Nazir Ahmad Mallal (1904 – 19 February 1974[1]) was a Singaporean lawyer who was the founder (with MJ Namazie) of one of Singapore's earliest law firms, Mallal and Namazie, in 1933. He served as a member of the Legislative Council, with two consecutive terms of office from 1948 to 1955.
Nazir Ahmad Mallal | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Council for Municipal South-West Constituency | |
| In office 20 March 1948 – 16 February 1951 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Majority | 2,484 (25.45%) |
| Member of the Legislative Council for City Constituency | |
| In office 10 April 1951 – 5 February 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Majority | 283 (11.63%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1904 |
| Died | 19 February 1974 (aged 69–70) Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore |
| Party | Progressive Party |
| Alma mater | Raffles Institution University of London Middle Temple |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Early life and education
editMallal was born in Domel, British India, (present-day Pakistan) in 1904. He was the younger brother of Bashir Ahmad Mallal, the founder of the Malayan Law Journal.[2]
He was educated at Raffles Institution, University of London and Middle Temple.[3]
Career
editIn 1933, Mallal and MJ Namazie founded Mallal and Namazie, one of Singapore's earliest law firms.[4]
Mallal was the president of the Singapore Indian Association from 1933 to 1934.[5]
Following the end of the Japanese occupation and Singapore's separation from the Straits Settlements as a Crown Colony, he was a founder of the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association (SATA) in 1947,[6] and the Singapore Co-operative Stores Society.[7][8]
Political career
editMallal was the Municipal Commissioner from 1937 to 1947.[5]
In 1947, Mallal founded the Progressive Party (PP), Singapore's first political party, with Tan Chye Cheng and John Laycock.[9][10] He contested the general elections from 1948 to 1955, under the PP banner, which he and was subsequently elected as a member of the Legislative Council for the Municipal South-West Constituency from April 1948 to February 1951, and the City Constituency from April 1951 to February 1955.[5][11]
Personal life
editDuring World War II, Mallal fought with the British Indian Army as a captain.[3]
He married Margaret Mallal and the couple had two daughters and one son.
Mallal died on 19 February 1974 of a heart attack in Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore.[12]
References
edit- ↑ "Lawyer Mallal dies aged 70". The Straits Times. 20 February 1974. p. 7. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ Tan, Kevin Yew Lee (1991). "MALLAL'S DIGEST OF MALAYSIAN AND SINGAPORE CASE LAW 1808-1988. (Fourth Edition). Volume 1. By MALAYAN LAW JOURNAL AND VARIOUS SPECIALIST EDITORS. [Singapore: Malayan Law Journal. 1990. lvii + 489 pp. Hardcover: S$400.00 per volume]" (PDF). Singapore Journal of Legal Studies: 274–277.
- 1 2 "Record of candidates". The Straits Times. 14 March 1955. p. 2 – via NewspaperSG.
- ↑ "history". Mallal & Namazie.
- 1 2 3 "Portrait of Mr. N.A. Mallal, founding member of Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association". National Library Board.
- ↑ "Our history and milestones". Sata CommHealth.
- ↑ "Mr N.Mallal". Singapore Standard. 30 March 1951. p. 2 – via NewspaperSG.
- ↑ Daniel, R.O. (1987). Co-operative societies in Singapore 1925-1985. Singapore National Co-operative Federation. ISBN 9971847043.
- ↑ "Singapore Progressive Party is formed". National Library Board. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "New Singapore political party". Singapore Free Press. 26 August 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 7 January 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
- ↑ Pugalenthi, S.R. (1996). Elections in Singapore. University of Michigan: VJ Times. ISBN 9789812210258.
- ↑ "Lawyer Mallal dies aged 70". The Straits Times. 20 February 1974. p. 7. Retrieved 16 February 2026.