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. He is the shortest-serving President of the Dewan Negara in the history of Malaysia.

Born in Alor Star, Kedah, Syed Sheh was 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 Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.

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 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.

Tun Syed Sheh died on 8 October 1975, in Alor Star, Kedah.

The Esplanade Road in George Town, Penang was renamed as Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah.

As 3rd Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang (5 February 1969 – 5 February 1975)

•  Penang :
  • Knight Grand Commander (DUPN) with title Dato' Seri Utama
  • Grand Master of the Order of the Defender of State

•  Malaysia :
  • Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (1964)
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) – Tun (1968)^[3]
  • Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) – Tun (1970)^[4]
•  Kedah :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kedah (SPMK) – Dato' Seri (1969)^[5]

•  Brunei :
  • Fourth Class of the Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei (PSB)