An alumnus of the Raffles Institution, Ahmad Mattar graduated from the University of Singapore with a degree in physics. He completed his master"s degree at the University of Sheffield on a Colombo Plan scholarship and then his doctorate at the University of Singapore.
Prior to entering politics, he was a lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic. In 1972, he ran for the Leng Kee Single Member Constituency at the recommendation of Abdul Rahim Ishak, then the Member of Parliament for Siglap SMC. From 1985 to 1995, he was appointed as the Minister for the Environment. During his tenure as the Minister for the Environment, he was known for tightening restrictions on the sale of aerosols containing CFCs and introducing the Corrective work order (CWO) to combat littering.
He had intended to resign from Cabinet in 1991 but was persuaded to remain by newly elected Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.
In 1996 he retired from politics and has largely kept a low profile.
