Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Datuk Nik Ahmad Kamil Nik Mahmud |
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Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat | |
In office 11 November 1974 – 20 December 1977 |
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Preceded by | Chik Mohamad Yusuf Sheikh Abdul Rahman |
Succeeded by | Syed Nasir Ismail |
Menteri Besar of Kelantan | |
In office 1944–1953 |
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Preceded by | Nik Mahmud Ismail |
Succeeded by | Tengku Hamzah Zainal Abidin |
Personal details | |
Born |
Kota Bharu, Kelantan |
7 July 1909
Died | 20 December 1977 Kuala Lumpur |
(aged 68)
Political party | UMNO – BN |
Religion | Sunni Islam |
Tan Sri Nik Ahmad Kamil bin Nik Mahmud (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 the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in the state of Kelantan, he served as the fourth Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Malaysian Parliament.
Nik Ahmad Kamil was a lawyer and a member of the Bar. His daughter, Nik Mariah was also a lawyer and member of the Bar.
Nik Ahmad Kamil was born in Kota Bharu in 1909. His father, Nik Mahmud Nik Ismail was the Menteri Besar of Kelantan. He was educated at Madrasah Muhammadiah, Kota Bharu and Malay College Kuala Kangsar. After studying Arts at the University of Bristol, he obtained his Bachelor of Laws from Lincoln's Inn in 1930. He was called to the Bar that year.
He joined the Kelantan civil service under the British colonial administration in 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.
From 1946 to 1948, during the Malayan Union period, 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 the Malays and their rulers. He represented PKM at the first Pan-Malayan Malay Congress in Johor Bahru in 1946 which saw the founding of the United 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 new Federation of Malaya until 1953.