Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen

His Highness Dato' Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen تڠكو محمود مهيدين DPMK MBE
Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen in Force 136's formals.
Founder and Chairman GEMPAR
In office 1948–1953
Personal details
Born	(1908-10-28)October 28, 1908 Patani, Siam (now Thailand)
Died	12 February 1954(1954-02-12) (aged 45) Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu
Resting place	Kelantan Royal Mausoleum
Awards	Order of the British Empire (MBE), Darjah Dato' Paduka Mahkota Kelantan (Al-Muhammadi II) (DPMK)
Nickname	'Harimau Malaya'
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom Allied forces
Branch/service	Special Operation Executive (SOE)
Years of service	1939–1945
Rank	Major
Unit	Force 136
Battles/wars	Operation Zipper Operation Oatmeal Operation Gustavus Operation Hebrides

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen (28 October 1908 – 12 February 1954), also known as Harimau Malaya (Malayan Tiger), was a Major-ranked officer of Force 136 during World War II. He was the second son of Sultan Tengku Abdul Kadir Kamaruddin, the last Raja of Patani. Additionally, he served as a member of the Federal Legislative Council of Malaya and was the Founder and Chairman of the Greater Patani Malay Association (Gabungan Melayu Patani Raya, GEMPAR)

Early Life

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen during the early stage of his life (1916–1929).

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen bin Tengku Abdul Kadir Kamaruddin was born in Patani, Siam (present-day Thailand) on 28 October 1908. He was raised in Kelantan and received his early education in Kota Bharu. His father, Tengku Abdul Kadir Kamaruddin Syah, was the last Sultan to rule the Patani region before his title and authority were revoked by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1902. The royal family later decided to relocate to Kelantan in 1915.

In 1916, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen began his early education at Padong Garong Government School in Kota Bharu. He was later transferred to the Kota Bharu Islamic Religious Council School, where he studied for two years. From 1920 to 1923, his father sent him to Bangkok to study the Thai language. After three years there, he continued his education at Penang Free School in Penang from 1925 to 1929. On 18 June 1933, he obtained the Senior Cambridge Certificate, Honor's (I.M.S.).

Superintendent Of Education

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was appointed as Superintendent of Malay Schools in 1933. His primary focus was to encourage children, particularly Malay children, to enroll in secular schools. Prior to this, they had preferred attending traditional Islamic pondok schools. He also advocated for female students to attend school, as girls were previously not sent to formal educational institutions.

Ismail English School

On 30 April 1935, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen, accompanied by Nik Ahmad Kamil bin Nik Mahmood (then Secretary of the Kelantan State Government), held an initial meeting and discussion with A.C. Baker and J.A. Harvey at the British Adviser’s residence. This discussion led to the formation of the Kelantan Education Committee, specifically tasked with managing the establishment of an English school in Kelantan.

Ismail English School was founded on 5 January 1936. The school was placed under a separate administration from the Malay Schools, which were managed by the Kelantan Islamic Religious Council. Its objectives were to provide education aligned with the Junior Cambridge Standard, select scholarship recipients, and fill vacancies in the Lower Grade Clerical Service.

The successful establishment of Ismail English School marked a significant advancement in education. Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was regarded as "The prime mover of establishing Government English Schools, the first of its kind in Kelantan."

Government Girls English School

On 16 December 1937, the Kelantan State Government agreed to establish the Government Girls English School. The school was built in an area on Jalan Telipot (now known as Zainab English School), named after the Consort of the Sultan of Kelantan (Tengku Ampuan Kelantan) at the time.

Initially, Zainab English School enrolled 19 students exclusively from affluent families. Later, it began admitting girls from the general public, particularly those residing around Kota Bharu. The initial conclusion drawn from Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen’s plans to establish these educational institutions was that progress was not as straightforward as anticipated.

He faced numerous obstacles and challenges. The primary issue was overcoming the British colonial administration’s belief that educating Malays would burden their governance. Additionally, shifting the Malay community’s early skepticism toward vernacular education proved difficult. However, the success of Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen’s proposals to establish English schools demonstrated that his ideas were sound and deserved support, particularly from the state government.

"When I first took charge of the Education Department, between 800 and 1,000 letters were distributed to persuade parents and briefly explain the importance of education..." –Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen

Educational Reforms and Volunteer Work

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen also introduced a course named Normal Class in Kelantan to improve the quality of teachers which were held every Saturday and mentored by graduates of the Sultan Idris Training College (SITC), this program aimed to provide pedagogical training to untrained local teachers.

Beyond education, he actively participated in volunteer work. He was appointed Scout Commissioner for Kelantan and in 1934, led the Kelantan Scout contingent to the World Scout Jamboree in Melbourne, Australia. In 1938, he was formally appointed as the State Education Officer of Kelantan.

Broadcasting and Military Involvement

Kelantan Volunteer Force

By 1940, Kelantan had established a volunteer force known as the Kelantan Volunteer Force (K.V.F.). Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen had joined the K.V.F. in 1939 with the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant. The force primarily comprised teachers and government staff interested in military service. When World War II erupted, the K.V.F. was directly involved in defending Kelantan from the advancing Japanese forces. Sergeant Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was ordered to join the K.V.F. in merging with the 8th Brigade under the 9th Indian Division, headquartered in Kota Bharu.

Before Kuala Krai fell to the Japanese, Sergeant Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen and several K.V.F. members resolved to continue their service in resisting the Japanese occupation. Despite the K.V.F. being disbanded in January 1942, he and his comrades sought to remain allied with British forces. The K.V.F. and British troops conducted joint training exercises in Sungai Nal near Kuala Krai, alongside the 4th Company of the Royal Malay Regiment (previously stationed in Dabong, Ulu Kelantan). However, the rapid Japanese advance forced the troops to retreat southward. Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen and British soldiers retreated as far as Kuala Lipis, Pahang.

Singapore and the S.S. Kuala Tragedy

In Singapore, they were stationed at Raden Mad English School in Pasir Panjang, while Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was sent to Geylang Serai. He entrusted his belongings including his pistol and medical supplies to a fellow K.V.F. member who had retreated with him from Kota Bharu. After briefly serving at Radio Singapura’s Malay Division, he was ordered to leave Singapore for India.

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen boarded the aged vessel S.S. Kuala alongside British troops. Shortly after departing, near Pom Pom Island, the ship was attacked and sunk by Japanese kamikaze aircraft. In the chaos, he rescued several British soldiers from drowning, and the survivors reached Sumatra’s coast. From there, he boarded another ship to continue his journey to India.

'Suara Harimau Malaya'

In India, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was assigned to All India Radio, Malay Division (A.I.R.B.M.) as its Coordinator and Manager. He produced a Malay broadcast titled 'Suara Harimau Malaya' (Voice of the Malayan Tiger), using the pseudonym Raja Mopeng as its announcer. The program, operated by the British Ministry of Information, transmitted patriotic messages to Malaya. Each broadcast opened with marching songs, notably Colonel Bogey a favorite of Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen since his days in the Cadet Corps Band at Penang Free School.

Force 136

In 1943, after serving for about a year in the A.I.R.B.M., Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen decided to resign from this service. This decision was linked to the establishment of Force 136, as Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was inclined to dedicate his energy and intellect to this military unit. He willingly and enthusiastically agreed to become a covert member of Force 136[19]. In recognition of his commitment, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was awarded the rank of Major, conferred by the Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral Lord Mountbatten, himself. This honor held profound significance for Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen personally and for the Malay community as a whole.

".... By this time, British Intelligence had got around to enlisting Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen as a staff officer to advise on planning and organising the work to be done by the Malays in the eventual re-taking of Malaya."

As a Major, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen undoubtedly shouldered heavy and challenging responsibilities. His first task was to establish and manage Force 136, Malay Section. To recruit members for this unit, the primary focus was on Malay students abroad, many of whom were in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Britain, and India. Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was instructed to visit these countries to persuade the students to join Force 136, Malay Section.

All expenses were covered by the British. In India, he spread the call for recruits through local newspapers and personally met with students. Through these efforts, approximately 30 individuals were gathered at a bungalow he rented in New Delhi, named Malaya Lodge. A series s, discof briefingussions, and dialogues were held to explain the purpose and goals of establishing Force 136, Malay Section. All attendees eventually agreed to join the unit.

In September 1942, at a hotel in New Delhi, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen held a special meeting with Captain Ibrahim bin Ismail (later General Tan Sri) of the Johore Military Forces. Captain Ibrahim was undergoing cadet officer training at the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, India. Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen successfully persuaded him to join the planned Force 136, Malay Section.

With Force 136, Malay Section established (albeit with fewer than 50 members), Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen grew increasingly confident in his team’s ability to achieve their objectives. Assisted by British officers, he was tasked with instructing members in combat techniques, including weaponry, jungle operations, espionage and sabotage. Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen also served as Chief Advisor on matters related to the Malay Peninsula:

"All Malayan matters, especially on the names of possible Malay contacts to be made in the country were handled by the organisation’s chief adviser, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen himself…"

Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen believed that, given the wartime circumstances, the British would succeed in retaking Malaya. He was certain the Japanese would be defeated by British forces and resistance movements in Malaya, such as the M.P.A.J.A. (Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army) and P.K.M. (Communist Party of Malaya).

Thus, he argued that the small number of Malays abroad should unite to assist British forces through Force 136, Malay Section to liberate Malaya. Once liberated, the British would resume governance but would not forget the sacrifices and assistance provided by the Malays.

Involvement in Force 136

The Dutch submarine HNLMS O 24 transported members of Force 136 during Operation Gustavus from Sri Lanka to Malaya.

In addition to serving as an Instructor and Chief Advisor of the Malay Section of Force 136, Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen also meticulously oversaw sea and air operations planned for deployment into Malaya. The submarine operations, codenamed Gustavus I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and the air operations, known as Operation Oatmeal and Operation Hebrides fell under his purview.

Before launching these operations, Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen ensured all personnel were fully prepared. He paid close attention to every detail, from planning to execution, particularly for the first air operation. This mission, Operation Oatmeal, aimed to deploy the inaugural Malay Section members of Force 136.

Operation Oatmeal

On October 31, 1944, Operation Oatmeal commenced. The 15-hour flight spanned 24,000 km to reach the eastern coastal waters of the Malay Peninsula. The team was dropped at sea near Pulau Perhentian, off Terengganu’s northern coast. Despite reaching the island’s shore after overcoming difficulties, their movements were detected by a Japanese agent. All members were subsequently arrested and interrogated in Kota Bharu.

The failure of this first air operation disappointed many, including Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen and the Oatmeal team. While Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen had worked tirelessly to ensure its success as a foundation for future missions, the setback did not signify the overall failure of Force 136 or a loss of confidence in the Malay unit’s capabilities.

Operation Hebrides

Operation Hebrides aimed to infiltrate Japanese-occupied Malaya, conduct sabotage, and support local resistance movements. Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen played a key role in preparing and training operatives before their airdrop. As Chief Advisor to the Malay Section, he coordinated operational strategies to maximize the effectiveness of local guerrilla forces.

On December 16, 1944, as part of Operation Hebrides, five Malay agents from Force 136 including Bahari Sidek alongside British officers Major Peter G. Dobree and Captain Clifford, were airdropped near Padang Cermin, close to Temenggor Lake in Perak. Their mission was to establish guerrilla units in Ipoh and Taiping and set up wireless communication with Force 136’s headquarters in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen provided strategic support by ensuring safe delivery of radio equipment and weapons to field agents. He also facilitated intelligence coordination between Malaya and central command to strengthen resistance strategies.

Operation Zipper

The ultimate objective of Force 136 was to retake Malaya by late 1944 through Operation Zipper, a campaign starting from the north and culminating in Singapore. This was to follow Operation Rogers, led by the Burma Country Section to expel Japanese forces from the Kra Isthmus. However, Japan’s sudden surrender after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki preempted the launch of Operation Zipper, which would have involved guerrilla forces from northern Perak and Pahang.

Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen returned to Malaya in late October 1945, when the British Military Administration had resumed control. Shortly thereafter, Force 136 was disbanded. Its Malay members, after two years of service, returned safely to their villages. Though their homecoming lacked fanfare, they had been prepared to “shed blood” to liberate their homeland, people, and faith. These operatives acted as “thorns in the flesh” of the Japanese occupation, undermining the enemy from within. While Major Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was not directly involved in guerrilla movements, his role as the “mastermind” of Force 136 was indispensable. The success of operations relied heavily on his strategic acumen.

Political Activism and the Struggle for Independence

Involvement in PKMM (Malay Nationalist Party of Malaya)

In 1945, after the end of World War II, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen decided to join the Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM). PKMM was a political party advocating for full independence for Malaya without British interference. The party demanded that Malays assume governance of the country and opposed any lingering colonial influence.

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen recognized that Malaya needed more than negotiations with the British full independence was his ultimate goal. He supported PKMM for its uncompromising stance on liberation, contrasting with the more moderate approach of UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) at the time. As an influential figure, he became a moral and strategic advocate for Malay freedom.

Federal Legislative Council of Malaya

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was appointed as a member of the Federal Legislative Council of Malaya, a body pivotal in debating British colonial policies. On 10 November 1947, he raised concerns about economic disparities between ethnic groups, blaming the colonial government for failing to provide equitable opportunities for Malays in education and public administration. He called for more inclusive economic policies and emphasized investing in Malay education as the foundation of national development.

GEMPAR (Greater Patani Malay Alliance)

Beyond PKMM, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was active in the Greater Patani Malay Association (GEMPAR), a movement fighting for the independence and unification of Malays under Siamese (Thai) rule. Regions like Patani, Narathiwat, and Yala in southern Thailand were claimed by GEMPAR as part of Malaya. Its primary goal was to integrate these territories into a free, united Malaya.

In 1947, coinciding with his involvement in GEMPAR, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen visited Java, Indonesia. There, he met President Sukarno to discuss the importance of solidarity between Malay nations and Indonesia in their shared anti-colonial struggles. This experience deepened his belief in a unified Malay-Indonesian front for independence.

UMNO and the Malayan Union

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen played a significant role in Malaya’s early political history through his participation in UMNO, though his involvement was often balanced by his reputation as an outspoken independent figure. He first engaged with UMNO when the party became the primary Malay platform opposing the Malayan Union a British administrative system introduced in 1946 that weakened the authority of Malay Rulers and granted liberal citizenship to non-Malays.

He was among the first Malay nobles to openly reject the Malayan Union, arguing that it blatantly undermined the sovereignty of Malay Rulers and threatened the status of Malays as the indigenous people. In a statement published by The Straits Times, he described the Malayan Union as a policy that “destroys the traditional social and political fabric of the Malays” and urged all parties to unite against it.

By 1950, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was touted as a potential successor to Dato’ Onn Ja’afar as UMNO President after Dato’ Onn’s proposal to open party membership to non-Malays sparked internal dissent. According to The Singapore Standard and The Straits Times (6 August 1950), several UMNO branches, including those in Perak, supported Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen as a leader capable of upholding Malay nationalist principles within UMNO.

Death

Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen passed away on 12 February 1954 at the age of 45 in Kota Bharu after performing the obligatory Friday prayer. His death occurred suddenly, and no official cause of death was disclosed to the public. Although there was curiosity among the community, no reliable sources indicated any criminal elements or poisoning involved. His death was mourned by many, reflecting his profound influence as an educator, social reformer and war hero in Malaya.

For the people of Malaya, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen’s death was regarded as a significant loss in the context of the independence struggle. Before he could fully dedicate his service to religion, community, and nation, he passed away. Despite his royal lineage, Tengku Mahmood Mahyideen was known as a leader who remained close to the people and fought tirelessly for their interests. His role as a pivotal figure in society ensured that his passing was deeply felt by many. More then 500 people headed by the Sultan of Kelantan followed his bier to the Royal Mausoleum at Jalan Langgar.

Honours and Awards

Malaysian Honours

• Kelantan :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan (DPMK) – Dato' (1939)

Foreign Honours

• United Kingdom :
  • Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) (1946)

Military Honours

• United Kingdom :
  • 1939-45 Star (1945)
  • Pacific Star with Burma Rosette (1945)
  • Defence Medal (1945)
  • War Medal 1939-1945 (1945)

Further reading

• Malek, Mohd Zamberi A. (1999). Harimau Malaya: biografi Tengku Mahmood Mahyiddeen (in Malay). Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. ISBN 978-967-942-432-4
• Mahmud (Nik.), Anuar Nik (1994). The Malay Unrest in South Thailand: An Issue in Malayan-Thai Border Relations. Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.