Tan Sri Dr. Hj. Abdul Hamid bin Hj. Othman was born on 21 July 1939 in Kampung Kemelong, Sik, Kedah. He received his early education at the Sik Malay School and completed standard five in 1952. Then, he continued his studies at an Arabic School, i.e. Madrasah Al-Nahdah, Bukit Besar until 1954. Under the guidance of Tuan Shaik Othman Al-Yunusi or commonly known as 'Pak Man Bukit Besar', he was selected to continue his studies at a higher level at the Madrasah Idrisiah, Kuala Kangsar until 1956.

Excellence in his studies gave him an opportunity to continue his education at the Klang Islamic College from 1959 until 1962, where he passed his Higher Religious Certificate and later obtained a Diploma in Education. Tan Sri Hj. Abdul Hamid also passed the Lower Certificate of Education and Senior Cambridge Examinations by studying on his own. In 1961, he was selected to study at the Al- Azhar University in Egypt on a Malaysian government scholarship together with four other Malaysian students. They graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, specializing in Islamic Law.

Sometime later, under the Training Scheme for the Teaching Fraternity of University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Tan Sri Hj. Abd. Hamid was offered a scholarship to study at St. Andrew's University, Scotland, where he obtained his doctorate (Ph.D).

Career

• Teacher, Tunku Ampuan Rahimah Secondary School, Klang
  
• Transferred to teach at the Klang Islamic College (1970- 1971)
  
• Lecturer, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  
• Officially appointed as the first Principal of Islamic Teachers College (1977)
  
• Given the mandate to be the Director of Islamic Education in the Ministry of Education (1981- 1984)
  
• Head of the Malaysian Islamic Centre, Prime Ministers Department, designated as the Director-General Division of Islamic Affairs
  
• Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
  
• Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
  
• Religious Advisor to the Prime Minister

Political Involvement

• Won the General Election (1990)
  
• Member of UMNO Supreme Council

Social and Professional Involvement

• Chairman of Muslimin Cooperative
  
• Secretary of Nadwah Foundation, Akademi Islam (NADI) Berhad
  
• Chairman, Council of Judges for the Quran Reading Competition of the National and International Levels

His main hobbies are playing golf and reading, apart from being active in writing. In appreciation of his services and contributions to the country, he was bestowed several honours and awards, which among them include the P.P.T., the K.M.N., the J.S.M., the S.M.G., the D.S.D.K. which carries the title Dato', the D.H.M.S. (also Dato' ship) and the Panglima Setia Mahkota (P.S.M.) which carries the title of Tan Sri.