Dato' Ahmad Sebi Bakar

Dato’ Ahmad Sebi Bakar assumed the role of Advisor of the Group after he resigned as a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director and the Group Chair of Advance Synergy Berhad on 31 October 2023. He was appointed to the Board on 9 April 1991 and redesignated from Executive Chair to Group Executive Chair on 28 September 2012. On 1 September 2017, he was redesignated to Non-Executive Group Chair.

Dato’ Ahmad Sebi holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, a Diploma in Journalism from the Thomson Foundation, United Kingdom and a Master of Arts from Michigan State University, United States of America.

He was the Editor of the Malay Mail, a member of the New Straits Times Press Group from 1976 to 1982 and subsequently the Group Editor of Berita Harian from 1983 to 1986. From 1986 to 1989, he was the Managing Director of Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Bhd and a director of the New Straits Times Press Group from 1988 to 1989.

He was also the Non-Executive Chair of Unified Communications Holdings Limited (now known as Captii Limited), an indirect subsidiary of Advance Synergy Berhad which is listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited, from December 2003 to June 2006. Besides, he had held both the positions as Executive Chair and Managing Director of Kumpulan Powernet Berhad from 12 January 2002 to 28 August 2015.

He was conferred the Ahli Mangku Negara (A.M.N.) by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, DYMM Tuanku Haji Ahmad Shah Al- Mustain Billah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar in 1983, the Justice of Peace (J.P.) by DYMM Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusoff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullah, Sultan of Perak, in 1986 and the Dato’ Setia Diraja Kedah (D.S.D.K.) by DYMM Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, Sultan of Kedah, in 1988.

He is actively involved in social and charitable work and is the Chair of several non-profit organisations, namely, the privately funded Orphanage Foundation of Malaysia (YATIM) and in the past the Bosnia Action Front, Malaysia. He was also the President of the Malaysian National Writers Association (PENA) from 1992 to 2008.

Dato’ Ahmad Sebi is a substantial shareholder of Advance Synergy Berhad. He is also a substantial shareholder and a director of Suasana Dinamik Sdn Bhd and Bright Existence Sdn Bhd, companies that are also substantial shareholders of Advance Synergy Berhad.

Except for his daughter, Sasya, who is a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director and his son, Anton, who is the Group Executive Deputy Chair, Dato’ Ahmad Sebi does not have any family relationship with any other director or major shareholder of Advance Synergy Berhad. And he has no conflict of interest with Advance Synergy Berhad.

Dato’ Ahmad Sebi has not been convicted for any offences within the past 5 years and no public sanction or penalty has been imposed by the relevant regulatory bodies during the financial year.