Syed Alwi Alhadi: From UiTM (RIDA) to the Editor’s Desk

Abstract

Syed Alwi Bin Syed Sheikh Alhadi was an academic, nationalist, author, and prominent Malaysian journalist. He was born on 8 August 1892 in Pulau Hilir, Riau, Indonesia. He is the son of Syed Sheikh Alhady who is a religious teacher, reformist, and well-known journalist in Malaya. Syed Alwi had his early education in Singapore and later to the Islamic Ottoman Beirut College before he proceeded his studies at the Syrian Protestant College (American University of Beirut). He then together with Onn Jaafar, Haji Anwar bin Abdul Malik, and Mohamad Noah Omar formed the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in Johor, which aims to unite the Malays against the Malayan Union which at that time was seen as trying to erode the advantage of the nation as well as the Malay rulers. In 1947 till 1951 he was assigned as the UMNO information officer to convey the purpose and direction of UMNO to the Malays. He was not a politician at heart but an educator instead; Syed Alwi Alhadi was appointed to lead RIDA College (now known as UiTM) as the first principal with effect from 1 November 1956 to 30 June 1958. The number of students taken in by RIDA College for a professional course offered by the London Chamber of Commerce consisted of a total of 25 students. Syed Alwi was later being appointed as an associate professor and head of language studies at Ngee Ann College, Singapore. In Singapore, he began to write a book which discusses on the Malays’ academic form such as the Malay customs and traditions, guide for mothers, and tips on how to deliver a speech as well as publish articles in magazines.