Mohd Rashdan Baba

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Baba is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Mohd Rashdan. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Mohd Rashdan Baba PSM SIMP SUNS DPMS JSM
1st Vice-Chancellor of the Universiti Putra Malaysia
In office 4 November 1971 – 28 February 1982
Chancellor	Salahuddin of Selangor
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Nayan Ariffin
1st Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Malaysia
In office 1 September 1969 – 31 March 1971
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Ariffin Ngah Marzuki
Personal details
Born	(1935-10-31)31 October 1935 Kampung Berkat, Chembong, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan[1]
Died	30 March 2020(2020-03-30) (aged 84) Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, Ampang, Selangor
Resting place	Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, Damansara[2]
Nationality	Malaysian
Spouse	Robiyah Abdul Majid[2]
Children	1 daughter (Rayslida)[3]
Alma mater	University of Reading (BSc) University of Leeds (PhD)

Mohd Rashdan bin Baba is a Malaysian academic administrator. He was the first Vice-Chancellor of National University of Malaysia from 1969 until 1971. As Universiti Putra Malaysia established in 1971, he became the first Vice-Chancellor of UPM until 1982, succeed by Nayan Ariffin.

Education background

After he obtained his diploma degree in agriculture from College of Agriculture Malaya, he finished Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science from University of Reading and doctoral degree from University of Leeds, became the first Malay who successfully obtained the PhD in field of agronomy.^[1]

Career

Principal of the College of Agriculture Malaya

At the age of 30, Mohd Rashdan was appointed as the Pincipal of the College of Agriculture Malaya, succeed G.I.M. Martin who has retired. This appointment in 1965 made him the first Malay to hold the position.^[1]

First Vice-Chancellor of UKM and UPM

As one of the members of Working Committee that recommended the establishment of UKM, Mohd Rashdan appointed as the first Vice-Chancellor of UKM in 1969. While the College of Agriculture Malaya upgraded into a university in 1971, once again he went back to the institute and lead UPM until 1982.

Involvement in corporate field

Apart from academic field, Mohd Rashdan also active in the corporate field. He was appointed as the chairman of Telekom Malaysia from 1985 to 1997,^[4] and as the director of Amcorp Group Berhad from 1988 until 2007.^[5]

Honour

Honour of Malaysia

• Malaysia :
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (1974)^[6]
  • Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (JSM) (1969)^[1]
• Negeri Sembilan :
  • Principal Grand Knight of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (SUNS) – Dato' Seri Utama (2015)^[7]
• Pahang :
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (1991)^[1]
• Selangor :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – Dato' (1977)^[8]

Honorary degrees

• Malaysia
  • Emeritus Professor from Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (14 August 1982)
  • Honorary Doctorate in Law from National University of Malaysia (3 July 1999)
• United Kingdom
  • Honorary Doctor of Science from University of Reading (1986)
  • Honorary Doctor of Law from University of Leeds (1989)^[9]

Award

• National Academician of the Year 2013^[5]

References

1. "Mohd Rashdan bin Haji Baba, YBhg Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dato' Indera Dr. Haji , 1935-2020 (Naib Canselor Pertama)". Putra Archives. 16 July 2025.
2. "Tokoh akademik Rashdan Baba meninggal dunia". Sinar Harian. 16 July 2025. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
3. Halid, Suzalina. "UPM, UKM first VC Rashdan Baba dies". New Straits Times. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
4. "Tan Sri Mohd Rashdan beri sumbangan besar kepada Telekom Malaysia - Pengerusi TM". BERNAMA. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
5. "Perginya tokoh akademik negara". Harian Metro. 16 July 2025. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
6. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat tahun 1974" (PDF).
7. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat". www.istiadat.gov.my.
8. "DPMS 1977". awards.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
9. "Perginya tokoh akademik negara". BERNAMA. 16 July 2025. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.

Academic offices
Preceded by Office established	Vice-Chancellor of the Universiti Putra Malaysia 1971 – 1982	Succeeded by Nayan Ariffin
Preceded by Office established	Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Malaysia 1969 – 1971	Succeeded by Ariffin Ngah Marzuki