Tan Sri Hanafiah bin Hussain was born on 16 April 1927 in Yan, Kedah. He received his early education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Setar. In 1948, he received an accountancy scholarship from the Victoria University, Manchester in England to further his studies. He obtained his B.A. Commerce degree, then he continued his studies and received his professional A.C.A (England & Wales).

Career

• Certified Chartered Accountant
• The first Managing Director of the Board of Management of the Haj Fund (1964)
• The first Chairman of FAMA (1965-1967)
• The Founder of the first Bumiputera Accounting Firm i.e. Hanafiah, Raslan, Mohamad & Partner (Chartered Accountant)

Involvements in Politics

• Actively involved in the SEBERKAS (1946)
• Member of Parliament for Jerai, Kedah (1964-1974)
• Member, Supreme UMNO Council (1965-1970)
• Secretary, UMNO Malaysia (1965-1970)

Involvements in Social and Professional Organisations

• Chairman, Public Accounts Committee
• Chairman, Malaysia Chamber of Commerce (1969)
• President, Malay Chamber of Commerce, Malaysia (1966-1970)
• Member, Court of the University of Malaya
• Member, Board of Governors of the Royal Military College
• Member, Industrial Arbitration Tribunal

To honour his meritorious services and contributions, he was bestowed various awards and orders of chivalry. Among them were the Panglima Mangku Negara (P.M.N) by His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Dato' Setia Diraja Kedah (D.S.D.K) by the HRH. the Sultan of Kedah, the Ahli Mangku Negara (A.M.N) and the Setia Diraja Kedah (S.D.K).