Background
Burhanuddin was born in Kota Bharu, Perak in 1911. His father, Muhammad Nur, came from Batu Sangkar, West Sumatera.
Burhanuddin was born in Kota Bharu, Perak in 1911. His father, Muhammad Nur, came from Batu Sangkar, West Sumatera.
He studied at India's Aligarh Muslim University.
He was the president of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) from 1956 to 1969. After his return from India, he taught Arabic at Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah, Aljunied, Singapore. After World War II, Burhanuddin set up the Malay Nationalist Party.
The party advocated Malay rights and proposed a "political union" with Indonesia. Burhanuddin assumed the presidency of PAS in 1956, and held the post until his death in 1969. PAS had a left-wing orientation under Burhanuddin's leadership: he supported trade unions and anti-colonialism.
He has been described as a "radical nationalist and Islamic thinker". His presidency was interrupted by his arrest under the Internal Security Act in 1965 and subsequent imprisonment for one year on charges of plotting to overthrow the Malaysian government and install an Indonesian-friendly replacement. Places after him Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur Persiaran Burhanuddin Helmi in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Doktor Burhanuddin in Taiping, Perak Kolej Burhanuddin Helmi, one of the residential college in National University of Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor.
During his time in Singapore, he was arrested by the British, but was bailed out after one night by a member of the Alsagoff family.