He was born on 17 January, 1932 in Langkawi, Kedah. His primary education began at the Kedawang Malay School in 1938. The following year, he studied at Sik Malay School and later continued at the Kangkong Malay School in 1940. Both schools are in Kedah. His secondary education began at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in 1945 and obtained his Senior Cambridge qualification. He then furthered his studies in United Kingdom, graduating from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London in 1957.

He was in government service for 34 years, starting from 1953 and held the post of Secretary of State from 1976 to 1987.

In appreciation of his contributions, he was awarded honorary titles and medals from Kedah State. Among them were the Dato' Paduka Seri Setia Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, (D.H.M.S.), the Dato' Seri Diraja Kedah (D.S.D.K.), the P.S.B., the Setia Mahkota Kedah (S.M.K.), the Ahli Mangku Negara (A.M.N.) and the Bintang Cemerlang Kedah (B.C.K.). He was also awarded the title Dato' Bijaya Indera (a titled Dato of the Orang Besar Enam Belas)