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Tunku Abdul Rahman

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah (تونكو عبد الرحمن ڤوترا الحاج ابن سلطان عبد الحميد حليم شاه; 8 February 1903 –6 December 1990) was a Malaysian statesman and lawyer who served as the first prime minister of Malaysia and the head of government of its predecessor states from 1955 to 1970. He was the first chief minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955 to 1957. He supervised the independence process that culminated on 31 August 1957. As an independent Malaysia's first prime minister, he dominated the country's politics for the next 13 years.

In 1963, he successfully incorporated the Federation of Malaya, British North Borneo (renamed Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore into the state of Malaysia. However, tensions between the Malay and Chinese communities resulted in Singapore's expulsion in 1965. His poor performance during race riots in Kuala Lumpur in 1969 led to his resignation in 1970. Commonly known simply as "Tunku" (a Malay royal title), Abdul Rahman is widely regarded, even by his critics, as Malaysia's "founding father", the architect of Malayan independence and of the formation of Malaysia. As such, he is often referred to as Father of Independence (Bapa Kemerdekaan) or Father of Malaysia (Bapa Malaysia).

Childhood
Tunku Abdul Rahman was born on 8 February 1903, in Alor Setar, Kedah, the seventh son and one of 45 children of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, the 26th ruler of the Kedah Sultanate. Tunku's mother was Cik Menyelara (Nueang Nandanagara), a Thai, and the sixth wife of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah; she was the daughter of Luang Naraborirak (Kleb Nandanagara), a district officer in Thailand. Cholera and malaria were very common in Kedah at the time and at least two of Tunku's brothers and his older sister died from cholera while Tunku himself suffered from intermittent attacks of malaria until he left for London in 1920.

He received early education at the Alor Setar Malay Primary School before furthering his studies at the government English school, Sultan Abdul Hamid College. He and his siblings were later sent by his parents to Debsirin School in Bangkok. He returned home in 1915 to continue his education at the Penang Free School.

University
When Tunku was 17, he won the Kedah State Government scholarship to further his studies at Cambridge University.

After about a year, Tunku realised that he was making very little progress in his studies. After a meeting with Mr. Ezekiel, his guardian, in the office of the Crown Agents, Ezekiel arranged for Tunku to move to Cambridge and to be taught by and live with Basil Atkinson. Atkinson was an experienced tutor and he also prepared Tunku to sit in a university entrance examination known as "Little Go". The following year, he took the entrance exams and he obtained high marks for all his papers with a Pass for the whole examination. He was accepted as an undergraduate at St Catharine's College, one of the colleges of the University of Cambridge, and graduated with a bachelor's degree of Arts in Law and History in 1925.

Five years after sailing from Singapore, at the age of 23, he sailed home. The Crown Agents secured Tunku a berth in a passenger ship, which stopped at Penang. Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, and his eldest brother was unhappy with Tunku's choice of degrees and he ordered Tunku to return to England to be admitted to the English Bar. On Tunku's initiative, the Malay Society of Great Britain was formed, with Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan (later the 1st Yang Di-Pertuan Agong) as president and Tunku Abdul Rahman of Kedah as Honorary Secretary and the driving force.

Kulim
In January 1931, Tunku was appointed a Cadet in the Kedah Civil Service. Later, he was transferred to Kulim as Assistant District Officer. In Kulim, Tunku devoted much of his time touring the district and getting to know the problems of the peasants who made up 90% of the population. Tunku also devoted some of his time to prepare for Cadet's Law exam to qualify for the promotion. He took the exams and passed them on his first attempt.

Padang Terap
About a year later, Tunku was promoted to be District Officer of Padang Terap. The post of District Officer of Padang Terap was unpopular because Kuala Nerang was rife with malaria. As soon as Tunku took over the district, he gave orders for a survey to be made of the swamps which bordered the town, obtained an estimate for draining them, and applied to the State Secretariat for the necessary funds. Unfortunately, Tunku's plea for funds was rejected. He wrote again to the State Secretariat, asking that funds be made available to drain the swamps and to rid Kuala Nerang of the main breeding place of the carriers of malaria. This time the money came and the work was carried out under Tunku's supervision.

Langkawi
Because Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, was known to be strongly opposed to mixed marriages and since there was a law in Kedah which forbade members of the royal family to marry non-Malays without the prior approval of the Ruler or Regent, the Tunku married Violet Coulson who lived in Penang. In 1934, the Regent died unexpectedly and was succeeded as Regent by Tunku Mahmud, the Sultan's younger brother, who was more broad-minded and gave consent to the marriage. This enabled Violet to move to Kuala Nerang, but the Secretary to the Government showed his disapproval by transferring Tunku to the isolated post of District Officer at Langkawi.

The district consisted of a group of islands, thinly populated, sparsely cultivated, and without roads. When Tunku applied for government funds to develop Langkawi his application was rejected. Ever-resourceful, Tunku's genius in winning co-operation from members of the public of all communities led to the construction of a jetty and later to the opening of several earth roads using money and material which he collected.

World War II and the Japanese occupation
While in London, Tunku sat once more for the Bar Examinations, as he planned to leave the Civil Service, and to enter private practice as soon as he had qualified as an advocate and solicitor. Tunku succeeded in passing the Part One Examination, in 1939. However, with the advent of World War II, Tunku was recalled to Malaya and ordered to resume duty as District Officer in Kulim, where he remained for the next three years.

He was responsible for the Civil Defence preparations implemented by district officers. Tunku was appointed Deputy Director of Air Raid Precautions for South Kedah. Tunku recognised the need to prepare for the evacuation of civilians in the event of an invasion and in 1941 he gave orders for the construction of six "Long Houses" made of round timber and with attap roofs on a low hill about two miles away from the town. Funds for this work had been refused by the State Secretariat and Tunku, therefore, invited donations from local town dwellers who would benefit if evacuations became necessary.

By October 1941, British troops had prepared defensive positions in North Kedah. On the morning of 8 December 1941, the Invasion by the Japanese army began. The attack was quickly followed by the advance of General Yamashita's army which had landed unopposed on beaches near Songkla the previous night. A second assault force came ashore, unopposed, on the coast of Petani and advanced towards Betong and Kroh. A third but smaller force landed close to Kota Bahru in Kelantan despite vigorous opposition.

Unaware of the extent of the Japanese attack, Tunku went to his office and ordered a general alert for his air wardens. Later that morning, he met the leading shopkeepers and advised them to evacuate their families to the "Long House".

Tunku's eldest surviving brother, Tunku Badlishah, had succeeded Tunku Mahmud as Regent in 1937 when the latter died. He was now in control, since Sultan Abdul Hamid, although still alive, was incapacitated. At about 9 o'clock on the night of the invasion, Syed Omar telephoned Tunku and told him that the Regent had decided to evacuate the 77-year-old Sultan to Penang, and thence to Singapore. Tunku disagreed with this decision, feeling the need for the Sultan to remain with his people, he absconded with him during the journey. Soon after, the Japanese began bombing Penang.

Occupation
With the Japanese's bombing Penang, the Regent and his family fled. They were given accommodation in Sidim when the second and more severe bombing of Penang town took place on 11 December 1941, which caused hundreds of civilians to be killed. Upon returning, to Kulim, Tunku found out that all the Police were no longer on duty. Tunku's first concern was to prevent looting and he called all members of the disbanded Kedah Volunteer Force in Kulim to come to his assistance. These men formed a vigilante corps and Tunku arranged for them to patrol the town at night. He was also responsible for the acquiring of emergency food stores from the Government Rice Mill at Bagan Serai in Perak. By 16 December 1941, the Japanese army had occupied the west coast of Kedah, including all the main towns. The Japanese Military Governor of Kedah an assuming office appointed another of Tunku's brothers, Tunku Mohamed Jewa, to be a temporary Regent until the Sultan returned to Alor Setar.

On 17 December, the Sultan, the Regent, and his family and senior officers of the State Government set off for Alor Setar with a Japanese military escort. In Kulim, Tunku reluctantly remained as District Officer for another year as a servant to the Japanese Military Administration.

Friction between Tunku and the Japanese officials were frequent, and he was removed from his position of authority. The Siamese was then put in charge. Soon after the takeover by the Siamese, Tunku was appointed the Superintendent of Education.

In 1942, the Japanese transported thousands of young male Malayans to work on the construction of a railway from North Siam to Burma. Tunku helped house and feed some escapees from the railway construction project at considerable risk to himself.

On 6 and 9 August 1945, atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively. A week later, the Japanese Imperial government in Tokyo agreed to an unconditional surrender.

Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army movement (MPAJA)
When the Japanese surrender was announced over the wireless in mid-August, plans were hurriedly prepared in Ceylon for the dispatch of a British Military Administration. At the same time, the top Chinese Communist leaders in Malaya, Fong Chong Pik, who was nicknamed "the Plen" and a young Chinese Rebel named Chin Peng decided to try to seize control of the civil administration in as many states as possible. Tunku and his followers were responsible for the peace-keeping efforts and the protection of Alor Setar from the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army.

Protest against Malayan Union
On 19 August, the surrender of the Japanese Army had become common knowledge in Alor Setar. With the Japanese surrender, several groups of people talked about independence and discussed how it might be attained. Malay societies were formed all of the peninsular with similar objectives, but with no coordination. On 10 October 1945, the Secretary of State for the Colonies issued his Policy Statement on a "Malayan Union". In Kedah, both the principal Malay organisations held protest meetings and rallies. Tunku spoke forcefully at these rallies, but he recommended opposition by peaceful means.

Sir Harold MacMichael, representing the British Government, arrived in Kuala Lumpur on 11 October 1945. He came to Alor Setar after visiting the Sultans of Johor, Selangor, Pahang, and Perak and securing their signatures to a new treaty. In Kedah, MacMichael was told that the Ruler would consult his Council of State before discussing with him. With these consultations proceeded, rallies and processions in opposition to the treaty were held in every district and the center of Alor Setar. Tunku was one of the most popular speakers in Alor Setar, Sungai Petani, and Kulim, but he was not invited to take part in any of the discussions convened by his half-brother, Sultan Badlishah. After three days of negotiations, the Sultan followed the example of his brother rulers. The Sultan's surrender was vigorously criticised by the public and by Tunku. MacMichael flew back to London after securing all the signatures from the rulers for the new treaty. Then the British Prime Minister announced that the Malayan Union would come into effect on 1 April 1946.

A British officer who had held Tunku's post before the war was appointed Superintendent of Education, Kedah in his place. The State Government did not give Tunku any new position. During this period, Tunku held no office in any Malay organisation.

Law Studies
Tunku applied for 18 months' study leave and arranged to return to England to resume his law studies. He arrived in bunker on 27 December 1946 and travelled by train to London, and remained there for the next 18 months.

When he passed all his law exams, Tunku sailed back to Malaya on the P.&.O. Corfu in January 1949 to be met by his wife, children, and friends in Penang. A few days later he called on the Secretary to the Government to inform him that he was now a qualified advocate and solicitor, but the reception was neutral. Tunku was instructed to report to the State Legal Advisor for duty as a deputy public prosecutor. His work was routine and he spent his days reading case files.

United Malay National Organisation (UMNO)
Tunku was invited to accept the chairmanship of the Kedah branch of UMNO, the political party which had been formed by Dato' Onn Jaafar. But before long, the Attorney-General, Fosters-Sutton, visited Kedah and met Tunku in his office to ask if he would like to take up a new appointment in Kuala Lumpur, which Tunku accepted. In Kuala Lumpur, Tunku was allotted an office in the Federal Secretariat, together with other Deputy Public Prosecutors. Tunku's work received a favourable report and he was transferred with promotion, to the post of President of the Selangor Court. At the same time, a political crisis was brewing in UMNO. When the Communist revolutionaries launched an armed rebellion from jungle bases during the Malayan Emergency, UMNO founder and president, Onn, felt the need for racial harmony and a non-communal political party.

A General Assembly was to be held in Kuala Lumpur in August 1951, and Onn had made it known that if his proposals were not accepted in this meeting, he would resign. Malay leaders while discussing the crisis recognised that they must find a successor to Onn. At that time, Tunku's qualities and ability as a leader were almost unknown outside Kedah. Finally, three candidates, including Tunku, were suggested to be nominated for the post of President if Onn stepped down. Abdul Razak, the State Secretary of Pahang and UMNO vice president went to meet Tunku in his house, to ask him to agree to the nomination, but Tunku was reluctant. Instead, Tunku replied that Razak himself was much better qualified to be nominated. But Razak convinced Tunku that he was much too young to gain the support of the Malay masses.

After much persuasion, Tunku reluctantly accepted the nomination. The UMNO Assembly met on 23 August 1951, where Tunku received 57 votes and his nearest rival had 11. In his acceptance speech, Tunku demanded that independence should be granted to Malaya as soon as possible. Tunku was still President of the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur, with daily duties to perform drawing a government salary and living in government quarters. Tunku informed the Chief Justice of his intention to resign from government service.

In the eyes of the average UMNO member, Tunku was first and foremost the brother of the Sultan of Kedah, and a member of a royal house, which carried some prestige within Malaya. Tunku had acquired a wealth of experience as a district officer in Kedah, which enables him to understand and sympathise with the problems of the rural population, who made up a large proportion of the UMNO membership.

Alliance Party
At the time of Onn Jaafar's resignation from the presidency of UMNO, he had predicted that the party would disintegrate within three months. But even before the end of that period, it became clear that although influential Chinese and some prominent Indians and Ceylonese had become members of Onn Jaafar's new party, very few Malays had done so. Tunku held and expressed the view that Malayan communities could not be united within a single political party. He believed that each community needs its political party and its political leaders, and he was proven to be right. The first trial of strength between all the rival political parties took place in January 1952.

On 6 October 1951, Sir Henry Gurney was killed in an ambush by communist revolutionaries. He was replaced by General Sir Gerald Templer who brought with him a new policy from the British Government in London. Templer was to guide the people of Malaya towards the attainment of a United Malayan Nation. The policy had also called for the partnership of all communities. To put this new policy into effect, the government had agreed to hold elections at the Municipal and Town Council level, as the first step towards a democratic government, and Kuala Lumpur was chosen as one of the venues for the experiment. All the existing political parties were prepared to contest.

One of these political organisation was the Malayan Chinese Association, or MCA. MCA was brought into existence in 1949 by two men, Colonel H. S. Lee, the President of the Selangor Mining Association, and Tan Cheng Lock of Malacca. It occurred to him that if MCA and UMNO allied at the municipal level, their chances of success would be greater. Together with his deputy, they met and sought the approval of Dato' Yahaya, the Chairman of UMNO in Kuala Lumpur. They quickly reached an agreement. Under the chairmanship of Col. H. S. Lee, a combined committee from the MCA and UMNO was formed and 12 candidates were selected, one for each area, some Malays, some Chinese, and one Indian. The committee then began a vigorous campaign to enlist support for "The Alliance".

News of the venture appeared in all the leading newspapers. Tunku was in Province Wellesley when he read the news. He received a telephone call from a UMNO leader in Kuala Lumpur asking him to come back at once for a discussion. On his way to meet the UMNO leaders in Kuala Lumpur, he saw a leading member of Independence of Malaya Party, or IMP, and asked for his opinion of the "Alliance". Tunku was confronted by protesting political colleagues, but he told them that he supported the Alliance and Intended to help in the campaign in Kuala Lumpur.

At the counting of votes on 16 February 1952, the "Alliance" won nine seats, IMP, two, and an Independent one. The success of the UMNO-MCA alliance was repeated in other municipal and town council elections, starting in Johor Bahru, where, to the chagrin of Dato' Onn, the Alliance won all the seats.

Tunku followed up the Municipal elections by holding a 'Round Table Conference' on 3 February 1953, attended by leaders of the MCA and UMNO, in the Selangor Miner's Club, Kuala Lumpur. Everyone agreed to establish a permanent alliance of UMNO and MCA as a political body with Independence for Malaya as its principal objective.

They also discussed the possibility of forming a united front with the Independence of Malayan Party, or the IMP. Tunku arranged a meeting with Onn. He brought H. S. Lee and Dr. Ismail. Onn brought three lawyers and two Malay civil servants. At the meeting, Onn told Tunku that IMP could only work together with the Alliance leaders if they disbanded the Alliance and joined IMP. Tunku tried to find some ground for compromise, but Onn was adamant and the meeting ended. Tunku disagreed fundamentally with Onn's conception of a single political party consisting of members of all communities. He knew by instinct that each community needed its political party. The challenge that lay before him was finding a way to unite the communal parties. Soon, the Alliance leaders met again to discuss their campaign. They drew up proposals that included a request for an elected majority and a firm date for the first elections.

At the Legislative Council, when the demands by the Alliance were discussed, Onn told the Legislative Council that the holding of the elections should be planned as a gradual process and he questioned Tunku's demand. Onn's remarks were relayed to the Secretary of State and damaged Tunku's image.

Meeting in London
In August 1953, Gerald Templer offered Tunku a portfolio in the Government, but Tunku refused it. Earlier in July 1953, the government set up a working committee to examine the possibility of holding State and Federal Elections. The committee was set up after Templer obtained the concurrence of Malay Rulers who at first were quite reluctant to accept such proposals due to their deep-rooted fear of what might befall them if Independence were granted. When the names of the members of the Election Committee were announced, Tunku observed that a majority of them were Onn Jaafar's supporters.

During the discussion, the members found themselves in two groups. The majority approved certain recommendations while the Alliance minority disagreed and made their proposals. When the majority of recommendations were accepted and proposed by the Government. Alliance representatives all over the country attacked the Government's proposals with a new rallying cry – 'Merdeka'. By then, recommendations had been forwarded to London, and Tunku in consultations with the Alliance leaders decided that they must ask for an interview with the Secretary of State in London. Tunku sent a long telegram to the Secretary of State asking him to meet a delegation from the Alliance.

On 14 April 1954, a reply was received from the Secretary of State who rejected the request for an interview. Emergency meetings of UMNO and MCA leaders were held and a decision was made. The decision was severely criticised both inside and outside the Alliance and it required great courage and determination for Tunku to proceed. Next were the financial problems. Tunku called for an emergency meeting at UMNO in Malacca where he asked for financial help. The response from UMNO members was swift. A quantity of money and even personal jewellery were handed to Tunku. After some final travel arrangements, Tunku and T.H Tan left Singapore on 21 April 1954, for London. Tunku flew to London all too conscious of the doubts of his Alliance partners and the strong criticism from Government officials.

Before he left, he was aware that Onn Jaafar had dissolved IMP and formed a new political party called 'Parti Negara'. Onn had abandoned his vision of an all-communities party and directed his attention to the Malay community. Tunku realised that Parti Negara would attempt to weaken UMNO and subvert some of his UMNO supporters. But Tunku also knew that he must act now if the granting of Independence was not to be delayed indefinitely. London in mid-April 1954 was cold, damp, and cheerless. There was not even one press reporter to meet Tunku. Knowing their financial resources were limited, Tunku took T.H. Tan with him to Gloucester Road Hotel and booked a double room. He then telephoned his old friend, David Rees, who was now a prominent member of the British Labour Party.

David Rees was the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies under the Labour government from 1947 to 1950. David Rees was a valuable and influential ally. Tunku and Tan went to meet him the next morning in his chambers near the Inner Temple. David Rees promised to do everything possible to persuade Oliver Lyttleton to receive Tunku and his delegation. His persuasion proved to be potent, and on 24 April, Lyttleton agreed to meet Tunku. However, there was one problem. Lyttleton had arranged to leave for Uganda on an official visit on the following day and would not return until 10 May. It was a long time to wait and it would be stretch their financial resources to the limit, but Tunku decided to stay on.

Meanwhile, with David Rees's help, Tunku gave a press conference at which he explained the popular support for the Alliance. He then had meetings with members of parliament of all three parties. Tunku's relaxed manner, the fluency of his spoken English and his genial personality attracted his audience and provided ample justification for his mission. When the contents of the 'Election Proposal' were released by the Colonial Office only then did Tunku discover that the Secretary of State had not accepted all the recommendations of the Election Committee. But Tunku was not satisfied. He had asked for at least 60 elected members. A substantial majority of elected members was essential.

While Lyttleton was overseas Tunku prepared his brief and on 14 May, Tunku, Abdul Razak and T.H Tan were ushered into the Secretary of State's room in the Colonial Office. Tunku explained in detail the Alliance's views on the importance of a workable elected majority and the need for early elections, but the Secretary of State insisted that the Alliance try out the Colonial Office Election proposals. Tunku pressed on further for an agreement on at least three-fifths of the elected majority but the Secretary of State wouldn't commit to his suggestion.

Finally, the meeting came to an end. Tunku had to fly back on 20 May, to attend the debate on the Elections Committee proposals in the Legislative Council. A letter from the Colonial Office was delivered to Tunku's hotel room on 19 May. It was beautifully phrased, but the contents could be summarised in two words – no change. T.H Tan cabled the gist of the reply to the Alliance co-chairman, Tan Cheng Lock. He and Tunku then left London the next day, leaving Abdul Razak to open a UMNO-MCA Merdeka Freedom Bureau through which publicity material in support of early independence could be distributed in England.

Boycott
In Kuala Lumpur, Tunku met members of the UMNO Executive Committee in the morning, and the "Alliance Round Table" members the same night. The Alliance leaders accepted the view that the mission had achieved a measure of success. It was also agreed that the request from the Secretary of State to give the elections proposals a trial could not be accepted. They prepared a resolution which was drafted by Col. H.S. Lee, rejecting the Colonial Office proposals. The next day, Tunku, Dr. Ismail and Leong Yew Koh, the Secretary-General of MCA took the Resolution to General Templer's office. Templer read the document without comment and then requested that the release of the resolutions to the press be delayed.

At the Alliance Round Table meeting that night, the Alliance was adamant and the boycott went into effect. About a thousand Alliance members at all levels took part. It was a subtle process with results that were not immediately felt, but which were cumulative. The boycott was widely criticised. The Secretary of State called for consultations with the Rulers by the High Commissioner. Tunku decided that the Alliance should take the initiative and present their views first.

That day, nearly 2,000 Alliance supporters assembled at the government office building in support of the proposals. Attempts to break the Alliance boycott were made by Michael Hogan, the Attorney General, and David Gray, the acting Chief Secretary, Hogan and Gray met MacGillivray with their suggestions, and the High Commissioner agreed to their initiative.

Hogan and Gray then met H.S. Lee in Kuala Lumpur and explained the motive of their visit. H. S. Lee then contacted Tunku and Dr. Ismail who was in Johor Bahru with the news. Tunku reacted positively to the compromise offered but he wanted further assurance from the High Commissioner himself. On 6 July, MacGillivray signed a letter agreeing to the Alliance's request after receiving approval from Lyttleton. The Alliance then called off the boycott.

Elections
After The Alliance called off the boycott, Elections to State Councils with Alliance participation could now proceed. Tunku and his colleagues travelled tirelessly to prepare for the coming trial of strength. Tunku took Tan Cheng Lock and H.S Lee with him whenever possible and in particular when touring the northern Malay states, and emphasised the importance of unity among Malayans of all communities. At each State capital, the Alliance leaders called on the Ruler and assured him of their loyalty and support.

The links between UMNO and MCA grew stronger and on Tunku's initiative, a National Council which became the supreme executive body of the Alliance was established. It took the place of the 'Round Table' which had no executive power and Tunku was formally recognised as 'Leader of the Alliance'. The first two elections to State Councils took place late in 1954 in Johor and Terengganu. In both states, the Alliance won sweeping victories. Parti Negara did not capture a single seat. Tunku was now a popular figure in every state and almost every kampung. He travelled constantly.

Towards the end of 1954, Tunku was invited by the Director of Operations to serve on the Federation War Executive Committee. The government had promised to hold elections to the Federal Legislative Council in 1955, and in March of that year, it was announced that Nomination Day would be in June and that 27 July would be Election Day. Many Malay government officers resigned to offer themselves as candidates. As nomination day approached, Tunku was plagued by demands that a high proportion of the candidates should be Malay.

Tunku brought the matter to the next UMNO Assembly and urged the members to adopt what he called "a policy of racial unselfishness". Tunku's arguments were compelling and he won a unanimous vote of confidence. Almost at the eleventh hour, Tunku's repeated emphasis on the importance of unity during the elections brought him a bonus. The Malayan Indian Congress, MIC, which had wavered in its support of Parti Negara, now promised to back the Alliance, representing the Indian community.

On Nomination Day, the Alliance entered a candidate in every one of the 52 constituencies. Parti Negara entered 30 candidates. 29 Malays and one Chinese. Four other political parties entered a total of 29 candidates. Eighteen others stood as Independents. Two weeks before Nomination Day, Onn announced that he would stand in Johor Bahru, and challenged Tunku to stand against him. It was a tactical error. The Alliance let it be known that the Party would decide where Tunku should stand, and it allowed the headquarters to select a candidate who could be expected to defeat Onn.

Tunku's resisted invitations to forecast the election results, but he let it be known that he was confident of an Alliance victory. It was only during the last week of the elections that Tunku toured his constituency. Everywhere he went, he was promised total support. He spent the day before the elections in the UMNO House in Alor Setar and telephoned the Alliance headquarters in every state.

On polling day, after casting his vote, he drove himself on a whirlwind tour to constituencies in Kedah and then set off to Kuala Lumpur accompanied by T.H Tan. Tunku stopped at every main polling station en route and only arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 11 pm, making it possible for him to enter the town unrecognised. Tunku always enjoyed the company of his friends but on the night of 27 July, he was exhausted and wanted to be alone. Tunku spent the night at the Eastern Hotel, listening to the results of the elections until the Kuala Lumpur Radio Station went off the air at 3 AM.

Tunku won with a majority of more than 20,000 votes, Sulaiman won with 5,943 votes and Dato' Onn only managed to secure 2,802 votes. The Alliance won 51 seats, the Pan Malayan Islamic Party (PMIP) won only one seat, and the National Party (PN) won none.

Early days as Chief Minister
High Commissioner MacGillivray invited Tunku to the King's House for a first formal discussion on Sunday, 31 July. Tunku handed the High Commissioner a list of 11 Cabinet Ministers: six Malays, three Chinese, and two Indians. The list would still have to be passed to the Rulers for their formal concurrence that would take some time. On 1 August, Tunku was received by a British Assistant Secretary to the Government at the Federal Secretariat building.

On 9 August, Tunku made his first broadcast to the nation from an old wooden structure at Young Road, Kuala Lumpur. During the broadcast, he said:"I am very determined to strive for self-government and Independence as soon as possible by constitutional means. Others have been obliged to fight the colonial power before they achieved their freedom and this will not be necessary in Malaya.

The Alliance has proved that they have the support of at least 80 percent of adult population, and that the three principal communities worked closely together at all levels to win the election. I will take the opportunity to ask the new Secretary of State for the Colonies to arrange for constitutional talks in London as soon as possible since the present Federal Constitution is now workable during his visit to Kuala Lumpur.

The Malayan Emergency continues to obstruct progress and swallow up funds that should be used for development and I will try my best to end the Emergency through a fresh initiative. Finally, I assure government officers who belong to other political parties that they have no reason to fear official disfavor."

There had been another General Election in the United Kingdom, won again by the Conservatives. Alan Lennox-Boyd was the new Secretary of States for the Colonies. He was to visit Malaya and be present at the new Legislative Council meeting on 1 September. At their first informal meeting at King's House in Kuala Lumpur, Tunku found in the new Secretary of State an unexpected affinity. They were able to speak freely and they shared a sense of humour. Lennox-Boyd agreed to hold constitutional talks in London in January 1956, provided that the Rulers were represented. When the Rulers met at their conferences in Kuala Lumpur in September 1955, Tunku sought and was granted a special audience. Tunku asked the Rulers to appoint representatives for the constitutional talks to be held in London. As the days for the talks got closer, travel plans were discussed.

Baling Talks
In dealing with the Emergency, Tunku had offered amnesty to the communist revolutionaries soon after he became Chief Minister. 186 "Safe Areas" were named in four million leaflets, which were dropped over the jungle from Air Force planes. The results had been disappointing but an unsigned letter from Communist headquarters in South Thailand asked for a ceasefire. Tunku showed the letter to MacGillivray and General Bourne. Then, with their agreement, Tunku issued a reply in the Press stating that he was willing to meet Chin Peng.

After a further exchange of letters, Tunku and Chin Peng met in Southeast Kedah near the Siamese border in December 1955. Tunku had 2 objectives for the meeting, one was to clarify the amnesty terms, the other was to make it clear that Tunku spoke for the people of Malaya and not as a representative of the British. Chin Peng could not accept the amnesty terms because the British did not allow communists in the jungle to enjoy equal status with other Malayans. Chin Peng demanded that the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) be legalised and be allowed to participate in the elections.

Singaporean Chief Minister David Marshall asked if the MCP would lay down their arms if Malaya was granted Independence, Chin Peng refused as the amnesty offer was unacceptable to the MCP, and that they would never disband the MCP. Discussions continued after dark without either side making any concessions. The talks failed to reach an agreement and ended at 10 AM the next morning.

Following the failure of the talks, Tunku decided to withdraw the offer of an amnesty on 8 February 1956, five months after it had been offered. He stated that he would not willingly meet the communists again unless they indicated beforehand their desire to see him make "a complete surrender". He said that the Communists had made it clear to him that their ideology and that of himself and his party could not exist side by side. Therefore, the war must be intensified until one or the other gave in. "I have every confidence that the people of Malaya will give their fullest support and co-operation to the action I have taken."

Road to Independence

After Tunku and Lennox-Boyd agreed to hold constitutional talks in London in January 1956, provided that the Rulers were represented. When the Rulers met at their conferences in Kuala Lumpur in September 1955, Tunku sought and was granted a special audience. Tunku asked the Rulers to appoint representatives for the constitutional talks to be held in London.

Finally on 1 January 1956, the two delegations sailed together from Singapore to Karachi on the Asia, Before they arrived at Karachi, their draft proposals had been finalised, and they entered Lancaster House in London on 16 January, as the Merdeka Mission, with a single leader, Tunku.

Finally on 8 February 1956, Tunku's fifty-third birthday, he and Lennox-Boyd signed the Independence agreement, the Treaty of London, scheduled for August 1957. Tunku and his mission left London on 16 February, had a short break in Cairo and landed in Singapore four days later.

The next day, Tunku went to Malacca where he had decided to make his first public announcement on their success. His speech was simple and brief, muffled by the constant chorus of "Merdeka". Soon after Tunku's return from London, a Constitutional Commission as set up in Kuala Lumpur. The Commission travelled to every State, hearing evidence and receiving memoranda. The Alliance National Council spent months preparing a detailed memorandum from the commission, most of which were accepted.

The Commissioner's report was published in Kuala Lumpur in February 1957. MacGillivray then set up a Working Committee to prepare final recommendations for the consideration of the British Government. When the subject of 'jus soli' (citizenship by right of birth) was mentioned, Tunku, as the inspired diplomat, managed to persuade the MCA leaders to agree to its omission from the official recommendations.

Premiership

Tunku Abdul Rahman dominated the politics of the independent Malaya (which became Malaysia in 1963), and led the Alliance to landslide wins in the 1959, and 1964 general elections. He not only served as the first prime minister of Malaya but also as its foreign minister.

The formation of Malaysia was one of his greatest achievements. In 1961, he made a speech at the Foreign Correspondents Association of Southeast Asia in Singapore, proposing a federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. On 16 September 1963, with the federation of all these states except Brunei, Tunku Abdul Rahman was formally restyled as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

However, the racial factor was worsened with the inclusion of Singapore, which increased the Chinese proportion to more than 40%. Both UMNO and the MCA were nervous about the possible appeal of Lee Kuan Yew's People's Action Party (PAP) to voters in Malaya, and tried to organize a party in Singapore to challenge Lee's position there, despite an earlier agreement that he would not do so (see PAP-UMNO relations). Lee in turn retaliated by running PAP candidates in Malaya at the 1964 federal elections, winning one seat.

This provoked Tunku to demand that Singapore be permanently removed from the union of Malaysia. This order led to the development of the Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965 which achieved total independence for Singapore from Malaysia in that one move. The same day, 7 August 1965, Tunku announced to the Parliament of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur that it should vote yes on the resolution to have Singapore be put out of the Federation and Singapore's secession and independence became official on 9 August 1965.

At the 1969 general election, the Alliance's majority was greatly reduced. Demonstrations following the elections sparked the 13 May racial riots in Kuala Lumpur. Some UMNO leaders led by Tun Abdul Razak were critical of Tunku's leadership during these events, and an emergency committee MAGERAN took power and declared a state of emergency.

His powers as Prime Minister were severely curtailed, and on 22 September 1970 (a day after his agnatic first-degree nephew became King of Malaysia), he was forced to resign as Prime Minister in favor of Abdul Razak. He subsequently resigned from UMNO's presidency in June 1971, amid severe opposition of the 'Young Turks' comprising party rebels such as Mahathir Mohamad and Musa Hitam. The duo later became Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia respectively.

Involvements in Islam
After making Islam the religion of the Federation in 1960, Tunku established the Islamic Welfare Organisation (PERKIM), an organization to help Muslim converts adjust to new lives as Muslims. He was President of PERKIM until a year before his death. In 1961 Malaysia hosted the first International Qur'an Recital Competition, an event that developed from Abdul Rahman's idea when he organized the first state-level competition in Kedah in 1951.

Malaysia is a founder member of the OIC. Its headquarters are in Jeddah, but it was established at the Conference of Islamic Nations held in Kuala Lumpur in 1969. Tunku was its first secretary-general since 1970.

On the occasion of his 80th birthday, he stated on 9 February 1983 edition of The Star newspaper that the "country has a multi-racial population with various beliefs. Malaysia must continue as a secular State with Islam as the official religion". In the same issue of The Star, Tunku was supported by the third Malaysian Prime Minister, Hussein Onn, who stated that the "nation can still be functional as a secular state with Islam as the official religion".

Sports involvement
Tunku became vice president of the Kedah Football Association after his return from Cambridge in the late 1930's. In 1949, Tunku became president of the Selangor Football Association, and a few years later he became president of the Football Association of Malaysia, serving in the position for 20 years. During his presidency, he introduced a competition for those under-18 years old such as the Piala FAM (FAM Cup) and the Piala Rahman (Rahman Cup). Being an avid sportsman, Tunku was a firm believer that sports can be a good catalyst in bringing about greater social unity among Malaysians of various races and religions. Therefore, he supported and initiated many sports events. These included an international football tournament, the Merdeka Tournament, in 1957. In the following year, he was elected as the president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), a post he held until 1977.

Tunku also loved horse racing and was a regular at the Selangor Turf Club. He claimed that his lucky number was 13 and that he would win horse races that were held on the 13th of the month, especially on Friday the 13th for him. Tunku's racing interests included the champion racehorse Think Big. After it won the 1974 Melbourne Cup, Think Big's owners, Malaysian businessman Dato Tan Chin Nam, and Australian property developer Rick O'Sullivan, invited Tunku to join them as a part-owner of the horse. Think Big then won its second Melbourne Cup in 1975.

In 1977, having acquired substantial shares in The Star, a Penang-based newspaper, he became the newspaper's chairman. His columns, "Looking Back" and "As I See It", were critical of the government, and in 1987, Mahathir Mohamad banned the newspaper. This led to a split in UMNO, with Tunku himself and another former Prime Minister, Hussein Onn, setting up a new party called UMNO Malaysia, but its registration was quashed by Mahathir, who set up UMNO Baru in response. Tunku later supported Parti Melayu Semangat 46, a splinter group of UMNO led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. He campaigned actively for the latter in the 1990 Malaysian general election, but was already in very poor health. The well-educated, visionary Tunku stood in contrast to Mahathir's brand of ethnic nationalism, which promised to help Malays as part of the Ketuanan Melayu ideology.

Personal life
It was in Kulim that Tunku married his first wife, Meriam Chong who was the daughter of his friend, Chong Ah Yong, a Thai Chinese. A year after their marriage, Tunku's daughter Tunku Khadijah was born. A year later, a son Tunku Ahmad Nerang was born. A month after Meriam gave birth to her second child, she contracted a severe attack of malaria and died.

On Meriam's death, Tunku wrote to his lady friend in England, Violet Coulson, who ran a coffee shop that Tunku had frequented as a student. When Tunku's letter reached Violet, she dropped everything and turned up in Singapore. They were secretly married by the Kadi in the Malay mosque in Arab Street according to Muslim rites. After conversion, Violet's Muslim name was Puteh Bte Abdullah. Violet went to live in Penang because they had no approval of the Ruler or Regent. Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, was strongly opposed to mixed marriages, but when he died unexpectedly in 1934 and was succeeded as Regent by Tunku Mahmud, the Sultan's younger brother, he consented to the marriage. Though their marriage went well, Tunku's responsibilities in the public service were all-consuming and after a separation where Violet returned to London, they have divorced amicably in 1947. He then married Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah, with whom he adopted four children, Sulaiman, Mariam, Sharifah Hanizah (granddaughter), and Faridah. He also secretly married Bibi Chong and was given two children, Tunku Noor Hayati and Tunku Mastura.

Tunku's house, located at 1 Jalan Changkat Kia Peng in Kuala Lumpur, was acquired by the Government of the Philippines in 1987 and now serves as the chancery of the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia.

Death
He died peacefully on 6 December 1990 at the age of 87. Among those who witnessed his last breath were Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with his Deputy Tun Ghafar Baba also Chief Secretary Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, and a few others. The Prime Minister later ordered the Chief Secretary to announce the death of Tunku. He was buried at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum in Alor Setar according to his wish signed a day before his death.

Buildings
The shape as well as the design of the Merdeka 118 tower resembles the silhouette of Tunku with his hand raised while chanting “Merdeka!” during the proclamation of the independence of Malaya on 31 August 1957.

Namesakes
Several places were named after him, including:
 * Putrajaya
 * Putrajaya Sentral
 * Universiti Putra Malaysia
 * Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management & Technology
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, a marine park in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Football Cup
 * KD Tunku Abdul Rahman
 * Perdana Putra
 * Putra Bridge
 * Putra Specialist Hospital
 * Putra World Trade Centre
 * LRT PWTC
 * KTM Komuter
 * Putrajaya Line
 * Bandar Menjalara, a township in Kuala Lumpur named after Tunku's mother
 * Putra World Trade Centre a convention and exhibition centre
 * Masjid Putra, a mosque in Putrajaya
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial Academy in Nazapur, Senbag, Bangladesh
 * Jalan Tengku Abdul Rahman in Beurawe, Kuta Alam, Banda Aceh City, Aceh, Indonesia
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a major road in Putrajaya
 * Akuarium Tunku Abdul Rahman, Batu Maung, Penang
 * Masjid Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, a mosque in Jalan Merbok-Yan Kechil
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in George Town, Penang
 * Institut Teknologi Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur
 * Kampung Tunku Abdul Rahman Petra, a village in Jeli, Kelantan
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a major road in Kuching, Sarawak
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a major road in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
 * Bukit Rahman Putra, a township in Sungai Buloh, Selangor
 * Bukit Tunku in Kuala Lumpur
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Taman Juta, Kuala Kubu Bharu
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a road in Taman Permai, Ipoh Perak
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a major road nearby Batu Berendam Airport, Melaka
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a major road in Bandar Alor Setar, Kedah
 * Jalan Putra in Alor Setar, Kedah
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Taman Mekar, Krubong, Melaka
 * Taman Putra Perdana in Puchong Selangor
 * Putra Heights in Subang Jaya, Selangor
 * Putra Glass Hall, event venue in Kampung Bukit Lancung, Shah Alam, Selangor
 * Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj, a community hall centre in Jelai, Batu Kurau, Perak
 * Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Terengganu
 * Asrama Tunku Abdul Rahman, SMK Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor
 * Kolej Tingkatan Enam, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Sabak Bernam, Selangor
 * Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, an event venue hall in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
 * Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman a road in Sibu, Sarawak
 * Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kuching, Sarawak
 * Mural Tunku Abdul Rahman, a street art honouring him in Jalan Sultan Muhammad Jiwa, Alor Setar, Kedah
 * Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a national secondary school in Kulai Johor
 * Sekolah Menengah Teknik Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, a national technical secondary school in Jelutong, Penang
 * Sekolah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a national primary school in Kuala Nerang, Kedah
 * Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a national secondary school in Taman Rakyat Mergong, Alor Setar, Kedah
 * Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a national secondary school in Nibong Tebal, Penang
 * Memorial Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj in Alor Setar, Kedah
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman Bridge in Perai, Penang
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Mosque in Kuala Kedah, Kedah
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Mosque in Lunas, Kedah
 * Masjid Tunku Abdul Rahman, a mosque in Kampung Tepi Laut, Kuala Kedah, Kedah
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial, a memorial in Kuala Lumpur
 * Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman, a residential college at Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Perlis
 * Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman, a residential college at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Machang, Kelantan
 * Kolej Rahman Putra, a residential college at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor
 * Kolej Rahman Putra, a residential college at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor

Honours of Malaysia, Malaysian states and federal territories

 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia:
 * MY Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (Crown of the Realm) - DMN.svg Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (DMN) (1970)
 * Kedah:
 * MY-KED Kedah Supreme Order of Merit (DUK).svg Member of the Kedah Supreme Order of Merit (DUK) (1958)
 * MY-KED Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK).svg Member of the Royal Family Order of Kedah (DK) (1982)
 * Johor:
 * Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor - ribbon bar.svg First Class Member of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I) (1961)
 * Kelantan:
 * MY-KEL Royal Family Order - Star of Yunus - DK.svg Recipient of the Royal Family Order or Star of Yunus (DK) (1970)
 * Perlis:
 * [[File:MY-PERL Perlis Family Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Putra Jamalullail - DK.svg|50px]] Member of the Perlis Family Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Putra Jamalullail (DK) (1965)
 * Selangor:
 * MY-SEL Order of the Crown of Selangor - Knight Grand Commander - SPMS.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Dato' Seri (1961)
 * MY-SEL Royal Family Order of Selangor - DK I.svg First Class Member of the Royal Family Order of Selangor (DK I) (1965)
 * Terengganu:
 * MY-TER Family Order of Terengganu 1st class - DK I.svg Member First Class of the Royal Family Order of Terengganu (DK I) (1964)
 * Malacca:
 * MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM) – Datuk Seri Utama (1985)

Commonwealth honours

 * Brunei:
 * BRU Family Order of Brunei 1st Class.svg Family Order of Brunei 1st Class (DK) – Dato Laila Utama (1959)
 * BRU Order of the Crown of Brunei.svg Grand Commander of the Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei (SPMB) – Dato Seri Paduka (1958)
 * 🇦🇺 Australia:
 * AUS Order of Australia (civil) BAR.svg Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) (1987)
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom:
 * [[Image:Order of the Companions of Honour Ribbon.gif|50px]] Honorary Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) (1961)

Foreign honours

 * 🇧🇪 Belgium:
 * BEL Kroonorde Grootkruis BAR.svg Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (1958)
 * 🇰🇭 Cambodia:
 * KHM Royal Order of Sahametrei - Grand Cross.png Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sahametrei (1962)
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines:
 * PHI Order of Sikatuna 2003 Grand Collar BAR.svg Grand Collar of the Order of Sikatuna (1959)
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea:
 * ROK Order of Merit for National Foundation - Order of the Republic of Korea.png Recipient of the Order of Merit for National Foundation (1965)
 * 🇹🇭 Thailand:
 * [[Image:Order of Chula Chom Klao - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (1958)
 * South Vietnam:
 * VPD National Order of Vietnam - Grand Officer BAR.svg Grand Officer of the National Order of Vietnam (1965)

title: Tunku Abdul Rahman


text:
Hussein Onn

Tun Hussein bin Dato' Onn (حسين بن عون; 12 February 1922 – 29 May 1990) was a Malaysian lawyer and politician who served as the third Prime Minister of Malaysia from the death of his predecessor Abdul Razak Hussein in 1976 to his retirement in 1981. Moreover, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for from 1974 to 1981, representing Barisan Nasional (BN) and United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). He was granted the soubriquet Father of Unity (Bapa Perpaduan).

Family
Hussein bin Onn was born on 12 February 1922 in Johor Bahru to Onn Jaafar (1895–1962) and Halimah Hussein (1900–1988). His father was a fighter for Malaysian independence and co-founder of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Hussein's grandfather, Jaafar Haji Muhammad, was the first Menteri Besar of Johor while his grandmother, Rogayah Hanim, came from the Caucasus region of Ottoman Empire. She was likely presented as a concubine (see Circassian beauties) by the Ottoman court to the Sultan of Johor.

Additionally, Hussein was the brother-in-law of Abdul Razak Hussein, his predecessor as prime minister, for whom Hussein wed Suhailah Noah, a daughter of first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Mohamed Noah Omar, in 1948. Abdul Razak was also concurrently married to another of Mohamed Noah's daughter, Rahah Noah.

Hussein and Suhaila had six children, including their fourth child, Hishammuddin Hussein, who is a senior UMNO politician since the 1990s. Their eldest daughter, Datin Roquaiya Hanim (born 1950), died on 17 September 2006 from breast cancer.

Early education and career
Hussein received his early education at Telok Kurau Primary School, Singapore, and at the English College Johore Bahru. After leaving school, he joined the Johor Military Forces as a cadet in 1940 and was sent a year later to the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, India. Upon completion of his training, he was absorbed into the Indian Army and served in the Middle East when the Second World War broke out. His vast experience prompted the British to employ him as an instructor at the Malayan Police Recruiting and Training Centre in Rawalpindi.

Hussein came back to Malaya in 1945 and was appointed Commandant of the Johor Bahru Police Depot. The following year, he joined the Malaya Civil Service as an assistant administrative officer in Segamat, Johor. He was later posted to the state of Selangor, becoming Klang and Kuala Selangor's district officer.

Entering politics
Hussein, who came from a family with a deep nationalistic spirit and political roots, resigned from the civil service to go into politics. In 1949, he became the first youth chief of UMNO, a party his father helped establish. In 1950, he was elected UMNO secretary general. Hussein, however, left UMNO in 1951 to join his father in forming the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP).

With IMP losing momentum, Hussein went to London to study law and was called to the Bar and admitted as a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, qualifying as a Barrister-at-Law. He came back as a certified lawyer and practised in Kuala Lumpur.

Rise to prominence
Hussein returned to politics by rejoining UMNO in 1968, persuaded to do so by then-Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein. He stood and won the general elections in 1969 and was appointed as the Education Minister. Hussein's meteoric rise continued on 13 August 1973, when he took over as Deputy Prime Minister, succeeding Ismail Abdul Rahman, who died in office due to a heart attack.

Prime Minister (1976-1981)
On 15 January 1976, Hussein, who was the Deputy Prime Minister, was appointed as Prime Minister after the death of his predecessor, Abdul Razak.

Hussein underwent a coronary bypass in early 1981. His deputy, Mahathir Mohamad become acting prime minister. On 17 July, the same year, Hussein retired from active politics and resigned from the office of prime minister due to health concerns. He was succeeded by Mahathir.

Death
Hussein died on 29 May 1990 of heart disease at Seton Medical Center in South San Francisco, California, at the age of 68. He was buried next to his predecessor, Abdul Razak, at Makam Pahlawan near Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur.

Controversy
Hussein Onn era took the easy way out by putting opposition leaders into detention without trial, banning public rallies and controlling all the media.

Honours of Malaysia

 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia :
 * MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm) - SMN.svg Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) – Tun (1981)
 * Johor :
 * Sultan Ibrahim Coronation Medal ribbon.gif First Class of the Sultan Ibrahim Medal (PIS I)
 * Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato' (1972)
 * Order of the Loyalty of Sultan Ismail (Johor) - ribbon bar.png Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor (SSIJ) – Dato' (1975)
 * Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor - ribbon bar.svg Grand Commander of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I) (1976)
 * Selangor :
 * MY-SEL Royal Family Order of Selangor - DK II.svg Second Class Member of the Royal Family Order of Selangor (DK II) (1977)
 * Terengganu :
 * MY-TER Family Order of Terengganu 1st class - DK I.svg Member First Class of the Family Order of Terengganu (DK I) (1977)
 * Kelantan :
 * MY-KEL Royal Family Order - Star of Yunus - DK.svg Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Kelantan (DK)
 * Perak :
 * MY-PERA Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (before 2001).svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (SPCM) – Dato' Seri (1976)
 * Negeri Sembilan :
 * MY-NEG Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (SPNS) – Dato' Seri Utama (1980)
 * Pahang :
 * MY-PAH Order of the Crown of Pahang - Grand Knight - SIMP.svg Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (1975)
 * Sabah :
 * MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - SPDK.svg Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (1974)
 * Sarawak :
 * [[File:MY-SAR Order of the Star of the Hornbill (Bintang Kenyalang) - 1. Knight Grand Commander (DP).svg|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DP) – Datuk Patinggi
 * Penang :
 * MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Knight Grand Commander - DUPN.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama (1977)

Places named after him
Several places were named after him, including:
 * Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, a township in Cheras, Hulu Langat, Selangor
 * Bandar Tun Hussein Onn MRT station
 * Desa Tun Hussein Onn, a Malaysian Armed Forces residential area near Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur
 * Tun Hussein Onn Jamek Mosque, a mosque in Larkin, Johor, Johor
 * Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia (UTHM) Batu Pahat, Johor
 * Institut Pendidikan Tun Hussein Onn (IPTHO) Batu Pahat, Johor
 * Kolej Tun Hussein Onn, a residential college at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor
 * Kolej Tun Hussein Onn, a residential college at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor
 * Kolej Tun Hussein Onn, a residential college at Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kuala Perlis, Perlis
 * Kolej Tun Hussein Onn, a residential college at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Machang, Kelantan
 * SMK Tun Hussein Onn (SMKTHO), a secondary school in Kluang, Johor
 * SMK Tun Hussein Onn (SMKTHO), a secondary school in Seberang Jaya, Penang
 * SK Tun Hussein Onn (SKTHO), a primary school in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur
 * Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
 * Tun Hussein Onn Highway, part of the Penang Bridge, Penang
 * Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, a major road in Putrajaya
 * Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, a road in Seberang Jaya, Penang
 * Jalan Tun Hussein, a road in Felda Ayer Tawar, Kota Tinggi, Johor
 * Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, a road in Taman Tinggi, Sibu, Sarawak
 * Tun Hussein Onn Hockey Cup
 * Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, Putra World Trade Centre
 * Tun Hussein Onn Memorial, a memorial in Kuala Lumpur
 * SMK Desa Tun Hussein Onn (SMKDTHO), a secondary school in Desa Tun Hussein Onn, Kuala Lumpur
 * SK Desa Tun Hussein Onn (SKDTHO), a primary school in Desa Tun Hussein Onn, Kuala Lumpur
 * SK Desa Tun Hussein Onn (SKDTHO), a primary school in Desa Tun Hussein Onn, Kuala Lumpur

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Hussein Onn


text:
User talk:Jdstroy

Hello, welcome to Wikipedia. Here are some useful links in case you haven't already found them;
 * How to edit a page
 * How to write a great article
 * Naming conventions
 * Manual of Style

Just so you know, your post about the Enya lyrics was indeed put in the right place. Also, you can sign your name using three tildes; using four tildes adds a timestamp, like the one on my signature below.

If you have any questions, see the help pages, add a question to the village pump or ask me on my talk page. I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian!

Cyan 05:45, 12 Nov 2003 (UTC)

erm- that was actually Cyan. The reason that "my talk page" links to my talk page is because Cyan borrowed my text from User:Angela/useful stuff. He meant of course for you to reply at User talk:Cyan! :) Anyway, welcome to Wikipedia from me as well. Angela 23:00, 22 Nov 2003 (UTC)

I'm (snoyes) moving your question on the reference desk here in case you want to keep a copy of it:

Err... I'm not sure where this goes, but a question about some words
I hope that this is in the right place... ^^;;; If it's not, will someone please move it and notify me? Thanks.

I got this from a site with lyrics of a song from Enya... Does anyone have a clue as to what it means?

Anol shalom Anol sheh lay konnud de ne um {shaddai} Flavum Nom de leesh Ham de nam um das La um de Flavne…

We de ze zu bu We de sooo a ru Un va-a pesh a lay Un vi-I bee Un da la pech ni sa (Aaahh) Un di-I lay na day Un ma la pech a nay Mee di nu ku

(Fast tempo, 4 times) La la da pa da le na da na Ve va da pa da le na la dumda

Anol shalom Anol sheh ley kon-nud de ne um. Flavum. Flavum. M-ai shondol-lee Flavu… {Live on…} Lof flesh lay Nof ne Nom de lis Ham de num um dass La um de Flavne… Flay Shom de nomm Ma-lun des Dwondi. Dwwoondi Alas sharum du koos Shaley koot-tum.

--jdstroy @ 20031112 00.21 -0500 EST
 * "Shalom" means "peace" or "hello" in Hebrew. None of the rest looks Hebrew, but if it's been transcribed phonetically by someone who didn't know whatever language it is and couldn't hear it very well and Enya isn't enunciating very well... who knows? Loren Rosen 03:31, 13 Nov 2003 (UTC)

 * Taken from an interview with Lisa Gerrard about the song:

 * ...The rest of the vocals, sung with sounds rather than in a conventional language, are an example of melismatic singing. "It's a language invented within the music, inherently, and the words mean more than I can say in English", she says. "The way I sing is not new; it's been around since the beginning of time, and it's something all children are born with. It's not unique to me, but for some reason I never lost the ability".

 * It's not a language at all! Anjouli 19:46, 17 Nov 2003 (UTC)

 * Ah, thank you all! Jdstroy 22:36, 2003 Nov 22 (UTC)

It wasn't vandalism
I know what I'm doing. There's been going heavy tempalte vandalism and it takes time to fix it. :P -- Drini 03:27, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Java Xserver
Hi, I read your comment from last year regarding running X in Java - I'd like to get this functionality going too did you find anything other than wiredx for that? Any way to get X sessions running in a standard browser would be excellent! --Nad 02:30, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Your deletions of any mention of Hamilton C shell
Hi, Jdstroy. It looks like you may be deliberately searching for any mentions of Hamilton C shell anywhere on Wikipedia, just to delete them. The ones I spotted were in the articles on Cygwin and C shell. Your comments in logs indicate you thought these were advertising and not "notable." I'm sure you mean well and, certainly, I appreciate that most of us expect that if something's important, then of course, we'd already know about it.

What I think you may not realize is that Hamilton C shell has been around for 20 years as a serious product. Its competitors are MKS Toolkit and Cygwin but, unlike those products, Hamilton C shell is the only one actually written from scratch for a PC, originally on OS/2, then on Windows NT in the early 90s. As a C shell, it is the only one on the planet not based on Bill Joy's original code. It's been the subject of quite a number of reviews in print over those two decades, which I think should satisfy your concern re: notability. I suspect there have been more but with a quick search, I had no trouble finding several available on the web:

 * Examining the Hamilton C Shell in Dr. Dobb's, January 1991
 * The shell game in Software QA Magazine, August 1996
 * Hamilton C shell in Windows IT Pro, April 1998

Hamilton C shell was also mentioned in following review of MKS Toolkit as potentially a better alternative for some users:

 * MKS Toolkit's centerpiece in Government Computer News, January 1999

It's also mentioned grudgingly in the (in)famous Csh Programming Considered Harmful article by Tom Christiansen.

I appreciate many of these print reviews are pretty long in the tooth. But the product is still being maintained and still getting favorable reviews on the web. Here's one by a blogger, describing his recent experience with the latest version:

 * Hamilton C Shell 2009 - The Missing Shell for Windows by Robert Oliver

With that in mind, I call your attention to your deletions. In C shell, you deleted the following statements:

 * An independently-developed and modernized C shell, created by Nicole Hamilton, also survives on Windows in the form of Hamilton C shell.
 * (These and other criticisms do not, however, apply to the more-modern Hamilton C shell variant of the csh language.)

In Cygwin, you deleted (though I've since restored) the mention of Hamilton C shell as an alternative along with MKS, UWin and SFU.

I believe the material you deleted was appropriate, accurate, provided relevant information and met the standards for notability. May I ask you to reconsider and comment, please?

Msnicki (talk) 02:46, 29 November 2009 (UTC)

Followup: I've posted some comments to the talk page associated with the C shell with more-or-less these same points. That's perhaps a better place to carry on the discussion. I look forward to your thoughts. Best regards, Msnicki (talk) 18:57, 29 November 2009 (UTC)

Notification: changes to "Mark my edits as minor by default" preference
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ArbCom elections are now open!
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Proposed deletion of WiredX

The article WiredX has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:
 * Notability not established

While all constructive contributions to Wikipedia are appreciated, content or articles may be deleted for any of several reasons.

You may prevent the proposed deletion by removing the notice, but please explain why in your edit summary or on the article's talk page.

Please consider improving the article to address the issues raised. Removing will stop the proposed deletion process, but other deletion processes exist. In particular, the speedy deletion process can result in deletion without discussion, and articles for deletion allows discussion to reach consensus for deletion. Ysangkok (talk) 23:04, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

title: User talk:Jdstroy


text:
ʻIolani School

Iolani School is a private coeducational college preparatory school in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. It serves over 2,200 students with a boarding program for grades 9 - 12 as well as a summer boarding program for middle school grades. Founded in 1863 by Father William R. Scott, it was the principal school of the former Anglican Church of Hawaiʻi. It was patronized by Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma who gave the school its name in 1870. ʻIolani in the Hawaiian language means "heavenly hawk". Today, ʻIolani School is affiliated with the Episcopal Church in the United States. It is administered by a Board of Governors and is one of the largest independent schools in the United States.

Early years
On October 11, 1862, Thomas Nettleship Staley arrived in Hawaiʻi by request of Kamehameha IV and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The following year Kamehameha IV, a member of the Church of England, established the Hawaiian Reformed Catholic Church, also known as the Anglican Church of Hawaiʻi. The school was originally named for Saint Alban.

In 1863, Staley's companion Father Scott purchased land in Lāhaina and established Luaʻehu School, a school for boys. When Father Scott fell ill and returned to Britain, Father George Mason was summoned by Staley to administer the school on Maui. On January 12, 1863, the St. Alban's College was also established in the Pauoa Valley in Honolulu. Mason also seemed to have managed this school as well. Before Staley, too, left the islands for Britain in 1870, Father Mason merged the two schools and relocated it to the St. Alban's campus. Later Bishop Alfred Willis purchased land on Bates Street in Nuʻuanu Valley and moved part of the school there, intending it for students of full or part Hawaiian descent, under the new name of ʻIolani College. The St. Alban's College, intended for white students, separated and continuing operating at Pauoa until 1887.

With the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and annexation to the United States in 1898, the Anglican Church of Hawaiʻi became part of the Episcopal Church United States (ECUSA). ʻIolani School was moved to Nuʻuanu, transferred back to downtown Honolulu and then moved to Nuʻuanu a second time. It remained in Nuʻuanu from 1927 to 1953, when it was moved to the present Ala Wai site. The elementary school was moved to the Ala Wai site in 1946.

In 1979, the school became co-educational, ending its all-male enrollment policy.

Development
ʻIolani School grew and refined its program offerings with a standard college preparatory curriculum as a foundation for every student. Religion, performing and visual arts, music, and athletics became integral parts of the ʻIolani School education. As such, all students in fourth grade must be involved in performing arts.

Returning to its history of being a boarding school, ʻIolani opened its newly constructed residential dormitories for boarding students in February of 2019.

Campus
The campus is divided into Upper and Lower School. Buildings include Castle Building, Weinberg Building, the I-Wing, the art building, the Nangaku Building, the Sullivan Center for Innovation and Learning, Boarding Dormitories, the Kaneshiro Science and Innovation Center, and the Sidney and Minnie Kosasa Performance Studios and Courtyard. Other facilities include the Upper Gym and the Lower Gym, the Tsuzuki Library, the Dillingham Pool, the FabLab, and St. Alban's Chapel. ʻIolani School also has a stadium (Kozuki Stadium), a baseball field, an outdoor basketball court (the One Team Field house), and several tennis courts.

Upper School
The Harold K.L. Castle Building was dedicated in 1980 to the Castle Family which had donated land to 'Iolani School. The Castle Building also contains most classrooms for the 7th and 8th Grade. Orchestra and Choir also use this building for their Performing Arts classes for both Upper and Lower School students.

The Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership was finished at the end of 2012 for the replacement of the Upper School Library. The Sullivan Center was created to emphasize sustainability and includes classrooms, laboratories, an auditorium, and a garden among other facilities.

In late 2023, plans for a new Student Center were revealed, following a $10 million donation from parents Justine Stamen Arrillaga and John Arrillaga Jr. (son of John Arrillaga). The project is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

Lower School
The Kaneshiro Science and Innovation Center and the Sidney and Minnie Kosasa Performance Studios and Courtyard were both opened for the 2019 school year. These state-of-the-art and eco-conscious facilities allow the K-1 community at ʻIolani School to embrace their creativity with the aid of a number of decorations created in the school's Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership. An interactive organ was installed as well.

Athletics
ʻIolani School's athletic program was founded in 1932 by Father Kenneth A. Bray. Over 900, or 70%, of the student body, participates in one of over 32 competitive sports. ʻIolani School is a member of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, an athletic conference composed of Honolulu-area private schools.

Since the formation of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, ʻIolani has won over 75 state championships in various sports. It is the only school in Hawaiʻi to have won five consecutive state championships in Boys Basketball from 2002 to 2006. ʻIolani has the most consecutive state championships in Boys Wrestling, and is the first ILH school to win a Girls Wrestling State Championship in 2005. They also have eight consecutive D-II football titles, highest in the nation.

Curriculum
ʻIolani School's campus is divided into two sections: Lower School and Upper School. Lower School is for elementary students, kindergarten through 6th grade. Upper School is 7th through 12th grade. The daily schedule has six periods that rotate weekly.

Summer school
ʻIolani’s summer school allows students to earn graduation credits; credit courses offered during summer include art, history, science, computers, and language.

Harold Keables
Harold Keables was first a teacher in Denver, where he was named the National Teacher of the Year by Life magazine; in 1965 he started teaching at ʻIolani School. Each year his legacy is honored via the Keables Chair, which brings "outstanding teachers, writers, and artists to ʻIolani."

Iolani Fair
The ʻIolani Fair has been held every year in late April to fundraise for student expenditures. Initially started as the Fun Festival in 1948, it would later become the Carnival, and eventually in 1990, the Fair. Themes for each year were introduced shortly thereafter. The fair typically consists of different sections including food stands, games, rides, a silent auction, a video game center, a white elephant sale, and a marketplace. While the fair was canceled in 2020 and 2021, it is set to return in 2022.

Extracurriculars
ʻIolani students are involved in many extracurricular activities from academic to interest-led.

Imua Iolani
Imua ʻIolani is the school newsmagazine. It is published quarterly, distributed to all students, and is available online. In 2008, Imua ʻIolani was named the best school newspaper in the state.

Math Team
The 'Iolani math team has been participating in the Oahu Mathematics League since the mid 1970s (the league was started in the 1968–69 school year). The team has won the league championship in 1977, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1991, and from 1993 to the present. This marks 34 total championships, including the past 29. This streak is tied with the Punahou boys swimming team for the longest state championship streak of any competition in Hawaii. The JV team has claimed the top spot ever since the inception of the JV division in the 2000–01 school year. Also, 'Iolani holds the record for placing first 18 times in the Hawaii State Math Bowl (which was started in 1978).

Science Olympiad
'Iolani has two Science Olympiad Teams, Division B (grades 6–9) and Division C (9-12).

Division B has been a part of Science Olympiad since 2012. They have qualified for the national tournament twice (in 2012 and 2014). For every other year they have competed, they have been the runner-up at the states competition. In the 2012 National Competition, Division B placed 5th in Water Quality.

Division C has been a part of Science Olympiad since 2011. They have qualified for the national tournament every year they have competed, except for 2013 when they placed as runner up. At the 2014 national tournament at the University of Florida, the team was the national champions in the trial event Hydrogeology. At the 2015 national tournament at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Division C was the national champions in both Fossils and Geologic Mapping and placed 2nd in the trial event Science Bowl. In the 2016 National competition, the Division C team was the national champions in Fossils, and placed 3rd in Game On and Anatomy and Physiology, and 4th in Geologic Mapping. They also placed 2nd in Game On and 3rd in Indoor Bottle Rocket at the 2017 National competition.

Speech and Debate
ʻIolani has an Intermediate Speech Team (grades 7–8) and a Speech and Debate Team (9-12). Both teams have won numerous competitions. Every February, the school hosts the ʻIolani Debate Tournament, one of three State-Qualifying tournaments of the season.

Real World Design Challenge
In 2009, ʻIolani's team "NDC" became the national champions at the U.S. Department of Energy's Real World Design Challenge, out of nine other teams from nine other states. In 2010, the ʻIolani ZAMA team took first at the state level. Team members J. Hara, C. Kodama, E. Masutani, M. Muraoka, D. Reiss, T. Van Etten, M. Williams represented the state of Hawaiʻi March 26–29, 2010 at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., placing second at the national level.

FIRST Robotics
ʻIolani School also has several robotics teams which participate in competitions organized by FIRST. Team 2438 ‘Iobotics competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), Teams 8740, 8741, 8898, and 15076 compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and Team 56225 competes in FIRST Lego League (FLL).

The teams compete at the Hawaii Regional and compete at the annual FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas.

Vex
In 2008, ʻIolani's Vex team competed in the VEX World Robotics Competition, held at California State University Northridg, and typically hosts the East Oahu VEX Robotics Competition. On December 6, 2008, the Vex team competed in the 2008 VEX Pan Pacific Competition, held at the Hawaii Convention Center. The ʻIolani team (2438a) was part of the winning alliance, and qualified for the 2009 VEX World Robotics Competition, to be held at Dallas, Texas. They won the Community award and the Champion award.

In 2010, ʻIolani's VEX team again qualified for the World Competition by being part of the winning alliance at the Kahala VEX Regional. At the 2010 VEX World Robotics Competition, they won the notable CREATE award for design, as well as placing as division semifinalists. In the 2011 VRC season, ʻIolani's VEX team again was in the winning alliance at the Pan Pacific Competition.

FLL
ʻIolani's FIRST Lego League team won the Hawaiʻi State Championships in 2007. They competed at the World Festival in 2008 as the representative for Hawaiʻi.

Two of the FLL teams competed in the Niu Valley qualifier on December 6, 2008; both teams qualified for the Hawaii State Championships to be held in January 2009. The teams took first and second place, and merged to form one team that traveled to Dayton, Ohio, for the US Open Championships. They won third place in Quality Robot Design and first place in the Alliance Rounds along with the Landroids and the ZBots. ʻIolani's FLL team is the only FLL team to win twice at the Hawaii FLL State Championships.

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
As of October 2017, ʻIolani has 3 FTC teams.

Economics Challenge
Every spring, the Iolani Economics Challenge team competes in the state, regional, and national economics challenge. Iolani has won ten consecutive state championships and has won the national championship four times at the A.P. level and once at the non-A.P. level.

Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
ʻIolani School's Gender-Sexuality Alliance strives to promote inclusivity on campus and allow spaces for discussions on contemporary issues such as gender identity, pronouns, and sexuality through student-submitted questions, in addition to ice breakers for members and media with representation LGBTQIA+ individuals. Furthermore, the club provides website resources for students to utilize if necessary. Every year, the club holds its annual No Name-Calling Week in conjunction with the Chapel Council to bring to light the issue of bullying and discrimination, as well as participating and walking in Oʻahu's annual Pride parade. While originally named the Gay-straight alliance, the club decided to change its name in order to foster greater inclusivity of students and identities.

Model United Nations (MUN)
Originally the 'Iolani School International Affairs Association, or ISIAA, ʻIolani's Model United Nations club has competed in various conferences since its founding in 2011. With the help of coaching by two advisers and student leadership, the numerous delegates who have joined since the club's founding have competed in a number of conferences, amassing a multitude of awards from different committees. Examples include the annual PacMUN conference, as well as international conferences such as AJMUN and VMUN, in addition to national conferences such as SCVMUN. Delegates from ʻIolani, in addition to competing, often help to staff and run conferences held around the island, allowing for a learning experience for all delegates. Many of these delegates have continued to participate in Model UN in college as well. ʻIolani runs its annual conference ʻIoMUNC in autumn, with beginner, intermediate, and advanced committees chaired and staffed by members of ʻIolani's delegation with the participation of schools around the island.

Chamber Music Program
The chamber music program at ʻIolani School allows for talented students to be coached weekly by virtuosic musicians from around Hawaiʻi. During the semester, each group practices and prepares a piece to be performed at a recital held in the middle and end of the school year. Pieces from all different periods of classical music are performed and are not restricted to a specific time period or composer. These quartets are possible due to the gracious support of sponsors and continue the musical growth and education of ʻIolani students, allowing for the unique experience of playing in chamber ensembles.

Surf Team
The active participation of ʻIolani's surf team in numerous competitions around the island has yielded great achievements to its members. Members participate in the annual Hawaiʻi Surf Association's yearly competition, participating in both divisions of the shortboard, longboard, and bodyboard events. The team won the state championship in 2024.

Sportspeople

 * Bern Brostek '85, former professional football player for Los Angeles Rams and St. Louis Rams
 * Mike Fetters '83, former Major League Baseball pitcher for California Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks and Minnesota Twins, coach for Diamondbacks
 * Duke Hashimoto, former professional soccer player with Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer
 * Kila Ka'aihue, Major League Baseball, first baseman for Oakland Athletics
 * Morgan Langley '07, professional soccer player with Harrisburg City Islanders in USL Pro
 * Derrick Low '04, professional basketball player for Maccabi Haifa team of Israeli Basketball Super League
 * Ed Ta'amu, offensive lineman, Arena Football League; fourth round (132nd overall) draft selection of NFL's Minnesota Vikings
 * Taylor Takata '00, competed in 2008 Beijing Olympics in judo, taking ninth place
 * Bobby Webster, '02 General Manager for NBA Toronto Raptors

Authors, editors and journalists

 * Jeff Chang 1985, author of Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation
 * Kanoa Leahey 1995, sportscaster (KHON-TV)
 * Mike Woitalla 1982, sports journalist and executive editor of Soccer America

Business

 * Guy Kawasaki '72, one of original Apple employees responsible for marketing of Macintosh in 1984; CEO and author

Clergy

 * Lani Hanchett '37, first bishop of Hawaiian descent of Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii
 * Richard Sui On Chang '59, fourth bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii

Education

 * Cheryl Hayashi '85, MacArthur Prize winner, Professor of biology at the University of California, Riverside
 * Ronald Takaki '57, former Professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley
 * Michael G. Vann '85, historian of the French Colonial Empire, former President of the French Colonial Historical Society, two time Fulbright scholar, Associate Professor of History, California State University, Sacramento

Entertainment

 * Angela Aki, pop singer-songwriter active in Japan, known in West for song "Kiss Me Good-Bye", theme for video game Final Fantasy XII
 * Chris Lee '75, former president of production for TriStar Pictures, executive producer of Superman Returns
 * Clyde Kusatsu '66, film and television actor
 * Danny Yamashiro '86, radio host of The Good Life Hawaii Show, motivational speaker, author and minister
 * Grace Nikae, concert pianist
 * Kamuela Kahoano '98, singer/songwriter
 * Professor Tanaka '49, professional wrestler, actor
 * Jandi Lin ‘03, Adult Film star

Notable faculty and coaches

 * Father Kenneth A. Bray, established "One Team" philosophy of Hawaii's teachers, students and coaches; member of Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame
 * Eddie Hamada '46 (1928–2010), teacher, athletic director and football coach (1959–91)
 * Dolores Kendrick, second Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia (1967-1968)

Monarchial government

 * Robert Hoapili Baker (attended St. Alban's; 1860s–1870s), governor of Maui, legislator and friend of King Kalākaua
 * Curtis P. Iaukea (attended St. Alban's; 1863–1871), Hawaiian courtier, diplomat and official of monarchy, republic and territorial governments
 * David Leleo Kinimaka (attended St. Alban's; 1860s–1870s), royal guard captain
 * Samuel Nowlein (attended St. Alban's; 1860s–1870s), royal guard captain and revolutionist
 * William Pūnohu White (attended St. Alban's; 1860s–1870s), lawyer, police sheriff, legislator of monarchy and territory

Territorial government

 * John H. Wilson (attended St. Alban's; 1885), mayor of Honolulu

Federal government

 * Nani Coloretti '87, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
 * Jill Otake '91, U.S. District Court Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii

State government

 * Mufi Hannemann '72, Mayor of Honolulu (2004-2010); President & CEO of Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (2011- present)
 * Maile Shimabukuro '88, Democratic member of Hawaii State Senate
 * Chris Lee '99, member of Hawaii State House of Representatives (2008–present)
 * Stanley Chang '00, member of Hawaii State Senate

International government

 * Sun Yat-sen 1886, Chinese revolutionary, first president of Republic of China, co-founder of Kuomintang. He is also considered "the father of modern China" in both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China.

Royalty

 * Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku II (attended St. Alban's; 1860s–1870s), crown prince of Hawaii
 * Prince David Kawānanakoa (attended St. Alban's; 1874), patriarch of the House of Kawananakoa, in the line of succession for the Kingdom of Hawaii; a founder of the Democratic Party in Hawaii
 * Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole (attended St. Alban's; 1870s), a ten-term congressional delegate
 * Prince Edward Abnel Keliʻiahonui (attended St. Alban's; 1870s)

Other

 * Chelsea Hardin, Miss Hawaii USA 2016 and first runner-up at Miss USA 2016

title: ʻIolani School