I received many queries as to why I make an extra effort to highlight the wrong photos of Ahmad Ibrahim being featured in the book "The Last Kampung Mosque in Singapore"?
I can understand their feelings as Ahmad Ibrahim is a stranger to them.
My reason is simple. Ahmad Ibrahim is my uncle and I simply cannot ignore if other people is claiming as my uncle.
Mr Ahmad Ibrahim, former Minister for Health and Labour
Mr Ahmad Ibrahim, former Minister for Health and Labour. Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, Masjid Ahmad Ibrahim, Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School, Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School were named after him
About Me
- Kamal Abu Serah - seeking justice
- When I first look at the photos of Ahmad Ibrahim (ex-Minister) on page 54 of the book "The Last Kampung Mosque in Singapore - The Extraordinary Story and Legacy of Sembawang", I knew it was wrong. I wrote to the book writer to inform her of the mistake. The book writer, Dr Hadijah claimed that the photos are correct based on the verification from people like Hj Suppien and Kassim Selamat. I 'closed' the case and don't want to pursue the matter. Then, Ahmad Ibrahim's eldest son, Mr Mudzlan Bin Ahmad came and visited me. I showed him the photos and Mr Mudzlan claimed that the photos are NOT of his father. When I write again to Dr Hadijah, she insist the photos are correct. Since the book writer nor the book publisher don't want to acknowledge the mistake, I specially created this blog for the purpose of informing the public of the mistake found in the book "The Last Kampung Mosque in Singapore - The Extraordinary Story and Legacy of Sembawang".
The Book with mistaken identity of Ahmad Ibrahim
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Letter from Dr Mohd Maliki Osman
Today, 20th Sept 2008, I received a lengthy letter from Dr Mohd Maliki Osman, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Development, Member of Parliament of Sembawang GRC (Admiralty) and Chairman of Preserving Committee of Sembawang Mosque.
Dr Maliki, thank you for your letter. I really appreciate it.
From the content of the letter, I understand that the book editor, Dr Hadijah and her Research Team did some investigations after I claimed the photos of Ahmad Ibrahim in the book "The Last Kampung Mosque in Singapore" are wrong. Please take note that when I say those photos contributed by Mr Hammer are wrong, not only those on page 54 are wrong, other photos contributed by Mr Hammer featured on other pages are also wrong.
No doubt Mr Hammer has a friend by the name of Ahmad Ibrahim, but most likely his friend is NOT the former Minister. Mr Hammer himself ever say (in Berita Harian, 11 Feb 2006) that he is shocked to hear that his friend (Ahmad Ibrahim) became a Minister. I hope this Ahmad Ibrahim (a friend of Mr Hammer) family to come forward and reveal the truth.
When I first met Tuan Haji Othman Wok to verify the wrong photos, Tuan Haji already prepared himself with a magnifying glass. Meaning, he already has difficulty with his eyesight and not the photo are too old to see. Furthermore, I showed him the photos features on page 54 of the book " The Last Kampung Mosque in Singapore." The Editorial Team did contact Tuan Haji Othman Wok on 17 July 2008 and Tuan Haji Othman Wok concluded to the Editorial Team that those photos contributed by Mr Hammer which is featured on page 54 are NOT of Ahmad Ibrahim, the former Minister. Tuan Haji Othman Wok is Ahmad Ibrahim political colleague in the 50's and 60's.
Nevertheless, I am happy to hear Dr Hadijah did correspond with Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato Dr Haji Yahaya Ibrahim who reside in Kuala Lumpur to find out the truth from the family perspective. Dr Yahaya Ibrahim is Ahmad Ibrahim's younger brother. To me, as long as the book editor and/or book publisher is in contact with Ahmad Ibrahim's immediate family, I feel rest assured. Dr Hadijah and her team did consult Dr Yahaya Ibrahim and Mr Haji Othman Wok. However, she and the team did not consult Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. I didn't see MM Lee name being mentioned in the letter. MM Lee was a PM at that time (1950's) when he persuaded Ahmad Ibrahim to join PAP (People Action Party) after he had won the election as an independent candidate in 1955. I wonder what would happen if MM Lee says that those photos contributed by Mr Hammer are not of Ahmad Ibrahim, our former Minister. Probably all the books will be recalled and stop from distribution. The book publisher agreed to add on the ADDENDUM to the current book to indicate the feedback from Ahmad Ibrahim's family (represented by Tan Sri Dato Dr Haji Yahaya Ibrahim).
Here are the ADDENDUM to be added in the book "The Last Kampung Mosque in Singapore The Extraordinary Story and Legacy of Sembawang" as agreed by the book publisher with the advice of book editor.
Dr Maliki, thank you for your letter. I really appreciate it.
From the content of the letter, I understand that the book editor, Dr Hadijah and her Research Team did some investigations after I claimed the photos of Ahmad Ibrahim in the book "The Last Kampung Mosque in Singapore" are wrong. Please take note that when I say those photos contributed by Mr Hammer are wrong, not only those on page 54 are wrong, other photos contributed by Mr Hammer featured on other pages are also wrong.
A very important fact that support my argument is that Ahmad Ibrahim's wife, Madam Che Teh confirmed that the photo of 'Ahmad Ibrahim and his wife" on page 54 is NOT her and her husband! Her children may be small (1 to 10 years old) but Madam Che Teh is not a small kid when Ahmad Ibrahim passed away. When I visited Ahmad Ibrahim's wife, Madam Che Teh in Penang in March 2008, she did told me that she didn't know the person by the name of Mr Edward Hammer.
No doubt Mr Hammer has a friend by the name of Ahmad Ibrahim, but most likely his friend is NOT the former Minister. Mr Hammer himself ever say (in Berita Harian, 11 Feb 2006) that he is shocked to hear that his friend (Ahmad Ibrahim) became a Minister. I hope this Ahmad Ibrahim (a friend of Mr Hammer) family to come forward and reveal the truth.
When I first met Tuan Haji Othman Wok to verify the wrong photos, Tuan Haji already prepared himself with a magnifying glass. Meaning, he already has difficulty with his eyesight and not the photo are too old to see. Furthermore, I showed him the photos features on page 54 of the book " The Last Kampung Mosque in Singapore." The Editorial Team did contact Tuan Haji Othman Wok on 17 July 2008 and Tuan Haji Othman Wok concluded to the Editorial Team that those photos contributed by Mr Hammer which is featured on page 54 are NOT of Ahmad Ibrahim, the former Minister. Tuan Haji Othman Wok is Ahmad Ibrahim political colleague in the 50's and 60's.
Nevertheless, I am happy to hear Dr Hadijah did correspond with Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato Dr Haji Yahaya Ibrahim who reside in Kuala Lumpur to find out the truth from the family perspective. Dr Yahaya Ibrahim is Ahmad Ibrahim's younger brother. To me, as long as the book editor and/or book publisher is in contact with Ahmad Ibrahim's immediate family, I feel rest assured. Dr Hadijah and her team did consult Dr Yahaya Ibrahim and Mr Haji Othman Wok. However, she and the team did not consult Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. I didn't see MM Lee name being mentioned in the letter. MM Lee was a PM at that time (1950's) when he persuaded Ahmad Ibrahim to join PAP (People Action Party) after he had won the election as an independent candidate in 1955. I wonder what would happen if MM Lee says that those photos contributed by Mr Hammer are not of Ahmad Ibrahim, our former Minister. Probably all the books will be recalled and stop from distribution. The book publisher agreed to add on the ADDENDUM to the current book to indicate the feedback from Ahmad Ibrahim's family (represented by Tan Sri Dato Dr Haji Yahaya Ibrahim).
Here are the ADDENDUM to be added in the book "The Last Kampung Mosque in Singapore The Extraordinary Story and Legacy of Sembawang" as agreed by the book publisher with the advice of book editor.
ADDENDUM
"We would like to notify readers that the photographs of the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim, the former Singapore Minister of Labour and Health in page 54 of this book, are based on a source submitted to the Editorial Board by Mr Edward Hammer. Mr Edward Hammer was a kampung folk in Sembawang and a childhood friend of the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim.
Mr Hammer has informed the Editorial Board that the photographs were personally autographed and given to him by the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim. The Editorial Board also received confirmation on the photographs from Hj Kassim Selamat and Hj Haron Mohd Kassim, two other close friends of the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim since his adolescent years. Recently, the family of the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim represented by his brother, Tan Sri Dato Yahya Ibrahim, has informed us that the photographs are not of Mr Ahmad Ibrahim.
Despite the differing views, we respect both findings of the Editorial Board based on research and also the late Ahmad Ibrahim's family.
However, the mosque undertakes to include this note on their findings in each issue of the current publication. We hope readers will continue to enjoy reading the book and appreciate the original intent of documenting the rich history of the Masjid Pemtempatan Melayu Sembawang."
Dr Hadijah recommended to me to continue with my efforts in gathering material and information (on Ahmad Ibrahim) and urged me to write a book about Ahmad Ibrahim. Dr Hadijah, I thank you for your suggestion. I feel honoured to receive a suggestion from you, someone of high profile, an Associate Professor. I fully agreed, the book on Ahmad Ibrahim is long overdued. Sad to say, I think I am not capable to write a book on Ahmad Ibrahim. I wish someone else can do it. Maybe someone from your research team? Yourself? Seasoned book writer? Or probably someone from SPH? Mohd Raman Daud? Of course, I will lend a hand if someone willing to write a book on Ahmad Ibrahim. Even our National Heritage Board (NHB) don't have many resources about Ahmad Ibrahim. NHB even suggest to me to get as many photos of Ahmad Ibrahim from Ahmad Ibrahim's family in Malaysia. Ahmad Ibrahim's family and siblings are in Malaysia (Penang, Kedah, Selangor). They can provide as much info of Ahmad Ibrahim. We cannot wait for long to start writing a book on Ahmad Ibrahim as Ahmad Ibrahim's wife (Madam Che Teh) is not getting any younger. In Singapore, Ahmad Ibrahim do have cousin and many nieces and nephews. Dr Hadijah, you may want to suggest to Dr Yahaya Ibrahim about making a book of Ahmad Ibrahim?"We would like to notify readers that the photographs of the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim, the former Singapore Minister of Labour and Health in page 54 of this book, are based on a source submitted to the Editorial Board by Mr Edward Hammer. Mr Edward Hammer was a kampung folk in Sembawang and a childhood friend of the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim.
Mr Hammer has informed the Editorial Board that the photographs were personally autographed and given to him by the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim. The Editorial Board also received confirmation on the photographs from Hj Kassim Selamat and Hj Haron Mohd Kassim, two other close friends of the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim since his adolescent years. Recently, the family of the late Mr Ahmad Ibrahim represented by his brother, Tan Sri Dato Yahya Ibrahim, has informed us that the photographs are not of Mr Ahmad Ibrahim.
Despite the differing views, we respect both findings of the Editorial Board based on research and also the late Ahmad Ibrahim's family.
However, the mosque undertakes to include this note on their findings in each issue of the current publication. We hope readers will continue to enjoy reading the book and appreciate the original intent of documenting the rich history of the Masjid Pemtempatan Melayu Sembawang."
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