Harun bin Idris
Encyclopedia
Dato' Seri
Harun bin Haji Idris (22 December 1925 – 19 October 2003) was a Malaysian politician. He was born in Selangor
, Malaysia. He worked as a field officer with the publicity department until 1948, when he was appointed District Officer for Gemas and Tampin, in the Malay Administrative Service.
After a short spell as magistrate in Kuala Langat, Klang and Kuala Lumpur
, Dato Seri Harun left for the United Kingdom
to read law at Middle Temple, London
and was called to the English Bar in the mid 50s. By 1957, he was a Sessions Court President, Registrar of Companies, Deputy Public Prosecutor in Selangor and the State Legal Adviser until 1964 when his civil career ended and his political career began.
In March 1964, having won the State Assembly seat for Morib, Selangor, Dato Seri Harun was elected to the Umno Supreme Council and served as Selangor Umno liaison chief from 1964 to 1976. From 1964 to 1976, Dato Seri Harun was appointed the eighth Chief Minister of Selangor, after Datuk Abu Bakar Baginda and he was the longest serving Chief Minister of Selangor, holding office for exactly 12 years, until his resignation in April 1976. From the early 1970s until 1976, Harun was the Head of Umno Youth and Supreme Council member. He was then expelled from UMNO and charged with corruption by the government, due to his abuse of state funds.
Harun's career was marred by the May 13 racial riots
, which had been triggered by a political rally held at his residence in the national capital of Kuala Lumpur
. Harun, who was perceived as a proponent of ketuanan Melayu
(Malay supremacy, although this exact phrase was not in use at the time), had seen UMNO suffer several losses in the Selangor State Assembly due to the 1969 general election
. After the opposition held a victory rally to humiliate the Malay government, UMNO leaders called for a retaliatory rally to be held on May 13 to "teach the Chinese a lesson". The discipline of party members soon broke down, and the rally turned into a riot which lasted two days and cost at least 180 lives.
Harun's role in the riot is not exactly clear. Although the rally was to be held at his house (in which two innocent Chinese bystanders were killed) and then parade around the town, it has been claimed by some — including a member of the opposition in the state assembly and Parliament
at the time — that Harun was too pre-occupied with trying to form a new state government to have given much thought to the rally, although it is not denied that he approved it. It has also been claimed that during the riot, Harun sheltered some Chinese who had been forced into the mosque
he attended by the rioters. There are also accusations that the Malays who gathered at his house were supplied with knives and machetes. After meeting in large numbers at Harun's official residence in Jalan Raja Muda near Kampong Bahru, and hearing inflammatory speeches by Harun and other leaders, the Malay mobs prepared themselves by tying ribbon strips on their foreheads and set out to kill Chinese. The first hapless victims were two of them in a van opposite Harun's house who were innocently watching the large gathering. Little did they know that they would be killed on the spot.
Harun's political career did not stop after stepping down as Chief Minister. Between 1975 to 1977, he was found guilty on various charges of corruption and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. In 1981, Harun was released after receiving a pardon from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong
on advice of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, after serving three years of his sentence.
He served as Kuala Langat Umno Division Chief for 3 years until 1984. Dato Seri Harun also served as a council member of the Selangor Royal Council from 1994 until his demise. On November 15, 1986 he was called to the Malaysian Bar and thereafter returned to his old profession of law practice and became a senior partner of Harun Idris, Yeoh & Partners actively practising law until his demise.
Harun served as Semangat 46
Supreme Council member and Selangor Chief for a brief period from 1987 to 1990. In the year 2000, Dato Seri Harun rejoined Umno and was a member of the Umno SS7 Sri Dagang Branch, in the Subang Division of Selangor.
Dato Seri Harun died peacefully after a short illness on 19 October 2003 at the age of 78 and is survived by his wife Datin Seri Salmah Sulaiman, three sons, three daughters, 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Harun bin Haji Idris (22 December 1925 – 19 October 2003) was a Malaysian politician. He was born in Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, Malaysia. He worked as a field officer with the publicity department until 1948, when he was appointed District Officer for Gemas and Tampin, in the Malay Administrative Service.
After a short spell as magistrate in Kuala Langat, Klang and Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Dato Seri Harun left for the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to read law at Middle Temple, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and was called to the English Bar in the mid 50s. By 1957, he was a Sessions Court President, Registrar of Companies, Deputy Public Prosecutor in Selangor and the State Legal Adviser until 1964 when his civil career ended and his political career began.
In March 1964, having won the State Assembly seat for Morib, Selangor, Dato Seri Harun was elected to the Umno Supreme Council and served as Selangor Umno liaison chief from 1964 to 1976. From 1964 to 1976, Dato Seri Harun was appointed the eighth Chief Minister of Selangor, after Datuk Abu Bakar Baginda and he was the longest serving Chief Minister of Selangor, holding office for exactly 12 years, until his resignation in April 1976. From the early 1970s until 1976, Harun was the Head of Umno Youth and Supreme Council member. He was then expelled from UMNO and charged with corruption by the government, due to his abuse of state funds.
Harun's career was marred by the May 13 racial riots
May 13 Incident
The 13 May Incident is a term for the Sino-Malay sectarian violences in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia, which began on 13 May 1969...
, which had been triggered by a political rally held at his residence in the national capital of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. Harun, who was perceived as a proponent of ketuanan Melayu
Ketuanan Melayu
Ketuanan Melayu is a political concept emphasizing Malay preeminence in present day Malaysia. The Malays of peninsular Malaysia claimed a special position and special rights owing to their long domicile and the role of the Malay rulers of the nine Malay states...
(Malay supremacy, although this exact phrase was not in use at the time), had seen UMNO suffer several losses in the Selangor State Assembly due to the 1969 general election
Malaysian general election, 1969
General elections were held in Malaysia on 10 May 1969, although voting was postponed until between 21 and 27 June in Sabah and Sarawak. It resulted in the return to power, with a reduced majority, of the ruling Alliance Party, comprising the United Malays National Organization , the Malayan...
. After the opposition held a victory rally to humiliate the Malay government, UMNO leaders called for a retaliatory rally to be held on May 13 to "teach the Chinese a lesson". The discipline of party members soon broke down, and the rally turned into a riot which lasted two days and cost at least 180 lives.
Harun's role in the riot is not exactly clear. Although the rally was to be held at his house (in which two innocent Chinese bystanders were killed) and then parade around the town, it has been claimed by some — including a member of the opposition in the state assembly and Parliament
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
at the time — that Harun was too pre-occupied with trying to form a new state government to have given much thought to the rally, although it is not denied that he approved it. It has also been claimed that during the riot, Harun sheltered some Chinese who had been forced into the mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
he attended by the rioters. There are also accusations that the Malays who gathered at his house were supplied with knives and machetes. After meeting in large numbers at Harun's official residence in Jalan Raja Muda near Kampong Bahru, and hearing inflammatory speeches by Harun and other leaders, the Malay mobs prepared themselves by tying ribbon strips on their foreheads and set out to kill Chinese. The first hapless victims were two of them in a van opposite Harun's house who were innocently watching the large gathering. Little did they know that they would be killed on the spot.
Harun's political career did not stop after stepping down as Chief Minister. Between 1975 to 1977, he was found guilty on various charges of corruption and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. In 1981, Harun was released after receiving a pardon from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
on advice of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, after serving three years of his sentence.
He served as Kuala Langat Umno Division Chief for 3 years until 1984. Dato Seri Harun also served as a council member of the Selangor Royal Council from 1994 until his demise. On November 15, 1986 he was called to the Malaysian Bar and thereafter returned to his old profession of law practice and became a senior partner of Harun Idris, Yeoh & Partners actively practising law until his demise.
Harun served as Semangat 46
Semangat 46
Parti Melayu Semangat 46 or Spirit of 46 Malay Party is a now defunct Malaysian political party. The party was formed in 1988 under the leadership of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who felt capable of mounting a realistic challenge to the dominance of then UMNO under Mahathir's leadership and its...
Supreme Council member and Selangor Chief for a brief period from 1987 to 1990. In the year 2000, Dato Seri Harun rejoined Umno and was a member of the Umno SS7 Sri Dagang Branch, in the Subang Division of Selangor.
Dato Seri Harun died peacefully after a short illness on 19 October 2003 at the age of 78 and is survived by his wife Datin Seri Salmah Sulaiman, three sons, three daughters, 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.