Background

Tun Datuk Seri Utama Syed Ahmad Al-Haj was born on 14th May 1925 at Kulim, Kedah. He is the third child from five siblings, comprises of four men and a woman, resulted from the marriage between Syed Mahmud Shahabudin bin Syed Ahmad with Tengku Arfah binti Tengku Syed Mohd Saad. His father came from Palembang while his mother came from Kulim, Kedah. 

His early education originated in Sekolah Melayu Kulim Kedah from 1932 to 1935 till he ends his education during 4th standard. Although he gets formal education daily at school, spiritual education was emphasized towards his siblings. At every evening, he was not left behind from attending Al-Quran classes and deepens his religious knowledge, till he can fluently memorize Al-Quran.

After he ends schooling with excellent results, he got offer to further his education at Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Alor Setar Kedah.

However, his studies were stopped in year 1941 because of World War 2 and at that time he was in 7th standard. He was unemployed for few years, and have take a job as a trishaw puller, sell fried banana, sell newspaper, be farm laborer and sell rice. With the typing skill he possesses, he had worked as “petition writer" to a Chinese in Kulim for few years to accommodate his family’s life. 

During Japanese rule in Malaya, he was also being mobilized to enter Japanese school. As an effect, he was able to master Japanese language although he learned for only two months. With the knowledge he learned, he joins “Kumpulan Pemandu Jepun” to learn boxing and parade.

After the Japanese leaves Malaya and with the spirit that he has together with the inducement from his family, he continues his education at Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid from 1942 until passes Senior Cambridge in year 1947. Tun was a persistent and excellent student. His achievement in academic was excellent in fact Tun also actively involved in sports including rugby.