Inche Sidik Explained

Constituency Mp2:Southern Islands Constituency
Predecessor2:constituency established
Successor2:Ahmad Jabri bin Mohammed Akib
Term Start2:22 April 1955
Term End2:31 March 1959
Birth Name:Inche Mohamed Sidik bin Haji Abdul Hamid
Birth Date:1896 or 1897
Birth Place:Bussorah Street, Straits Settlements

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]

Early life and education

He 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.

Career

In 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 [<nowiki/>[[People's Action Party]]] comes into power."[12] He was unsuccessful, only garnering 11.05% of the vote.

Notes and References

  1. News: 22 May 1957 . Assemblyman Sidik joins the UMNO . 27 March 2024 . . 7 . NewspaperSG.
  2. News: 14 December 1951 . Such a surprise for the Inche . 27 March 2024 . . 7 . NewspaperSG.
  3. News: 11 March 1952 . 8,000 Malays against park in Geylang . 27 March 2024 . . 5 . NewspaperSG.
  4. News: 5 October 1954 . Malay Union 'is not part of Labour Front' . 27 March 2024 . . 5 . NewspaperSG.
  5. News: 17 March 1955 . Ghost Island baffles candidate . 27 March 2024 . . 5 . NewspaperSG.
  6. News: 30 January 1956 . FRIDGE GIFT LEAVES UNION COLD . 27 March 2024 . . 7 . NewspaperSG.
  7. News: 24 May 1957 . Election dare . 27 March 2024 . . 5 . NewspaperSG.
  8. News: 21 January 1957 . TENGKU WRONG: SIDIK . 27 March 2024 . . 2 . NewspaperSG.
  9. News: 18 May 1958 . Sidik opens Govt. Chinese school . 27 March 2024 . . 4 . NewspaperSG.
  10. News: 28 May 1959 . Siglap people have choice of seven candidates . 27 March 2024 . . 4 . NewspaperSG.
  11. News: 29 April 1959 . Singapore UMNO heeds Tengku and ends crisis . 29 March 2024 . . 13 . NewspaperSG.
  12. News: 2 May 1959 . SIDIK SAYS: NO HAPPINESS IF PAP COMES INTO POWER . 29 March 2024 . . 4 . NewspaperSG.