ABDUL KARIM RKGS 7000

Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Bin Ungku Abdul Hamid

Profile

Royal Professor Ungku Aziz is a Malaysian economics member. He is a descendant of

the royal Johor family and was born on 28 January 1922 in London, England. He received his
early education at Sekolah Melayu Batu Pahat and subsequently attended English College, Johor
Baru. Then he enrolled in Raffles College where he obtained a Diploma in Arts in 1947. Due to
determination to continue his education, later he continued his studies at the University of
Malaya (UM) and graduated with a first class Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree in 1951.
Ungku Aziz obtained his Doctorate in Economics in 1964 from Waseda University, Tokyo.
Ungku Aziz joins University of Malaya, Singapore as an economics lecturer in 1952. In
1961 he appointed as full professorship and became Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the
University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. In 1968, Ungku Aziz ascended as a Vice Chancellor of the
University of Malaya, becoming the first Malaysian and the longest serving person to hold the
post.
On 17 June 1978 Ungku Aziz was awarded with the title of Professor Diraja (Royal
Professorship) of Economics (Rural Development) by DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang
Dipertuan Agong and remains the sole Malaysian to hold the title.
Ungku Aziz retired as Vice Chancellor in 1988. As an Emeritus Professor after
retirement, he still active in the economic development of Malaysia. He holds directorships in
several companies and continues involve in many national and international institutions.

Contributions

Ungku Aziz had spent a lot of time in research in order to tackle domestic poverty issues.
The problem of poverty in the rural Muslim Malay community has led Ungku Aziz spent a lot of
time in research to find the root causes of rural poverty in Malaysia, as well as identify the
methods used to eradicate poverty.
Ungku Aziz formulates Sarong Index as a measurement index of rural poverty, and
Theory of Neglect as the cause of why rural poverty occurs. In his theory, low productivity,
discrimination and institutionalized obstacles are the three main major factors causing rural
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poverty in Malaysia posited by him. He has constantly sought to improve the standard of living
of the rural Muslim Malay community.
He also was directly involved in the implementation of the New Economic Policy or
Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) under the direction of the second Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun
Abdul Razak. DEB's main purpose is to eradicate poverty in rural areas. The first generation of
the DEB was first introduced have been successful. It has produced many educators, doctors and
engineers among the rural Malay Muslim.
As to improve the standard of living among rural Muslim Malay community, Ungku Aziz
encourages rural cooperation through cooperatives. As a president of ANGKASA, (The National
Co-operative Movement of Malaysia) is an organization which acts as the apex body for
Malaysian cooperatives, he educates the Malaysian public on the benefits of cooperative.
As an economist, Ungku Aziz is best known for his work on rural poverty and
development, and on the productivity of labor. He was one of the founding members of the
Malaysian Economic Association, a think tank dedicated to discussing Malaysian economic
issues. The objectives of Malaysian Economic Association are to stimulate public interest in
economics, to encourage the study of economic particularly in Malaysia environment and
discussions of economic problems occur in Malaysia. Besides, the association also undertakes
such economic activities as deems appropriate for the advanced Malaysian economic.
Another contribution of Ungku Aziz is the creation of Lembaga Urusan dan Tabung Haji
(the Pilgrims' Fund and Management Board, generally referred to as Tabung Haji). It was among
Ungku Aziz's most significant accomplishments of Muslims society in Malaysia. The idea
behind the establishment of Tabung Haji was to provide a platform for Muslims to make savings
for performing the Haj, as well as a room for investment which governed by Islamic principles.
Tabung Haji has two important roles in early development. First is responsible for
preparing pilgrims for the Haj and managing the logistical issues including hospitality, such as
plane tickets and accommodation. Secondly, in its fund management role, in accordance with its
Islamic focus, Ungku Aziz introduces profit sharing, parallel with the Sharia principle as a means
of income generation for the Tabung Haji depositors
In academic contribution, Ungku Aziz played an important role when he mooted the idea
of establishing the Pusat Asasi Sains in Universiti of Malaya Kuala Lumpur. Based on his
experience in the 1970s, the enrollment of Malay Muslim students into the medical faculty only
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five. Through the establishment of this institution, Malay Muslim students from poor families
have a good opportunity to enter the field of medicine, engineering and science. Ungku Aziz
contribution gives an added value in the Muslim community in Malaysia nowadays. The
establishment of Pusat Asasi Sains triggered to the creation of matriculation in Malaysia in the
present.

SUP-TOPIC

1. Malay Thriving Economy

Malay society is synonymous with Islam and most of them were live in rural area in the era of
independence period. The fact is that the level of impoverished of the Malays too critical till they
not have anything to eat daily.

2. Sarong Index improves the rural economies

3. The significance of cooperatives in development of rural financial

4. Tabung Haji he hallmarks of excellence Malaysian Muslims