Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad

Summary

Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad, better known as Altimet, is the PKR state assemblyman for Lembah Jaya, Selangor, having won the seat in the August 2023 state election on his first electoral contest with a majority of 6,678 votes. A former rapper and music producer with over two decades in the entertainment industry, he joined PKR in April 2021 and has since risen to hold both the Ampang PKR division chief post and a seat on the party's central leadership council. He has been a public voice on digital economy issues, including advocating against digital piracy and criticising the MCMC's 2024 DNS redirection directive.

Biography

Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad (born 27 November 1978 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor) is a Malaysian politician, composer, lyricist, actor and former rapper who has served as Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Lembah Jaya since August 2023. [1] He is a member of the People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. [1] He is widely known by his stage name Altimet and was formerly a member of the hip-hop group Teh Tarik Crew, which was active between 1999 and 2007. [1] He won the Best Performance category trophy through the song "Amboi" at the 32nd Anugerah Juara Lagu in February 2018, and ended his performing career on his 40th birthday on 27 November 2018. [1] He officially joined PKR in April 2021, citing his desire to see Malaysia's future safeguarded for his children. [2] He has noted that his father is a member of PKR's veterans group, Otai Reformis, giving him an early exposure to the party's reform politics. [3] He was appointed Ampang PKR division chief in 2022 and won the Lembah Jaya state seat in the August 2023 Selangor state election on his first electoral contest, defeating Perikatan Nasional's Sharifah Haslizah Syed Ariffin with 26,298 votes against 19,620, a majority of 6,678. [2] He has been re-elected as Ampang PKR division chief and in May 2025 also won a seat on PKR's central leadership council (MPP). [4] In May 2026, Syed Ahmad publicly denied social media rumours that he intended to leave PKR, reaffirming his support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Madani government. [5]

Known for

Syed Ahmad is recognised as one of Malaysia's most prominent figures to transition from the entertainment industry directly into elected office, having been a well-known rapper before contesting and winning the Lembah Jaya state seat in 2023. He has positioned himself as a voice for creative industry concerns within the PKR coalition, having publicly advocated against digital piracy and spoken out against the MCMC's proposed DNS redirection order in 2024. He also holds the Ampang PKR division chief position and a seat on the party's central leadership council.

Political positions

On digital rights and internet policy, Syed Ahmad publicly criticised MCMC's 2024 DNS redirection directive as 'draconian', arguing that the measure could cause significant adverse effects to the digital economy and that other means existed to protect vulnerable groups online. [6][4] On creative industry protection, he has called for stronger action against digital piracy, drawing on his two decades in the music industry to argue that illicit online streaming platforms inflict serious financial and creative harm on Malaysian artists. [2] On constituency issues, he has identified Lembah Jaya — where approximately 40 per cent of constituents are in the B40 income group — as facing persistent bread-and-butter concerns including water supply, infrastructure, employment and housing affordability for young families. [3] He has expressed strong support for PM Anwar Ibrahim's Madani government, and in May 2026 dismissed speculation about leaving PKR, affirming his commitment to the party. [5]

Before politics

1. 1999Became a member of hip-hop group Teh Tarik Crew, which remained active until 2007.⛓
2. May 2014Co-founded Islamic-concept men's and children's clothing label Benua Clothing with a business partner.⛓
3. 11 February 2018Won the Best Performance trophy at the 32nd Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL) for the song "Amboi".⛓
4. 27 November 2018Ended his career as a performing singer on his 40th birthday; continued in the music industry as a songwriter.⛓

Political career

1. April 2021Officially joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), citing the desire to secure a better future for his children and Malaysia.⛓
2. 2022First appointed as Ampang PKR division chief.⛓
3. 12 August 2023Won the Lembah Jaya state seat in the Selangor state election on his first electoral contest, defeating PN's Sharifah Haslizah Syed Ariffin with a majority of 6,678 votes (26,298 votes to 19,620).⛓
4. April 2025Defended the Ampang PKR division chief post in a three-cornered contest, obtaining 1,926 votes to defeat Selangor Deputy Speaker Mohd Kamri Kamaruddin (1,637 votes) and Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin (236 votes).⛓
5. May 2025Won a seat on PKR's central leadership council (MPP), expanding his role from constituency assemblyman to a national party leadership position.⛓
6. May 2026Publicly denied social media rumours that he intended to resign from PKR, reaffirming loyalty to the party and confidence in PM Anwar Ibrahim's Madani government.⛓

Election history

• 2023Lembah Jaya (N20), SelangorWon57.3%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentAs a PKR assemblyman and PKR central leadership council (MPP) member within the Pakatan Harapan-led Selangor and federal unity governments, Syed Ahmad has publicly aligned himself with PM Anwar Ibrahim's Madani government, affirming his confidence in its economic management and governance direction.⛓
• VerifiedFactsSyed Ahmad won the Lembah Jaya state seat on 12 August 2023 with 26,298 votes (majority: 6,678) on his maiden electoral outing, as officially announced by the Election Commission's Returning Officer. He is serving his first term as state assemblyman.⛓
• PublicSinar Daily reported that ahead of the 2023 election, Syed Ahmad described his key offer to voters as being a dedicated 'serviceman' focused on resolving local bread-and-butter issues, including water, infrastructure, employment and housing concerns for the constituency's B40 majority.⛓
• IndustryIn a May 2024 piece in Malay Mail, Syed Ahmad called on policymakers and the creative industry to take decisive action against digital piracy, drawing on his experience as a music industry professional to highlight the financial and creative harm caused by illicit online streaming platforms.⛓
• ExpertMalaysiakini reported in September 2024 that Syed Ahmad argued the MCMC had other measures available to protect internet users from harmful content, rather than implementing a blanket DNS redirection order which he described as 'draconian'.⛓

Business interests (publicly reported)

According to Wikipedia, Syed Ahmad co-founded an Islamic-concept men's and children's clothing label named Benua Clothing with a partner in early May 2014, and also manages a branch of Joe's Barbershop, a barbershop chain. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altimet) These interests pre-date his entry into elected office; no news outlet from the allowlist has reported on these businesses in the context of any conflict of interest.