In 1896, he entered the civil service of the
Federated Malay States in
Selangor as a cadet, was acting assistant Collector of Revenue in
Kuala Lumpur (1899-1900), and District Officer at
Serendah and then at
Kuantan (1900-1903). In 1903, he was sent on secondment by the government of the Federated Malay States to act as assistant to the British adviser in
Kelantan,
Siam, where he remained until 1910, receiving from the King of Siam, on an official visit to Kelantan, the 4th Class of the Order of the Crown of Siam. In 1910, he returned to the Federated Malay States and occupied various positions including District Officer,
Klang (1910-1913), Collector of Land Revenue and Registrar of Titles, Selangor (1914-15), District Officer,
Larut (1915), and Registrar of Titles,
Perak. In 1919, whilst serving as Chairman of the
Kinta Sanitary Board, he was appointed to the substantive position of British adviser to Kelantan having previously acted as assistant in the state for seven years. He remained in office until 1921 when he was appointed British Resident of
Pahang, and after five years occupied the same position in Perak, prior to which he briefly acted as British Resident in Selangor. In 1927, he was made Acting Chief Secretary of the Federated Malay States. == Retirement and death ==