Othman Saat

Tan Sri Dato' Haji Othman bin Haji Mohamed Saat (4 April 1927 – 27 October 2007)[1] was a Malaysian politician from the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), and later, Spirit of 46 Malay Party (S46), who served as the 11th Menteri Besar of Johor in Malaysia.[2]

For other uses, see Saat.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Mohamed Saat is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Othman.
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato' Haji

Othman Mohamed Saat

PMN SJMK
حاج عثمان بن حاج محمد ساعت
11th Menteri Besar of Johor
In office
4 February 1967 – 4 April 1982
MonarchIsmail (1967–1981)
Iskandar (1981–1982)
Preceded byHassan Yunus
Succeeded byAbdul Ajib Ahmad
ConstituencyJorak (1967–1974)
Kesang (1974–1982)
Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly
for Kesang
In office
1974–1982
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded bySabariah Ahmad
Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly
for Jorak
In office
1959–1974
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byAbdul Rahman Mahmud
Personal details
Born
Othman bin Mohamed Saat

(1927-04-04)4 April 1927
Muar, Muar District, Johor, Malaysia
DiedOctober 27, 2007(2007-10-27) (aged 80)
Sultan Ismail Hospital, Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru District, Johor, Malaysia
Cause of deathSepticemia
Resting placeMahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum, Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru District, Johor, Malaysia
CitizenshipMalaysian
Nationality Malaysia
Political partyUnited Malays National Organization (UMNO) (1946–1985)
Spirit of 46 Malay Party (S46) (1987–1996)
Other political
affiliations		Alliance (1957–1973)
Barisan Nasional (BN) (1973–1985)
Gagasan Rakyat (GR) (1990-1996)
Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU) (1990–1991)
Spouse(s)
  • Rokiah Alwee
    ​
    (died 1990)​
  • Kamariah Bujang
  • Aminah Hussein
    ​
    (divorced)​
OccupationPolitician

Political career

Othman's political career began with the Malay nationalist movement in the 1940s.[2] He joined the UMNO party after it was founded in Batu Pahat by Onn Jaafar in 1946. Othman became a committee member of UMNO in 1952.[2] He enrolled on the day of UMNO's establishment - May 11, 1946.[2]

In 1955, Othman contested in the 1955 Malayan general election, winning the Jorak state constituency uncontested. He became an executive council member (EXCO) of the Johor State Executive Council in 1958.[2]

In 1964, Othman was appointed EXCO member in charge of the Local Government and Housing portfolio and initiated low-cost housing schemes for the poor and opened the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and FELCRA Berhad land schemes in Johor during the tenure of prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein in the 1970s.[2][3]

Menteri Besar of Johor

On April 4, 1967, at the age of 43, Othman was appointed the 11th Chief Minister of Johor. He held this position for three terms until 1982. His fate changed when Dr. Mahathir Mohamad became prime minister with Musa Hitam as his deputy.[2] Musa Hitam was said to have used all means from UMNO headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to weaken Othman's influence. This is the starting point of the fall of his political career.

Journalist Chamil Wariya, in his book 'Crisis of the Sultan - the Chief Minister, what really happened', describes the crisis between Othman and the Sultan of Johor. The then-Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Musa Hitam, reprimanded Othman for allegedly giving timber and land areas based on political considerations. Othman was ordered to stop the practice. He is seen as the Chief Minister for a long time and should provide access to young people.

Tunku Mahmood Iskandar, who had just been re-appointed as the Crown Prince of Johor, urged Othman to immediately resign for questioning the legitimacy of the crown prince.[4] Several demonstrations were reportedly planned to be held in several places including Kota Tinggi.[5] The ailing Sultan Sir Ismail Al Khalidi fell into a coma on May 8, three days before his death.[6] The newly installed Sultan Mahmood Iskandar issued a decree for Othman to vacate his office within 24 hours, shortly after Sultan Ismail's death.[7] But Othman ignored that directive but eventually resigned after the intervention of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

In 1982, Othman resigned as Chief Minister after 16 years of service.[8]

In 1985, Othman was defeated by Muhyiddin Muhammad Yassin for the post of Pagoh division chief of UMNO. He had served in that position for 14 years.

A few years later, in 1987, he joined the newly formed Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah-helmed political party S46 to challenge UMNO in the 1990 Malaysian general election.[2] However, the party did not succeed and was later dissolved.

Personal life

Othman was born in Kampung Tengah (Tengah Village), Muar, Johor to a wealthy rice trader.

Othman has nine children from three marriages, 32 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. His first wife, Rokiah Alwi, passed away in 1990.[9] His third marriage with Aminah Hussein ended in divorce.[9] Othman's second wife Kamariah Buyung and eldest son Zulkifli Othman were with him when he passed.[9]

A luxury car enthusiast, Othman's collection at one time included 50 different cars, with brands including Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar.[2] Later, he maintained he only has one Mercedes-Benz S400 with his favourite plate number, JDN 7.[2]

Honours

Death

Othman experienced light strokes in 2001 and 2002. He had his right leg amputated from the knee downwards due to a gangrene on October 2, 2007 at Sultan Ismail Hospital and gradually recovered.[13] Othman also experienced spinal pain after lying in bed for too long.

On October 27, 2007, Othman died at the age of 80 at the Sultan Ismail Hospital in Pandan-Tebrau, Johor Bahru due to a germ infection leading to septicemia at 7.00 am. Prayers were offered at the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque with the crown prince of Johor, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail ibni Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, present. Othman was subsequently buried in Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum.[3]

A village in Johor has been named 'Othman Saat Village' to commemorate his service.

References
  1. "Allahyarham Othman Saat anak Johor yang hebat – Abdullah". Utusan Malaysia. Retrieved 28 October 2007.
  2. "Perginya Bapa Pembangunan Luar Bandar Johor" (PDF). Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Perdana Leadership Foundation. 28 October 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. "Former Johor MB Osman Saat dies at 84". The Star (Malaysia). 27 October 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. Kershaw (2001), pg 103
  5. 'The 1983 Malaysian constitutional crisis: two views and select ...', Simon Barraclough, P. Arudsothy
  6. Who's who in Malaysia (1982), pg 463
  7. Southeast Asian Affairs (1982), pg 251
  8. Constitutional Heads and Political Crises: Commonwealth Episodes, 1945–85 (1988), Low, pg 185
  9. "Former Johor MB Othman dies at 84". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 27 October 2007.
  10. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1975" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  11. "Sultan Titah Serah Pingat" (PDF). Berita Harian (in Malay). Perdana Leadership Foundation. 4 May 1982. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  12. "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 1989 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  13. Vijayan, Meera (1 October 2007). "Former MB Othman Saat in critical condition". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 15 April 2020.
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