Southeast Asia History: Biographies

A Dictionary of Contemporary World History A Dictionary of World History Further reading

Abdul Rahman Putra (Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah), Tunku

A Dictionary of Contemporary World History | 2004 | | Copyright

Abdul Rahman Putra (Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah), Tunku (b. 8 Feb. 1903, d. 6 Dec. 1990). Prime Minister of Malaya/Malaysia 1957–63, 1963–70 Son of the 24th Sultan of Kedah, he studied at Cambridge and qualified as an English barrister. Upon his return to Malaya in 1931 he entered the civil service, where he continued to work during the Japanese occupation. He co-founded the United Malays National Organization, and succeeded Dato Onn bin Jafaar (b. 1895, d. 1962) as leader in 1952. Recognizing that independence could only be achieved through cooperation between the various ethnic groups, he organized an alliance with the Malayan Chinese Association, and then the Malayan Indian Congress. Following the alliance's victory in the 1955 elections, he became Chief Minister and Minister for Home Affairs. He negotiated independence, and became Malaya's first Prime Minister. In 1962–3 he presided over the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, which he led as Prime Minister, successfully securing the support of both the Chinese and the Indian communities through pragmatic compromise. During the general elections in May 1969 there were widespread ethnic riots in the capital between Chinese and Malays. Faced with the breakdown of his attempt to rule on the basis of harmonious Chinese–Malay relations, he resigned in January 1970. Through active political journalism he remained an influential figure in Malaysia during the years of his retirement.

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JAN PALMOWSKI. "Abdul Rahman Putra (Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah), Tunku." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Abdul Rahman Putra (Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah), Tunku." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-AbdlRhmnPtrlHjbnlMrhmSltn.html

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Abdul Rahman Putra (Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah), Tunku." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-AbdlRhmnPtrlHjbnlMrhmSltn.html

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Abdul Rahman, Tunku

A Dictionary of World History | 2000 | Copyright

Abdul Rahman, Tunku (1903–90) Malayan statesman, Prime Minister of Malaya (1957–63) and of Malaysia (1963–70). A skilled negotiator, he secured Malayan independence from Britain (1957) and was one of the architects of modern Malaysia (1963).

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"Abdul Rahman, Tunku." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Abdul Rahman, Tunku." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-AbdulRahmanTunku.html

"Abdul Rahman, Tunku." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-AbdulRahmanTunku.html

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