Tun Datuk Seri Utama 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 Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid ( en, Sultan Abdul Hamid College; abbreviated SAHC; also known as Maktab Sultan Abdul Hamid) located in Alor Setar, Kedah, is one of Malaysia's oldest and most prestigious schools. Founded in 1908 as Government English S ...

, 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 Bukit Beruang is a town in Melaka Tengah District, Malacca, Malaysia named after its eponymous hill with a height of , a famous spot for hiking. The most famous landmark in Bukit Beruang is the state branch of Multimedia University, a private uni ...

, 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 ) ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Grand Master and Grand Commander of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM) with title ''Datuk Seri Utama'' ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Grand Master of the Exalted Order of Malacca

Honours of Malaysia

* : ** Companion of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (JMN) (1958) * : **

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) * : **

Justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

(JP) of Kedah ** MY-KED Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah - Companion (SMK)

Companion of the

Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah The Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Yang Maha Mulia Sri Mahkota Kedah'') is an honorific order of the Sultanate of Kedah History It was founded by Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah on 21 February 1964. Classes It is a ...

(SMK) (1965) ** Knight Grand Commander of the

(SPMK) – Dato' Seri (1968) ** Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (SSDK) – Dato' Seri (1976) * : ** MY-SEL Order of the Crown of Selangor - Knight Grand Commander - SPMS

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 *: ** MY-SAR_Order_of_the_Star_of_Sarawak_-_2_ribbon_PNBS_-JBS-PBS-ABS-BBS

Knight Commander of the

Order of the Star of Sarawak The Most Excellent Order of the Star of Sarawak(lit: 'Darjah Yang Amat Gemilang Bintang Sarawak') was established by Charles Vyner Brooke, The Rajah of Sarawak, on 26 September 1928 as the highest order of chivalry within the Raj of Sarawak.Sara ...

(PNBS) – Dato Sri ** Knight Grand Commander of the

Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak The Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Kenyalang Sarawak (Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak) is the second highest order group (in the group of orders) of the orders, decorations, and medals of Sarawak. The order was instituted in 1970, and was r ...

(DP) – Datuk Patinggi * : ** MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - PGDK

Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk ** MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - SPDK

Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima

References

Ex-Malacca governor laid to rest
– The Star, 8 July 2008 {{DEFAULTSORT:Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin, Syed Ahmad Chief Ministers of Kedah Malaysian people of Arab descent 1925 births 2008 deaths People from Kedah Malaysian people 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