Mohamed Noah Omar

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato'

| name = Mohamed Noah Omar

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=MYS|size=100|PMN|SPMJ|SSIJ|DPMB|PIS|JP}}

| native_name = {{lang|ms|{{Script|Arab|محمد نوح عمر}}}}

| image = Dato Haji Mohar Dato Haji Mohamed Noah bin Omar.jpg

| office = 1st Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat

| monarch = Abdul Rahman
Hisamuddin
Syed Putra Jamalullail

| primeminister = Tunku Abdul Rahman

| term_start = 1 September 1959

| term_end = 29 February 1964

| predecessor = Office established

| successor = Syed Esa Alwee

| constituency =

| office1 = 3rd President of the Dewan Negara

| monarch1 = Ismail Nasiruddin

| primeminister1 = Tunku Abdul Rahman

| term_start1 = 24 February 1969

| term_end1 = 28 July 1970

| predecessor1 = Syed Sheh Hassan Barakbah

| successor1 = Abdul Hamid Khan

| office2 = Member of the Federation of Malaya / Malaysia Parliament for Johore Bahru Timor

| parliament2 =

| term_start2 = 1959

| term_end2 = 1964

| majority2 = 3,535 (1959)

| predecessor2 = Constituency established

| successor2 = Fatimah Abdul Majid

| birth_name = Mohamed Noah bin Omar

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1897|8|13}}

| birth_place = Bandar Maharani, Muar, Johor

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1991|9|6|1897|8|13}}

| death_place = Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

| resting_place = Makam Pahlawan, Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur

| spouse = Maimun Abdul Manaf
Siti Amirah Kusuma

| children = 5 (including Rahah, Suhailah)

| father =

| mother =

| party = United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (1946–1991)

| alma_mater = Syrian Protestant College, Beirut, Lebanon

| relations = Abdul Razak Hussein (son-in-law)
Hussein Onn (son-in-law)
Najib Razak (grandson)
Hishammuddin Hussein (grandson)
Nazir Razak (grandson)
Nazifuddin Najib (great-grandson)
Onn Hafiz Ghazi (great-grandson)

| caption = Noah kissing the hand of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III in 1960

}}

Mohamed Noah bin Omar (Jawi: محمد نوح بن عمر‎; 13 August 1897 – 6 September 1991) was a Malaysian politician, nationalist, and businessman. He was a founding member and the first chairman of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), playing a key role in mobilising Malay opposition to the Malayan Union and shaping early nationalist movements. Following independence, he became the first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat and later served as the third President of the Dewan Negara, contributing to the establishment of Malaysia's parliamentary traditions.

Beyond politics, Mohamed Noah was involved in major business ventures, notably co-founding Genting Highlands alongside Lim Goh Tong, and held leadership roles in corporate entities such as the MUI Group. He is remembered as the patriarch of a prominent political family, with descendants including two Malaysian prime ministers and several senior politicians.

Early life

Noah Omar was born in Bandar Maharani, Muar, Johor on 13 August 1897.{{Cite book |author=Fawzia Abdullah |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/643766906 |title=The three swans : Fakhriah, Suhailah, Rahah |publisher=MPH Publishing |year=2010 |isbn=978-967-5222-79-5 |location=Petaling Jaya, Selangor |pages=26 |oclc=643766906}}{{cite book |author=Zainal Abidin Haji Alias |title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: Tokoh Dua Zaman |trans-title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: A Figure of Two Eras |publisher=Utusan Publications & Distributors |year=2012 |orig-year=1976 |edition=Reprint |location=Kuala Lumpur |language=ms |isbn=9789676125910 |page=12}} He was a descendant of the 17th-century Bugis ruler known as Raja Chempa, with his ancestors holding the hereditary title of Orang Kaya in Muar.[http://www.utusan.com.my/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0617&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_06.htm Siapa Mohamed Noah Omar?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225213504/http://www.utusan.com.my/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0617&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_06.htm |date=25 February 2014 }}, Azman Anuar, 17 June 2012, Utusan Malaysia{{cite book |author=Zainal Abidin Haji Alias |title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: Tokoh Dua Zaman |trans-title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: A Figure of Two Eras |publisher=Utusan Publications & Distributors |year=2012 |orig-year=1976 |edition=Reprint |location=Kuala Lumpur |language=ms |isbn=9789676125910 |pages=16–18}}

Following the death of his father when he was an infant, Noah was raised by his mother and stepfather, a religious teacher in Muar.{{cite book |author=Zainal Abidin Haji Alias |title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: Tokoh Dua Zaman |trans-title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: A Figure of Two Eras |publisher=Utusan Publications & Distributors |year=2012 |orig-year=1976 |edition=Reprint |location=Kuala Lumpur |language=ms |isbn=9789676125910 |page=14}} He received his early education at a Malay school in Muar and later pursued religious studies at Al-Madarasah Al-Arabiah Al-Khairiah. He continued his studies at the Syrian Protestant College in Beirut, Lebanon, where he acquired the nickname "Noah Beirut".

After returning to Malaya, he worked as a lorry driver and clerk before joining the Johor civil service.{{cite news |title=Weaving the life stories of 'The Three Swans'|author=Johan Jaaffar |date=5 June 2010 |work=New Straits Times |page=27}}{{cite book |author=Zainal Abidin Haji Alias |title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: Tokoh Dua Zaman |trans-title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: A Figure of Two Eras |publisher=Utusan Publications & Distributors |year=2012 |orig-year=1976 |edition=Reprint |location=Kuala Lumpur |language=ms |isbn=9789676125910 |pages=29–40}}

Career

=Politics=

Noah was very active in the Malayan nationalist movement along with his contemporaries, Onn Jaafar, Haji Anwar bin Abdul Malik and Haji Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh al-Hadi. Together they founded UMNO on 1 May 1946 as a means to rally the Malays against the Malayan Union, which was perceived as threatening Malay privileges and the position of the Malay rulers.

After independence, he became the first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament between 1959 and 1964. Subsequently, he was President of the Dewan Negara, the upper house, from 1968 to 1970.

=Business=

Noah together with Lim Goh Tong formed a private company called Genting Highlands Berhad (now Genting Group), which was set up on 27 April 1965 to construct Genting Highlands. Lim successfully obtained approval for the alienation of {{convert|12000|acre|km2}} and {{convert|2800|acre|km2}} of land from the Pahang and Selangor state governments respectively between the years 1965 and 1970. Its primary hill resort, Resort World Genting is currently Malaysia's only casino and highland resort. A mosque built at the hill station is named after him.

In 1970, Noah was appointed a director of MUI Group. He was appointed Chairman of the Group in 1980.{{cite news|last=Sharmini|first=P.|title=A man who loved life|publisher=New Straits Times|date=20 June 2012|url=http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/a-man-who-loved-life-1.96286|access-date=20 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623064634/http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/a-man-who-loved-life-1.96286|archive-date=23 June 2012|url-status=dead}}

Personal life

In 1921, Mohamed Noah married Maimun binti Haji Abdul Manaf, the daughter of the Kadi of Muar and sister of his close friend and fellow Beirut student, Haji Mahmud bin Haji Abdul Manaf.{{cite book |author=Zainal Abidin Haji Alias |title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: Tokoh Dua Zaman |trans-title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: A Figure of Two Eras |publisher=Utusan Publications & Distributors |year=2012 |orig-year=1976 |edition=Reprint |location=Kuala Lumpur |language=ms |isbn=9789676125910 |page=49}} Known for his disciplined character and strong religious values, Noah maintained a household that emphasized education, integrity, and service to the community.{{cite book |author=Zainal Abidin Haji Alias |title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: Tokoh Dua Zaman |trans-title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: A Figure of Two Eras |publisher=Utusan Publications & Distributors |year=2012 |orig-year=1976 |edition=Reprint |location=Kuala Lumpur |language=ms |isbn=9789676125910 |pages=100–102}} The couple had four children: Fakhriah, Abu Rais, Suhaila, and Rahah.{{cite book |author=Zainal Abidin Haji Alias |title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: Tokoh Dua Zaman |trans-title=Tan Sri Haji Mohamed Noah: A Figure of Two Eras |publisher=Utusan Publications & Distributors |year=2012 |orig-year=1976 |edition=Reprint |location=Kuala Lumpur |language=ms |isbn=9789676125910 |page=51}}

Fakhriah married Datuk Abdullah Ahmad, former President of the Johor Bahru Municipal Council. Suhaila became the wife of Hussein Onn, Malaysia's third Prime Minister, while Rahah married Abdul Razak Hussein, the second Prime Minister. His only son, Abu Rais, passed away at the age of 40.

Following Maimun's death in 1968, Noah married Siti Amirah Kusuma. They had a daughter, Nabiha, who died young. Siti Amirah later perished in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 tragedy in 2014.{{cite news |title=Najib's three beloved 'swans' |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/najibs-three-beloved-swans/ |publisher=The Malaysian Insider |date=31 May 2010 |access-date=7 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809074640/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/najibs-three-beloved-swans/ |archive-date=9 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Death

Noah died on 6 September 1991 in Kuala Lumpur, at the age of 94. He was buried at Makam Pahlawan near Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur.

Honours

{{flag|Malaya}} :
50px Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (1963){{cite web

|url=https://www.istiadat.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1963.pdf|title=Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1963.}}

{{flag|Malaysia}} :
50px Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Gold) (PPM) (1965)
{{Flag|Johor}} :
[[File:Sultan_Ibrahim_Coronation_Medal_ribbon.gif|50px

|Sultan Ibrahim Medal]] Second Class of the Sultan Ibrahim Medal (PIS II) (1947)John Victor Morais, Without Fear Or Favour: A Biography of Tan Sri Mohd. Noah, Utusan Printcorp, Kuala Lumpur, 1976, p. 136.

50px Knight Commander Order of the Crown of Johor (DPMJ) – Dato' (1955){{cite news | url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19550918-1.2.17 | title=TWO NEW DATOS IN JOHORE HONOURS | work=The Straits Times | date=18 September 1955 | pages=3}}
50px Knight Grand Commander Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato' (1960){{cite news | url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600212-1.2.18 | title=90 RECEIVE SULTAN'S C-DAY AWARDS | work=The Straits Times | date=12 February 1960 | pages=2}}
50px Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor (SSIJ) – Dato' (1977)

=Foreign honours=

{{Flag|Brunei}} :
50px Second Class of the Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei (DPMB) – Dato Paduka (23 September 1960){{cite news | url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600925-1.2.74| title=MALAYA'S SPEAKER HONOURED AT BRUNEI INVESTITURE CEREMONY | work=The Straits Times | date=25 September 1960 | pages=11}}{{Cite news |date=5 October 1960 |title=SENARAI KURNIAAN HARI KEPUTERAAN |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/1960/5%20oktober%201960.pdf |access-date=2024-08-23 |work=Pelita Brunei |pages=1 |language=ms}}