Marsal Maun

Haji Marsal Bin Maun (8 November 1913 – 28 March 2000) was the second Menteri Besar (Chief Minister of Brunei, who served from 1961 to 1962. It was during his tenure as Menteri Besar that the Brunei Revolt broke out.

Marsal Maun was one of the person responsible for the establishment of the Federation of Brunei Malay Teachers (PGGMB) and Brunei Scout Movement, which both still run till today.

Background

Marsal Maun was born on 8 November 1913 at Kampong Pulau Ambok (currently known as Kampong Pintu Malim).

Education

Marsal Maun had his early education at the Malay School in Jalan Pemancha. After passing primary four, Marsal was appointed as probationary teacher, and in 1930, he attended teacher training course at the Sultan Idris Training College (SITC), Tanjung Malim, British Malaya, from where he qualified as a teacher in 1933.

Political Involvement

Upon his return from the United Kingdom, Marsal was appointed assistant teacher, and in 1934, he was made acting superintendent of education. He later became a founding member of the Persekutuan Guru-Guru Melayu Brunei (Federation of Brunei Malay Teachers) during the period before the Second World War. It was through this association that he became a close confidante of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

Brunei Scout Movement

In January 1933, while working as a teacher at Sekolah Melayu Jalan Pemancha, Pekan (Jalan Pemancha Malay School), Marsal formed a Scout troop with 12 boys.^[1] Chegu Awang Zaidi bin awang Taha, headmaster of the school, who was also the head of the Education Department became the Scoutmaster while Marsal serve as the Assistant Scoutmaster.

The Written Constitution of 1959

Marsal was one of the people who was responsible in advising Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III to draft the Written Constitution for Brunei. He was also one of the members of the Constitutional delegation, representing Brunei, during a constitutional talks in London.

Chief Minister

On 1 May 1960, Marsal was appointed as the Deputy State Secretary of Brunei and on 1 August 1961, Marsal became Brunei's Chief Minister, a post he held until 1 September 1962.

Rebellion 1962

On 8 December 1962, less than 3 months after Marsal left office, the Brunei Revolt broke out. Although he had lost the favour of the Sultan, he eventually advised the Sultan on how to dealt with the rebellion. It was him who advised the Sultan to request military assistance from Great Britain in accordance of the Treaty of Protection 1888.

Later life

After his retirement, Marsal continued to be active as an elder statesman. He continued to give advice to a more junior ministers who regarded him as mentor.

Death

Marsal Maun died on 28 March 2000.

Family

Marsal Maun was married to Datin Zubaidah Othman and blessed with four children.

Awards and recognitions

• 1991 Teacher's Day Award.

Honours

•  Brunei  Brunei
• Marsal Maun was posthumously granted the soubriquet Bapa Perlembagaan (Father of the Constitution).

Places after him

Several places were named after him, including:

• There is one roads and one primary school in Brunei such as Jalan Dato Marsal, named after Marsal, situated near Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam Secondary School in Jalan Mabohai, Bandar Seri Begawan.
• Sekolah Rendah Dato Marsal is a primary school named after Marsal, located in Lambak Kanan, Bandar Seri Begawan.

References