Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Syed Hamid Albar is a seasoned Malaysian statesman and former Cabinet Minister who has held numerous key positions in government, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Home Affairs, and Minister of Defence. Over his distinguished career, he has played an instrumental role in shaping Malaysia’s domestic and foreign policies, representing the nation on the international stage, and contributing to regional cooperation within ASEAN.
On 11th November 2025, Perdana Leadership Foundation had the privilege of conducting an Oral History session with Tan Sri Dr Syed Hamid Albar as part of its ongoing Malaysian Leaders Oral History series. The interview was led by Encik Ahmad Yazid Ahmad Puad, Managing Director and Documentary Producer at Rack Focus Films Sdn. Bhd., and Dr Danial Yusof, Director of the Centre for Peace, Dialogue and Xenophobia Studies (PEDIXS), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
“Growing up, I always did well in religious school and often came first in class. For a long time, I thought I would become an ustaz; my father even arranged for a tutor to teach me Arabic because he believed that would be my path. But there was one ambition that stayed with me from a young age. I was drawn to the law — not just as a profession, but as a principle. I believed that the law must be fair, that it must be exercised justly, and that enforcement must never be selective. So I told my mother that I wished to study the law not for its prestige, but to truly understand it and to defend the rights of the people,” Tan Sri shared, explaining how he got into law.
The three-hour conversation offered only a glimpse into Tan Sri’s life and his thoughts, as he shared not only stories from his childhood, but also the rich perspectives gained from his political and ministerial journey.
Also present during the session were Tan Sri’s wife and daughter, Puan Sri Sharifah Aziah Ben Yahya, and Puan Sharifah Nurzaima as well as Puan Zarina Abu Bakar, Chief Executive Officer, Perdana Leadership Foundation.
The publication featuring Tan Sri Dr Syed Hamid Albar is scheduled for release in 2026, after the conversations are concluded. Stay tuned for updates.
