Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ahmad bin Mohamed Ibrahim ('Tan Sri Professor Ahmad Ibrahim') graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts (Cantab), with 1st Class honours in Economics.
Upon obtaining a Certificate of Honour for his Bar examinations in Singapore, he was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple, in absentia.
In 1946, he began his journey in Singapore's civil service as a magistrate and was appointed as a district judge the following year.
In 1948, Tan Sri Professor Ahmad Ibrahim left civil service and became active as a private practitioner. Notably, he acted as defence counsel in the Natrah or Maria Hertogh case.
In 1955, he reentered civil service as a district judge and ascended through ranks swiftly. In 1959, he was appointed as Singapore's first State Advocate General and subsequently became its first Attorney-General in 1965.
In 1967, he was appointed as Singapore's Ambassador to the United Arab Republic.
Among his indelible marks in the annals of Singapore's legal and political history include his roles in the negotiations for Singapore's independence, merger between Malaysia and Singapore, and his drafting of the Administration of Muslim Law Bill (which was subsequently passed by Parliament).
The year 1972 heralded a mementous achievement as Tan Sri Professor Ahmad Ibrahim spearheaded the establishment of Malaysia's inaugural Faculty of Law at Universiti Malaya. This Thus sets the precedent for legal education in the country. He served as the faculty's first Dean until 1983, and was subsequently granted the title of 'Professor Emeritus' by the university.
In 1983, Tan Sri Profesor Ahmad Ibrahim led the establishment of the Kulliyyah of Laws (Nnow known as 'Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws or 'AIKOL') at International Islamic University Malaysia. His visionary leadership birthed a curriculum which amalgamated civil and syariah laws, a groundbreaking precedent in legal education.
Throughout his illustrious lifetime, he crafted over 100 scholarly works which traversed diverse legal domains. These include constitutional law, administrative law, family law, syariah law, and tax law.
Tan Sri Professor Ahmad Ibrahim passed away on 18 April 1999, at the age of 83 years old, leaving behind a monumental legacy in the realm of law in Malaysia.
Named in honour of Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Ahmad bin Mohamad Ibrahim, a towering figure in the legal field, the foundation pays tribute to his enduring legacy and immense contributions to Malaysia’s legal landscape.
YTSPAI’s establishment was supported by the Government of Malaysia, with the then-Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, announcing a seed grant to empower the foundation’s initiatives and lay the groundwork for its future growth
Our vision is to make hope, dignity, and justice accessible to those in need through legal assistance and education, ensuring the protection of fundamental rights, access to basic necessities, and an equitable judicial system.
