Ambo Sooloh[a] (1891–1963) was a Bugis-Malay businessman and philanthropist. Born in Singapore to a wealthy mercantile family, Sooloh was one of the founders of the Malay-language newspaper Utusan Melayu. He also served as the chairman of the Singapore Malay Union (Kesatuan Melayu Singapura) from 1934 to 1939.
Ambo Sooloh | |
|---|---|
 c. 1934 | |
| Born | Sooloh bin Omar Ali 1891 |
| Died | 1963 (aged 72) Singapore |
| Resting place | Jalan Kubor Cemetery |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse | 2 |
| Children | 10 |
Early life
editSooloh's father, Omar Ali, owned black pepper and gambier plantations in Borneo and Sumatra.[3] In 1880, he emigrated from his hometown of Pontianak to Singapore and soon became the de facto leader of Bugis-Malay businessmen in the region. Sooloh, his youngest son, was born in Singapore in 1891. Omar Ali died in 1921, leaving Sooloh to take charge of the property and trading empire that he had established in Singapore.[4]
Career
editIn 1927, Sooloh was appointed as a Justice of the Peace.[4] In 1934, on behalf of the entire Malay community in Singapore, he presented the governor of the Straits Settlements Sir Shenton Thomas with a letter affirming "their loyalty to the country and the British Government."[4] The same year, Sooloh was chosen to succeed the recently deceased Mohamed Eunos bin Abdullah as both chairman of the Singapore Malay Union (Kesatuan Melayu Singapiura) and Malay representative in the Legislative Council.[5] Under Sooloh's leadership from 1934 to 1939, the Malay Union worked closely with the government and only offered "mild criticism" of their Malay-related policies.[6]
Sometime in 1938, twenty Malay Union members—including future President of Singapore Yusof Ishak—began discussing the unprecedented idea of a Malay-language newspaper fully owned and managed by native Malayan Malays, as opposed to Muslims of Arab or Indian descent; Sooloh was tasked with raising funds for the project.[7] A year later, the vision was realised with the publication of Utusan Melayu's first issue.[4]
In December 1943, Sooloh became one of the first members of the Malay Welfare Association (MWA). He was also a trustee of Sultan Mosque,[8] as well as a patron of both the Darul Taklam football club and the Malay Soccer Association (Persatuan Bolasepak Melayu).[4]
Later years and legacy
editSooloh died in 1963, aged 72.[4] He was buried near his father at Singapore's oldest Muslim cemetery in Jalan Kubor (behind Masjid Malabar).[4][9] Two years after Sooloh's death, the three-storey house that Sooloh, his two wives, six daughters, and four sons had lived in was torn down.[4] A lane in a former Malay settlement (present-day Kaki Bukit) was once named after Sooloh.[4]
Notes
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^ Ng 2017, p. 188.
- ^ National Heritage Board 2012, p. 55.
- ^ Roff 2009, p. 78.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Musa Kasbi 1988, p. 4.
- ^ Rahim 2010, p. 63.
- ^ Turnbull 2009, pp. 155–156.
- ^ Sulaiman 1988, p. 6.
- ^ The Straits Times 1948, p. 8.
- ^ Zaccheus 2014.
Works cited
edit- "Kampong Glam Heritage Trail" (pdf). National Heritage Board. October 2012.
- "Sultan Mosque repairs". The Straits Times. 22 June 1948. p. 8.
- Musa Kasbi (26 January 1988). "Ambo Sooloh helped set up Utusan Melayu". The Straits Times. p. 4.
- Ng, Yew Peng (2017). What's In The Name? How The Streets And Villages In Singapore Got Their Names. World Scientific. ISBN 9789813221475.
- Rahim, Lily Zubaidah (2010). "Daring to Challenge the Status Quo: The Lateral Vision and Meandering Political Journey of Left Malay Nationalists from Singapura". In Rick Hosking (ed.). Reading the Malay World. Wakefield Press. ISBN 9781862548947.
- Roff, William R. (2009). Studies on Islam and Society in Southeast Asia. NUS Press. ISBN 9971694891.
- Sulaiman, Jeman (7 November 1988). "The rise of Malay newspapers". The Straits Times. p. 6.
- Turnbull, C.M. (2009). A History of Modern Singapore, 1819–2005. NUS Press. ISBN 9971694301.
- Zaccheus, Melody (5 September 2014). "Uncovering secrets of 19th century Singapore".