Inche Mohamed Sidik bin Haji Abdul Hamid (born 1896 or 1897), commonly known as Inche Sidik, was a Singaporean politician. He was a member of Malay Union before he left in 1957 and joined the Singapore branch of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). He was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Southern Islands Constituency from 1955 to 1959. He also served as the Assistant Education Minister.[1]
Inche Sidik | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Southern Islands Constituency | |
| In office 22 April 1955 – 31 March 1959 | |
| Preceded by | constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Ahmad Jabri bin Mohammed Akib |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Inche Mohamed Sidik bin Haji Abdul Hamid 1896 or 1897 Bussorah Street, Straits Settlements |
Early life and education
editHe was born at Bussorah Street (now known as Sultan Road) and went to Raffles Institution. He worked as a clerk. He spent 33 years working at the Customs Department as a senior preventive officer.[2]
Sidik was also the vice-president of the south zone of the Malay Football Association of Malaya and the president of the Malay Union.[2]
Career
editIn 1952, Sidik and members of the Malay Union protested against the construction of a park in Geylang.[3] In 1954, Sidik stated that the Malay Union had not joined Labour Front.[4]
In 1955, he contested in the 1955 Singaporean general election for Southern Islands Constituency.[5] He was the only candidate of the Malay Union to be participating. He became the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Southern Islands Constituency after he won with 50.57% of the vote against Progressive Party member Hollupatherage James Caldera Kulasingha, who got 49.43%. Sidik also won with the narrowest margin of just 1.15%.
In 1956, he left the Malay Union after serving as its president for four years. This happened after he and Inche H. M. Hassan donated a refrigerator to the Singapore branch of the British Red Cross under their names instead of the Malay Union's. He was succeeded by Tengku Ismara Raja after he lost to with 17 votes compared to his 26.[6] After he left, he joined the Singapore branch of the United Malays National Organisation (UNMO).[7]
Afterwards, Sidik stated that he was still the representative of the Malay Union despite leaving as he was elected on the union's ticket.[8] In 1958, he opened Hua Yi Middle School.[9]
During the 1959 Singaporean general election, he contested in Siglap Single Member Constituency against 7 other candidates.[10] He had originally wanted to contest in Southern Islands Constituency again, but lost his nomination to Inche Ahmad Jabri by four votes.[11] During his rally speech, he stated that there would be "no happiness if [People's Action Party] comes into power."[12] He was unsuccessful, only garnering 11.05% of the vote.
References
edit- ^ "Assemblyman Sidik joins the UMNO". The Straits Times. 22 May 1957. p. 7. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ a b "Such a surprise for the Inche". The Straits Times. 14 December 1951. p. 7. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "8,000 Malays against park in Geylang". The Singapore Free Press. 11 March 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Malay Union 'is not part of Labour Front'". The Singapore Free Press. 5 October 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Ghost Island baffles candidate". The Singapore Free Press. 17 March 1955. p. 5. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "FRIDGE GIFT LEAVES UNION COLD". The Straits Times. 30 January 1956. p. 7. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Election dare". The Straits Times. 24 May 1957. p. 5. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "TENGKU WRONG: SIDIK". The Singapore Free Press. 21 January 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Sidik opens Govt. Chinese school". The Straits Times. 18 May 1958. p. 4. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Siglap people have choice of seven candidates". The Straits Times. 28 May 1959. p. 4. Retrieved 27 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Singapore UMNO heeds Tengku and ends crisis". The Straits Budget. 29 April 1959. p. 13. Retrieved 29 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "SIDIK SAYS: NO HAPPINESS IF PAP COMES INTO POWER". The Straits Times. 2 May 1959. p. 4. Retrieved 29 March 2024 – via NewspaperSG.