Remembering the Late Menteri Ahmad Ibrahim

          

"A Firefighter from the former British Naval Base became a full Cabinet Minister in 1959"


“Minister Ahmad Ibrahim Dies, 35,” – The Straits Times breaking news that broke the hearts of thousands of Singaporeans.

INCHE AHMAD IBRAHIM, (b. 17 May 1927 – d. 21 August 1962) Minister for Labour, passed away in the Singapore General Hospital on Aug 21, 1962. He was 35 and had been in poor health since 1958.  

According to the article, ‘Inche Ahmad underwent a liver operation in 1958 and in 1961 he was flown to London for another operation.

Two months, after attending the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva, he returned to London for a check- up. He came back more than a month ago and was admitted to the Singapore General Hospital.

On Sunday morning his condition deteriorated and relatives began a round the clock vigil at his bedside.

Just before 3pm he solemnly shook hands with his wife, his father Inche Yatim 72 and Inche Yahya Ibrahim, his younger brother. To which he said ‘Maaf’. Then he clasped his hands over his breast. He died peacefully 15 minutes.

The Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew called at the hospital to offer his condolences as soon as he heard of Inche Ahmad’s death.

                Inche Ahmad Ibrahim seated 3rd from left.              
Picture courtesy and copyright of Dr Mukthiar Singh

Life and career

Born in Penang, Inche Ahmad was educated at the Penang Free School. In 1955, he stood as an independent candidate in Singapore’s Legislative Assembly general election. He won the election and became the assemblyman for Sembawang.

A former first branch secretary of the All-Singapore Fire Brigade Employees’ Union and vice-chairman of the Naval Base Labour Union, Inche Ahmad was co-opted into the PAP Central Executive Committee in 1956. Under the PAP banner in the 1959 general election, he was re-elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly. When the PAP government formed its first cabinet that year, Inche Ahmad served in the first cabinet as the minister for health, and was also appointed as the Assistant Secretary-general of the PAP’s Central Executive Committee. During a September 1961 cabinet reshuffle, Inche Ahmad was appointed the Minister for Labour.

He was accorded a state funeral, attended by Singapore’s Head of State Inche Yusof Ishak, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, other cabinet ministers, and thousands of people who paid respects at his home and the lying-in-state ceremony in the main hall of the Istana. As a mark of respect, all government offices closed at noon that day.

In memory of Ahmad, a road in Jurong (Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim), two schools (Ahmad Ibrahim Primary and Secondary schools), as well as a mosque in Yishun (Masjid Ahmad Ibrahim), have been named after him.

First Doctor Met First Minister From Naval Base

In his Blog2Block post Dr Muthiar Singh recalled, ‘When Singapore held its’ FIRST General Elections on 30 May 1959, the PAP romped- in with resounding success, winning 43 of the 51 seats. In Sembawang there was a move to form a Loyalty Committee to celebrate, the landslide victory. Each organization was asked to send a representative and I represented Seletar Football Club.

On the actual day of celebrations, the newly- appointed Minister of Health, and Member of Parliament for Sembawang Mr Ahmad Ibrahim officiated at the function. He is seen in picture sitting third from left’.

I had come from my University College of residence, at College Road, General Hospital, and after a meal with him, he kindly offered to send me ‘home’ in his minister's car from Chong Pang. He was staying in the city then and I was very touched by his kind gesture.

Compiled by:  Alfred Dass

References/ Source

1. Jackie Sam, “Minister Ahmad Ibrahim Dies, 35,” Straits Times,
22 August 1962. (from NewspaperSG);

2. Singapore Infopedia Ahmad bin Ibrahim by _People: Cornelius, Vernon

3. Picture courtesy and copyright of Dr Mukthiar Singh