Syed Hamid Albar
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri
Syed Hamid bin Syed Jaafar Albar (born 15 January 1944), is a Malaysian politician and the former Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs. He is currently the chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission
. He is also a member of the United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO), part of the ruling Barisan Nasional
. He recently lost his bid for a Vice-President's post in UMNO and was dropped as a minister in Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
's cabinet.
, Malaysia, to Tan Sri Syed Jaafar Albar who is also a Malaysian politician and a former cabinet minister. Syed Hamid's father was of Hadhrami Arab
descent, and migrated from Indonesia to Malaysia shortly before World War II
.
He had his secondary education at Maxwell School
before going to Methodist Boys' School (Kuala Lumpur)
for his Form Six education. For his tertiary education, he read law in the Inns of Court, London and was called to the Degree of an Utter Barrister by the Honourable Society of Middle Temple in 1970. As a student in London
, he set up a club for Malaysian expatriates and students.
He is married with 6 children.
Soon after winning an UMNO Supreme Council seat, he joined the Malaysian cabinet
as a minister in the oil department and then as minister of law. In 1995, he was appointed as the Defense Minister and in 1999, he was appointed as the Foreign Minister. In March 2008, he was appointed as the Home Minister.
In April 2009, he was dropped as minister by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Syed Hamid bin Syed Jaafar Albar (born 15 January 1944), is a Malaysian politician and the former Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs. He is currently the chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission
Land Public Transport Commission (Malaysia)
The Land Public Transport Commission or SPAD is a Malaysian statutory body set up to plan for, regulate and enforce rules concerning land-based public and freight transport in Malaysia....
. He is also a member of the United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO), part of the ruling Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
. He recently lost his bid for a Vice-President's post in UMNO and was dropped as a minister in Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Najib Tun Razak
Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth, and since 2009, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on 3 April 2009. Najib is President of the United...
's cabinet.
Early life
Syed Hamid was born in Kampung Melayu Air Hitam, PenangPenang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, Malaysia, to Tan Sri Syed Jaafar Albar who is also a Malaysian politician and a former cabinet minister. Syed Hamid's father was of Hadhrami Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
descent, and migrated from Indonesia to Malaysia shortly before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He had his secondary education at Maxwell School
Maxwell School
For Maxwell School as a graduate school of Syracuse University see Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.Maxwell School is a semi-control for boys and the oldest school in the north of Kuala Lumpur as well as one of the oldest in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia...
before going to Methodist Boys' School (Kuala Lumpur)
Methodist Boys' School (Kuala Lumpur)
Methodist Boys' School, Kuala Lumpur is a cluster secondary school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was founded in July 1897, making it one of the oldest schools in Malaysia. It is known as MBS and its students are known as MBSians. The school is also known as Marble School or Horley School to the...
for his Form Six education. For his tertiary education, he read law in the Inns of Court, London and was called to the Degree of an Utter Barrister by the Honourable Society of Middle Temple in 1970. As a student in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he set up a club for Malaysian expatriates and students.
He is married with 6 children.
Political career
Syed Hamid has been active in UMNO since his student days. Later, he became a member of UMNO Supreme Council in 1986. He enjoyed a brief stint of support as fellow Malaysians thought that as a well-travelled and Western-educated person, he would bring more political limelight to Malaysia and make the country shine in the international community.Soon after winning an UMNO Supreme Council seat, he joined the Malaysian cabinet
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...
as a minister in the oil department and then as minister of law. In 1995, he was appointed as the Defense Minister and in 1999, he was appointed as the Foreign Minister. In March 2008, he was appointed as the Home Minister.
In April 2009, he was dropped as minister by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.