View source for Hussein Onn

{{Short description|Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1976 to 1981}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Malay name|Hussein|Onn|note=on}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[Malay styles and titles#Honorary styles|Yang Amat Berbahagia]] [[Malay styles and titles#Tun|Tun]]
| native_name_lang    = ms
| name                = Hussein Onn
| native_name         = {{nobold|حسين عون}}
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=MYS|size=100|DK I (Johor)|DK I (Terengganu)|DK (Kelantan)|DK II (Selangor)|SMN|SPMJ|SPCM|SIMP|SPNS|DUPN|SPDK|SSIJ|DP|PIS}}
| image               = [[File:Tun_Hussein_Onn.jpg|275px]]
| caption             = Portrait, {{circa|1960s}}
<!-- Highest government office -->
| office              = 3rd [[Prime Minister of Malaysia]]
| term_start          = 15 January 1976
| term_end            = 16 July 1981
| monarch             = {{Unbulleted list
 |[[Yahya Petra of Kelantan|Yahya Petra]]
 |[[Ahmad Shah of Pahang|Ahmad Shah]]
 }}
| deputy              = [[Mahathir Mohamad]]
| predecessor         = [[Abdul Razak Hussein]]
| successor           = Mahathir Mohamad
<!-- Highest party office -->
| office2             = [[President of the United Malays National Organisation]]<br>{{small|(''ex officio'': Chairman of [[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| term_start2         = 14 January 1976
| term_end2           = 28 June 1981
| predecessor2        = Abdul Razak Hussein
| successor2          = Mahathir Mohamad
<!-- Other ministerial offices -->
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |cont = yes |Ministerial portfolios
| titlestyle          = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder
| embed               = yes
| office3             = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia]]
| monarch3            = {{Unbulleted list 
|Abdul Halim
|Yahya Petra
}}
| 1blankname3         = {{nowrap|Prime Minister}}
| 1namedata3          = Abdul Razak Hussein
| term_start3         = 13 August 1973
| term_end3           = 15 January 1976
| predecessor3        = [[Ismail Abdul Rahman]]
| successor3          = Mahathir Mohamad
<!-- Simplified positions -->
| title5              = [[Cabinet of Malaysia|Minister]]
| subterm5            = 1979{{ndash}}1981
| suboffice5          = Defence
| subterm6            = 1978{{ndash}}1980
| suboffice6          = [[Minister of Federal Territories (Malaysia)|Federal Territories]]
| subterm7            = 1976{{ndash}}1978
| suboffice7          = [[Minister of Defence (Malaysia)|Defence]]
| subterm8            = 1974{{ndash}}1976
| suboffice8          = [[Minister of Finance (Malaysia)|Finance]]
| subterm9            = 1973{{ndash}}1974
| suboffice9          = [[Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (Malaysia)|Trade and Industry]]
| subterm10            = 1970{{ndash}}1973
| suboffice10          = [[Minister of Education (Malaysia)|Education]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}} }}
<!-- Parliamentary office -->
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |cont = yes |Parliamentary offices
| titlestyle          = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder
| embed               = yes
| office12             = Member of Parliament<br/>for [[Sri Gading (federal constituency)|Sri Gading]]
| term_start12         = 4 November 1974
| term_end12           = 16 July 1981
| predecessor12        = ''Constituency established''
| successor12          = [[Mustaffa Mohammad]]
<!-- Second parliamentary office. -->
| office13             = Member of Parliament<br/>for [[Johore Bahru Timor|Johor Bahru Timor]]
| term_start13         = 11 May 1969
| term_end13           = 31 July 1974{{efn|Parliament suspended between 15 May 1969 and 20 February 1971.}}
| predecessor13        = [[Fatimah Abdul Majid]]
| successor13          = ''Constituency abolished''
{{Collapsed infobox section end}} }}
<!-- Political positions. -->
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |cont = yes |Political positions
| titlestyle          = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder
| embed               = yes
<!-- Simplified positions -->
| subterm8            = 1976{{ndash}}1981
| suboffice8          = Chairman of [[Barisan Nasional]]
| subterm9            = 1949{{ndash}}1950
| suboffice9          = Leader of [[UMNO Youth]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}} }}
<!-- Other non-political positions. -->
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |cont = yes |Other positions
| titlestyle          = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder
| embed               = yes
<!-- Simplified positions -->
| subterm10          = 1983{{ndash}}1987
| suboffice10        = President of [[International Islamic University Malaysia]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}} }}
| birth_name          = Hussein bin Onn
| birth_date          = {{birth date|df=y|1922|02|12}}
| birth_place         = [[Johor Bahru]], Johor, [[Unfederated Malay States]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=y|1990|05|29|1922|02|12}}
| death_place         = [[San Mateo, California]], U.S.
| resting_place       = [[Makam Pahlawan]], Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| party               = {{unbulleted list
 |[[UMNO]] (1949{{ndash}}1951; 1968{{ndash}}1988)
 |[[Independence of Malaya Party|IMP]] (1951{{ndash}}1963)
 |[[Parti Negara|Negara]] (1963{{ndash}}1968)
}}
| otherparty          = {{unbulleted list
 |[[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance]] (1968{{ndash}}1973)
 |[[Barisan Nasional|BN]] (1974{{ndash}}1988)
}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Suhailah Noah]]|1948}}
| children            = 6 (including [[Hishammuddin Hussein|Hishamuddin]])
| mother              = Halimah Hussein
| father              = [[Onn Jaafar]]
| education           = {{unbulleted list|[[English College Johore Bahru]]|[[Indian Military Academy]]}}
| alma_mater          = {{unbulleted list
 |[[Lincoln's Inn]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
}}
| awards              = [[Hussein Onn#Awards and recognitions|Full list]]
| signature           = 
| allegiance          = 
| branch              = [[Johor Military Forces]]<br/>[[British Indian Army]]
| rank                = [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
| serviceyears        = 1940{{ndash}}1945
| battles             = [[World War II]]
| unit                = 
}}
'''Hussein bin Onn''' ({{langx|ms-Arab|حسين بن عون|label=[[Jawi script|Jawi]]}}; 12 February 1922 – 29 May 1990) was a Malaysian lawyer and politician who served as the third [[prime minister of Malaysia]] from 1976 to 1981.

== Early life, family and education ==
Hussein Onn was born on 12 February 1922 in [[Johor Bahru]] to an aristocratic family.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Wariya |first=Chamil |date=1989 |title=Leadership Change and Security In Malaysia: From the Days of the Tunku to Dr Mahathir Mohamad |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25798056 |journal=Contemporary Southeast Asia |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=160–185 |issn=0129-797X}}</ref> His father, [[Onn Jaafar]] (1895–1962) was a pioneer of [[early Malay nationalism]] and helped found the [[United Malays National Organisation]] (UMNO), serving as its inaugural president. His mother was Halimah Hussein (1900–1988). Hussein's grandfather, [[Jaafar Haji Muhammad]], was the first [[Menteri Besar of Johor]], or Chief Minister, while his grandmother, Rogayah Hanim, is generally understood to have come from the [[Caucasus]] region of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. She was likely presented as a concubine (see [[Circassian beauties]]) by the Ottoman court to the [[Sultan of Johor]], but her exact origins are unclear.<ref name="Rogayah">{{Cite journal |author1=Mehmet Ozay |author2=Ekrem Saltık |date=June 2015 |title=The Myth and Reality of Rukiye Hanim in the Context of Turkish Malay Relations (1864–1904) |journal=İnsan & Toplum Dergisi (The Journal of Human & Society) |volume=5 |issue=9 |pages=55–74 |doi=10.12658/human.society.5.9.M0116 |doi-access=free}}</ref>{{efn|Though Hussein ordered an investigation into Rogayah's heritage, its findings have never been made public. Hussein's brother Jaafar believes that she may have come from a region of the Caucasus such as [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] or [[Circassia]], or was perhaps a Russian Muslim. His sister Azizah has referred to Rogayah as a Turk, while the al-Attas family has claimed she had no Turkish heritage.<ref name="Rogayah" />}} Through Rogayah, Hussein is also cousin to academics [[Ungku Abdul Aziz]], [[Syed Hussein Alatas]], and [[Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mahadzir |first=Dzireena |date=1 April 2007 |title=Taking root, branching out |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/4/1/lifefocus/17281586&sec=lifefocus |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408093155/http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/4/1/lifefocus/17281586&sec=lifefocus |archive-date=8 April 2009 |access-date=8 August 2025 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref>

Hussein married [[Suhailah Noah]], a daughter of first [[Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat]] [[Mohamed Noah Omar]], in 1948. [[Abdul Razak Hussein]] was his brother-in-law by virtue of his marriage to another of Mohamed Noah's daughters, [[Rahah Noah]].<ref name="malayinsider2">{{cite news |date=4 October 2014 |title=Tun Suhailah, widow of 3rd PM Tun Hussein Onn, dies at 82 |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/tun-suhailah-widow-of-3rd-pm-tun-hussein-onn-dies-at-82 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023023912/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/tun-suhailah-widow-of-3rd-pm-tun-hussein-onn-dies-at-82 |archive-date=23 October 2014 |access-date=22 October 2014 |work=[[The Malaysian Insider]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Hussein received his early education at [[Telok Kurau Primary School]], Singapore,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-21 |title=Registry of pupils including Lee Kuan Yew among artefacts being considered for Founders' Memorial |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/primary-school-registry-with-lee-kuan-yews-name-in-it-among-artefacts-submitted-for-founders-memorial |access-date=2025-08-11 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> and at [[English College Johore Bahru]]. Hussein's Grade 2 result in his [[Senior Cambridge]] exams rendered him ineligible for either [[Raffles College]] or the [[King Edward VII College of Medicine]], which combined with the outbreak of [[World War II]], led him to join the [[Johor Military Forces]] as a cadet in 1940. A year later, he was sent to the [[Indian Military Academy]] in [[Dehradun]], India. By the completion of his training, what was meant to be a two-year ordeal condensed into eight months, Malaya had been [[Japanese occupation of Malaya|occupied by Japan]] and Hussein was commissioned into the [[19th Hyderabad Regiment]] of the [[British Indian Army]] as a [[second lieutenant]]. Initially assigned to train new recruits in [[Agra]], Hussein was later sent to the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Middle Eastern theatre]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Prime Ministers of Malaysia {{!}} Visual Timeline |url=https://www.perdana.org.my/pms-of-malaysia/visual-timelines/prime-ministers-of-malaysia/ |access-date=11 August 2025 |website=[[Perdana Leadership Foundation]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In early 1943, Hussein was called to [[New Delhi]] to serve as part of the military intelligence department of the British Military Headquarters in preparation for the British invasion of Malaya. He was later posted to [[Rawalpindi]] as an instructor at the Malayan Police Recruiting and Training Centre, where he instructed a police force that would enforce order upon British re-occupation. Hussein was part of the second wave of an invasion force heading towards Malaya when the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanesese surrendered]], whereupon he was diverted to [[Yangon]] before arriving in [[Singapore]] in 1945.<ref name=":5" />

Following his return, Hussein was appointed the Commandant of the Johor Bahru Police Depot under the [[British Military Administration (Malaya)|British Military Administration]], where he was responsible for re-establishing a police force. When the military administration was replaced by civilian rule the following year, Hussein opted to leave the army when it refused to grant Malay officers equal status to their British counterparts. He instead joined the [[Civil service in Malaysia|Malay Administrative Service]], becoming the assistant district officer for [[Kuala Selangor]] and later [[Klang (city)|Klang]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 August 1973 |title=Datuk Hussein: A leader like Tun Ismail... |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19730814-1.2.68 |access-date=8 August 2025 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=12}}</ref> He left the service in 1949, opting to commit to politics.<ref name=":5" />

Hussein went to London to study law at [[Lincoln's Inn]] in 1952. He passed his exams in 1960 and was [[called to the Bar]] in 1961.<ref name=":5" />
{{Conservatism in Malaysia|People}}

== Early political and legal career ==
When Hussein's father Onn founded [[UMNO]] in 1946, he joined it as the head of its youth committee. He was later elected the party's first youth chief in 1949. In 1950, he was elected UMNO secretary general. The same year, he was appointed to the [[Federal Legislative Council (Malaya)|Federal Legislative Council]], serving on its Integrity Services Commission responsible for investigation allegations of corruption against British officials. He was concurrently a member of Johor's legislature and executive council.<ref name=":5" />

Hussein, however, left UMNO in 1951 to join his father in forming the [[Independence of Malaya Party]] (IMP), which strived for multiracial politics. The new party did not fare well and Hussein chose to pursue a legal career instead.<ref name=":5" />

Upon his return from London as a qualified lawyer, Hussein joined Bannon & Bailey as a legal assistant until 1963. He then joined Skrine & Co., where he was later made a partner.<ref name=":5" />

Hussein returned to politics by rejoining UMNO in 1968 at the urging of Abdul Razak. He stood and won in the [[Johore Bahru Timor]] constituency, defeating the [[Democratic Action Party]]'s Lee Ah Meng in 1969. Hussein left his position as a partner at Skrine & Co. when he was appointed [[Minister of Education (Malaysia)|Education Minister]] in 1970. He oversaw the implementation of admission quotas for [[Bumiputra]] students into [[Tertiary education|institutions of higher education]] and made it a requirement to achieve a pass in [[Malaysian Malay|Malay]] for [[Penilaian Menengah Rendah|Lower Certificate of Education]] (LCE) and [[Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia|Malaysia Certificate of Education]] (MCE) levels.<ref name=":5" />

Hussein was chosen as the Deputy Prime Minister by Abdul Razak following the death of [[Ismail Abdul Rahman]] in 1973. At the time, Hussein was one of the party's five vice-presidents. He was concurrently made the Trade and Industry Minister.<ref name=":2" />

== Prime Minister ==
{{Infobox administration|image=|caption=|term_start=15 January 1976|term_end=16 July 1981|premier=Hussein Onn|premier_link=Prime Minister of Malaysia|cabinet={{hlist|[[First Hussein cabinet|Hussein I]]|[[Second Hussein cabinet|Hussein II]]}}|party=[[Barisan Nasional|BN]]–[[UMNO]]|election=[[1978 Malaysian general election|1978]]|monarch=[[Yahya Petra of Kelantan|Yahya Petra]] <br/> [[Ahmad Shah of Pahang|Ahmad Shah]]|seat=[[Tun Abdul Razak Memorial|Seri Taman]]|predecessor=[[Abdul Razak Hussein#Prime Minister|Abdul Razak]]|successor=[[First premiership of Mahathir Mohamad|Mahathir]] (1st)|official_url=}}On 15 January 1976, Hussein was appointed as Prime Minister following the death of Abdul Razak.<ref>Tan, Chee Khoon & Vasil, Raj (ed., 1984). ''Without Fear or Favour'', p. 38. Eastern Universities Press. {{ISBN|967-908-051-X}}.</ref> He also became [[President of the United Malays National Organisation]], and by virtue of that position, Chairman of [[Barisan Nasional]].<ref name=":2" />

The first few years of his administration was plagued by factionalism within UMNO,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Muzaffar |first=Chandra |date=1978 |title=MALAYSIA: The National Front on Trial |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27908343 |journal=Southeast Asian Affairs |pages=151–164 |issn=0377-5437}}</ref> particularly from former Selangor chief minister [[Harun Idris]]. Harun had been expelled from UMNO in 1976 before being charged with corruption, for which he was convicted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Chin Huat |date=17 August 2007 |title=Splits in Umno and Opposition unity |url=https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/news/legal-and-general-news/general-news/splits-in-umno-and-opposition-unity |access-date=8 August 2025 |website=Malaysian Bar}}</ref> In 1978, Hussein was challenged by Sulaiman Palestine, a member of Harun's faction, for the party's presidency. Up until this point, it was tradition for the incumbent to go unchallenged during party polls.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Singh |first=Hari |date=1998 |title=Tradition, UMNO and Political Succession in Malaysia |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3993159 |journal=Third World Quarterly |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=241–254 |issn=0143-6597}}</ref> Harun later attempted to reclaim control of the party's youth wing in 1980, but failed.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=von der Mehden |first=Fred R. |date=1981 |title=Malaysia in 1980: Signals to Watch |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2643769 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=245–252 |doi=10.2307/2643769 |issn=0004-4687}}</ref>

His [[First Hussein cabinet|first cabinet]] was announced in April, nearly four months after he assumed the position of prime minister. Notably, [[Mahathir Mohamad]], then a vice-president of the party, was chosen as deputy prime minister over [[Abdul Ghafar Baba]], another party vice-president, and [[Ghazali Shafie]], who was reported to be Hussein's preferred choice.<ref name=":2" />

The [[Islam in Southeast Asia#Islamic revivalism|resurgence of Islam]] among the [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay population]] coincided with Hussein's tenure, and his government sought to exert control by starting its own [[Dawah|dakwah]] programs while simultaneously empowering state bodies responsible for directing religious activities and tightening laws on civil society. Islam as a political and social force nevertheless continued to grow.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Mauzy |first=Diane K. |last2=Milne |first2=R. S. |date=1983 |title=The Mahathir Administration in Malaysia: Discipline through Islam |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2758595 |journal=Pacific Affairs |volume=56 |issue=4 |pages=617–648 |doi=10.2307/2758595 |issn=0030-851X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

To prevent chief ministers from gaining too much influence and power, Hussein's administration pursued a policy of appointing younger individuals who would serve just one or two terms.<ref name=":0" /> He also oversaw the abolition of the [[Minister of Home Affairs (Malaysia)#Law|Ministry of Law]], with its duties being folded into the prime minister's department in 1980. Prior to this, the Minister of Law was simultaneously the [[Attorney General of Malaysia|Attorney General]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Ahmad |first=Zakaria Haji |date=1981 |title=MALAYSIA IN 1980: A Year of Political Consolidation and Economic Development |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27908430 |journal=Southeast Asian Affairs |pages=201–216 |issn=0377-5437}}</ref>

Implementation of the [[Malaysian New Economic Policy|New Economic Policy]] (NEP), which began under Abdul Razak, continued under Hussein's government. Manufacturing made up 20.5% of the country's [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) by 1980. Concurrently, the value added to the economy from agriculture stagnated while value added from mining declined. Though inflation rates remained low at the beginning of Hussein's administration, it began to rise by the end of his tenure.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

Worker's rights were curtailed and extensive powers granted to the Registrar of Trade Unions and the Minister of Labour through amendments.<ref name=":1" />

The [[Cambodian–Vietnamese War]] and the [[Vietnamese border raids in Thailand]] were among the government's foremost foreign policy concerns during Hussein's administration. Along with other [[ASEAN]] states, Malaysia recognised the legitimacy of [[Pol Pot]]'s [[Khmer Rouge]] against the Vietnamese-backed [[People's Republic of Kampuchea]]. Malaysia boycotted the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] hosted in the [[Soviet Union]] owing to its [[Soviet–Afghan War|invasion of Afghanistan]], which it compared to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

Questions surrounding Hussein's health began in late December 1980 when he fell ill during a trip to London. He announced his intention to step down in May 1981, after a coronary bypass surgery in February that year. His deputy, [[Mahathir Mohamad]] succeeded him as prime minister on 16 July 1981, following which Hussein retired from politics, citing health concerns.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=von der Mehden |first=Fred R. |date=1982 |title=Malaysia in 1981: Continuity and Change |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2643948 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=212–218 |doi=10.2307/2643948 |issn=0004-4687}}</ref>

== Later life and death ==
Choosing not to write a memoir upon his retirement, Hussein said<blockquote>My life is rather dull, and I cannot see why anyone would be interested in reading about it.<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>Hussein took an increasingly critical stance against Mahathir in 1987 as the [[UMNO#Mahathir era|rivalry between "Team A" and "Team B"]] within UMNO reached its zenith, opting not to attend that year's party general assembly.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mauzy |first=Diane K. |date=1988 |title=Malaysia in 1987: Decline of "The Malay Way" |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2644822 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=213–222 |doi=10.2307/2644822 |issn=0004-4687}}</ref>

Following the dissolution of UMNO by court order in 1988, Hussein became involved in attempts to revive "Old UMNO" with members of Team B in opposition to the "New UMNO" that had been formed by Mahathir.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 October 1988 |title=Hussein Onn raps New Umno leaders |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19881012-1.2.25.9 |access-date=8 August 2025 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=13}}</ref> Hussein later sought to mediate the conflict between the two sides and was involved in organising unsuccessful reunification talks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 November 1989 |title=Umno assembly ends with hopes that Malays will be reunited |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19891121-1.2.26.2? |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=16}}</ref>

Hussein died on 29 May 1990 of [[heart disease]] at [[Seton Medical Center]] in [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], [[California]], at the age of 68.<ref name="pmo.gov2">{{cite web |title=Tun Hussein Onn |url=http://www.pmo.gov.my/?menu=page&page=1644 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830124443/http://www.pmo.gov.my/?menu=page&page=1644 |archive-date=30 August 2008 |access-date=1 June 2012 |website=www.pmo.gov.my}}</ref> He was laid to rest next to his predecessor, [[Abdul Razak Hussein|Abdul Razak]], at [[Makam Pahlawan]] near [[Masjid Negara]], Kuala Lumpur.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zainah Anwar |title=Legacy of honour |publisher=Yayasan Mohamed Noah |year=2011 |isbn=978-967-10382-0-8 |location=Kuala Lumpur |page=275 |oclc=816815135}}</ref>

== Family ==
Hussein and Suhaila had six children, including Roquaiya Hanim (1950–2006) and [[Hishammuddin Hussein]] (born 1961), a senior UMNO politician.<ref name="malayinsider2" />

Roquaiya's son [[Onn Hafiz Ghazi]] is the incumbent Chief Minister of Johor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yusof |first=Amir |date=15 March 2022 |title=5 things to know about Johor’s new chief minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/johor-new-chief-minister-onn-hafiz-ghazi-great-grandson-umno-founder-youth-leader-2565666 |access-date=11 August 2025 |website=[[Channel News Asia]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Election results==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ [[Dewan Rakyat|Parliament of Malaysia]]
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
|[[1969 Malaysian general election|1969]]
|'''P100 [[Johore Bahru Timor (federal constituency)|Johore Bahru Timor]]'''
|{{party shading/Alliance Party (Malaysia)}} |
|'''Hussein Onn''' ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
| align=right|'''12,565'''
|'''63.59%'''
|{{party shading/DAP}} |
|Lee Ah Meng ([[Democratic Action Party|DAP]])
| align=right|7,193
|36.41%
|20,767
|5,372
|72.29%
|-
|[[1974 Malaysian general election|1974]]
| rowspan=2|'''P109 [[Sri Gading (federal constituency)|Sri Gading]]'''
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Hussein Onn''' ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
| colspan=9 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"|Unopposed
|-
|[[1978 Malaysian general election|1978]]
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Hussein Onn''' ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
| align=right|'''19,761'''
|'''89.06%'''
|{{party shading/PAS}} |
|Hassan Hussein ([[Malaysian Islamic Party|PAS]])
| align=right|2,427
|10.94%
|
|17,334
|
|}

==Awards and recognition==
===Honours of Malaysia===
* {{Flag|Malaysia}}
** [[File:MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm) - SMN.svg|50px]] Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Defender of the Realm]] (SMN) – '''Tun''' (1981)<ref>{{cite web|title=Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1981.|url=https://www.istiadat.gov.my//wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1981.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=17 July 1981|title=Anugerah Tun untuk Hussein kerana jasanya pada negara|language=ms|url=http://lib.perdana.org.my/PLF/Digital_Content/NA/Newspaper/0033/UtusanMalaysia%5B17Jul1981%5BAnugerahTunUntukHusseinKeranajasanyaKepadaNegara.pdf|access-date=2 February 2021|work=[[Utusan Malaysia]]|publisher=[[Perdana Leadership Foundation]]}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Johor}}
** [[File:Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor - ribbon bar.svg|50px]] Grand Commander of the [[Royal Family Order of Johor]] (DK I) (1976) 
** [[File:Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Crown of Johor]] (SPMJ) – '''Dato'''' (1972)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CN0qAAAAIBAJ&dq=hussein+onn+SPMJ&pg=PA30&article_id=4007,2285198|title=Ministers head Sultan's awards list|publisher=[[New Straits Times]]|date=16 November 1972}}</ref>
** [[File:MY-JOH Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor ribbon bar.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Companion of the [[Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor]] (SSIJ) – '''Dato'''' (1975)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tEw1AAAAIBAJ&dq=hussein+onn+SSIJ&pg=PA6&article_id=1942,7718750|title=A Royal call to live in peace|publisher=[[New Straits Times]]|date=29 October 1975}}</ref>
** [[File:Sultan Ibrahim Coronation Medal ribbon.gif|50px]] First Class of the [[List of post-nominal letters (Johor)|Sultan Ibrahim Medal]] (PIS I)
* {{Flag|Kelantan}}
** [[File:MY-KEL Royal Family Order - Star of Yunus - DK.svg|50px]] Recipient of the [[Royal Family Order of Kelantan]] (DK)
* {{Flag|Negeri Sembilan}}
** [[File:MY-NEG Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[List of post-nominal letters (Negeri Sembilan)|Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan]] (SPNS) – '''Dato' Seri Utama''' (1980)<ref>{{cite web|date=26 February 1980|title=Hussein orang pertama terima darjah Seri Paduka Negeri Sembilan|language=ms|url=http://lib.perdana.org.my/PLF/Digital_Content/NA/Newspaper/0020/UtusanMalaysia%5B27Feb1980%5BHusseinOrangPertamaTerimaDarjahSeriPadukaNS.pdf|access-date=24 January 2022|work=[[Utusan Malaysia]]|publisher=[[Perdana Leadership Foundation]]}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Pahang}}
** [[File:MY-PAH Order of the Crown of Pahang - Grand Knight - SIMP.svg|50px]] Grand Knight of the [[Order of the Crown of Pahang]] (SIMP) – formerly '''''Dato'''''', now '''Dato' Indera''' (1975)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEw1AAAAIBAJ&dq=setia+mahkota+pahang&pg=PA18&article_id=1196,7113950|title=Pahang ruler birthday message|publisher=[[New Straits Times]]|date=24 October 1975}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Penang}}
** [[File:MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Knight Grand Commander - DUPN.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[List of post-nominal letters (Penang)|Order of the Defender of State]] (DUPN) – '''Dato' Seri Utama''' (1977)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/scjp19770716-1.2.35.5|title=梹州元首庆六十华诞 三百五十六官民 受封赐各级勳衔|trans-title=Yang-Dipertua Negeri Penang celebrate 60th birthday 356 individuals conferred over awards|work=星洲日報|date=16 July 1977|pages=6}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Perak}}
** [[File:MY-PERA Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (before 2001).svg|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[Order of Cura Si Manja Kini]] (SPCM) – '''Dato' Seri''' (1976)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pingat.perak.gov.my/carian-thn.php?m=1&tahun=1976&kod_pingat=SPCM|title=SPCM 1976|website=pingat.perak.gov.my|access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Sabah|1963}}
** [[File:MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - SPDK.svg|50px]] Grand Commander of the [[Order of Kinabalu]] (SPDK) – '''Datuk Seri Panglima''' (1974)<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dIYjAAAAIBAJ&dq=Toh+Puan+Rahah+SPDK&pg=PA13&article_id=2033,1560945|title=Hussein and Rahah get top Sabah awards |pages=1 |date= 14 September 1974 |publisher=[[New Straits Times]]}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Sarawak}}
** [[File:MY-SAR Order of the Star of the Hornbill (Bintang Kenyalang) - 1. Knight Grand Commander (DP, 1970-1988).png|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak]] (DP) – '''Datuk Patinggi'''
* {{Flag|Selangor}}
** [[File:MY-SEL Royal Family Order of Selangor - DK II.svg|50px]] Second Class Member of the [[Royal Family Order of Selangor]] (DK II) (1977)<ref>{{cite web|title=DK II 1977|url=https://awards.selangor.gov.my/sublinkyear.php?cat=35&subcat=D.K.II|website=awards.selangor.gov.my|access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Terengganu}}
** [[File:MY-TER Family Order of Terengganu 1st class - DK I.svg|50px]] Member First Class of the [[Family Order of Terengganu]] (DK I) (1977)

=== Foreign honours ===
* {{flag|Japan}}
** [[File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg|50px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Rising Sun]] (1981)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iq5UAAAAIBAJ&dq=Order+of+the+Rising+Sun&pg=PA1&article_id=1052,5791724|title=Emperor's award for Tun Hussein|work=[[New Straits Times]]|date=29 September 1981|pages=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/scjp19810929-1.2.24.9|title=胡先翁获日颁发一等勳章|language=zh|work=星洲日报 (Sin Chew Jit Poh)|date=29 September 1981|page=8}}</ref>

=== Namesake places===
Several places were named after him, including:
* [[Bandar Tun Hussein Onn]], a township in [[Cheras, Selangor|Cheras]], [[Hulu Langat]], [[Selangor]]
** [[Bandar Tun Hussein Onn MRT station]]
* [[Desa Tun Hussein Onn]], a [[Malaysian Armed Forces]] residential area near [[Setiawangsa]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]
* [[Tun Hussein Onn Jamek Mosque]], a mosque in [[Larkin, Johor]], [[Johor]]
* [[Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia]] (UTHM) [[Batu Pahat]], [[Johor]]
* Institut Pendidikan Tun Hussein Onn (IPTHO) [[Batu Pahat]], [[Johor]]
* Kolej Tun Hussein Onn, a residential college at [[Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia]], Bangi, Selangor
* Kolej Tun Hussein Onn, a residential college at [[Universiti Teknologi Malaysia]], Skudai, Johor
* Kolej Tun Hussein Onn, a residential college at [[Universiti Malaysia Perlis]], Kuala Perlis, Perlis
* Kolej Tun Hussein Onn, a residential college at [[Universiti Teknologi MARA]], Machang, Kelantan
* SMK Tun Hussein Onn (SMKTHO), a secondary school in [[Kluang]], [[Johor]] 
* SMK Tun Hussein Onn (SMKTHO), a secondary school in [[Seberang Jaya]], [[Penang]]
* SK Tun Hussein Onn (SKTHO), a primary school in [[Kampung Pandan]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]
* Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital, [[Petaling Jaya]], [[Selangor]]
* Tun Hussein Onn Highway, part of the [[Penang Bridge]], [[Penang]]
* Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, a major road in [[Putrajaya]]
* Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, a road in Seberang Jaya, Penang
*
* Jalan Tun Hussein, a road in [[Federal Land Development Authority|Felda]] Ayer Tawar, Kota Tinggi, Johor
* Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, a road in Taman Tinggi, Sibu, Sarawak
* Tun Hussein Onn Hockey Cup
* Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, [[Putra World Trade Centre]]
* Tun Hussein Onn Memorial, a memorial in Kuala Lumpur
* SMK Desa Tun Hussein Onn (SMKDTHO), a secondary school in [[Desa Tun Hussein Onn]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]
* SK Desa Tun Hussein Onn (SKDTHO), a primary school in [[Desa Tun Hussein Onn]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]

==Note==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ismail Abdul Rahman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia]]|years=1973–1976}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Mahathir Mohamad]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tun Abdul Razak|Abdul Razak]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Malaysia]]|years=1976–1981}}

{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Suharto]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chairperson of [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations|ASEAN]]|years=1977}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Corazon Aquino]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Prime Ministers of Malaysia}}
{{Deputy Prime Ministers of Malaysia}}
{{First Razak cabinet}}
{{Second Razak cabinet}}
{{First Hussein cabinet}}
{{Second Hussein cabinet}}
{{Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Government ministers of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Prime ministers of Malaysia]]
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:Deputy prime ministers of Malaysia]]
[[Category:20th-century Malaysian lawyers]]
[[Category:Members of Lincoln's Inn]]
[[Category:Malaysian military personnel]]
[[Category:Malaysian Muslims]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Circassian descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Malay descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Turkish descent]]
[[Category:People from Johor Bahru|Hussein Onn]]
[[Category:Presidents of United Malays National Organisation]]
[[Category:Grand Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm]]
[[Category:First Classes of the Royal Family Order of Johor]]
[[Category:First Classes of the Family Order of Terengganu]]
[[Category:Second Classes of Royal Family Order of Selangor]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor]]
[[Category:Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State of Penang]]
[[Category:Grand Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak]]
[[Category:Ministers of defence of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Ministers of education of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Ministers of finance of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1971–1974]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1974–1978]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1978–1982]]