Posts
1. My father spent almost 14 years in the office of the Legal
Adviser. On account of his capability he was entrusted to stand in for C.
W. Dawson, Legal Adviser, while the latter was acting
European Judge from August through October 1935 and received an allowance of
$25 rial a month. He worked at the Legal Adviser’s office until the end of 1936.
In March through October of that year he stood in for the Acting Superintendent
of Education who was on leave.
2. He was transferred to the State Council Office in February 1937. Subsequently
in March of that year he was Acting 2nd. Under Secretary to Government. Later in
May through September 1937 he stood in for the Superintendent
Monopolies and Customs who was on a four-month leave.
3. My father retired on 24 September, 1937. In less than three years
after his retirement, he was appointed to be a Justice of the Peace within and
for the State of Kedah. The appointment was made by the Regent and President of
State Council, Kedah on 18 February, 1940. In a couple of years the war would
break out and my father would be working again.
4. His long experience on the legal
side accounted for his recall
to duty by the Kedah State Council during the Japanese
Occupation. He was 60 years old then. He assumed duty on 10th
February, 1942 as Legal Adviser and Public Prosecutor. He was also appointed a
member of the State Council. In his tribute
to my father, Lim Cheng Law stated that he “was the first Malay in this country
to become Legal Adviser.” As regards his services during the war, the Resident
Commissioner of Kedah wrote in a letter dated 15th October 1947:
“… There is no doubt that his services were of great value during that period (Japanese Occupation) and it was fortunate that the State (of Kedah) had available an officer with his long experience on the legal side. …”
5. My father held the appointment until the
British reoccupation upon which the British Military Administration (BMA)
appointed him as Secretary to the Legal Officer. He was attached to the Office
of the Legal Adviser until the cessation of the BMA and subsequently under the
Civil Administration (Malayan Union). He retired again in 1946 and then served as an unofficial member in the
State Executive Council and State Council (1947-1954).
6. It was reported that my father took up
private business after his retirement. It was not known what sort of “private
business” he ventured into. I only have a dim memory of the blurry past when he
once took me to a shop. Maybe I was four or five years
old then. We climbed a flight of wooden staircase to a crowded room upstairs. There were
people and tables with piles of papers atop them. It must be his place of work. On that occasion I dimly remember that he wore
a red fez with a tassel attached to the top.
7. My father had come a long way since his
teaching days at his alma mater. His success story was aptly described by his
friend, Lim Cheng Law*:
… Mr. Merican made his mark and reputation not only in the teaching profession but also in the Kedah Civil Service of which he was a star of the first magnitude. As Auditor, Registrar of the High Court and Legal Adviser, he proved himself an able and capable officer with his usual thoroughness. He was the first Malay in this country to become Legal Adviser.There can be no question that Mr. Merican was not only a great teacher in English education but also a great Civil Servant of the best traditions of the Civil Service. …
Note: Mine in brackets.
No comments:
Post a Comment