DR. BURHANUDDIN AL-HELMI: PANDANGAN SARJANAWAN TEMPATAN TERHADAP PEMIKIRAN DAN PERJUANGANNYA

DR. BURHANUDDIN AL-HELMI: A STUDY OF LOCAL SCHOLARS’ VIEW OF HIS THOUGHTS AND STRUGGLES

Abstract

This article discusses Malaysian scholars’ views on Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmi’s thoughts and activism. He was one of the prominent political figure and thinker since colonial times and after independence. As a Malay nationalism activist who was moderately ‘leftist’, he did not cooperate with the British in pursuit of the country’s independence. Research on Dr. Burhanuddin’s thoughts and struggles are often penned by local historians and political writers, and these research only utilised sources that were written and reviewed by scholars within their circle. Most of the article reviews found were done by way of academic study of and general reading on Dr. Burhanuddin, especially Ramlah Adam, Saliha Haji Hassan and Ismail Said. While Dr. Burhanuddin’s political thoughts also caught the interest of writers within from the former PAS members such as Saari Sungib and Kamaruddin Jaafar. Hence, this article attempts to  identify the views of these scholars on Dr. Burhanuddin’s thoughts and struggles in secular politics and Malay nationalism in order to rise up against the colonisers. Some scholars displayed a biasness towards his struggles. Hence, this article will unravel the positive and negative views on Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmi.   Received:​​ ​1 May 20​20

Reviewed: ​​​​​2 May 20​20

Accepted: ​8 ​October 20​20​