Syed Ahmad Shahabuddin

Tun Datuk Seri Utama Syed Ahmad bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin (4 May 1925 – 7 July 2008)[1] was a Malaysian politician. He was the Menteri Besar of Kedah from 1967 to 1978 and the fifth Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Melaka state from 1984 until 2004, the longest-serving governor of Malacca.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Syed Ahmad. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Datuk Seri Utama
Syed Ahmad Shahabuddin
SMN SSM DUNM SPMS SPMK SSDK DP SPDK PNBS PGDK JMN JP
5th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca
In office
4 December 1984 – 3 June 2004
Chief MinisterAbdul Rahim Thamby Chik
Mohd Zin Abdul Ghani
Abu Zahar Ithnin
Mohd Ali Rustam
Preceded bySyed Zahiruddin
Succeeded byMohd Khalil Yaakob
4th Menteri Besar of Kedah
In office
14 December 1967 – 13 July 1978
MonarchAbdul Halim
Preceded bySyed Omar Syed Abdullah Shahabuddin
Succeeded bySyed Nahar Syed Sheh Shahabuddin
Personal details
Born
Syed Ahmad bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin

(1925-05-04)4 May 1925
Kulim, Kedah, Unfederated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died7 July 2008(2008-07-07) (aged 83)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Resting placeMakam Pahlawan Negeri, Masjid Al Azim, Malacca
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political
affiliations		Alliance
Barisan Nasional (BN)
Spouse(s)Sharifah Haniffah Syed Alwi (died 1993)
Marfuza Sheikh Mohd Osman
Children10
EducationKolej Sultan Abdul Hamid

Life

Syed Ahmad was born on 4 May 1925 in Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia. He is the third son of five brothers and sisters. Syed Ahmad received his early education at Sekolah Melayu Kulim (Kulim Malay School) in 1932 till 1935 and continued his education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Star till he passed his Senior Cambridge Examination in 1947.

Syed Ahmad had wide experience and actively engaged in politics. He was the Kedah UMNO Assistant Secretary (1951–1954), Secretary Kedah UMNO (1954–1967), chairman, UMNO State Liaison Committee and Kedah National Front (1967–1978), UMNO Supreme Council Member (1968–1978), and deputy chairman, UMNO State Liaison Committee and Kedah National Front (1978–1984).

Syed Ahmad was appointed as Menteri Besar of Kedah (1967–1978) and Deputy Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs (1978–1982 and Malaysia's High Commissioner to Singapore (1982–1984). In 1984, he was appointed as the fifth Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Melaka state.

Syed Ahmad married Toh Puan Sharifah Haniffah Syed Alwi in 1950 and they had six children. Toh Puan died on 5 July 1993 in Kuala Lumpur. In 1960, H.E. Tun married Toh Puan Datuk Seri Datin Seri Utama Marfuza Sheikh Mohd Osman and they had 4 children.

Death

Syed Ahmad died on 7 July 2008 at his house in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. He was 83 years old. His body was buried at Melaka's State Heroes Mausoleum (Makam Pahlawan Negeri) near Al Azim Mosque in Malacca Town, Melaka. He was the first state leader to be buried there.

Legacy
  • The Sekolah Kebangsaan Tun Syed Ahmad Shahabuddin at Hang Tuah Jaya, Ayer Keroh was named after him.
  • The Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Syed Ahmad at Kuala Nerang was also named after him.
  • There is the mosque Masjid Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj in Bukit Beruang, Melaka was named after him.

Honours and titles

He was awarded :[2]

Titles

He held the title of "Tun Datuk Seri Utama" by combination of his highest Federal Malaysian title "Tun" (SMN) and his highest Malaccan title "Datuk Seri Utama" (DUNM)
In other states of Malaysia, a similar combination between his highest Federal Malaysian title "Tun" (SMN) and his local highest title may be used. Example : Tun Datuk Seri Panglima in Sabah.

Honours of Malacca
  • As 5th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca 4 December 1984 – 3 June 2004 )
    • Grand Master and Grand Commander of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM) with title Datuk Seri Utama
    • Grand Master of the Exalted Order of Malacca

Honours of Malaysia

References
  1. "The Fifth Speaker of Malacca". Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  2. Official Website of the Governor of Malacca, Biography with details Archived 6 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
  4. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
  5. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1987" (PDF).
  6. "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1989" (PDF).
  7. "Kurniaan harijadi Sultan". Berita Harian. 3 March 1965. p. 3.
  8. "MB Kedah dapat anugerah Dato". Berita Harian. 21 February 1968. p. 5.
  9. Top Kedah award for the Sultanah. New Straits Times. 20 January 1976.
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