Jaafar Haji Muhammad
Encyclopedia
Dato
Jaafar Bin Haji Muhammad (born 1838, died 1919) was the first and longest serving Dato' Menteri Besar
(Chief Minister
) of Johor, an office he held until his death.
Jaafar took office when Temenggung Abu Bakar made himself Sultan
and formulated a new constitution and administrative framework for Johor
in 1885. His residence for most of the latter part of his life was Istana Bukit Senyum which was built in 1883 and a high school behind the palace, Sekolah Dato Jaafar is named after him.
Jaafar was married five times, and three of his sons were also Menteri Besar
after him, including the father of modern Malay nationalism, Dato Onn Jaafar.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Jaafar Bin Haji Muhammad (born 1838, died 1919) was the first and longest serving Dato' Menteri Besar
Menteri Besar
The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
(Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
) of Johor, an office he held until his death.
Jaafar took office when Temenggung Abu Bakar made himself Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
and formulated a new constitution and administrative framework for Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
in 1885. His residence for most of the latter part of his life was Istana Bukit Senyum which was built in 1883 and a high school behind the palace, Sekolah Dato Jaafar is named after him.
Jaafar was married five times, and three of his sons were also Menteri Besar
Menteri Besar
The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
after him, including the father of modern Malay nationalism, Dato Onn Jaafar.