Violet Coulson

Last updated April 15, 2019

Violet Coulson was the second wife of Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, ; was a Malaysian politician who served as the first Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955 to 1957, before becoming Malaya's first Prime Minister after independence in 1957. He remained Prime Minister following the formation of Malaysia in 1963, when Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore merged with Malaya, until his resignation in 1970.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the head of government and the highest political office in Malaysia. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints Prime Minister as a Member of Parliament (MP) who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs. The Prime Minister chairs the Cabinet of Malaysia, the de facto executive branch of government. On 18 October 2018, 7th Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, announced a two-term limit to all Cabinet Profolio.

Friendship

Tunku had met Coulson in 1927, during his second year as a law student in London. She was an attractive lady who managed a restaurant where many Malayan students had their meals. When Tunku got tired of his law studies, he and Coulson would sometimes go dancing together. In 1933, while the Tunku was still married to his first wife Meriam Chong, he brought Violet to visit Medan, Indonesia.

London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames in the south-east of England, at the head of its 50-mile (80 km) estuary leading to the North Sea, London has been a major settlement for two millennia. Londinium was founded by the Romans. The City of London, London's ancient core − an area of just 1.12 square miles (2.9 km²) and colloquially known as the Square Mile − retains boundaries that follow closely its medieval limits. The City of Westminster is also an Inner London borough holding city status. Greater London is governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

The term "British Malaya" loosely describes a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries. Unlike the term "British India", which excludes the Indian princely states, British Malaya is often used to refer to the Malay States under indirect British rule as well as the Straits Settlements that were under the sovereignty of the British Crown.

Lady Meriam Chong Abdullah, also known as Chong Ah Mei or Mariam Abdullah, was the first wife of Tunku Abdul Rahman, who later became the founding father and the first Prime Minister of Malaysia.

When news of Meriam's death reached Coulson she handed over the management of her restaurant in London and sailed for Singapore without the Tunku's knowledge. Upon arriving in Singapore, she wrote to the Tunku informing him of her arrival. Tunku immediately took the train to Singapore and met Coulson at her hotel. Together they talked about old times and their long friendship.

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island city-state in Southeast Asia. It lies one degree north of the equator, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, with Indonesia's Riau Islands to the south and Peninsular Malaysia to the north. Singapore's territory consists of one main island along with 62 other islets. Since independence, extensive land reclamation has increased its total size by 23%. The country is known for its transition from a developing to a developed one in a single generation under the leadership of its founder Lee Kuan Yew.

Marriage

Tunku secretly married Coulson in Geylang Serai, Singapore, witnessed by Syed Ahmad al-Sagoff, according to Islamic rites. After their marriage, Coulson stayed in Penang, and Tunku stayed alone in Kuala Nerang, where he was District Officer, in order to avoid public criticism.

Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. The second smallest Malaysian state by land mass, Penang is bordered by Kedah to the north and the east, and Perak to the south. Currently, Penang is home to Southeast Asia's Longest bridge connecting the island to mainland.

Kuala Nerang is the capital of Padang Terap District, Kedah, Malaysia. It is located on the northern part of Kedah.

There was a law in Kedah which forbade members of the royal family to marry non-Malays without the prior approval of the Sultan of Kedah or the Regent. Tunku Ibrahim, the Regent, was known to be strongly opposed to mixed marriages, but he died unexpectedly in 1934 and was succeeded as Regent by Tunku Mahmud, the Sultan's younger brother, who was more broadminded and gave consent to the marriage. This enabled Coulson to move to Kuala Nerang to be with her husband, but the Secretary to the Government showed his disapproval by transferring the Tunku to the isolated post of District Officer of Langkawi.

Kedah, also known by its honorific Darul Aman or "Abode of Peace", is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and the Langkawi islands. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice, while Langkawi is an archipelago, most of which are uninhabited islands.

Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah, is a district and an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border. On 15 July 2008, Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah consented to the change of name to Langkawi Permata Kedah in conjunction with his golden jubilee celebration. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Langkawi Island, with a population of some 64,792; the only other inhabited island being nearby Tuba Island.

S.W Jones M.C.S, who was the acting British Advisor in Kedah, visited Langkawi and was so impressed by the initiative and improvements shown by the Tunku that he persuaded the Council of State to transfer Tunku and to promote him to the post of District Officer of Sungai Petani, the second most important district in Kedah.

Sungai Petani is a town in Kuala Muda District, Kedah, Malaysia. Sungai Petani is Kedah's largest town and is located about 55 km south of Alor Setar, the capital of Kedah, and 33 km northeast of George Town, the capital city of the neighbouring state of Penang.

Separation and divorce

Langkawi has been a Shangri-La for Coulson, but Sungai Petani was a busy town and the centre of a large district, in which Tunku's every moment was occupied. Coulson was no longer happy and Tunku had little time to spare. Like other ex-patriates, Coulson often socialised with the British officers' wives. Tunku and Coulson argued often, but in 1937 Coulson sarcastically teased that Malay women were uncivilized and stupid, provoking the Tunku's fury. Coulson decided to return to London in 1937.

In 1938, due to a disagreement with the British-led Kedah state government, Tunku applied for a long leave and left for England to study Law for the third time. He was reunited with Coulson and their relationship improved although they did not divorce officially. Tunku returned to Kedah in 1939 due to the war in Europe. According to official records, Tunku was ordered to divorce Coulson by the Regent of Kedah. The couple divorced officially in 1946.

Coulson then resumed the management of her restaurant in London. She later married an American who served in the United States armed forces as Judge Advocate in England.

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References

Putera Negara; 1987, Firma Publishing, Aziz Zarina Ahmad.

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