Marsal Maun

Bruneian politician (1913–2000)

مرسل ماون
Dato Marsal in 1964
2nd Menteri BesarIn office
1 September 1962 – 4 November 1968MonarchOmar Ali Saifuddien IIIDeputyAli Mohamed DaudPreceded byIbrahim Mohammad JahfarSucceeded byYusuf Abdul Rahim Personal detailsBorn(1913-11-08)8 November 1913
Pulau Ambok, Brunei-Muara, BruneiDied28 March 2000(2000-03-28) (aged 86)
Telanai, Brunei-Muara, BruneiResting placeKiarong Muslim Cemetery, Bandar Seri Begawan, BruneiSpouseZubaidah OthmanChildren4Parent(s)Maun Abdul Rahman (father)
Hajijah Abdul Jalil (mother)Alma materSultan Idris Training CollegeProfession
  • Politician
  • teacher
Awards1993 Teacher's Day Award

Dato Seri Paduka Haji Marsal bin Maun (8 November 1913 – 28 March 2000) was the second Menteri Besar (Chief Minister of Brunei), who served from 1961 to 1962. It was during his tenure as Menteri Besar that the Brunei Revolt broke out. He was one of the person responsible for the establishment of the Federation of Brunei Malay Teachers (PGGMB) and Brunei Scout Movement, which both still run till today. He was a prominent member of the Brunei Malay Teachers' Union, close to Sultan Omar Ali Safuddien III, and the first of the "three M's" that the British government dreaded (Pengiran Mohamed Ali and Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf were the other two).[1]

Early life and education

Marsal Maun was born on 8 November 1913 at Kampong Pulau Ambok (currently known as Kampong Pintu Malim). He had his early education at the Malay School in Jalan Pemancha from 1923 to 1929.[2] After passing primary four, Marsal was appointed as a probationary teacher, and in 1930 he together with Dato Haji Bashir bin Taha attended a teacher training course at the Sultan Idris Training College (SITC), Tanjung Malim, British Malaya, where he became one of the first two Bruneians to qualify as a teacher there in 1933.[3][2]

Civil service

Upon his return from the United Kingdom, Marsal was as a teacher at Sekolah Melayu Jalan Pemancha (Jalan Pemancha Malay School) in 1933. Its as there, when he formed a Scout troop with 12 boys in January 1933.[4] In January 1935,[2] he would be named acting Superintendent of Malay Education, and his appointment was confirmed in 1936.[1][3] Zaidi Taha, headmaster of the school, who was also the head of the Education Department became the Scoutmaster while Marsal serve as the Assistant Scoutmaster.[4]

Marsal later became a founding member of the Persekutuan Guru-Guru Melayu Brunei (PGGMB) during the period before the Second World War. It was through this association that he became a close confidante of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.[3] A number of Brunei students were trained by the Japanese during their occupation of the country; they included Marsal, Yassin Affandi, A. M. Azahari, Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf, and Jamil Al-Sufri.[5] During the occupation, Marsal was recruited into the Japanese Propaganda Department and was suspended by the British Military Administration and British Residency until September 1946.[2]

Marsal was sent back to SITC in 1949–1950 after serving as the Assistant British Resident's education adviser in Kuala Belait. He was then restored as the Superintendent of Malay Education, a position he maintained until being named Deputy State Secretary in May 1960. A member of the Brunei-Muara District Advisory Council from 1954 to 1957; a "Observer" of the State Council from 1954 to 1957; an unofficial member of the State Council from 1957 to 1959; and, up until August 1961, an unofficial member of the Legislative and Executive Councils.[2]

Marsal was one of the people who was responsible for advising Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III in drafting the 1959 Constitution for Brunei. He was also one of the members of the constitutional delegation, representing Brunei, during the 1959 Brunei Negotiations in London.[2][6]

Menteri Besar

Dato Marsal (middle) presenting a gift to Angus MacKintosh (left) in 1963

Marsal was named Deputy State Secretary on 1 May 1960, and Acting Menteri Besar on 1 August 1961, a position he held until being confirmed on 1 September 1962.[1][7] On 4 May 1960, he was among the 12 state diginitaries selected to become the Royal Regency Council, which they would carry out the duties of the Sultan of Brunei during his trip to the Federation of Malaya.[2]

On 29 July 1961, the Standing Advisory Council on Defence convened. This body was established under the 1959 Agreement to address issues related to internal security. The High Commissioner, the Chief Police Officer, the Officer in Charge of the Special Branch, and the Menteri Besar made up its membership. The Sultan served as its chairman. However, Dato Haji Ibrahim, the Menteri Besar, was absent due to illness. In his stead, the Sultan appointed two of his closest advisors: Pengiran Ali, the head of the Department of Religious Affairs, and Dato Marsal, then Acting Menteri Besar.[8]

On 31 March 1963, Dato Marsal led a group of scouts during the farewell ceremony for the departing British High Commissioner to Brunei, Sir Dennis White at Istana Darul Hana. He proceed to thank and praise Dennis for his service to Brunei for many years.[9] On 6 December 1963, Scouts in the Belait District gathered in Padang Besar, to bid farewell to Angus MacKay Mackintosh. Dato Marsal, the Chairman of the Brunei State Scout Council, also gave the former Scout Leader a memento that had been given by Scouts across the State of Brunei.[10]

Brunei revolt

Queen's Own Highlanders on a riverine patrol in Seria during the Brunei revolt

Once the Brunei revolt got going on 8 December 1962, rebels turned off Brunei Town's electricity. The chief minister's office (Rumah Jerambak), Istana Darul Hana, and the central police station were the primary targets in the capital. The TNKU would compel the Sultan to proclaim a North Borneo Federation by holding him captive. Rebels captured the police guard and stormed the chief minister's office on Jalan Kumpang Pasang in Gadong.[11]

Dato Marsal called police headquarters to request assistance. Six officers from headquarters, including Inspector Ahmad, were deployed. The rebels surrounded and attacked the policemen after they arrived. The police surrounded themselves in a protective circle and demanded that the rebels give up. In a short while, the rebels consented to surrender and were promptly returned to the police station, where they managed to enter without incident despite considerable opposition. Accompanying them was Dato Marsal.[11]

A TNKU group traveled to Istana Darul Hana in a car and a jeep that had been captured. The Chief Minister, Dato Marsal was at the police station at the time, so the Sultan asked them to bring their petition to him instead of accepting their request to meet him. They carried out this action, and upon reaching the police station, Dato Marsal not only dismissed their appeal but also urged them to turn themselves in. After running away, the rebels were apprehended by the police.[11]

The Sultan had made a transmission on Brunei Radio earlier that morning. He denounced the TNKU revolt as unlawful and issued a dire warning to all those who assisted it. Dato Marsal also did a radio program later that morning. He issued an order for everyone in the nation to surrender their firearms and their certifications to law enforcement, and he imposed a nationwide curfew. The curfew was gradually relaxed after two days, when it was loosened between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to allow people to purchase food and other necessities.[12] The PRB was declared to be prohibited by Dato Marsal.[13]

Later life and death

Due to health concerns on 1 October 1965, Marsal was forced to take a leave while Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf was appointed as the acting Chief Minister.[14] On 4 November 1968, Dato Marsal retired and started a private business.[1] He continued to be active as an elder statesman. He continued to give advice to more junior ministers who regarded him as mentor. Marsal died on 28 March 2000.

Personal life

Marsal Maun was married to Datin Zubaidah Othman and blessed with four children; including Zainuddin and Salim.[15]

Namesakes

Several places were named after him, including:

Honours and awards

Awards

  • 1991 Teacher's Day Award

Honours Marsal was posthumously granted the soubriquet Bapa Perlembagaan (Father of the Constitution). Notably, he was also awarded;[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hussainmiya 2000, p. 248.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Mohamad Yusop Damit 1995, p. 404.
  3. ^ a b c Pelita Brunei 1960, p. 3.
  4. ^ a b Buku Laporan tahunan Negeri Brunei Tahun 1933.
  5. ^ Hussainmiya 2003, p. 285.
  6. ^ Siti Nor Anis Nadiah Haji Mohamad & Mariam Abdul Rahman 2021, p. 36–37.
  7. ^ Sidhu 2009, p. 143.
  8. ^ Mohamad Yusop Damit 1995, p. 297.
  9. ^ Pelita Brunei (3 April 1963), p. 4.
  10. ^ Pelita Brunei (18 December 1963), p. 2.
  11. ^ a b c Dato’ Haji Harun Bin Haji Abdul Majid, p. 13.
  12. ^ Dato’ Haji Harun Bin Haji Abdul Majid, p. 15.
  13. ^ Dato’ Haji Harun Bin Haji Abdul Majid, p. 20.
  14. ^ Pelita Brunei (6 October 1965), p. 1.
  15. ^ Catalogue of Privy Council Papers 1998.
  16. ^ AROUND BRUNEI 2012.
  17. ^ Borneo Bulletin (2005), p. 15.
  18. ^ Pelita Brunei (1 March 1967), p. 8.
  19. ^ Pelita Brunei (2 October 1963), p. 2.
  20. ^ Pelita Brunei (1 October 1958), p. 4.
  21. ^ Steinberg 2016, p. 153.
  22. ^ Brunei History Centre 1951, p. 14.
  • Hussainmiya, B.A. (2000). ""Manufacturing Consensus": The Role of the State Council in Brunei Darussalam". Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 31 (2). doi:10.1017/S0022463400017586. ISSN 1474-0680. S2CID 154624298.
  • Mohamad Yusop Damit (1995). Brunei Darussalam 1944-1962: Constitutional and Political Development in a Malay-Muslim Sultanate. University of London 1995.
  • Pelita Brunei (4 May 1960). "Rengkasan Perkhidmatan Ahli2 Majlis Pemangku Raja" (PDF) (in Malay).
  • Hussainmiya, B. A. (26 December 2003). Resuscitating nationalism: Brunei under the Japanese Military Administration (1941-1945).
  • Dato’ Haji Harun Bin Haji Abdul Majid. The Brunei Rebellion: December 1962 (PDF). King’s College, London.
  • Siti Nor Anis Nadiah Haji Mohamad; Mariam Abdul Rahman (15 November 2021). "Penggubalan Perlembagaan Negeri Brunei 1959: Satu Sorotan Sejarah" [Drafting of The Brunei Constitutions of 1959: A Historical Review]. The Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah Journal. 8 (2): 36–37. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  • Sidhu, Jatswan S. (22 December 2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
  • Pelita Brunei (3 April 1963). "Jasa Baik Sir Dennis Tidak Di-Lupakan" (PDF) (in Malay). Retrieved 23 October 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Pelita Brunei (18 December 1963). "Selamat Belayar Dato MacKintosh" (PDF) (in Malay). Retrieved 23 October 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Pelita Brunei (6 October 1965). "Pemangku Menteri Besar Brunei" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Retrieved 23 October 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Catalogue of Privy Council Papers (18 February 1998). "Paper 1654 of 1665". humanities-research.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  • AROUND BRUNEI (24 September 2012). "AROUND BRUNEI: AROUND BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN-- 20th JAN 2007". AROUND BRUNEI. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  • Borneo Bulletin (2005). Borneo Bulletin Brunei Yearbook. Brunei Press Sdn. Bhd. in collaboration with Integrated Information Pte. Limited.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Pelita Brunei (1 March 1967). "Mereka yang di-raikan" (PDF) (in Malay).{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Pelita Brunei (2 October 1963). "D.Y.M.M. Mengurniakan Bintang2 Kehormatan Dan Pingat2 Pada Ari Jadi Baginda" (PDF) (in Malay). Retrieved 18 July 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Pelita Brunei (1 October 1958). "Raja-Raja Dan Pembesar2 Tanah Melayu Mendapat Pingat Kehormatan" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). p. 4. Retrieved 23 October 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Steinberg, S. (27 December 2016). The Statesman's Year-Book 1962: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-27091-6.
  • Brunei History Centre (1 February 1951). Brunei Government Gazette (PDF).
Political offices
Preceded by 2nd Menteri Besar
1 September 1962 – 4 November 1968 		Succeeded by