Abdullah Ahmad

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Abdullah Ahmad
PSM SSAP SJMK DGPN PNBS DSAP DPMK ADK
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
In office
1974–1976
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Machang
In office
1974–1978
Preceded byconstituency created
Succeeded byMohd Kassim @ Yahya Ahmad
Personal details
Born(1933-07-04)4 July 1933
Machang, Kelantan, Unfederated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died12 June 2016(2016-06-12) (aged 82)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (–2016)
SpouseFauzah Mohamad Darus
OccupationAcademic, politician, writer

Tan Sri Abdullah bin Ahmad (4 July 1937 – 12 June 2016)[1][2] was a Malaysian journalist and politician from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Alumni of Sultan Ismail College, Kota Bharu, Kelantan and at one time, he was the editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times. Abdullah Ahmad held significant influence during the administrations of Abdul Razak Hussein and Mahathir Mohamad.

On 12 November 2003, he wrote an article criticising Saudi Arabian policies that aided the United States invasion of Iraq, among other things. As a result, the Saudi government reduced Malaysian quota for haj.[3] On 21 November of the same year, he "was fired without warning by the daily's management at the request of the ruling UMNO party following a complaint by the Saudi ambassador in Malaysia." UMNO, which is part of the ruling government and holding equity in the papers later stated that he had jeopardised Malaysia's close relationship with Saudi Arabia. He had a contract that was supposed to expire in October 2004.[4]

Ahmad died on 12 June 2016, after battling cancer. He was 79.[5][6] His body was brought back to his hometown in Kok Lanas [ms], Kelantan.[7]

Election results[edit]

Parliament of Malaysia[8]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1974 P024 Machang, Kelantan Abdullah Ahmad (UMNO) 13,183 71.80% Mohamed Yusoff Mohamed Nor (IND) 5,177 28.20% 19,156 8,006 75.46%

Honours[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dato Seri Abdullah Bin Ahmad". National Archives of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Dato Seri Abdullah Bin Ahmad". National Archives of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2018. (in Malay)
  3. ^ The Straits Times. New Straits Times chief editor sacked Archived 6 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Extracted 26 March 2006.
  4. ^ Reporters without borders. New Straits Times editor in chief fired as a result of Saudi pressure Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Extracted 26 March 2006.
  5. ^ Former NST boss Abdullah Ahmad dies of cancer
  6. ^ "Dollah Kok Lanas dies of cancer". Malaysiakini. 12 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Abdullah Ahmad laid to rest in Kok Lanas". The Star. 13 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  9. ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".