Syed Ahmad bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin

Infobox President
name =Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin


order =Menteri Besar of Kedah
term_start =1967
term_end =1978
deputy =
predecessor =
successor =
order2 =Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka
term_start2 =1984
term_end2 =2004
deputy2 =
predecessor3 =Syed Zahiruddin bin Syed Hassan
successor3 =Mohd Khalil Yaakob
birth_date =4 May, 1925
birth_place =Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia
death_date =7 July, 2008
death_place =Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
spouse =Sharifah Haniffah binti Syed Alwi (decesed 1993)
Marfuza bte Sheikh Mohd Osman
religion =Islam
constituency =
party =United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
languagesspoken =

Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin (4 May 1925 - 7 July 2008) 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.

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 binti Syed Alwi in 1950 and they are blessed with six children. Toh Puan passed away on 5 July 1993 in Kuala Lumpur. In 1960, H.E. Tun married Toh Puan Datuk Seri Datin Seri Utama Marfuza bte Sheikh Mohd Osman and they are blessed with 4 children.

Deaths

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 laid to rest at the Melaka's State Mausoleum near Al Azim Mosque in Malacca Town, Melaka. He was the first state leaders to be buried here.

References

* [http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/8/nation/21762353&sec=nation Ex-Malacca governor laid to rest] - The Star, 8 July 2008