johor Branch, EXHIBITION BOOK ON THE OCCASION OF THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE ROYAL JOHOR MILITARY FORCE 1886 – 1986 AT THE JUBLI INTAN HALL, JOHOR BAHRU, ON THE 19th & 22nd OF AUGUST 1986.
- JMF.
