Tan Sri Dato' Haji Shafie was born on 24th July 1926 in Jitra, Kedah. He received his early education at the Jitra Malay School and later continued his education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Setar, Kedah.

Career

• Japanese Army Trainee at Kepala Batas, Alor Setar during the Japanese Occupation from 1941 until 1943
• Interpreter to the Japanese Governor in Kedah, Major General Sukigama Seichi
• Journalist and literary writer (1948)

Political Involvements

• Private Secretary with political duties to the late the Rt. Hon. Tuanku Abdul Rahman Putra (1955)
• Secretary of SEBERKAS, Baling branch
• Spearheading the formation of UNITED MALAY NATIONAL ORGANISATION (then known as PEKEMBAR), and now known as UMNO
• Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly for Baling Timur (1959-1978)
• Head of UMNO, Teluk Pendiat Branch, Baling

Social and Professional Involvements

• Chairman of Publishing Committee, State Culture Council (1987)
• Member, Kedah State Museum Board (1987)
• Chairman, Organisation for the Welfare of Muslims, Malaysia (PERKIM), Baling branch (1984 - 1995)

In the field of writing, Tan Sri Hj Salleh Shafie started writing short stories and poems which were published in the 'Mastika' magazine and weekly newspaper 'Mingguan Utusan Zaman" in the 1950s.

In recognition of his service and contributions he was honoured by the government and the awards include the Panglima Bintang Sarawak (P.B.S), the Panglima Gagah Darjah Kinabalu (P.G.D.K) by Sabah Government, the A.M.N, the B.C.K and the J.P. He also received the award 'Tokoh UMNO Kedah' in 1994 and 'Tokoh Budaya' Negeri Kedah Darul Aman' in 1998.