Arshad bin Ayub (; 15 November 1928 – 14 June 2022) was a Malaysian academician and educator. He was a founding father of the

Universiti Teknologi MARA 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 ...

(UiTM), Malaysia's largest higher learning institution, where he was its director from 1967 to 1975, later served as its Pro-Chancellor from 2000 until his death in 2022. He was widely known as the national education icon.

Early life and education

Arshad was born in Muar,

Johor Johor, also spelled Johore,'' is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. It borders with Pahang, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to the north. Johor has maritime borders with Singapore ...

, on 15 November 1928, in a family of moderate rubber tappers. He was the eldest son, and he was brought up in an atmosphere of hardship and poverty. After the death of his parents, he was assigned the responsibility of raising his four siblings. Arshad received his primary education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Parit Keroma, Muar, Johor. He received his secondary education at the Muar High School, Johor. Subsequently, he attended the University of Malaya,

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

(present day

National University of Singapore The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national university, national Public university, public research university in Singapore. It was officially established in 1980 by the merging of the University of Singapore and Nanyang University ...

) from 1949 to 1951. He received Diploma in Agriculture from the College of Agriculture,

Serdang, Selangor Seri Kembangan, also known as Serdang, formerly known as Serdang New Village, is a town located in Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia. It is located in between Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. The town is now a considerable city in size. It is loc ...

(present day University of Putra Malaysia) in 1954. The previous year, he had been awarded a Colonial and Development scholarship to study at the

University of Wales The University of Wales () is a confederal university based in Cardiff, Wales. Founded by royal charter in 1893 as a federal university with three constituent colleges – Aberystwyth, Bangor and Cardiff – the university was the first universit ...

Aberystwyth Aberystwyth (; ) is a University town, university and seaside town and a community (Wales), community in Ceredigion, Wales. It is the largest town in Ceredigion and from Aberaeron, the county's other administrative centre. In 2021, the popula ...

, UK (present day

Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth University () is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The university has over 8,000 stude ...

). He graduated there with an honours degree in Economics and Statistics in 1958. In 1964, he obtained a diploma in Business Administration from the Management Development Institute,

Lausanne Lausanne ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest List of towns in Switzerland, city of the Swiss French-speaking Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. It is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway bet ...

(present day

International Institute for Management Development International Institute for Management Development (IMD) is an independent academic institute with campuses in Lausanne, Switzerland and Singapore. IMD is known for its executive education and its proximity to business. In 2024, it named David B ...

). He was a Member of the

Aberystwyth Old Students' Association Aberystwyth Old Students' Association (), founded in 1892, is Aberystwyth University's alumni association and is one of the oldest such associations in the United Kingdom. It currently has more than 10,000 Members and 100,000 Associate Members w ...

and was elected as President (2001–02).

Career

Arshad was Pro-Chancellor of the

(UiTM) from 2000 until his death in 2022. He was also Chairman of PFM Capital Propriety Limited, Chairman of AmanahRaya Investment Bank Limited and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the

University of Malaya The Universiti Malaya (lit 'University of Malaya'; abbreviated UM) is a public university, public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the oldest Malaysian institution of higher education, and was the only university in ...

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : ** Companion 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 ...

(JMN) (1971) ** Order_of_Loyalty_to_the_Crown_of_Malaysia_-_PSM

Commander of the

Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia The Most Esteemed Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country and awarded by the sovereign. The order was instituted on 15 April 1966 and gazetted on 30 June 1966 ...

(PSM) – Tan Sri (1980) **

Grand Commander of the

(SSM) – Tun (2020) * : ** MY-SAB_Order_of_Kinabalu_-_PGDK

Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk * ** MY-PAH_Order_of_Sultan_Ahmad_Shah_of_Pahang_-_Knight_Companion_-_DSAP

Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP) – Dato' * : ** MY-TER_Order_of_the_Crown_of_Terengganu_-_Dato_Paduka_-_DPMT

Knight Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Terengganu The Most Distinguished Order of the Crown of Terengganu (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota Terengganu Yang Amat Mulia'') is an honorific order of the Sultanate of Terengganu. History It was founded by Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengg ...

(DPMT) – Dato' * : ** My-KEL_Order_of_Loyalty_to_the_Crown_of_Kelantan

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Kelantan (SPSK) – Dato' (1981) * : ** MY-PERL_Order_of_the_Crown_of_Perlis_-_Knight_Grand_Commander_-_SPMP

MY-PERL_Order_of_the_Crown_of_Perlis_-_Knight_Grand_Commander_-_SPMP

Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (DPMP) – Dato' (1974) * : ** Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar

Knight Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Johor The Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor ( Malay: ''Darjah Mahkota Johor Yang Amat Mulia'') is an Order of chivalry awarded by the Sultan of Johor. It was first instituted on July 31, 1886. It is awarded in three classes: *Knight Grand Co ...

(DPMJ) – Dato' * : ** MY-SAR_Order_of_the_Star_of_Sarawak_-_2_ribbon_PNBS_-JBS-PBS-ABS-BBS

Knight Commander of the

Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak The ''Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak'' (Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak) is the highest state order in the state of Sarawak. It is conferred to those who rendered excellent service towards the development of the state of ...

(PNBS) – Dato Sri (2007) * : ** MY-SEL_Order_of_the_Crown_of_Selangor_-_Knight_Grand_Commander_-_SPMS

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Dato' Seri (2009) * : ** MY-NEG_Order_of_Loyalty_to_Negeri_Sembilan

Principal Grand Knight of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (SUNS) – Dato' Seri Utama (2013)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arshad Ayub 1928 births 2022 deaths Malaysian people of Malay descent Malaysian Muslims Academic staff of Universiti Teknologi MARA People from Johor University of Malaya alumni Alumni of the University of Wales Alumni of Aberystwyth University Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Grand Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Knights Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu Companions of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Terengganu Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor