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Jaafar Muhammad

{{Short description|Malay statesman}}

{{About|the Malay politician|Gaafar Muhammad al-Nimeiry|Gaafar Nimeiry}}

{{Malay name|Jaafar|Muhammad| note = on}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix = Yang Berhormat Dato'

| name = Jaafar Haji Muhammad

| native_name =

| honorific_suffix = DK (Johor) SPMJ CMG

| image = Jaafar Muhammad (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| image_upright =

| smallimage =

| smallimage_alt =

| alt =

| caption =

| order = 1st

| office = Menteri Besar of Johor

| status =

| term_start = 1886

| term_end = 1919

| predecessor = Office established

| successor = Mohamed Mahbob

| birth_date = 1838

| birth_place = Teluk Belanga, Singapore, Straits Settlements

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1919|07|03|1838|df=y}}

| death_place = Bukit Senyum, Johor Bahru, Johor

| resting_place = Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum

| children = Onn Jaafar

| relations = Hussein Onn (grandson)
Hishammuddin Hussein (great-grandson)
Onn Hafiz Ghazi
(great-great-grandson)

}}

Jaafar bin Haji Muhammad (Jawi: جعفر بن محمد, b. 1838 – d. 3 July 1919) D.K., S.P.M.J., C.M.G.{{Cite journal|url=http://journalarticle.ukm.my/543/|title=Datuk Jaafar Haji Mohamad D.K., S.P.M.J., C.M.G., Menteri Besar Johor yang pertama 1886-1919|journal=Jebat: Malaysian Journal of History, Politics and Strategic Studies|year=1972|volume=02|pages=1–6}} was the first and longest serving Dato' Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of the independent kingdom of Johor (today a state in the Federation of Malaysia), an office he held from 1886 until his death.

Early life

Jaafar was born in Teluk Belanga, Singapore, Straits Settlements. He received Malay and English education.

Career

He began serving with the Government of Johor at 16, working as a trainee clerk in the Office of the Minister Raja Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim. In 1856 he was appointed clerk in the Office of the Minister, and then he served as deputy for the Menteri Besar until 1882. He was Sultan Abu Bakar's escort in the latter's first trip to Europe in 1866. He took office in 1885 when Temenggong Abu Bakar made himself sultan and created a bureaucratic administration for Johor. During his term as Chief Minister, Jaafar was tasked with carrying out state administration when Abu Bakar went overseas. His residence for most of the latter part of his life was the Istana Bukit Senyum which was built in 1883. A high school behind the palace – Sekolah Dato' Jaafar – is named after him. In 1904 he was appointed by Sultan Ibrahim, Abu Bakar's son and successor as regent.{{cite web|url=http://kaylingliberation.blogspot.my/2014/07/dato-jaafar-bin-haji-muhammad-1838-1919.html|title=Liberation, Scholars & Legendary Review; Dato Jaafar Bin Haji Muhammad ( 1838 - 1919 )|publisher=Blogspot}}

Personal life

Jaafar was married five times with five wives, Esah bte Ibrahim, Emon bte Abu Talib, Datin Selamah Ambak and Rogayah Hanim.{{cite web |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/data/archives/2013/07/05/00/31/taking-root-branching-out/ |title=Malaysian Families: Taking root, branching out |work=The Star |date=5 July 2013 |access-date=1 June 2016 |archive-date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803174416/http://www.thestar.com.my/data/archives/2013/07/05/00/31/taking-root-branching-out/ |url-status=dead }} Three of his sons also went on to serve as Menteri Besar after him, including the father of modern Malay nationalism, Dato' Onn Jaafar.

Death

He died in 1919 in Bukit Senyum, Johor Bahru and was buried with full honors at the Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum.

Honours

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaafar Muhammad}}

Category:1838 births

Category:1919 deaths

Category:People from British Malaya

Category:Chief ministers of Johor

Category:Johor state executive councillors

Category:First Classes of the Royal Family Order of Johor

Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor

Category:Honorary companions of the Order of St Michael and St George