Tun Hussein b. Onn
Father of Unity
3rd Prime Minister
Father of Unity
1976 - 1981
When it came to age, Tun Hussein Onn was only a month older to Tun Abdul Razak. He was born on the 12th of February 1922 in Johor. His father was Dato Onn Jaafar a prominent Malay nationalistic leader and Datin Halimah Hussein. His father was of Malay Bugis decent and his mother Malay Turkish. He had 8 siblings, 3 boys and 5 girls and was the oldest among the boys. His 3 older sisters were Hawa, Rokiah and Salehah while his younger sisters were Nel and Nurziah. On the other hand his younger brothers were Jaafar, Gharieb and Tahir.
When he was small and a teenager Tun Hussein Onn had the love and guidance of both his parents and this instilled in him the love of ones family. He was taught discipline and Malay culture and heritage as he was from an elite Malay family. Both his father and grandfather had held the post of Chief Minister of Johor.
Tun Hussein Onn started his schooling in a school in Johor Bahru and finished it at English College Johor Bahru passing his Senior Cambridge in 1940. Although he was a son of a government official but his character and nature were the same as the other kids that he played with. He was very diligent and was underline any book he read to remember facts.
After completing his secondary education he joined the Johor Military Forces as a cadet and a year later in early 1941 he was sent to the Indian Military Academy in Dahra Dun. He completed and qualified as a Military Officer in 1942 and was sent to join the 19 Hyderabad Regiment in India until World War 2 broke out. During the war he served the Allied Forces in the Middle East like Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Iraq. After the Japanese surrendered he was sent back to India for serve in the Army Intelligence Section in New Delhi and soon after due to his experience the British employed him as an instructor holding the position of Captain at the Malayan Police Recruiting and Training Centre in Rawalpindi.
In 1945 he returned to Malaya and was appointed Commandant of the Johor Bahru Police Depot. A year later he joined the Malayan Civil Service as an assistant administrative officer in Segamat, Johor and was later promoted to District Officer and posted to Selangor serving in Kuala Selangor and Klang.
Tun Hussein Onn joined United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) which his father helped establish and registered on the 11th of May 1946. In 1947, he became its first youth chief and a year later was elected its secretary general.
In 1948 he left for England to study law in Lincoln's Inn. While there his father and other Malay leader continued to fight against the British on its desire to form the Malayan Union. He was also a member of the Johor State Legal Council and Federal Law Council.
In 1951 he followed his father who had left UMNO after some differences and formed the Independence Malaya Party (IMP). After the IMP lost momentum he ran a legal practice in Kuala Lumpur with friends until Tun Abdul Razak who also happened to be his brother-in-law invited him to join UMNO in 1968. A year later in 1969, Tun Hussein Onn was appointed to the UMNO working committee and in the same year stood in the general elections and won the parliamentary seat of East Johor Bahru.
He was appointed as Education Minister on September 23rd 1970 and on the 13th of August 1973 he replaced Tun Dr. Ismail who had succumbed to a heart attack as Deputy Prime Minister. On January 15 1976 he was appointed Prime Minister after the passing away of Tun Abdul Razak in London. Tun Hussein Onn was someone of high caliber and contributed a lot to Malaysia. He wanted to see the people and nation of Malaysia develop together so that the country could be united and peaceful. He had once said "my children, their children and everyone's children should have a peaceful and harmonious future". "We are Malaysian and we love this country, we must develop it. My father's time has passed and it is now my turn to struggle for the country and the next generation must carry on. This is our duty." That was his words and aspirations to see that the whole next generation of people lived in a country that was developed, peaceful and united.
He was always known as a responsible person and was very committed to his duties that were entrusted on him. Just like his father he had an unwavering will power and was firm, courageous and direct.
Tun Hussein Onn carried on the policies of the leaders before him and foreign policy was carried on. In May 1977 he launched the Koperasi Usaha Bersatu (KUB) and in 1979 he launched the 3rd Malaysian Plan. On the 20th of April 1981 he launched the National Unit Trust which has given a lot of benefits and profit to those who have invested in it. He also was serious in the Rukun Tetangga Concept and the fight against drugs.
In February 1981 Tun Hussein Onn suffered health concerns and left for London for treatment where he had to undergo a coronary bypass. Although the bypass was a success and he recovered, he felt that it was time to step down as Prime Minister and President of UMNO thus on July 17th the same year retired from active politics.
After his retirement as Prime Minister he continued to contribute in welfare organizations. He was instrumental in the setting up of the Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital. He was also advisor to Petronas the country's oil company and Chairman of Institut Kajian Strategik dan Antarabangsa (ISIS).
Tun Hussein Onn was married to Toh Puan Suhaila Tan Sri Hj. Mohd. Noah for 42 years which lasted until his death on the 29th of May 1990 at the age of 68. They were blessed with 6 children, 2 boys and 4 girls.
Tun Hussein Onn was very hardworking and sincere in his struggle for racial unity and firm against anyone that tried to create racial unrest in the country and it was this he was known as 'Father of Unity'.