Syed Ibrahim bin Omar Alsagoff

Syed Ibrahim bin Omar Alsagoff (Dato) (b. 28 April 1899, Mecca–d. 20 July 1975, Singapore),¹ popularly known as S. I. O. Alsagoff,² was the head of local Arab companies – Alsagoff & Co. and S. O. Alsagoff.³ He was also the consul for several Arabic countries, as well as a community leader appointed by the British government in Singapore. A key member of the local Muslim community, he helped bridge the community’s relations with Arabic and British leaders.⁴

Early life
Syed Ibrahim’s Singapore-born father, Syed Omar bin Mohamed Alsagoff,⁵ was well known in the local Arab and Islamic communities, particularly for the lavish parties held at his Bukit Tunggal residence.⁶

Syed Ibrahim was born in Mecca, where he grew up and received his formal education.⁷ He was closely associated with the royalty and nobles of Arabia, particularly King Hussain of the Hedjaz and his successor, King Abdul Aziz bin Saud.⁸ Syed Ibrahim served as a member of the Legislative Council of the Hedjaz twice – first in 1923 when he was appointed by King Hussain and then in 1926 by King Abdul Aziz bin Saud.⁹ In appreciation of his services, Syed Ibrahim was conferred the Order of the Rising of the Arabs by King Hussain.¹⁰

Family business
By end 1926, Syed Omar sent Syed Ibrahim to Singapore to assist in their family-owned company, S. O. Alsagoff, a Muslim pilgrim agency with a branch office in Jeddah.¹¹

After his father’s death in 1927, Syed Ibrahim assumed responsibility for the family business. He became the company’s senior partner, but by 1955 was taking charge of it.¹² Being in the business of sending Muslim pilgrims from the region to Mecca, Syed Ibrahim’s good connections in Arabia went a long way in enhancing business relations. He once said that he had performed the haj, or pilgrimage, at least 17 times.¹³

In addition, Syed Ibrahim was the sole proprietor of another family business, Alsagoff & Co.¹⁴

Properties
Well known as a landowner, Syed Ibrahim’s properties included islands. In 1931, he purchased Pulau Bulang (also known as Poelau Boelan). The transaction included all the assets of Pulau Bulang Rubber Co. Ltd., which had been under the Dutch company, Naamlooze Vennootschap Exploitatio Maatschappy.¹⁵ As the estate owner, Syed Ibrahim turned the faltering company around.¹⁶

Syed Ibrahim also owned the Sungei Samah Estates in Rhio, and reportedly sold a Straits isle to Baron Empain, a rich Belgian financier.¹⁷

Community and religious contributions
A respected spokesman for the local Muslim community, Syed Ibrahim held numerous positions in various social and religious organisations, including chairman of the Singapore Muslim Advisory Board from 1947 to 1964 and president of the All-Malaya Muslim Missionary Society.¹⁸ He contributed financially to the construction of various mosques and buildings such as the Abdul Alim Mosque, the Muslim College and the premises of the All-Malaya Muslim Missionary Society.¹⁹

Passionate about improving education for local Muslims, Syed Ibrahim sought to further Islamic education in Malaya through the establishment of a Muslim college.²⁰ To set up the college, he chaired a committee, which completed its report in September 1949.²¹ The Muslim College was completed in 1954, and Syed Ibrahim headed its first council from 1954 to 1958.²²

From 1936 to 1939, Syed Ibrahim published the monthly journal, Genuine Islam, with Khalil Anwari as editor. They aimed to use profits from the journal to fund the missionary activities of the All Malaya Muslim Missionary Society. First published in January 1936, the journal served as a platform for the exchange of Eastern and Western thoughts on Islam, highlighting news on Islam and particularly the challenges facing Muslim Palestinians. The publication, however, had a short print run due to a shortage of funds.²³

As a voice for the local Muslim community, Syed Ibrahim’s letters were frequently featured in The Straits Times as he spoke up on behalf of the community.²⁴

Besides serving as a vital link between Malayan Muslims and their religious centre in Arabia, Syed Ibrahim was also appointed to various positions in the colonial government, including justice of the peace (1936) and municipal commissioner (1940). He continued in the latter role after World War II.²⁵

Appointed by the King of Iraq, Syed Ibrahim was the consul for Iraq in Singapore in 1950.²⁶ In 1952, the state of Johor conferred on Syed Ibrahim the Family Order of Johor.²⁷

Residences in Singapore
Syed Ibrahim had several residences. In the 1920s, he stayed at 11 Chancery Lane in a mansion known as Omaran.²⁸ During the 1930s, he resided at 41 Chancery Lane, which was known as Darul Salam.²⁹

Death
Syed Ibrahim died on 20 July 1975 and was buried in Changi at the Ayer Gemoroh Muslim cemetery.³⁰

Appointments
Government
1923: Appointed by King Hussein as a member of the Legislative Council of Hejaz
1926: Appointed as member of the Legislative Assembly of Saudi Arabia³¹
1936: Appointed as justice of the peace, Singapore³²
1941–1954: Municipal commissioner and later city councillor, Singapore³³
1946: Member, Advisory Council, British Military Administration³⁴
1950: Appointed as first honorary consul for Iraq in Singapore³⁵
1960: Appointed as honorary consul for Tunisia and accorded the High Order of the Republic of Tunisia, Class II³⁶
1963: Appointed as honorary consul for Turkey in Singapore³⁷
1965: Appointed as consul-general for Saudi Arabia for Federation of Malaysia³⁸

Social, community and religious organisations
1928: Appointed as president, Hadhramaut Welfare Congress³⁹
1933–1957: President, All-Malaya Muslim Missionary Society (Jamiyah)⁴⁰
1947–1964: Chairman, Muslim Advisory Board (formerly known as the Mohammedan Advisory Board).⁴¹ He became a member of the Mohammedan Advisory Board in 1928 and later served as its first president.⁴²
President, Arabic Social and Literary Club.⁴³
Committee member, After Care Association⁴⁴
Committee member, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals⁴⁵
President, Inter-religious Organisation of Singapore and Johore for three terms, and then served as a council member⁴⁶
Permanent committee adviser, the General Young Muslim Association of Cairo⁴⁷
Member, Singapore Rotary Club⁴⁸



Author
Bonny Tan



References
1. “Muslim Office Bearers,” Straits Times, 20 April 1952, 5; “Saudi Envoy Alsagoff Dies, 76,” Straits Times, 21 July 1975, 14 (From NewspaperSG); Who’s Who in Malaya, 1939: A Biographical Record of Prominent Members of Malaya’s Community in Official, Professional and Commercial Circles (Singapore: Fishers, 1939), 30. (Call no. RCLOS 920.9595 WHO-[RFL])
2. “Mr. S. I. O. Alsagoff,” Malaya Tribune, 13 July 1936, 10. (From NewspaperSG)
3. “More Colony Trade With Middle East Sought,” Straits Times, 2 November 1956, 14; “Leaders of Business in Malaya,” Straits Times, 2 April 1953, 10. (From NewspaperSG)
4. Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied, “The Role of Hadramis in Post-Second World War Singapore – a Reinterpretation,” Immigrants & Minorities 25, no. 2 (2007): 169; “Local Arab Leader’s Tribute to Britain,” Straits Times, 17 August 1936, 13. (From NewspaperSG)
5. “Leaders of Business in Malaya.”   
6. Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia: A.H. 1240 (A.D. 1824)–A.H. 1382 (A.D. 1962) (Singapore: Author, 1963), 15 (Call no. RCLOS 929.2095957 ALS); “At Bukit Tunggal,” Malaya Tribune, 4 January 1916, 5. (From NewspaperSG)
7. “Envoy Heads Religious Council in Republic,” Straits Times, 18 September 1966, 14. (From NewspaperSG)
8. “Local Arab Leader’s Tribute to Britain”; Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 29.
9. “Mainly About Malayans,” Straits Times, 26 September 1937, 9. (From NewspaperSG)
10. “Leaders of Business in Malaya.”   
11. “Envoy Heads Religious Council in Republic”; Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 15.
12. “Supreme Court,” Malaya Tribune, 17 November 1927, 7 (From NewspaperSG); Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 29.
13. “More Colony Trade With Middle East Sought”; “Seventeen Times to Mecca,” Straits Times, 18 July 1936, 13. (From NewspaperSG)
14. Who’s Who in Malaya, 1939, 30.
15. “The Pulau Bulang Company,” Straits Times, 9 July 1931, 12 (From NewspaperSG); Who’s Who in Malaya, 1939, 30.
16. “Pulau Bulang,” Straits Times, 17 January 1934, 12. (From NewspaperSG)
17. Who’s Who in Malaya, 1939, 30; “Mainly About Malayans.” 
18. “Envoy Heads Religious Council in Republic”; Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 29.
19. Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 30–31.
20. “New Muslim College May Be Up in 3 Years,” Sunday Tribune (Singapore), 5 March 1950, 3. (From NewspaperSG)
21. Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 30.
22. Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 30.
23. “‘Genuine Islam’,” Straits Times, 23 January 1936, 10; Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied, “The Role of Hadramis in Post-Second World War Singapore – a Reinterpretation,” 172.
24. S. I. O. Alsagoff, “General Will of Muslims,” Straits Times, 14 February 1957, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
25. “‘Britain and Egypt Allies for Over Century’,” Sunday Tribune (Singapore), 4 October 1936, 2 (From NewspaperSG); “Local Arab Leader’s Tribute to Britain”; “Envoy Heads Religious Council in Republic.”
26. “Alsagoff To Be Consul,” Straits Times, 22 November 1950, 9. (From NewspaperSG)
27. “Johore Honours a Singapore Man,” Straits Times, 2 March 1952, 13. (From NewspaperSG)
28. “Untitled,” Straits Times, 20 September 1923, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
29. “Celebration by Moslems,” Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), 9 June 1934, 2. (From NewspaperSG)
30. “Saudi Envoy Alsagoff Dies, 76.”
31. “Envoy Heads Religious Council in Republic.”
32. Who’s Who in Malaya, 1939, 30; “Mr. S. I. O. Alsagoff.”
33. “New Municipal Commissioner,” Sunday Tribune (Singapore), 2 February 1941, 7 (From NewspaperSG); “Alsagoff To Be Consul”; “Envoy Heads Religious Council in Republic.”
34. “Envoy Heads Religious Council in Republic.”
35. “Alsagoff To Be Consul.”
36. Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 30.
37. “Consul for Iraq,” Straits Times, 17 January 1963, 18. (From NewspaperSG)
38. “Consul-General for Arabia,” Straits Times, 10 February 1965, 5. (From NewspaperSG)
39. Eva Chong, “Seven Men Who Speak for Strangers in the Colony,” Sunday Standard, 20 May 1951, 11. (From NewspaperSG)
40. “Envoy Heads Religious Council in Republic”; Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied, “The Role of Hadramis in Post-Second World War Singapore – a Reinterpretation,” 169.
41. N. Mamat, “First Muslim Chairman of Muslim Advisory Board,” Malaya Tribune, 6 October 1947, 5 (From NewspaperSG); “Envoy Heads Religious Council in Republic.”
42. N. Mamat, “First Muslim Chairman of Muslim Advisory Board”; Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied, “The Role of Hadramis in Post-Second World War Singapore – a Reinterpretation,” 169.
43. “Celebration by Moslems.”
44. Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 29.
45. N. Mamat, “First Muslim Chairman of Muslim Advisory Board.”
46. Syed Mohsen Alsagoff, The Alsagoff Family in Malaysia, 30.
47. Who’s Who in Malaya, 1939, 30.
48. “Leaders of Business in Malaya.”   



Further resource
“Arab Support for Patriotic Fund,” Straits Times, 19 September 1939, 12. (From NewspaperSG)



The information in this article is valid as at 2017 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.