{"id":5151,"date":"2026-04-07T11:05:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T11:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=5151"},"modified":"2026-04-07T12:37:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T12:37:52","slug":"anatomist-phd-dr-john-hla-khaing-professor-dr-jalaluddin-din-mohammed-a-pioneer-beyond-borders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2026\/04\/07\/anatomist-phd-dr-john-hla-khaing-professor-dr-jalaluddin-din-mohammed-a-pioneer-beyond-borders\/","title":{"rendered":"Anatomist PhD \u1012\u1031\u102b\u1000\u103a\u1010\u102c \u1002\u103b\u103d\u1014\u103a\u101c\u103e\u1001\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a Dr John Hla Khaing @ Professor Dr Jalaluddin Din Mohammed: A Pioneer Beyond Borders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Professor Dr Jalaluddin Din Mohammed (also known as John Hla Khaine) stands as a remarkable figure in the history of Myanmar and Malaysian medical education\u2014a scholar, a survivor, and a pioneer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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He was among the earliest Myanmar Muslim professionals to migrate to Malaysia under extremely difficult circumstances. In fact, he is remembered as one of the first Myanmar Muslim undocumented migrants to later be granted legal status<\/strong>, through the support of PERKIM (Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia) and RISEAP. At that time, these organisations were led by Malaysia\u2019s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, with Dato\u2019 Ahmad Noordin serving as Secretary-General.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Academic Excellence in Myanmar<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr Jalaluddin obtained his PhD in Anatomy from London and returned to serve in Myanmar. During that period, there were only five PhD-qualified anatomists across three medical universities in the country, with three based at the Institute of Medicine, Mandalay (now Mandalay Medical University).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, despite his academic brilliance, he faced institutional rivalry, administrative pressure, and discrimination<\/strong>, including on religious grounds. A defining moment came when he refused to award distinctions to the daughters of powerful political figures, including those connected to General Ne Win. This principled stand led to severe repercussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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He was repeatedly transferred between Mandalay and Yangon, removed from his accommodation, and subjected to various forms of professional harassment. Eventually, when he refused yet another transfer order, he was dismissed from service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Difficult Journey to Freedom<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Myanmar in the 1980s was an extremely closed country. Travel abroad required multiple layers of approval\u2014from the Ministries of Health, Education, and Home Affairs, as well as police and court clearances. Even repayment of government-sponsored education and salaries had to be settled before permission could be granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unable to navigate this restrictive system, Dr Jalaluddin took a far more dangerous path. He crossed the Myanmar\u2013Thailand border working as a lorry attendant, was later detained at the Thai\u2013Malaysian border, and spent months in an immigration detention centre before eventually entering Malaysia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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His legalisation was not immediate. Malaysian authorities conducted extensive background checks, even sending Special Branch officers to Myanmar. After nearly two years, he was granted permanent residency (Red IC), followed later by full citizenship (Blue IC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Note: At that time, in Malaysia Medical Universities, there was ONLY ONE PhD Anatomist only <\/strong>(he was even a Dental Surgeon who got PhD later) and there were few MSc Professors and Lecturers, amongst them few of them were from Burma (before name change). We heard that when the Famous Myanmar Professor Dr Daw Myint Myint Khin was posted to Malaysia as a Consultant of UN to help set up Medical MSC Post Graduate Courses,<\/strong> she personally give Dr John’s application to the UKM Medical Faculty’s Dean with the high recommandation. Afterall Dr John was the favourite assistant of Daw MMK’s brother-in-law, former Anatomy Professor Head of IMM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We heard that when the Malaysian Gov. accepted Dr John, they made sure that his case should not be use as a presedent. “Precedent” (often misspelled as presedent<\/em>) refers to an earlier event, action, or legal decision that serves as an example or guide for future similar circumstances<\/mark>. It is a foundational concept in law\u2014known as stare decisis<\/em>\u2014and in setting traditions or standards. Establish a usage, tradition, or standard to be followed in the future. For example, He set a precedent by having the chaplain lead the academic procession<\/em>. The word precedent<\/em> here signifies a previous instance or legal decision upon which future instances are based, a usage dating from the early 1400s. In British and American law it more specifically refers to a legal decision that may be used as a standard in subsequent cases.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Life in Malaysia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Dr Jalaluddin joined Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), where he became a highly respected Anatomy lecturer and professor. His command of multiple languages\u2014including English, Urdu\/Hindi, and Malay\u2014made him an exceptional educator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He even mastered Malay to the extent that he could lecture fluently, reportedly learning much of it through religious networks associated with the Tabligh movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After retirement, his passion for teaching did not fade. He continued contributing to medical education, including service at institutions under the Malaysian Ministry of Defence and later at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Teacher Who Inspired Generations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beyond his academic credentials, Professor Jalaluddin is remembered most for his humanity, humour, and dedication<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He edited dissertations for postgraduate students, mentored young doctors, and even helped refine published writings of colleagues. Many of his former students across Malaysia still recall his teaching with deep affection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When I was a Demonstrator in Anatomy Department, Sayar John Hla Khaine was a lecturer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Dr Jalaluddin and I left, front 2 were 2 Ph.Ds left Prof. Head of Dept Dr U Khin Maung Sein and Lecturer Dr Ko Ko Lay.Back row pink lady worked as Anatomist in UPM and back row left with white over coat U Aung Kyi worked in UKM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aung Sann Oo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Aung Sann Oo Physician Pyin Oo Lwin Hospital said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1019\u1019 \u1012\u1031\u102b\u103a\u1001\u1004\u103a\u101c\u1031\u1038\u101b\u102e\u1000\u102d\u102f \u1010\u1031\u102c\u1037 \u1015\u1011\u1019\u1006\u102f\u1036\u1038 General Anatomy \u1019\u103e\u102c\u1000\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1038\u1000 group \u1006\u101b\u102c\u1019 \u1016\u103c\u1005\u103a\u1001\u1032\u1037\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1037 \u1021\u1001\u103b\u1005\u103a\u1006\u102f\u1036\u1038\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1015\u103c\u102e\u1038\u101b\u1004\u103a \u1006\u101b\u102c\u1026\u1038\u1000\u102d\u102f\u1000\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103c\u102e\u1038\u104a \u1026\u1038\u1019\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1009\u102c\u100f\u103a\u104a \u1012\u1031\u102b\u103a\u1019\u103c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1019\u103c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1012\u102e\u1015\u102f\u1036\u1019\u103e\u102c \u1019\u1015\u102b\u1010\u102c \u1026\u1038\u1011\u1004\u103a\u1021\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a (\u1001\u1004\u103a\u1025\u1019\u1039\u1019\u102c \u1015\u103c\u1031\u102c\u1010\u1032\u1037 \u1019\u1019 \u1012\u1031\u102b\u103a\u101c\u103e\u101b\u102e\u101b\u102e \u1001\u1004\u103a\u1015\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038\u104a)\u1012\u1031\u102b\u103a\u1001\u1004\u103a\u1025\u1025\u104a \u1012\u1031\u102b\u103a\u101d\u1031\u101d\u1031\u1000\u103c\u100a\u103a\u104a \u1026\u1038\u1021\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1000\u103c\u100a\u103a\u104a \u1026\u1038\u1021\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1001\u103b\u1005\u103a\u104a \u1026\u1038\u1011\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1021\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u104b \u1006\u101b\u102c\u1002\u103b\u103d\u1014\u103a\u101c\u103e\u1001\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u104a \u1006\u101b\u102c\u1026\u1038\u1000\u102d\u102f\u101c\u1031\u1038 \u1010\u102d\u102f\u1037\u1000 Lecturers\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1006\u101b\u102c\u1026\u1038\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u101d\u1004\u103a\u1038\u104a \u1012\u1031\u102b\u103a\u1014\u103d\u1032\u1037\u1014\u103d\u1032\u1037\u1010\u1004\u103a\u104a \u1012\u1031\u102b\u103a\u1001\u103b\u101a\u103a\u101b\u102e\u1010\u102d\u102f\u1037\u1000\u102d\u102f\u1010\u1031\u102c\u1037 \u1018\u102d\u102f\u1038\u1005\u102d\u1014\u103a\u1000\u103c\u102e\u1038 (\u1006\u101b\u102c\u1000\u103c\u102e\u1038 \u1026\u1038\u1001\u1004\u103a\u1019\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1005\u102d\u1014\u103a) \u1000\u102d\u102f \u1000\u103c\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u101e\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1000\u102d\u102f \u1000\u103c\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u104b \u1011\u102d\u102f\u1037\u1000\u103c\u1031\u102c\u1004\u1037\u103a \u1011\u102d\u102f\u1005\u1009\u103a\u1000 \u1021\u1014\u102c\u1038\u1019\u1000\u1015\u103a\u101b\u1032\u104b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voices from His Students and Colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here are some reflections from Malaysian doctors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n