Tan Sri Dato' Mohd. Khir Johari was born on 29 Januari 1923 in Kampong Kanchut, Alor Setar, Kedah to a modest family. He had his education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College and passed his Senior Cambridge Examination.

Career

• The first Minister of Education (31 Aug. 1957- 1960)
  
• Minister of Trade and Industry (1960- 1964)
  
• Minister of Agriculture (1964-1966)
  
• Minister of Education (1966- 1968)
  
• Minister of Trade and Industry (1968- 1973)
  
• Head of Malayan Delegation to the UNESCO Conference in Paris (1958)
  
• President of the Conference of the Working Committee on the Redevelopment of Rural of Afro- Asia (1964)
  
• Head of Malaysian Delegation to the Opening of the Ministers' Conference on Cooperation for Asia- Pacific region (ASPAC) in Seoul, Korea (1966)
  
• Malaysia's Ambassador to United States of America (Feb. 1973)
  
• Malaysia's Ambassador the United Nations, New York (1973- 1976)
  
• President, Malaysia Institute of Directors
  
• Vice Chairman of Magnum Corporation Berhad

Social and Professional Involvement

• President, World Wide Fund for Nature of Malaysia (WWF)
  
• President, Malaysian Zoological Society
  
• President of PATA (1971/ 1972)
  
• Member of Trustees, Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation
  
• Deputy President, Olympics Council of Malaysia
  
• President, Badminton Association of Malaysia
  
• President, Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia for 15 years
  
• Vice President, Badminton Association of Asia
  
• President, Tennis Association of Malaysia (STAM) (1994)

In appreciation of his services and contributions, he was awarded the honorary Doctorate in Law by the University of Malaya in 1968, the honorary Doctorate in Education and Science by the De La Salle College, Manila in 1967, the Senatorship by the Junior Chamber International in 1967, the 'Langkawi Award' - the Highest Tribute for Individual Malaysian for Outstanding Contributions in the Environment Field in 1995 and the 'Member of Honour' of the International WWF Network. He was bestowed the award of the Panglima Setia Mahkota (P.S.M.) which carries the title of Tan Sri and the Dato' Setia DiRaja Kedah (D.S.D.K.) which carries the title of Dato'.