Violet Coulson
Encyclopedia
Violet Coulson was the second wife of Tunku Abdul Rahman
, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia
. After the death of his first wife named Meriam Chong
, he went to Singapore
and met Violet Coulson, his long-time friend from London
. Coulson was actually his former landlady in England
.
Tunku had met Coulson in 1927, during his second year as a law student in London
. She was an attractive lady who managed a restaurant where many Malayan
students had their meals. When Tunku got tired of his law studies, he and Coulson would sometimes go dancing together. In 1933, while the Tunku was still married to Meriam, he brought Violet to visit Medan, Indonesia.
When news of Meriam's death reached Coulson she handed over the management of her restaurant in London
and sailed for Singapore
without the Tunku's knowledge. Upon arriving in Singapore
, she wrote to the Tunku informing him of her arrival. Tunku immediately took the train to Singapore
and met Coulson at her hotel. Together they talked about old times and their long friendship.
Tunku secretly married Coulson in Geylang Serai, Singapore
, witnessed by Syed Ahmad al-Sagoff, according to Islamic rites. After their marriage, Coulson stayed in Penang
, and Tunku stayed alone in Kuala Nerang
, where he was District Officer, in order to avoid public criticism.
There was a law in Kedah
which forbade members of the royal family to marry non-Malays without the prior approval of the Sultan of Kedah or the Regent. Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, was known to be strongly opposed to mixed marriages, but he died unexpectedly in 1934 and was succeeded as Regent by Tunku Mahmud, the Sultan's younger brother, who was more broadminded and gave consent to the marriage. This enabled Coulson to move to Kuala Nerang
to be with her husband, but the Secretary to the Government showed his disapproval by transferring the Tunku to the isolated post of District Officer of Langkawi
.
S.W Jones M.C.S, who was the acting British Advisor in Kedah
, visited Langkawi
and was so impressed by the initiative and improvements shown by the Tunku that he persuaded the Council of State to transfer Tunku and to promote him to the post of District Officer of Sungai Petani
, the most second most important district in Kedah
.
Langkawi
has been a Shangri-La for Coulson. But Sungai Petani
was a busy town and the centre of a large district, in which Tunku's every moment was occupied. Coulson was no longer happy and Tunku had little time to spare to search for a remedy. Like any other women, Coulson often hung with the British officers' wives. Tunku and Coulson argued often, but in 1937 Coulson sarcastically teased that Malay women were uncivilized and stupid, eventually provoking the Tunku's fury. Coulson decided to return to London
in 1937.
In 1938, due to a disagreement with the British-led Kedah state government, Tunku applied for a long leave and left for England
to study Law for the third time. His reunited with Coulson and their relationship became better although they did not divorce officially. Tunku returned to Kedah
in 1939 due to the war in Europe
. According to official records, Tunku was ordered to divorce Coulson by the Regent of Kedah. The couple divorced officially in 1946.
Coulson then resumed the management of her restaurant in London
. She later married an American who served in the United States armed forces as Judge Advocate in England
.
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
. After the death of his first wife named Meriam Chong
Lady Meriam
Lady Meriam Chong Abdullah, also known as Chong Ah Mei or Mariam Abdullah, was the first wife of Tunku Abdul Rahman, who later became the founding father and the first Prime Minister of Malaysia....
, he went to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and met Violet Coulson, his long-time friend from 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...
. Coulson was actually his former landlady in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Tunku had met Coulson in 1927, during his second year as a law student in 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...
. She was an attractive lady who managed a restaurant where many Malayan
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
students had their meals. When Tunku got tired of his law studies, he and Coulson would sometimes go dancing together. In 1933, while the Tunku was still married to Meriam, he brought Violet to visit Medan, Indonesia.
When news of Meriam's death reached Coulson she handed over the management of her restaurant in 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 sailed for Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
without the Tunku's knowledge. Upon arriving in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, she wrote to the Tunku informing him of her arrival. Tunku immediately took the train to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and met Coulson at her hotel. Together they talked about old times and their long friendship.
Tunku secretly married Coulson in Geylang Serai, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, witnessed by Syed Ahmad al-Sagoff, according to Islamic rites. After their marriage, Coulson stayed in Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, and Tunku stayed alone in Kuala Nerang
Kuala Nerang
Kuala Nerang is the district capital of Padang Terap district, Kedah, Malaysia. It is located on the northern part of Kedah.-Name of Padang Terap:...
, where he was District Officer, in order to avoid public criticism.
There was a law in Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
which forbade members of the royal family to marry non-Malays without the prior approval of the Sultan of Kedah or the Regent. Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, was known to be strongly opposed to mixed marriages, but he died unexpectedly in 1934 and was succeeded as Regent by Tunku Mahmud, the Sultan's younger brother, who was more broadminded and gave consent to the marriage. This enabled Coulson to move to Kuala Nerang
Kuala Nerang
Kuala Nerang is the district capital of Padang Terap district, Kedah, Malaysia. It is located on the northern part of Kedah.-Name of Padang Terap:...
to be with her husband, but the Secretary to the Government showed his disapproval by transferring the Tunku to the isolated post of District Officer of Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
.
S.W Jones M.C.S, who was the acting British Advisor in Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
, visited Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
and was so impressed by the initiative and improvements shown by the Tunku that he persuaded the Council of State to transfer Tunku and to promote him to the post of District Officer of Sungai Petani
Sungai Petani
Sungai Petani is a town in the state of Kedah, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Sungai Petani is the second largest town in Kedah after Alor Star.-Etmylogy:...
, the most second most important district in Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
.
Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
has been a Shangri-La for Coulson. But Sungai Petani
Sungai Petani
Sungai Petani is a town in the state of Kedah, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Sungai Petani is the second largest town in Kedah after Alor Star.-Etmylogy:...
was a busy town and the centre of a large district, in which Tunku's every moment was occupied. Coulson was no longer happy and Tunku had little time to spare to search for a remedy. Like any other women, Coulson often hung with the British officers' wives. Tunku and Coulson argued often, but in 1937 Coulson sarcastically teased that Malay women were uncivilized and stupid, eventually provoking the Tunku's fury. Coulson decided to return to 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...
in 1937.
In 1938, due to a disagreement with the British-led Kedah state government, Tunku applied for a long leave and left for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to study Law for the third time. His reunited with Coulson and their relationship became better although they did not divorce officially. Tunku returned to Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
in 1939 due to the war in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. According to official records, Tunku was ordered to divorce Coulson by the Regent of Kedah. The couple divorced officially in 1946.
Coulson then resumed the management of her restaurant in 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...
. She later married an American who served in the United States armed forces as Judge Advocate in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.