Nik Ahmad Kamil

In thisMalay name,there is nosurname or family name.The nameNik Mahmudis apatronymic,and the person should be referred to by theirgiven name,Ahmad Kamil.The word "bin" or "binti" / "binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Yang BerbahagiaTan SriDato' Sri Setia RajaDato'Haji Nik Ahmad Kamil Nik Mahmud DK (Kelantan)PMNSPMKSJMKPYGP
4thSpeaker of the Dewan Rakyat
In office 11 November 1974 – 20 December 1977
Monarchs	Abdul Halim Yahya Petra
Preceded by	Chik Mohamad Yusuf Sheikh Abdul Rahman
Succeeded by	Syed Nasir Syed Ismail
3rdHigh Commissioner of Malaya to the United Kingdom
In office 1957–1958
Preceded by	Othman Mohamad
Succeeded by	Tunku Ya'acob Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah
1stHigh Commissioner of Malaya to Australia
In office 1956–1957
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Gunn Lay Teik
11thMenteri Besar of Kelantan
In office 1944–1953
Preceded by	Nik Mahmud Nik Ismail
Succeeded by	Tengku Muhammad Hamzah Tengku Zainal Abidin
Personal details
Born	Nik Ahmad Kamil bin Nik Mahmud (1909-07-07)7 July 1909 Kota Bharu,Kelantan,Unfederated Malay States,British Malaya(now Malaysia)
Died	20 December 1977(1977-12-20)(aged 68) Petaling Jaya,Selangor,Malaysia
Resting place	Kampung Tunku Muslim Cemetery, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Political party	United Malays National Organisation(UMNO)
Other political affiliations	Barisan Nasional(BN)
Spouse	Nafisah Mahmood
Alma mater	University of Bristol Lincoln's Inn
Profession	Lawyer, Politician

NikAhmad Kamil binNikMahmud(7 July 1909 – 20 December 1977) was a Malaysian politician who played an active role during the country's road to independence. A prominent member of theUnited Malays National Organisation(UMNO) in the state ofKelantan,he served as the fourthSpeakerof theDewan Rakyat,the lower house of theMalaysian Parliament.

Nik Ahmad Kamil was a lawyer and member of the Bar. His daughter, Nik Mariah was also a lawyer and member of the Bar.

Early life and career

Nik Ahmad Kamil was born inKota Bharuin 1909.His father, Nik Mahmud Nik Ismail was theMenteri Besar of Kelantan.He was educated at Madrasah Muhammadiah, Kota Bharu andMalay College Kuala Kangsar.After studying Arts at theUniversity of Bristol,he obtained hisBachelor of LawsfromLincoln's Innin 1930.He was called to the Bar that year.

He joined the Kelantan civil service under theBritish colonial administrationin 1930 and served as State Secretary from 1934 to 1938, succeeding his uncle.In 1938, he was appointed Deputy Menteri Besar under his father.He succeeded his father as Menteri Besar in 1942 and held the post throughout the Japanese occupation.

Political career

From 1946 to 1948, during theMalayan Unionperiod, Nik Ahmad Kamil served as Deputy Resident Commissioner in Kelantan under the new system of government. However, he became a staunch opponent of the Malayan Union and led the Persatuan Melayu Kelantan (Kelantan Malay Association, PKM) in protesting the new system, which he felt infringed upon the rights of theMalaysand their rulers.He represented PKM at the first Pan-Malayan Malay Congress inJohor Bahruin 1946 which saw the founding of theUnited Malays National Organisation(UMNO). He was an active member of UMNO, serving on its executive committee.When the Malayan Union was finally dissolved in 1948, Nik Ahmad Kamil continued as Menteri Besar of Kelantan under the newFederation of Malayauntil 1953.

Parti Negara

Nik Ahmad Kamil was a close supporter of UMNO founderOnn Jaafar.He was selected by Onn to join a working committee in charge of drafting a charter for the newly formed UMNO. He followed Onn's exit from UMNO in 1951 and joined theIndependence of Malaya PartyandParti Negara,two parties formed by Onn in opposition to UMNO and theAlliance Party.He was chosen to serve under theMember Systemfrom 1953 to 1956, and held the Lands, Mines and Communications portfolio and later the Local Government, Housing and Town Development portfolio.

Back in UMNO

In thefirst ever federal electionsin 1955, Nik Ahmad Kamil contested a seat as a Parti Negara candidate. He lost, and Parti Negara was swept aside by the Alliance Party led byTunku Abdul Rahman.Realizing that Parti Negara had failed to gain relevance among the people of Malaya, he left to rejoin UMNO.He served under the new Alliance government asCommissioner of Trade to Australiafrom 1956 to 1957.

Diplomacy

Nik Ahmad Kamil joined the 1956 Merdeka Delegation led by the Tunku to London as one of four representatives of theMalay rulers.Following the independence of Malaya on 31 August 1957, he was appointed the firstHigh Commissioner to the United Kingdomand served until 1958.He remained in the diplomatic circles and served as both Permanent Representative to the United Nations as well asAmbassador to the United Statesfrom 1959 to 1962.

Return to active politics

Nik Ahmad Kamil returned to contest the1964 general electionand won the Kota Bharu Hilir parliamentary seat in Kelantan. However, UMNO still lost out to thePan-Malaysian Islamic Party(PAS) in Kelantan.In thenext electionin 1969, he won the Ulu Kelantan seat as PAS retained control of the state.

He served as a member of the UMNO supreme council and later became its permanent chairman.In 1971, he was elected Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat. In 1974, he succeededC.M. YusufasSpeaker of the Dewan Rakyat,a position he held until his death.

Death

Nik Ahmad Kamil suffered a heart attack while carrying out his duties in theParliament buildingon 19 December 1977. He died the following morning.

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaya:
  • Commander of theOrder of the Defender of the Realm(PMN) –Tan Sri(1958)
• Malaysia:
  • Recipient of theMalaysian Commemorative Medal (Gold)(PPM) (1965)
• Kelantan:
  • Recipient of theRoyal Family OrderorStar of Yunus(DK)
  • Knight Grand Commander of theOrder of the Crown of KelantanorAl-Muhammadi Star(SPMK) -Dato'
  • Knight Grand Commander of theOrder of the Life of the Crown of KelantanorAl-Ismaili Star(SJMK) -Dato'
  • Recipient of theOrder of the Most Distinguished and Most Valiant Warrior(PYGP)
  • Dato' Sri Setia Raja