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Syed Ahmad 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, the longest-serving governor of Malacca.

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 :

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

•  Malaya :
  • Companion of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (JMN) (1958)
•  Malaysia :
  • Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Silver) (PPM) (1965)
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (1979)
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) – Tun (1987)
  • Grand Commander Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) – Tun (1989)
•  Kedah :
  • Justice of the peace (JP) of Kedah
  • Companion of the Order of the Crown of Kedah (SMK) (1965)
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kedah (SPMK) – Dato' Seri (1968)
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (SSDK) – Dato' Seri (1976)
•  Selangor :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Dato' Seri
•  Sarawak:
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – Dato Sri
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DP) – Datuk Patinggi
•  Sabah :
  • Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima

References

• Ex-Malacca governor laid to rest – The Star, 8 July 2008

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.

• Chief ministers of Kedah
• Malaysian people of Arab descent
• 1925 births
• 2008 deaths
• Malaysian politicians of Malay descent
• Malaysian Muslims
• United Malays National Organisation politicians
• Members of the Dewan Negara
• Members of the Dewan Rakyat
• Members of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly
• Kedah state executive councillors
• High commissioners of Malaysia to Singapore
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca