Background
Syed Ahmad was born on 4 May 1925 in Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia. He is the third son of five brothers and sisters.
Syed Ahmad was born on 4 May 1925 in Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia. He is the third son of five brothers and sisters.
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. 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.
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 are blessed with six children.
Toh Puan died on 5 July 1993 in Kuala Lumpur. In 1960, Higher Education Tun married Toh Puan Datuk Seri Datin Seri Utama Marfuza Sheikh Mohd Osman and they are blessed with 4 children.
Syed Ahmad died on 7 July 2008 at his house in Taman Tun Doctor Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
He was 83 years old. His body was buried at Melaka"s State Heroes Mausoleum (Makam Pahlawan Negeri) near First Rate (at Lloyd's) Azim Mosque in Malacca Town, Melaka. He was the first state leader to be buried there.
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 First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Haj in Bukit Beruang, Melaka was named after him. Titles Honours of Malacca Honours of Malaysia.
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).