Tuan Yang Terutama, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka Tun Datuk Seri Utama Syed Ahmad Al-Haj was born on May 4, 1925 in Kulim, Kedah. He was the third child from a family of five (four son and a daughter).

Tun Datuk Seri Utama Syed Ahmad was sworn in as the Fifth Yang di-Pertua of Melaka on December 4, 1984, a person of high calibre and great personality. Tun Datuk Seri Utama was previously the Chief Minister of Kedah, Deputy Home Affairs Minister and Malaysia High Commissioner to Singapore for a few years before his appointment as the Yang di-Pertua of Melaka.

His dream is to see Melaka became more progressive and successful. He also hope to elevate the standard of living in Melaka, eradite poverty, as well as to improve the State's economic growth.

Tun Datuk Seri Utama Syed Ahmad Shahabudin received formal education, but also religious studies in the evenings. Upon completing his standard four education, he continued his studies at Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Setar. His studies was stopped abruptly in standard seven due to the Japanese Occupation in Malaya at that time. He had to leave school and became jobless for a few years.

To support his family, he worked as a trishaw rider, selling fried banana, delivering newspapers, labourer in a farm and even as a pettition writer. He was even forced to attend Japanese School during World War Two that has made him fluent in Japanese language within two months! During the period, he joined the Japanese Youth Group to learn boxing skills and even foot drill. With the end of the war, he continued his study at Sultan Abdul Hamid College until he passed Senior Cambridge in 1947.

He started his career as a government officer at the Treasury Office in Alor Setar until 1955. He was also responsible for the formation of Angkatan Kesetiaan Pemuda Melayu in 1951/52 which later merged with Kesatuan Pemuda-Pemuda Melayu Negeri Kedah under the leadership of Dato' Seri Dr.Mahathir Mohamad (the current Prime Minister) and fought for independence.

He won the general election and became a member of the Federal Legislative Council from 1955 to 1959. In the same period, Tun Syed Ahmad was appointed as a member of the State Legislative Assembly. He was appointed a Senator in 1959. He became the Chief Minister of Kedah for a period of ten years until 1978. In the 1978 General Election, he won the Padang Terap Parliamentary seat and was appointed Deputy Home Affairs Minister until September 1980. He successfully defended his Padang Terap seat in the 1980 General Election. He was also a former Malaysia High Commissioner to Singapore.

Beside his active involvement in national politics and political parties, Tun Syed Ahmad was also active in community work. He was appointed Chairman of the National Council for Justice of Peace of Kedah, and the St. John's Ambulance in Kedah.

He was married to Toh Puan Sharifah Hanifah bte Syed Alwi in 1950 and is blessed with six children. Ten years later, he married Toh Puan Marfuzah bte Sheikh Mohd. Osman and had four children. Toh Puan Sharifah Hanifah passed away on 5th July 1933.

Tun Syed Ahmad favourite hobbies were birds breeding, listening to Malay traditional music, and reading. He also enjoyed playing golf in his free time.