Syed Sheh Barakbah
Tun Syed Sheh Al-Haj bin Syed Hassan Barakbah (10 November 1906 – 8 October 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.
Syed Sheh Barakbah | |
|---|---|
| 3rd Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang | |
| In office 1 February 1969 – 1 February 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Syed Sheh Shahabudin |
| Succeeded by | Sardon Jubir |
| President of the Dewan Negara | |
| In office 27 January 1969 – 5 February 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Abdul Rahman Mohamed Yassin |
| Succeeded by | Mohamad Noah Omar |
| Lord President of the Federal Court | |
| In office 1966–1968 | |
| Preceded by | James Beveridge Thomson |
| Succeeded by | Mohamed Azmi Mohamed |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 November 1906 Alor Setar, Kedah |
| Died | 8 October 1975 (aged 68) Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia |
Early life & education
Born in Alor Star, Kedah, Syed Sheh is of Hadhrami-Malay descent; his Arab ancestors had migrated from Hadhramaut and settled in Kedah for several generations.[1] 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.
Career
Syed Sheh began his career in the judiciary as a special magistrate in the Colonial Legal Service 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 Tun Sir James 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.[2]
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.
Death
Tun Syed Sheh died on 8 October 1975, in Alor Star, Kedah.
Legacy
The Esplanade Road in George Town, Penang was renamed Jalan Tun Syed Sheikh Barakbah.
Honours
Honour of Penang
- As 3rd Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang (5 February 1969 – 5 February 1975)
Honours of Malaysia
- Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (S.M.N.) (1970)[3]
- Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (S.S.M.) (1968)[4]
References
- Macam-macam Ada: Memo untuk Pak Lah (Bahagian Satu), by Hussien Alattas, published by JB News Media Network, 2006, ISBN 983-40962-8-3, pg 254
- Sultan Azlan Shah And The Judiciary Bernama. 29 January 2009
- "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1970" (PDF).
- "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1968" (PDF).
| Preceded by Syed Sheh Shahabudin |
Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang 1969–1975 |
Succeeded by Sardon Jubir |
| Preceded by James Beveridge Thomson |
Lord President of the Federal Court 1966–1968 |
Succeeded by Mohamed Azmi Mohamed |
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