Yahaya Ahmad

Yahaya bin Ahmad (11 August 1947 – 2 March 1997) was a Malaysian businessman. He was the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the DRB-HICOM Group. He was famously known as Malaysia's "Car Czar".

Early life Yahaya was born on 11 August 1947 in Marang, Terengganu, Malaysia. He received his education from Malay College Kuala Kangsar in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. Yahaya later attended Loughborough University to pursue a degree in automotive engineering. Then taken over by the Managing Director Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Salleh with Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff.

In January 1997, two months prior to his death, together with Malaysian finance minister Anwar Ibrahim, as the acting prime minister, introduced an initiative to reduce traffic congestion around the capital city of Kuala Lumpur through the establishment of Intrakota bus (now RapidKL).

Other roles Aside from being the DRB-HICOM chairman, Yahaya also appointed as a Chairman of EON Bank on 12 January 1996, succeeding Rin Kei Mei.

He also became the head of the Master Carriage group of companies' boards as well as a board member of Central Terengganu Development Authority and Kemaman Port Authority. Yahaya and his family also owns Mega Consolidated.

Yahaya was also the promoter of Modenas.

Death On 2 March 1997, Yahaya and his wife Rohana were killed in a helicopter crash near Kuala Lipis, Pahang while on their way to visit his ailing mother, Mandak Omar in Marang, Terengganu.

On 4 March 1997, the couple's remains were brought back to his hometown in Marang, Terengganu and were buried in a Muslim cemetery in Marang. After Yahaya's death, the company was taken over by Tan Sri Mohd Saleh Sulong.

Honours

Legacy In honour of his contributions to the Malaysian automotive industry, the Mara Skills Institute Pekan (Institut Kemahiran Mara Pekan; IKM Pekan) in Pekan, Pahang was renamed Mara Skills Institute Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad (Institut Kemahiran Mara Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad Pekan; IKM TSYA Pekan) on 15 July 1997. A street in Dungun, Terengganu was named after him (Jalan Yahaya Ahmad).