Ahmad Zaidi Adruce

Ahmad Zaidi Adruce bin Muhammed Noor (; 29 March 1924 – 5 December 2000) was a Malaysian politician, statesman, educator and nationalist who served as the fifth Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak. He was the longest-serving governor in Sarawak's history, holding office from 1985 until his death in 2000. He is also remembered as the first Sarawakian bumiputera to earn a Master of Arts degree from a British university, the University of Edinburgh.

Early life and education Ahmad Zaidi Adruce bin Muhammed Noor was born on 29 March 1924 in Kampung Semop, near the Rajang River in central Sarawak, to Mohammad Noor and Siti Saadiah. His father was a farmer, while his mother was a housewife. He received a "relatively good" education for a native of Sarawak under British colonial rule.

During his early life, Ahmad Zaidi was adopted by descendants of the prominent Malay nobleman, Syarif Masahor. Sharifah Mai, a daughter of Syarif Masahor, had an unmarried daughter named Sharifah Dayang Aisah, who later adopted Ahmad Zaidi. Sharifah Mai also had a childless son, Wan Abu Bakar Adruce.

On 2 April 1985, he also took the oath of office in front of then king. He held the office for 15 years, the longest-serving governor in any Malaysian state without a hereditary ruler (in consecutive terms from a single appointment).

Health In 1974, while Ahmad Zaidi was taking a break in a family house in Bandung, Indonesia, he had a blackout and fractured his lumbar spine (lower backbone). He was given a state funeral and was buried at Samariang Muslim Cemetery, Petra Jaya, Kuching.

Election results

Honours Honours of Sarawak

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign honours

Honorary degrees

Honorary Ph.D. degree in law from National University of Malaysia (1993)

Others

Places named after him Several places were named after him, including: SMK Agama Tun Ahmad Zaidi (SMKA TUNAZ), an Islamic religious school in Kuching, Sarawak Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, is a major road in Kuching and Sibu, Sarawak Tun Ahmad Zaidi Residential College, a residential college at University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur Kolej Tun Ahmad Zaidi, a residential college at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Tun Zaidi Stadium, a stadium in Sibu, Sarawak