Abu Hassan Omar

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Omar is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Abu Hassan. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato' Seri Haji
Abu Hassan Omar
PSM SPMS SUMW DPMS SMT AMN PIS
أبو حسن عمر‎
12th Menteri Besar of Selangor
In office
6 June 1997 – 9 August 2000
MonarchSalahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
Preceded byMuhammad Muhammad Taib
Succeeded byKhir Toyo
Ministerial roles
1978–1980Parliamentary Secretary of Trade and Industry
1980–1982Deputy Minister of Defence
1982–1984Deputy Minister of Transport
1984–1986Minister of Social Welfare
1986–1987Minister of Federal Territories
1987–1992Minister of Foreign Affairs
1992–1997Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
1978–1997Barisan Nasional
Faction represented in Selangor State Legislative Assembly
1997–2004Barisan Nasional
Personal details
Born
Abu Hassan bin Omar

(1940-09-15)15 September 1940
Kuala Selangor, Selangor, Federated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died8 September 2018(2018-09-08) (aged 77)
Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Resting placeShah Alam Royal Mausoleum, Selangor
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (BN)
SpouseWan Nor Daud
Children5
EducationMalay College Kuala Kangsar
Alma materUniversity of Hull
OccupationAdministration and Diplomatic Officer (ADO), politician

Tan Sri Dato' Seri Haji Abu Hassan bin Omar (Jawi: أبو حسن بن عمر; 15 September 1940 – 8 September 2018) was a Malaysian politician from United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a major component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.[1] He was the 12th Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Selangor, Malaysia,[2] from 1997 to 2000. Previously he was also the Minister of Social Welfare (1984–1986), Minister of Federal Territories (1986–1987), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1987–1992) and Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (1992–1997). He was also a former Member of Parliament for Kuala Selangor (1978–1997) and Selangor state assemblyman for Permatang (1997–2004) in Selangor.

Early life

[edit]

Abu Hassan was born on 15 September 1940 in Bukit Belimbing, Kuala Selangor, Selangor. He received his early education at the Malay School of Bukit Belimbing (1946–1950) before furthering his studies at Klang High School (1951–1957), Malay College Kuala Kangsar (1958–1959) and University of Hull, England (1960–1963 and 1971–1973).[3] Abu Hassan was married to Wan Nor Daud and the couple had five children.[4]

Before entering politics, he served as Administration and Diplomatic Officer (ADO) from 1964 to 1978. He previously served as Chief Assistant Secretary of Economy Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's department, Assistant Secretary of Selangor State Government and Assistant Secretary of the Land and Federal Territory Development Ministry.[3]

Political career

[edit]

Abu Hassan started his political career when he contested and won the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat in the 1978 general election on 8 July 1978.[3] He successfully retained the seat in the subsequent 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1995 general elections.[5] In government, he was also the Minister of Social Welfare (1984–1986), Minister of Federal Territories (1986–1987), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1987–1992) and Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (1992–1997).[6]

On 30 April 1997, he resigned as Member of Parliament for Kuala Selangor and his cabinet minister post in order to contest the Selangor state seat of Permatang which fell vacant when its incumbent assemblyman, Jamaluddin Adnan also resigned. This arranged position swap occurred to enable him to be appointed the new Selangor Menteri Besar, to replace Muhammad Muhammad Taib who stepped down.[7]

Menteri Besar of Selangor

[edit]

After being elected as a representative of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly in the by-election on 29 May 1997, he was appointed as the Menteri Besar of Selangor from 6 June 1997 to 9 August 2000.[3] There was controversy over the RM5 million expenditure to renovate the official residence of the Menteri Besar at Bukit Megawati, Shah Alam for Abu Hassan during his tenure.[8][9]

In 2000, a poison pen letter started circulating about an alleged sex scandal and ill-concealed relationship between Abu Hassan with his wife's sister. Abu Hassan had denied any wrongdoing, claiming his sister-in-law actually had married his good friend, a Chinese new Muslim convert (Muallaf) who coincidentally shared his Islamic name; Abu Hassan Tan Abdullah. He stated that as the reason their son's name was Mohamad Hafiz bin Abu Hassan, which had caused all the confusion.[8][9] The opposition had reported the case to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) demanding an investigation into their relationship and if they have an illegitimate son under religious law.[10]

On 10 August 2000, Abu Hassan abruptly announced his resignation as Menteri Besar of Selangor citing health and family reasons but did not elaborate on other existing controversies and crisis bothering him.[8][9][11]

Death

[edit]

Abu Hassan died of a cardiac arrest on 8 September 2018 at 8.05pm at the Columbia Asia Hospital, Bukit Rimau, aged 77.[12] Abu Hassan's remains were brought to his residence at Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam before brought to the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque, Shah Alam for prayers and then burial at Shah Alam Royal Mausoleum, Shah Alam, Selangor on the next day.[13] Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Tengku Permaisuri Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin attended the ceremony.[14]

Election results

[edit]
Parliament of Malaysia[5]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1978 P076 Kuala Selangor Abu Hassan Omar (UMNO) 16,598 70.80% Norhadi Hasan Ali (PAS) 3,590 15.31% N/A 13,008 N/A
Supian Sirman (IND) 3,257 13.89%
1982 Abu Hassan Omar (UMNO) 21,409 79.40% Abd Rashid Daud (DAP) 3,110 11.53% 28,013 18,299 74.54%
Sayan Marbin (PAS) 2,444 9.06%
1986 P085 Kuala Selangor Abu Hassan Omar (UMNO) 17,523 78.33% Zainudin Muhammad (NASMA) 4,847 21.67% 23,469 12,676 72.19%
1990 Abu Hassan Omar (UMNO) 17,964 67.86% Mohamed Haniffa
(S46) 		8,508 32.14% 27,527 9,456 75.02%
1995 P089 Kuala Selangor Abu Hassan Omar (UMNO) 28,287 85.42% Amin Hussaini Abd Manan (S46) 4,827 14.58% 11,884 23,460 70.88%
Selangor State Legislative Assembly[5]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1997 N10 Permatang Abu Hassan Omar (UMNO) 9,590 84.12% Mohd Maskuri Mardzuki (PAS) 1,810 15.88% 11,884 7,780 64.18%
1999 Abu Hassan Omar (UMNO) 8,621 60.35% Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri (KeADILan) 5,665 39.65% 14,755 2,956 73.72%

Honours

[edit]

Honours of Malaysia

[edit]

Foreign Honours

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "I Have Resigned to Safeguard My Health - Abu Hassan". The Malaysian National News Agency. Bernama: Access My Library. 10 August 2000. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  2. ^ "Abu Hassan: Why I resigned". New Straits Times. DATUK. 11 August 2000. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sejarah Menteri Besar : Mantan Dato' Menteri Besar Selangor" (in Malay). Selangor: Laman Web Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Selangor. 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Anak bekas MB Selangor meninggal dunia". Bernama (in Malay). Berita Harian. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  6. ^ "Former Selangor MB Abu Hassan Omar passes away". The Star. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  7. ^ "By-election has been held before to bring in a new MB". The Star. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b c "Saya difitnah - Abu Hassan -- Ada pihak tohmah beliau punyai anak luar nikah dengan adik ipar". Zaini Hassan, Amir Sarifuddin dan Radhuan Hassan (in Malay). Berita Harian. 11 August 2000. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  9. ^ a b c Hussein Abdul Hamid (17 May 2011). "The Ugly Malaysian: Abu Hassan Omar". malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  10. ^ Mat Zahari Ali (5 September 2000). "Kes Abu Hassan Omar dilaporkan kepada Jais secara rasmi". Harakah Daily (in Malay). Tranung Kite. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  11. ^ "And So A Menteri Besar Is Forced To Resign". M.G.G. Pillai. Tranung Kite. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Former Selangor MB Abu Hassan Omar dies". New Straits Times. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  13. ^ Ruwaida Md Zain (9 September 2018). "Abu Hassan akan dikebumikan di Makam Diraja Shah Alam". Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Jenazah Abu Hassan Omar selamat dikebumikan" (in Malay). Astro Awani. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  15. ^ "DPMS 1981". awards.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  16. ^ "SPMS 1988". awards.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  17. ^ "IGP and ex-MB head FT honours list". The Star. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  18. ^ https://cde.gestion2.e3.pe/doc/0/0/1/5/2/152563.pdf
  19. ^ ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ให้แก่ชาวต่างประเทศ รัฐมนตรีต่างประเทศอาเซียนและประเทศคู่เจรจา รวม ๖ ราย (PDF) (in Thai). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Minister of Selangor
6 June 1997 – 9 August 2000 		Succeeded by
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