Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos (1903-1986) - Biography

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Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos (1903-1986)
Dr Che Lah bin Mohamed Joonoos
Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery (L.M.S.) March 1930 King Edward VII, College of Medicine, Singapore

Date of birth: 10 December 1903*
Place of birth: Jelutong, Penang**
Date of demise: 23 January 1986
Place of demise: Penang General Hospital
Place of burial: Tanah Perkuburan Masjid Jamek Glugor, Gelugor 11700, Penang

Birth date

• Two birth dates were recorded, 1903 and 1904. 
• He wrote 1903 on his application form to the LSHTM. However, a check with LSHTM indicated he did not do his postgraduate studies there.
• His eldest daughter Tulip wrote his birth date as 1903 when he dictated his biodata on his death bed at Penang General Hospital in 1986.
• An inscribed date of birth on his tombstone was 1904.

Birthplace

• His actual birthplace was Jelutong and not Glugor as believed by many. 
• He grew up in a blue house in Jelutong Road (now Jalan Jelutong), Jelutong, in Penang. 
• His son Kamaruddin Che Lah remembered the blue house in Jelutong but was unable to locate it in 2021.

Education

1. Malay School, Air Itam, Penang, completed Standard IV 1910-1914
2. Anglo-Chinese School (ACS), Maxwell Road, Penang 1915-1917, completed Standard VII Senior Cambridge December 1919 .
3. King Edward VII College of Medicine Singapore as FMS Govt Medical Student in June 1923-1930. Passed Final Medical Professional Examination in March 1930. Awarded the College Diploma L.M.S. Singapore (Class of March 1930). His paper transcripts still exist but are faded and very brittle. 
4. Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore (short course) 1949
5. UM Singapore Postgraduate (studies?) 1951

Qualifications

1. Senior Cambridge, ACS Penang Dec 1919
2. LMS KE VII S'pore June 1923-March 1930
3. MRCP .... Tan Tock Seng & UM S'pore 1950-51?

Some of his medical books have been donated to General Hospital Penang. However, these books could not be traced. His books were probably sent to the used books bookstalls in Chowrasta Market (on the second floor).

---

Author's notes:

Please help to identify the other people in his original photos below. Some of the photos were recaptured from his photo albums.

==== HIGH SCHOOL: ACS, Maxwell Road, Penang 1919 ====

Che Lah bin Md Joonos 1919 (16 years old).

ACS Scouts 1919, Penang. He is on the right.

ACS Scouts 1919. Che Lah is seated between 2 men with hats.

== GRADUATION FROM KING EDWARD VII ==
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 1930
(LMS KE VII March 1930)
Class of 1930

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos 1930

=== DISTRICT HOSPITAL KUALA LUMPUR 1930 onward ===

==== PORT DICKSON 1938 ====

Q-Camp, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan 2 Oct 1938

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos 1938-1942


= LEPER SETTLEMENT, SG BULOH 1943-45 =
(World War II / Japanese Occupation)

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos

http://repository.um.edu.my/93165/1/leprosy-2014-Jaya.pdf

===== Q CAMP, PORT DICKSON ======
NEGERI SEMBILAN, MALAYA

At the government residence at Port Dickson or 35 Maxwell house, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya.

12/03/2016, 3:40 a.m. From Sharif H/p: 

Gambar kereta Dato Penang kat rumah Maxwell Road ialah jenis Austin A135 Princess model 1950/51. Rolls Royce hanya sultan dan governor general boleh pakai masa dulu. Saiz & design Austin Princess tak jauh beza dgn RR. So Austin Princess ialah kereta tauke Cina KL dan orang kaya KL dulu. Jadi Dato Penang tergolong dalam group orang kaya zaman British. Abang ada ingat Mak ada beritahu nama kereta tu bukan Rolls Royce.

====== MALAYAN RAILWAY, KL ======

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos
Malayan Railway Health Officer
Health Department, Malayan Railway, Kuala Lumpur
1948-1949

Farewell to Malayan Railway 1948. 

Dr. M. J. Che Lah, (seated centre) Malayan Railway Health Officer pictured at the party given in his honour by the staff of the Health Department, Malayan Railway in Kuala Lumpur. Dr Che Lah is promoted to Deputy State Medical and Health Officer, Selangor. His successor is Dr. J. A. Leslie-Spinks (seated fourth from right). - Yong Peng Seong picture. Source: Singapore Standard, 1948. Doctor is guest of honour.

=== MRCP, Tan Tock Seng Hospital ===
under UM, Singapore 1949-1950
(He did not go to LSHTM, London to do his MRCP there.)

* UM Singapore Council & Court 1951 *

 

=== 35 MAXWELL ROAD, KL 1950-1952 ===

(Govt quarters in KL)

3 of 4 daughters and adopted son.

* LONG HOLIDAY FOR BRITISH OFFICERS 1950 *

(3 months holiday)

He visited UK, Holland and Switzerland 1950

Volendam, Holland ppc.

Dr Che Lah wrote home from Devon, UK 17 Oct 1950.

Visiting Luzern, Switzerland 1950

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos 1950

=== HOSPITAL KL 1952-53 ===

There are no work photos of Dr Che Lah at General Hospital KL.

===== REMARRIED 1953 =====

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos 1953

Married 2nd time 18 May 1953.

The local newspaper reported that she was a nurse from Johor. She worked at Bangsar Hospital, where her son Din was later born in 1955. Uncle Din said his mother was from KL and not Johor.

Dr Che Lah, Mariah and Tulip, holiday in Liverpool, England 1953.

Holiday in Continental Europe.

Dr Che Lah and Mariah, holiday in Continental Europe (Rome and Switzerland) August 1953.

==== MALACCA 1954-1955 =====

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos, CMHO Malacca 1954-1955.

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos with Lady Edith Templer at General Hospital Malacca c.1954-1955. Lady Templer also visited the Convent Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) school on 23 April 1954 in Malacca. My paternal aunt Mak Bedah who attended CHIJ, was photographed by my father in school uniform on 26 April 1954. 

Dr Che Lah's family in Malacca, c.April 1955. Baby Din was born in early Feb 1955.

=== PAHANG 1955-1958 (till retired) ====

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos retired on 30 June 1958.

Receiving the Meritorious Award from Sultan Pahang, Sultan Sir Abu Bakar of Pahang, on 30 June 1958.

After the award ceremony on 30 June 1958.

======= RETIRED 1958 ======

Dr Che Lah's retirement was published in the local newspapers. He retired from Government service on 30 June 1958 as Medical and Health Officer, Pahang (MHO Pahang). He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal during the birthday of Sultan Pahang, Sultan Sir Abu Bakar. Dr A. N. Ray succeeded him in Pahang. Dr Ray was the deputy principal Medical Officer, Johore (MO Johore).

=== POST-RETIREMENT ===

GLUGOR, PENANG

July 1958- January 1986

Dr Che Lah retired and returned to Penang, with his Chinese wife, son and Chinese maid. 

According to Aunty Aishah (anak angkat Tok Daud), Dr Che Lah first lived in a small single-storey bungalow as arranged by her step-father, Tok Daud, then Penghulu of Kg Sg Gelugor.

= SOLOK PEMANCAR, Penang - Early 1960s =

Dr Che Lah's eldest daughter, Tulip, and her children at 219 Bukit Glugor(now 219 Solok Pemancar) house, Penang, in early 1960s.

Tun Raja Uda bin Raja Muhammad, KBE, CMG was the first Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang. He was appointed on 31 August 1957 and served for 10 years. He passed away on 17 October 1976. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Uda 

Tun Raja Uda occupied this 219 Solok Pemancar house when he was the first Governor of Penang (1957-1967). He then sold the house to S.M. Aidid when he left Penang after completing his term as Governor. Dato Syed Mohamad Aidid is staying at this house now. - from Dr Zainul Azizan, 7 June 2015

219 Solok Pemancar, Glugor.

His second residence was at 219 Solok Pemancar, Jalan Solok Pemancar (circa 1959-65), off Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah. His house faced Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah. Photographed in 2011. Azmi Ismail had lived next door at 217 Solok Pemancar.

Same as above. Photographed on 4 March 2013.

=== POST-RETIREMENT WORK ====

Dr Che Lah retired from Pahang and returned to live in Penang after 30 June 1958. He continued to work after retirement. He often held dinner at his residence in Penang.

Dr Che Lah is second from left. 2nd right is Syed Kabeer bin Syed Ahmad Al Husaini (Penang). The 2 men at far left and right are unknown.

Dr Che Lah is at rightmost.

Dr Che Lah is in white suit and with songkok at right. His wife is seated.

====== HAJJ MISSIONS 1960s ======
(before Tabung Haji was formed)

Dr Che Lah was a Hajj Doctor and served on many Hajj trips (altogether 7 Hajj trips). He made a lot of recommendations after each Hajj trip and they were published in the local newspapers.

Dr Che Lah at extreme right, (maybe) meeting of the Hajj Medical Mission and State Control Committee for the Hajj of 1963.

= LENGKOK PEMANCHAR, Penang 1960-71 =

His third residence was at 355-A Lengkok Pemanchar (c.1969-c.1976). This was the former Brown residence at Glugor. His house faced the rambutan plantation on the hill slopes and the valley below (Brown Garden). His house was demolished circa 1976.

Dr Che Lah and family on the front deck at 355-A Lengkok Pemanchar, circa 1965.

Home address: 355-A Sungei Glugor, Penang.

I am in the front garden (second left) with aunt Kama and my 2 younger brothers, Amin (with stick) and Farid. 1967. The background is Brown Garden (valley and hills) and maybe part of Penang Hill.

I'm standing in the front garden of Dr Che Lah's big house compound. Dr Che Lah's bedroom is at left (its roof can be seen), 1967.

Dinner on the kitchen floor mat with my siblings and aunt Kama, 1967. We ate rice with our right hand and drank plain water. I am 3rd from left.


==== PRIVATE CLINIC ====

Dr Che Lah operated a private clinic in Glugor, Penang after retirement from Government service. His clinic was Glugor Klinik in Glugor on Jalan Glugor (now Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah). His clinic was rented out to Dr Teh, a dentist. The clinic still operates today as Glugor Klinik. The clinic is nearest the post-office in Glugor and close to Minah Restaurant.

GLUGOR KLINIK 2009

I am standing with my mother, uncle and siblings, waiting for an Indian procession along Jalan Glugor, a bit farther up from Glugor Klinik. The village in the background is Brown Garden (I think so). I am behind Kama's hand pointing left in this photo. I'm looking back at my mother. 1967.

==== MINDEN HEIGHTS, Penang 1971-1986 (till deceased) =====

Dr Che Lah's fourth and last residence was at 460-H, Minden Heights, Jalan 7. It was built in the 'poor man's row' circa 1970-71. The house was demolished.

The area was formerly part of Dato Jenaton's land and was a Malay village, with many Malay kampung houses. Minden Heights residential area was reorganized by Dr M. J. Che Lah and was developed by Guan Joo Seng. The front houses were for Malays and those at rear were for Chinese and Indians. The remainder were for bungalows. - from Kamaruddin Che Lah (24 May 2016)

== TUN DATUK DR HAJI AWANG HASSAN ==
5th GOVERNOR OF PENANG
1 May 1981-30 April 1989

Tun Datuk Dr Haji Awang bin Hassan was the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang ke-5 (5th Governor of Penang) from 1 May 1981-30 April 1989.
https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awang_Hassan

Dr Che Lah had received a DJN award from Tun Datuk Dr Awang. These are the photos of that event. The printed date was November 1981. These photos could have been during the first 7 months (May 1981-November 1981) of Tun Datuk Dr Haji Awang being Governor.

DJN : Darjah Johan Negeri

[24/03, 7:43 pm] Kamaruddin Che Lah: Tun conferred dad DJN commonly known as 3rd class Dato

[24/03, 9:33 pm] Kamaruddin Che Lah: DJN is Darjah Johan Negeri. Recipient cannot be called Dato. Thus, often known as 3rd class Dato

Dr Che Lah (left) and Tun Dr Awang (right).

Dr Che Lah's wife Mariah accompanied him to the DJN award ceremony in Penang, 1981.

=== MINDEN HOUSE ===
21 April 2017

His house was for sale in 2017 (Photo 21 April 2017). The road in the foreground is Jalan 1, Cangkat Minden.

'For sale' sign on his fence, 21 April 2017.

=== GARDEN SWING ===
1958-2017

Dr Che Lah had a swing in his garden before I was born. The metal swing was painted silver, white or baby blue. As kids, my siblings and I used to sit on the swing. 

He often spend time on the swing to talk to visitors. Tea was also served in the garden by the swing. The vine behind him is a Stephanotis, with fragrant tiny white flowers (often laid on wedding tables).

This was where I last sat in the garden to discuss things with my grandfather in 1985. He sat on the left and I sat on the right. We had fried bananas on a small metal table in front of the swing.

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos in his garden at 460-H, Jalan 7, Cangkat Minden, Penang (his last residence). 

My children (his grandchildren) playing in his garden in 2010. Mira is seated on the same swing as in the above photo. Nuraishah is holding back Farah. My mother's house is behind the swing.


==== FLOWERS: ROSES & ORCHIDS ====
1960s-2017

Dr Che Lah and wife Mariah grew a lot of beautiful orchids. Here are some photos of their orchid collection in 2010. Many orchid plants were still flowering, even after years they have passed away. His wife occasionally sprayed a smelly malathion solution to kill bugs on the orchids. 

==== DEMISE 1986 ====

23 January 1986

Dr Che Lah's grave (pusara) lies at Tanah Perkuburan Masjid Jamek Glugor, Penang. His grave is under a frangipani tree (pokok kemboja) close to the big old grave enclosure in front courtyard and near the main road.

Dr Che Lah's headstone at the Muslim graveyard, Masjid Jamek Glugor, Penang.

Ceremony after 40 days of his demise, 6 March 1986.

This note was written in my father's 1986 diary:

Tahlil '40' hari arwah Dr. Hj. Che Lah
"Penyelia"
10 orang
Khamis, 6 Mac 1986
25 Jamadilakhir 1406 Hijrah

==== ANCESTORS 1800s ====

Dr Che Lah would bring his family every Hari Raya Aidilfitri to visit his ancestors' graves at the Perak Road cemetery. They would leave the house very early while it was still dark. 

The old graves had wooden tombstones (nisan kayu) but the inscriptions are now gone. So we don't know whose graves they are anymore. 

Please let me know if you know the exact or approximate spot of the graves. Describe or use the grid below. Some say the graves are close to that of Makam Datuk Keramat, his forefather.

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Philip @ Mohd Noor

Some people asked me about Philip in my Facebook. Here's my long answer. I'm not Philip's sister. Philip was my step-uncle.

Who was Philip?

Some of you may still remember Philip @ Mohd Noor, the adopted Singaporean son of Dr Che Lah. We called him Philip but he always loved being called Mohd Noor.

According to my mother, he was adopted as a baby from an orphanage in Singapore just before the war (WWII) (we don't know which orphanage).

According to my late mother, Philip's mother was Chinese and father a Dane. At the time, Dr Che Lah was doing his posting at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore. His two elder daughters (Tulip and Esther) went to school in Singapore.

Dr Che Lah's children visiting his eldest sister Mak Besar Bee in Penang, circa 1952. The location is Kg Sg Glugor, a Malay village in front of Minden Heights residential area. Philip is at left most wearing a white cap. Dr Che Lah is up on the verandah. The 2 girls are Mak Besar Bee's daughters, Wan Tam and Wan Chik (Khala Wan Chik).

Philip kneeling on the grass at their home at 35 Maxwell Road, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. This Maxwell Road home had an expansive garden (a vast garden). Maxwell Road was named after Sir George E. Maxwell. Tulip is standing at right most.

Tulip with her arms around Philip (she loved him dearly, dunia akhirat). The rest are her siblings and Mak Besar Bee's daughters.

Philip climbed high above his sisters, circa 1952. The sisters are (from left) Daisy, Esther, Tulip and June. I think this was inside a train or ship cabin.

Dr Che Lah's family in Pahang circa 1955. Standing in the doorway are (from left) Matron Maria, Philip, and June. The lady in white uniform is Matron Mariah @ Chong Nyet Lin of Bangsar/Bangsar Hospital, Dr Che Lah's second wife. Their son is Kamaruddin (baby at right) carried by Esther. His youngest daughter Daisy Yvette is seated with a child on her lap. Tulip is seated next to another child. The 2 children are unknown. We don't know who they are.

I knew Philip when I was a child and later as a teenager. He was my Uncle Philip. We nicknamed him "Elvis Presley" as he played the guitar just like Elvis did. We all loved him very much. He was quite a jovial person and very charming too.

With my family watching out for an Indian procession in Glugor Road, Penang, circa 1960s. I'm the little girl at left (behind the pointing hand). Philip is at right most, holding my sister's hand (Rabi'ah). The other people in the photo were probably Glugor villagers in the vicinity. From left: An Indian man with hands behind his back, an Indian lady with cloth covering her tummy, a Malay lady with a scarf hanging down her neck, myself facing my mother, Kamariah (Dr Che Lah's adopted daughter), my mother holding my youngest brother's (Amin) hands, another brother (Farid), my eldest sister Sharifah, and my younger sister Rabiah - holding Philip's right hand. Glugor Road is now renamed to Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah. It was named after Sultan Azlan Shah when he was the Agong (king).

As I recall Philip got married to Harissah, a former beauty queen of Terengganu. He got married in Terengganu some time in the early 1970s. We all went to Terengganu for Philip's wedding. I remember I helped him put on his baju Melayu and kain sampin as he didn't know how to put them on properly. I also tied the flower out of his kain sampin and also put on his songkok for him and tilted it a bit. I remember I said to him that he was going to get married and it was serious matter (tak boleh main-main, of course he laughed). We dressed up Philip in a wooden house but I have no recall of the address of that Malay village. We also prepared the hantaran and checked that everything was in order. Philip was very excited, he was on cloud nine! We all hugged him and led him to the akad nikah venue in a nearby house. The house was packed with villagers who came to know of Philip's wedding. I was scared that the wooden house would fall apart under so much weight!

According to my late mother, Philip was visiting his step-father (Dr Che Lah) in Penang when he complained of a slight headache that was intractable (didn't seem to go away). They had him examined at the General Hospital Penang and found a tumour in his brain. Philip underwent brain tumour surgery at GH Penang and was cared for by Dr Che Lah's nephew, Jalaluddin bin Ali Baba (Jalal), and a close friend - Hashim's father. Unfortunately, he died of post-op complications. Dr Che Lah, Tulip, Uncle Din (Kamaruddin bin Dr Che Lah) and everyone else was shattered by Philip's  sudden death. I was too.

Years after Philip died, I visited GH Penang and met a few people who remembered Philip. Mr Tan Hock Chuan said Uncle Philip underwent surgery at GH Penang and was looked after by Encik Hashim's father and a relative named Jalal.

We made kenduri arwah after the customary 40 days and that was held in Sentul, in my Uncle Pak Saleh's house. All of Dr Che Lah's families were present and that was the first time too that I met my maternal aunts (Esther and June; I think Daisy was already in Perth) and grandmother (Daisy Catherine). I don't have any photos of that moment (haven't found any so far). I only have vivid memories of whom I met and my conversation with my grandmother. Uncle Pak Saleh and his relatives prepared our meals for the occasion. We parted close to maghrib and my parents sent my grandmother to hospital (I can't recall which one). That was the last time I saw my own grandmother. Then I went overseas.

Philip divorced Harissah and they had no children. Both remarried to others. He remarried another Malay lady and lived in Shah Alam. They had no issue too. His second widow later remarried and had children. Philip did not have any issue from any of his wives.

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June Che Lah

Jamaliah June Che Lah  (born 29 June 1934-died 12 May 1990) is the third daughter of Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos, an early Malay doctor. June married to Devdass Kingsley Nathaniel on 8 February 1958. They had 5 children - Stephanie Druscilla Nathaniel, Gerald Kingsley Nathaniel, Rex Allan Nathaniel, Vanessa Gloria Nathaniel and Amanda Zoe Nathaniel. They lived in Ipoh before moving to Kuala Lumpur. June and Rex are deceased.

1. Stephanie
2. Gerald
3. Rex Allan Nathaniel married Susann Lee. They have 2 children - Claris Nathaniel and Kevin Nathaniel. Rex is deceased.
4. Vanessa Gloria Nathaniel married Peter Yang. They have 3 children - Ian Timothy Yang, Melody Grace Yang, and Tabita Hope Yang. Vanessa remarried.
5. Amanda Zoe.

I met June circa 1975 but for a brief while when she walked past me at kenduri arwah held in Sentul for a step-uncle Philip @ Mohd Noor who died of complications following a brain tumour surgery performed at GH Penang. I have not seen the death certificate of this uncle, and therefore I cannot point to the date (40 days after death) or date of this chance meeting with June.

In dating these photos below, I have used events that occurred from the many accounts of many family members. A misleading piece of information was the exact date of Dr Che Lah's birth. Nobody knows for sure what the correct date of birth (DOB) for Dr Che Lah is. There are presently 2 dates, 10 December 1903 and 10 December 1904. In his application papers, Dr Che Lah wrote 1903 as his birth year. However, for his birthdays and headstone, the families used 1904. I have mentioned these conflicting dates in his biography. I will mention the correct birth date once I get permission from JPN (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara) to check its database records. I have not returned to JPN with the evidence it needed.

June (18) in KL in 1952 at her eldest's sister's send-off to Kirkby. Photo from Tulip's album.

June (23) in 1957 before marriage. Photo was contributed by Sharifah.

June (44) on 10 December 1978 at her father's 74th birthday party in Penang. Dr Che Lah's album.

June in saree in 1980s at her daughter's graduation. Photo from Amanda's Facebook.

-----

Singapore Standard, 16 February 1958, page 11

MALAYAN BRIDES [ARTICLE + ILLUSTRATION]

MALAYAN BRIDES (LEFT) LIEUT. D. K. NATHANIEL of the Federation Armoured Cor Regiment and his bride, the former Miss June Che Lah, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Che Lah of Kuala Lumpur who were married at St. Mary's Church, Kuala Lumpur, last week. Photo shows the couple leaving the Church.

June's (24) marriage to Devdass Kingsley Nathaniel, 1958. Photo was contributed by Amanda.

June's children with their father. Photo from Amanda's Facebook.

June and her children. Photo from Amanda's Facebook.

Dr Che Lah's 74th birthday in Penang, 10 December 1978. From left: Daisy Yvette (Perth), Dr Che Lah (cutting cake), Aminah (little girl, Tulip's youngest daughter), June (behind little girl), 2 of June's daughters, and Mariah (Dr Che Lah's second wife).

June (2L) with her mother Catherine Daisy de Coursey Bulner (3L), youngest maternal uncle Humphrey Edward Bulner (4L) and 4 of her 5 children. Her husband is on Humphrey's left. Photo from Amanda's Facebook.

June with husband and 2 daughters. Photo from Amanda's Facebook.

June and her youngest maternal uncle Humphrey Edward Bulner (UK).
Humphrey is the youngest of Catherine's 6 or 7 siblings. Photo from Amanda's Facebook.

June's grave (29 June 1934-12 May 1990).
Photo from Amanda's Facebook.

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Tulip Che Lah (2) Demise

TULIP CHE LAH (4 Nov 1931-5 June 2004)

She is my mother. I am her daughter. She was the eldest of 4 sisters. She was a schoolteacher at many places before she retired at age 55 in Penang. She wanted to be a doctor but WW2 shattered her dreams. She became a teacher instead after completing 2 years teacher training at the Malayan Trainee Teachers' College at Kirkby, near Liverpool (1952-1954). She returned to Malaya and taught English, Civics, Geography and sometimes Physical Education. She was a grade 8 pianist and a good piano teacher. She played mostly waltzes and rags, mostly Strauss and Chopin. She spoke English, Malay, sang in Tamil, and comprehended Spanish, German, Japanese, and Chinese. She was a good cook and used Betty Crocker cookbooks from the UK. She knitted and did crochet from Japanese books. She married to Abdul Rashid bin Mohd Yusope (my father), previously a simultaneous interpreter in the Malaysian Parliament for the first Malaysian Cabinet, then a teacher and later a college lecturer in the Malay Language, Mathematics and Physics. They have 7 children. She suffered a heart attack and passed away in the afternoon, aged 72. She is interred at the Muslim cemetery in Bandar Baru Selayang, outside Kuala Lumpur.

---------oooo0000oooo---------

Tulip at 72. Visiting Singapore

These words were found in Tulip's diary of 1967: "To do good is not only our greatest duty, but should be our greatest interest." I have used this as the text description for this blog, and also as the last slide for my professorial talk in 2010.

---------oooo0000oooo---------

DOA UNTUK IBUBAPA

Allahummaghfirli waliwalidayya warhamhumah kamarabbayani saghirah

Allahhummaghfirli dzunubi waliwalidayya, warhamhumma kama robbayani soghiro 

Makna doa: 

Ya Allah, ampunilah dosa-dosaku serta kedua ibu bapaku dan kasihanilah mereka keduanya sebagaimana mereka memelihara dan mendidikku di masa kecil.

Allahummaghfirlaha warhamhuma wa'afiha waghfu'anha  bima rahmanir rahimin

Taken from: http://ladanguluyam.blogspot.com/2010/09/doa-untuk-kedua-ibubapa.html

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Haji Shamsuddin bin Mohd Joonos bin Raboo

Comments are copied from http://theearlymalaydoctors.blogspot.com/2011/03/penang-general-hospital-penang-gh.html

We have these questions:

1. Is Dr Che Lah bin Mohd Joonos related to Shamsuddin bin Mohd Joonos?
2. Is Dr Che Lah bin Mohd Joonos related to Dr Abdul Ghani bin Mohammad?
3. Who was Mohd Joonoos bin Mas Raboo?
4. Who was Mas Raboo?
5. How did Mas Raboo arrive in Malaya?

Many wrote to ask for the identity of Shamsuddin bin Mohd Joonos. Many asked whether Dr Che Lah bin Mohd Joonos was related to Shamsuddin bin Mohd Joonos.

Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos was an early Malay doctor (1903-1986). He was my maternal grandfather. I don't have evidence that they were blood relatives or related by marriage of their relatives.

Shamsuddin is not in Dr Che Lah's family tree. However, Shamsuddin is in another family tree belonging to Iszham Idris, whose mother is related to Dr Abdul Ghani bin Mohammad, an early Malay doctor.

Dr Abdul Ghani bin Mohammad and Dr Che Lah bin Mohd Joonos graduated together from the King Edward VII (KE VII) College of Medicine in Singapore in March 1930. They also worked in Kuala Lumpur and Dr Abdul Ghani replaced Dr Che Lah in Klang when Dr Che Lah moved to Kuala Lumpur. They seem to be close friends but I still can't see how they are related.

Dr Abdul Ghani's daughter (Fadzilah) knows Dr Che Lah but has not mentioned that they are related.

I checked Mas Raboo's family tree. Shamsuddin's namestring is Shamsuddin bin Md Joonos bin Mas Raboo. This Mas Raboo was an Indonesian Malay man-a Javanese sultan, ie a royalty.  He fled to India/Ceylon and came to Malaya/Penang in the 1850s. He is connected to the Brunei throne. Md Joonos bin Mas Raboo bought a large piece of land in Penang in the 1880s.

Dr Che Lah had an uncle named Shamsuddin but his name string is Shamsuddin bin Md Joonos bin Shaik Ahmad. This is a Hyderabad, Punjab (Punjabi) Muslim lineage. This particular Shamsuddin was a Mamak/Mamu and passed away (young?). There is no historical note him. Shaik Ahmad came to Malaya with the British Army/British East India Company (BEIC). His date of arrival is unknown, but could be circa 1879 when the BEIC first landed in Penang.


Mas Raboo
From Haniff:
Mas Raboo was said to come from Java and fled to India (Karachi) because of the war with the Dutch. He later came to Malaya maybe around 1850s, I am not sure.

From Nazz:
Mas Raboo was a sultan in Java and fled to Ceylon during the Dutch Occupation. Then migrated to Penang.

M. Joonoos bin Mas Raboo
From Haniff:
M. Joonoos bin Mas Raboo bought a land in Penang around 1880s.

From Nazz:
M. Joonoos married Hajjah Wan Chik and had 4 sons: Che Mat , Shamsuddin, Che Kasim and Mat Sutan. M. Joonoos was also married to another lady and Che Lah might be his son.

From me: This cannot be as their surnames are different. There are 2 men named Md Joonos who can be easily confused.

1. Md Joonos bin Shaik Ahmad (Punjabi)
2. Md Joonos bin Raboo/Mas Raboo (Javanese)

Joonoos
From Sellene:
Another point regarding Joonoos is that the spelling brings to mind the Ceylonese Malay link. It seems to be a favourite way to spell Yunus among the Ceylonese Malays.

Shaik Ahmad
From Kamaruddin bin Capt. Mohamed Noor:
Dr Che Lah's grandfather (Shaik Ahmad) was from Hyderabad, from the Darjeeling area of the Deccan plateau. He came to Malaya with the British Army.

Dr Che Lah bin Mohd Joonos
From Sellene:
Looking at Dr Che Lah's features, I might say that there is a possibility of some Ceylon link but as he is your grandfather, you are in a better position to clarify.

From Assoc. Prof. Dr KNS Sirajudeen:
He thinks that Dr Che Lah looks like a typical southern Indian, probably a Tamil Muslim.

From me:

Dr Che Lah's grandparents:

Grandfather: Shaik Ahmad

Grandmother: Hajar

Children (Dr Che Lah's father, uncles and aunts):

1.      Hamidah Bee bt Shaik Ahmad

2.      (“Tok Jan”) Jan Bee bt Shaik Ahmad

3.      Mohd Joonos bin Shaik Ahmad

4.      Mohd. Ali bin Shaik Ahmad

5.      (“Tok Mariam”) Mariam bt Shaik Ahmad

6.      Captain Mohd. Noor bin Shaik Ahmad

Dr Che Lah's parents:

Father: Mohd Joonos bin Shaik Ahmad (a clerk)

Mother: Juma Bee bt Kassim

Children (Dr Che Lah's siblings): 5

1.      Mak Besar Bee bt. Mohd Joonos

2.      Dr Che Lah bin Mohd Joonos

3.      Ali Baba bin Mohd Joonos

4.      Osman bin Mohd Joonos

5.      Mohamad bin Mohd Joonos

Captain Mohamed Noor bin Shaik Ahmad (1890-  __)
Captain Mohamed Noor bin Shaik Ahmad was Dr Che Lah’s youngest uncle. Captain Mohamed Noor bin Shaik Ahmad married three times, each time when his wife died, first to Wan Teh, then Che Wan and finally Mariam (Che Wan’s younger sister). Captain Mohamed Noor had six, five and eight children from his first, second and third wife, respectively. Altogether, Captain Mohamed Noor had 19 children. 

His 8 children from his third wife:

1. Zainal Abidin (m. 1. Khatijah - 5 kids, 2. Naimah - 1 son, 3. Nor Azma - 4 kids, 4. Nor Mala - 2 kids, 5. Suzana - 3 kids)
2. Juma Bee (m. Jamal@Roger Heady - 2 kids, Canberra, Australia)
3. Kamarudin (m. Fatimah Mohd Siraj - 6 kids, Petaling Jaya)
4. Samsudin (deceased)
5. Sharom Bee (deceased)
6. Kalthom Bee (Lily) (m. Abdul Jabbar - 5 kids)
7. Amirudin (m. 1. Aminah - 4 kids, 2. Maizun - 5 kids, 3. Rose - 3 kids)
8. Tajudin (m. Asnah - 6 kids)

Kamarudin bin Capt Md Noor bin Shaik Ahmad
Kamarudin's mother is Mariam Bee, third wife of Capt Md Noor. Kamarudin had 8 siblings from the same parents. Kamarudin bin Md Noor had worked in the Income Tax office in Kota Bharu, Kelantan in the 1960s and retired as Deputy Director-General from the Income Tax office at Kampong Attap in Kuala Lumpur. Kamarudin bin Md Noor is married to Fatimah bt Mohd Siraj (also from Penang) and they have three married daughters and three grandchildren. Kamarudin bin Md Noor is Dr Che Lah's cousin and he knew Dr Haji Abdul Ghani.

Samsudin bin Capt Md Noor bin Shaik Ahmad
Samsudin's mother is Mariam Bee, third wife of Capt Md Noor. Samsudin had 8 siblings from the same parents. Samsudin died without issue (based on the family tree). He was Dr Che Lah's cousin.

Dr Abdul Ghani bin Mohammad
He is interred at Tanah Perkuburan Islam in Bayan Lepas, quite far away from where Dr Che Lah is buried. The graveyard is near his village. The airport in Bayan Lepas is approx. 10 min by bus from Kampung Sungai Gelugor.

Old postal box in Kelantan which was used when I went to primary school in 1969-1970. The wordings are not clear, but my guess is it says "POST OFFICE" on top and the bottom piece says "McGOWALL-SWEWEILA CO LTD, LONDON & FALKIRK." Photo taken in 2010.

Shamsuddin bin Mohd Joonos bin Mas Raboo

From Sellene:

Shamsuddin Joonoos was formerly president of the Malay Association in the 30s and used to work in the postal department. He was more commonly known as Hj S.M. Joonoos. Mohamad Joonoos may as well be his father.

From Haniff:

Shamsuddin Md Joonoos is my great grand father, he has a brother, che kasim m. joonoos, who was with the kedah civil service in 1930s (Director of Land). M. Joonoos bin Mas Raboo [...]. Shamsuddin was ill during his death and likes to write malay dictionaries in Jawi.

From Nazz

Hi Haniff, if Hj Shamsuddin M.Joonoos is your great grandad, we are related then. He's my grandfather. I'm son of Elias Shamsuddin.

From Nazz:

Hj Shamsuddin was the secretary of post (highest position a Malay can hold during British reign) and also a religious leader and friend to Ahmad Badawi (Tun Abdullah's father).

From Nazz:

Look me up on Facebook. Nazri Elias. My father just passed away and i was just googling the family name and found this.

From Iszham Idris:

Haniff is not in his family tree.

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Favourite Fruits of the Families

Fruits are an important part of the diet of our families. The families liked certain fruits more than the others. Papaya topped the list in all our families. Others are durian, rambutan, mata kucing, mangosteen. I'm different and I like bananas most, then nona, mangoes, pineapples and watermelons. I take pomegranate too, especially the big and sweet ones. I also eat fresh persimmon when they are available. I take sweet Washington apples, fragrant rose apples, Sunkist oranges and Australian grapes when I can get them from the shops.

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The Roman Bath House

My parents and I visited the Roman bath house in Bath, England. I can't remember much of it but it should be on the Internet. All I can remember are the big rocks that shaped the large rectangular open-air swimming pool with corridor all around it. There were some chambers for the Roman higher officers and other smaller bath chambers. The Romans had used metal sheets embedded at the bottom of the swimming pool to control water temperature. The water appeared greenish and it was steaming (hot) and it was autumn.

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Cucu Dr Che Lah

I have heard people addressed me as Cucu Dr Che Lah. Some have addressed me as Tulip's daughter. But I think I look more like my father than anyone else, but nobody has addressed me as Rashid's daughter. I wonder why. It makes me smile sometimes. I don't look like my maternal grandmother at all. I have my grandfather's smile and I have my father's eyes.

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Our Toes and Feet

So far, all I have seen are Greek toes formation in our families. Datuk Dr Che Lah, my Mak and myself have Greek toes formation. Datuk had large feet; Mak and I have small feet (size 5).

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