Ahmadshah bin Abdullah (9 December 1946 – 20 May 2025) was a Malaysian civil servant who served as

Yang di-Pertua Negeri In Malaysia, the Governor, officially Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Jawi script, Jawi: , ) is a constitutional title given to the head of state in States and federal territories of Malaysia, states without a ruler, namely: Penang, Malacca, Sabah and S ...

(Governor) of the state of

Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...

from 2003 to 2010. He was a

Pro-Chancellor A pro-chancellor is an officer of some universities in Commonwealth countries. The pro-chancellor acts as a deputy to the chancellor and as practical chairman of the university council. In this role, a pro-chancellor may fulfil a number of for ...

MARA University of Technology The MARA Technological University ( Malay: ''Universiti Teknologi MARA''; Jawi: اونيۏرسيتي تيكنولوڬي مارا; abbr. UiTM) is a public university in Malaysia, based primarily in Shah Alam, Selangor. It was established to hel ...

Education

Ahmadshah began his education at Government Primary School Darau, Menggatal in 1952 and ended his secondary school session in 1967 at La Salle Secondary School, Tanjung Aru,

Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu (; formerly known as Jesselton), colloquially referred to as KK, is the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia. It is also the capital of the Kota Kinabalu District as well as the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the ...

. He received a Diploma in Development Administration from

South Devon College South Devon College is a further education college with 9 different campuses within Torbay and the surrounding area. The college is part of The University of Plymouth Colleges network. In December 2017, South Devon College achieved an overa ...

in the United Kingdom and Bachelor of Science (Political Science) from

Indiana State University Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1865 and offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 75 graduate and professional programs. Indiana State is classified ...

in the United States.

Career

He started his career as a customs officer at the Royal Customs and Excise Department, Kota Kinabalu on 1 March 1968. He was appointed Executive Officer (Rural) and was moved to Beaufort District Office as Assistant District Officer (Rural) on 10 November 1969. He was seconded to the National Paddy and Rice Board as Chief Officer from April 1979 until July 1983. He also worked as Secretary of State Public Service Commission (1983), Dakwah Officer of Sabah Islamic Affairs Council (October 1986 to January 1988), Secretary of the Islamic Council of Sabah (January 1988 to June 1994), Secretary of Internal Affairs and Research Office (1994 to 1995) and Director of the State Public Service Department (December 1995 to March 1998). He served as Deputy State Secretary (Administration) from 21 March 1998 to 8 December 2002. On 1 January 2003, he was sworn in as the ninth

of Sabah. He served two full terms and stepped down on 31 December 2010.

Personal life and death

He was married to Hajah Dayang Masuyah binti Awang Japar (1948–23 March 2020) and the couple were blessed with three sons and a daughter as well as nine grandchildren. Ahmadshah died in

on 20 May 2025 at the age of 78.

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : ** Grand Commander of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace of God-Defender of the Realm). The o ...

(SMN) – Tun (2003) ** Officer of the

(KMN) (1997) * : ** Member of the

Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa The Most Esteemed Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa is an order of chivalry of the state of Kedah which was established in 2005 by Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah. History It was founded by Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah in 2005. Classes The Suprem ...

(DMK) – Dato' Seri Utama (2008) * : ** MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - SPDK

Grand Commander of the

Order of Kinabalu The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu (Malay: ''Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Kinabalu'') is the only order conferred by the Governor of Sabah, Malaysia. Background The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu is established by virtue of Section 3(a) of State Honou ...

(SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2004) ** MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - PGDK

Commander of the

(PGDK) – Datuk (1993) * : ** Knight Grand Commander of the

Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * A socio-political or established or existing order, e.g. World order, Ancien Regime, Pax Britannica * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * H ...

(DP) – Datuk Patinggi

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmadshah Abdullah 1946 births 2025 deaths Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah People from Kota Kinabalu Bajau people Malaysian Muslims United Malays National Organisation politicians Indiana State University alumni Grand Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu Officers of the Order of the Defender of the Realm