An Introduction
Al Marhum Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim bin Mohamed Ibrahim came from a religious family in Singapore. His father was a medical practitioner, active in Islamic social and welfare activities. Thus, it is not suprising that Al-Marhum emulated him. After a distinguished scholastic career in Singapore and Cambridge University, Al-Marhum held a whole range of law-related appointments in Singapore : Magistrate, District Judge, Law Lecturer, Advocate & Solicitor, Member of Legislative Council, District Judge, Senior Crown Counsel, State Advocate General, Attorney General, Ambassador to United Arab Republic, and hot to be omitted the island's main negotiater in legal matters connected to the merger of Malaya and Singapore.
Al-Marhum was appointed as Professor of Legal Studies at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya (1969 - 1972), Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Malaya (1972 - 1983), Professor Emeritus, University of Malaya (1984) and the Shaikh and the Dean of the Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University of Malaysia (1983 - 1999).
Educational & Academic Achievements
He received his early education at Victoria Bridge School, Singapore and continued his secondary education at Raffles Institution Singapore. Later he studied at Raffles College, Singapore for the London B.A. External degree. On being awarded the Queen’s Scholarship he went to England to study at St. John’s College, Cambridge and Middle Temple, London. He received various degrees and honours for his academic excellence. Among them are as follows:
- B.A. (London) 1935
- Queen’s Scholar, Singapore 1936
- 1st class Economics Tripos I, University of Cambridge
- 1st class Law Tripos II, University of Cambridge
- George Long Prize for Roman Law
- Certificate of Honour, Bar Final, Middle Temple, London
- M.A. 1965, Cambridge
He was also awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Singapore on 5th June 1965.
Working Experiences
In 1946 he served as a Magistrate in Singapore and was later appointed as District Judge of Singapore in 1947. In 1948 he became a law lecturer at Raffles College before becoming an advocate and solicitor from 1949 to 1955. He was also a member of the Legislative Council of Singapore from 1952 to 1955. In 1955 he again served as a Magistrate and District Judge of Singapore before being appointed as Crown Counsel in 1956, Senior Crown Counsel in 1957, State Advocate General of Singapore (1959 – 1963), and Attorney General of Singapore (1963 – 1967). He was later appointed as the Ambassador of Singapore to the Republic of Egypt (1967 – 1968).
After having served the Republic of Singapore for 22 years, he then contributed his services to the Malaysian government in the field of law. He was appointed Professor of Legal Studies at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya (1969 – 1972), Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya (1972 – 1983), Professor Emeritus, University of Malaya (1984), and the Sheikh and Dean, Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University from 1983 - 1999.
Awards
For his services in Malaysia, he was awarded the Johan Mangku Negara (J.M.N) by His Majesty the Yang Dipertuan Agong in 1974. In 1979 he was awarded the Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (D.M.P.N) which carries the title of Datuk by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Pulau Pinang. In the same year he received the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Medal from the Government of Pakistan. In 1987 he was awarded the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) by His Majesty the Yang Dipertuan Agong with the title of Tan Sri. He was awarded the Maal Hijrah Award in 1989 and the Tun Razak Award in 1992.