Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Ghazali Jawi, A Political Figure of Perak State
Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Ghazali Jawi, A Political Figure of Perak State
Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Ghazali bin Haji Jawi, a prominent Malaysian political figure, was born on December 26, 1924, in Kampung Bukit Nangka, Lenggong, Perak. He not only left a profound impact on the political history of Perak but also raised a successful next generation in their respective fields.
His eldest son, Tan Sri Mohd Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali, once held the position of Menteri Besar of Perak, while his second son, Tan Sri Mohd Zulkifli Mohd Ghazali, served as the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor. Furthermore, the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Lailatul Badariah, was attended by Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
The life and career of Mohamed Ghazali Jawi were filled with colorful history, controversy, and significant contributions to the nation.
Early Life and Education
Mohamed Ghazali Jawi was born into a modest family in Kampung Bukit Nangka, Lenggong, Perak. He was the third of six siblings. His father, Haji Jawi bin Haji Puteh, and his mother, Hajah Suyah binti Haji Mat Saman, provided him with religious education and moral values that became the foundation of his character.
His early education began at the Lenggong Malay School, where he showed a deep interest in learning. Later, he continued his studies at King Edward VII School, Taiping, a leading educational institution at the time.
During the Japanese occupation of Malaya (1941-1945), Mohamed Ghazali Jawi was involved in the rice trade in his hometown. This experience gave him early exposure to economics and resource management, which later proved useful in his political career.
After the end of World War II, he began working as an inspector at the Drainage and Irrigation Department in Labu Kubong and Sungai Manik, Teluk Intan. His interest in education led him to Egypt, where he pursued further studies before returning to his homeland to contribute to the nation's political development.
Campaigning in Sarawak
Around 1962, Ghazali Jawi, along with Abdul Samad Idris, campaigned in Sarawak to encourage the local population to support Sarawak's entry into Malaysia. They had to travel by motorboat against the currents of the Sarawak River to reach the upper reaches of the river in the middle of the night.
Several times, the motorboat nearly collided with large logs drifting in the river current. Their mission was to bring influential community leaders down the river to Kuching.
A Distinguished Political Career
Mohamed Ghazali Jawi began his political career by establishing an UMNO branch in Sungai Manik. On November 1, 1954, he resigned from his position as an Inspector at the Drainage and Irrigation Department to focus full-time on politics.
In the 1955 Federal Elections, he won the Sungai Perak Ulu parliamentary seat, and a year later, he successfully secured the Larut Selatan and Matang State Assembly seats. This success opened doors for him to play a larger role in state and national politics.
On August 7, 1957, Mohamed Ghazali Jawi was appointed as the Menteri Besar of Perak, making him one of the earliest leaders to hold the position after Malaysia's independence. He held this post until April 16, 1960, before being appointed as a senator in 1963.
While serving as Menteri Besar, he was reportedly arrested by the police over a corruption issue in 1960. The case was suspended or dropped, but Raja Idris Shah, as the Raja Muda, did not favor him. He was subsequently sent to serve as the Ambassador of the Federation of Malaya to Egypt.
UMNO Perak at that time was divided into two factions: those supporting Ghazali Jawi and those supporting Haji Kamaruddin bin Mohd Isa. Among those supporting Kamarudin Md Isa were the Perak UMNO Youth chief, Abu Bakar Ashaari, and Abdullah Haji Mohamad. Supporters of Ghazali Jawi included Hisan Ibrahim, Shafie Mat Saman, Masu’ud bin Untoi, Ismail Abdul Rauf, Dato’ Abdul Malik Ahmad, Dato’ Seri Haji Wan Mohamed bin Haji Wan Teh, the Prime Minister, and Tun Abdul Razak himself.
(Tan Sri) Ishak Tadin, as a state government official, was sent by Tun Abdul Razak to persuade Sultan Idris Shah to accept Ghazali Jawi for a period of only 2 years. On April 14, 1960, Mohamad Ghazali Jawi submitted his resignation letter as Menteri Besar of Perak to the Sultan of Perak at the Perak Palace, Kuala Lumpur. Later, at the age of 36, he was sent to become the Ambassador to Egypt in Cairo. He became the 11th Ambassador of Malaya to Egypt.
After that, he was given the responsibility as Deputy Minister of National and Rural Development. In 1964, he won the Ulu Perak parliamentary seat and was appointed as Minister of Lands and Mines, and later as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Return to the Menteri Besar Position and Crisis with the Sultan of Perak
On September 4, 1974, Mohamed Ghazali Jawi was once again appointed as the Menteri Besar of Perak. However, his administration this time was not smooth due to tensions with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Idris Shah. In 1976, the Sultan wanted the 2-year promise to be fulfilled.
But Ghazali Jawi continued to hold the position of Menteri Besar of Perak until 1977. Sultan Idris Shah was said to be displeased with Ghazali Jawi's administration, and the relationship between the two parties deteriorated, causing several state development projects to stall.
On Pangkor Island, the Sultan was still furious and had vowed not to shave his beard and mustache as long as Ghazali did not stop being the MB. For some time, he appeared in public with a beard and mustache to express his displeasure.
The Sultan of Perak also did not sign any government gazettes, causing files to pile up and government policies to remain unimplemented. The Perak government was also nearly paralyzed due to this situation.
The Sultan of Perak has the right to appoint and consent to someone holding the position of Menteri Besar, but once appointed and consented to, the Sultan has no right under the State Constitution to dismiss or order them to resign. The right to dismiss or order Ghazali Jawi to stop being Menteri Besar would only exist if the Menteri Besar received a vote of no confidence from the State Legislative Assembly members, or if they failed to obtain a vote of confidence from the State Legislative Assembly members, as faced by Dato' Seri Faizal Azumu previously.
Despite facing challenges, Ghazali Jawi continued to hold the position until October 1, 1977, when he finally resigned after being advised by the UMNO President, Tun Hussein Onn. Dato Sri Wan Mohamed bin Wan Teh subsequently received the Sultan's consent to become the Menteri Besar of Perak.
Controversy and Challenges
Throughout his political career, Mohamed Ghazali Jawi was not free from controversy. In 1960, he was arrested by the police on charges of corruption, although the case was eventually suspended. Additionally, while serving as Minister of Agriculture, he was criticized for allowing the use of herbicides from a Japanese company that caused the extinction of freshwater fish such as Sepat, Puyu, and Keli.
This decision affected the protein source for paddy farmers, who had to rely on purchasing fish. This controversy sparked a debate about the impact of chemical use in agriculture and the importance of balancing development with environmental sustainability.
A Successful Family
Besides his contributions to politics, Mohamed Ghazali Jawi was also known as a father to successful children. His eldest son, Tan Sri Mohd Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali, followed in his footsteps by becoming the Menteri Besar of Perak, while his second son, Tan Sri Mohd Zulkifli Mohd Ghazali, served as the Vice-Chancellor of UTM. The success of his children reflects the values and principles instilled by Mohamed Ghazali Jawi in his family life.
Legacy and Contributions
Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Ghazali Jawi left a lasting legacy in Malaysian political history. Despite facing various challenges and controversies, his contributions to the development of the state of Perak and the nation cannot be denied. He was not only a dedicated leader but also a father who successfully raised a next generation that also contributed to the nation's progress.
He is an example of a leader who was brave in facing challenges and remained firm in his principles. Although controversy accompanied his career, his contributions to the development of Perak and Malaysia remain remembered. He also succeeded in building a successful family, proving that moral values and education are the foundation of success.
Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Ghazali Jawi passed away on December 11, 1982. His life story reminds us of the complexity and dynamics of the political world, as well as the importance of integrity and perseverance in facing challenges. It is a part of Malaysian history that should be appreciated and used as an example by the younger generation.
References:
- The Straits Times, April 14, 1960
- Memoir, Patah Sayap Bertongkatkan Paruh, by Mokhtar Petah
- Sejarah Ghazali Jawi Berulang Selepas 35 Tahun, February 11, 2009, Blog Pas Tambun
