Abdullah Ahmad

Tan Sri Abdullah bin Ahmad (4 July 1937 – 12 June 2016) 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. 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.

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

Honours

 * Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia - PSM.svg Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (1999)
 * My-KEL Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan 1925-2006.svg Companion of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (JMK)
 * My-KEL Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan 1925-2006.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (SJMK) – Dato'
 * MY-KEL Order of the Crown of Kelantan - Star of Muhammad.svg Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan (DPMK) – Dato'
 * MY-PAH Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang - Knight Companion - DSAP.svg Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP) – Dato' (2000)
 * MY-PAH Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang - Grand Knight - SSAP.svg Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2002)
 * MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Commander - DGPN.svg Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DGPN) – Dato' Seri (2002)
 * MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - ASDK-ADK-BSK-BK.svg Member of the Order of Kinabalu (ADK)
 * MY-SAR Order of the Star of Sarawak - 2 ribbon PNBS -JBS-PBS-ABS-BBS.svg Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – formerly Dato', now Dato Sri
 * MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Commander - DGPN.svg Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DGPN) – Dato' Seri (2002)
 * MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - ASDK-ADK-BSK-BK.svg Member of the Order of Kinabalu (ADK)
 * MY-SAR Order of the Star of Sarawak - 2 ribbon PNBS -JBS-PBS-ABS-BBS.svg Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – formerly Dato', now Dato Sri
 * MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - ASDK-ADK-BSK-BK.svg Member of the Order of Kinabalu (ADK)
 * MY-SAR Order of the Star of Sarawak - 2 ribbon PNBS -JBS-PBS-ABS-BBS.svg Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – formerly Dato', now Dato Sri
 * MY-SAR Order of the Star of Sarawak - 2 ribbon PNBS -JBS-PBS-ABS-BBS.svg Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – formerly Dato', now Dato Sri