Syed Sheh Hassan Barakbah
Encyclopedia
Tun Syed Sheh Al-Haj bin Syed Hassan Barakbah (November 10, 1906 – October 8, 1975) was a prominent Malaysian judge. He was the second Lord President of the Federal Court
, and the first Malaysian to hold that office. After his career in the judiciary, he briefly served as President of the Dewan Negara
and later Yang di-Pertua Negeri
(Governor) of Penang
.
, Kedah
, Syed Sheh is of Hadhrami-Malay descent; his Arab ancestors had migrated from Hadhramaut
and settled in Kedah
for several generations. Being of the Barakbah clan, he is related to Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah
, the third wife of the first Prime Minister of Malaysia
, Tunku Abdul Rahman
.
Syed received his education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College
before continuing his studies in England
sponsored by the Kedah
State Government's scholarship. He was accepted to read law at the Inner Temple
and graduated in 1934 with a LL.B. degree.
in 1946. After independence, he served as a judge on the Court of Appeal and in 1963, was appointed Chief Justice of Malaya. In 1968, Syed Sheh Succeeded James Beveridge Thomson
as Lord President of the Federal Court
, then the highest office in the Malaysian judiciary
. He was the first Malaysian to serve in that capacity.
After retiring as Lord President, Syed Sheh was appointed as a Senator in the Dewan Negara
, the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia
. He became President of the Dewan Negara in 1969, serving for little over a week until early February. He retired from the Senate later that month and was appointed the third Governor
of the state of Penang
by Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin. He served two terms (four years, then two years) until February 1975.
In becoming Lord President, President of the Dewan Negara and Governor of Penang, Syed Sheh has served in senior positions in the Malaysian executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.
Lord President of the Federal Court
The title of Lord President of the Supreme Court was formerly the title of the head of the judiciary in Malaysia, until 1994 when the office was renamed "Chief Justice of the Federal Court"....
, and the first Malaysian to hold that office. After his career in the judiciary, he briefly served as President of the Dewan Negara
Dewan Negara
The Dewan Negara is the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia. The Dewan Negara consists of 70 members, of which 26 are indirectly elected by the states, with two senators for every state in the Federation, and the other 44 being appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong .The Dewan Negara...
and later Yang di-Pertua Negeri
Yang di-Pertua Negeri
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is the official title of the ceremonial heads of state of the Malaysian states without hereditary rulers, namely Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak...
(Governor) of Penang
Penang
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...
.
Early life & education
Born in Alor StarAlor Star
Alor Setar, known as Alor Star between 2004 and 2008, is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia, and Kota Setar District's Administrative Centre. It is also a distribution center for manufacturing and agricultural products such as paddy, and the royal seat of the Kedah state since the establishment...
, Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
, Syed Sheh is of Hadhrami-Malay descent; his Arab ancestors had migrated from Hadhramaut
Hadhramaut
Hadhramaut, Hadhramout, Hadramawt or Ḥaḍramūt is the formerly independent Qu'aiti state and sultanate encompassing a historical region of the south Arabian Peninsula along the Gulf of Aden in the Arabian Sea, extending eastwards from Yemen to the borders of the Dhofar region of Oman...
and settled in Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
for several generations. Being of the Barakbah clan, he is related to Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah
Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah
Tun Sharifah Rodziah binti Syed Alwi Barakbah was the third wife of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the founding father and first Prime Minister of Malaysia....
, the third wife of the first Prime Minister of Malaysia
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...
, Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
.
Syed received his education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College
Sultan Abdul Hamid College
The Sultan Abdul Hamid College is a premier school in Alor Setar, Malaysia. Formerly known as the Government English School, it is one of the oldest English schools to be established in the country. It boasts of an illustrious alumni roster that includes Prime Ministers Mahathir bin Mohamad and...
before continuing his studies in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sponsored by the Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
State Government's scholarship. He was accepted to read law at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
and graduated in 1934 with a LL.B. degree.
Career
Syed Sheh began his career in the judiciary as a special magistrate in the Colonial Legal ServiceColonial Service
The Colonial Service was the British government service which administered Britain's colonies and protectorates, under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Colonial Office in London....
in 1946. After independence, he served as a judge on the Court of Appeal and in 1963, was appointed Chief Justice of Malaya. In 1968, Syed Sheh Succeeded James Beveridge Thomson
James Beveridge Thomson
Tun Dato' Sir James Beveridge Thomson, SSM, PNM, PJK was the first Chief Justice of the independent Federation of Malaya. Born in Clydebank, Scotland and graduating from Edinburgh University with first-class honours in History, he was called to the English Bar in 1929...
as Lord President of the Federal Court
Lord President of the Federal Court
The title of Lord President of the Supreme Court was formerly the title of the head of the judiciary in Malaysia, until 1994 when the office was renamed "Chief Justice of the Federal Court"....
, then the highest office in the Malaysian judiciary
Courts of Malaysia
The Judiciary of Malaysia is largely centralized despite Malaysia's federal constitution, heavily influenced by the British Common Law and to a lesser extent Islamic law, and is mostly independent from political interference.-History:...
. He was the first Malaysian to serve in that capacity.
After retiring as Lord President, Syed Sheh was appointed as a Senator in the Dewan Negara
Dewan Negara
The Dewan Negara is the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia. The Dewan Negara consists of 70 members, of which 26 are indirectly elected by the states, with two senators for every state in the Federation, and the other 44 being appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong .The Dewan Negara...
, the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
. He became President of the Dewan Negara in 1969, serving for little over a week until early February. He retired from the Senate later that month and was appointed the third Governor
Yang di-Pertua Negeri
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is the official title of the ceremonial heads of state of the Malaysian states without hereditary rulers, namely Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak...
of the state of Penang
Penang
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...
by Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin. He served two terms (four years, then two years) until February 1975.
In becoming Lord President, President of the Dewan Negara and Governor of Penang, Syed Sheh has served in senior positions in the Malaysian executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.