Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Encyclopedia
Dato' Seri
Dr.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (born January 14, 1953 in Bagan Datoh
) is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Minister for Defence in the Barisan Nasional
coalition government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
and the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia
for the Bagan Datoh
constituency in Perak
. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO).
Early in his political career, Zahid was a Senator
and chairman of Bank Nasional Bernama before becoming the head of UMNO's youth wing. In 1998, Zahid spoke out against then Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, calling for an end to cronyism and nepotism in the Malaysian government. Zahid , seen as an ally of deposed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
, was subsequently arrested and held in prison under the Internal Security Act
. However, in 1999, Zahid was welcomed back into the UMNO fold, stating that Anwar had put him up to raising allegations of cronyism and nepotism and alleging that Anwar had used his position as Finance Minister to direct business opportunities to Zahid.
After the 2004 election
, Zahid became a Deputy Minister in the government of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
. While a Deputy Minister, Zahid studied for and was conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
from Universiti Putra Malaysia
.
After the 2008 election
, Zahid became a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. He was appointed as Minister for Defence in April 2009.
|+ Parliament of Malaysia
: Bagan Datok
, Perak
!|Year
!
!|Barisan Nasional
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|1995
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |17,646
| |80%
|
| |Asha'ri Marsom (S46
)
| align="right" |2,816
| |13%
|-
|1999
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |12,938
| |58%
|
| |Mohamad Dahalan Arhsad (PKR)
| align="right" |8,321
| |38%
|-
|2004
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |17,049
| |75%
|
| |Ayyathurai Achutharaman (PKR)
| align="right" |4,510
| |20%
|-
|2008
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |13,115
| |54%
|
| |Madzi Hasan (PKR)
| align="right" |10,423
| |43%
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Dr.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (born January 14, 1953 in Bagan Datoh
Bagan Datoh
Bagan Datoh is a small township around 28 miles west of Teluk Intan, in the state of Perak, Malaysia. It is situated south-west of Ipoh city, the state capital....
) is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Minister for Defence in the Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
coalition government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Najib Tun Razak
Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth, and since 2009, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on 3 April 2009. Najib is President of the United...
and the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
for the Bagan Datoh
Bagan Datoh
Bagan Datoh is a small township around 28 miles west of Teluk Intan, in the state of Perak, Malaysia. It is situated south-west of Ipoh city, the state capital....
constituency in Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO).
Early in his political career, Zahid was a Senator
Dewan Negara
The Dewan Negara is the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia. The Dewan Negara consists of 70 members, of which 26 are indirectly elected by the states, with two senators for every state in the Federation, and the other 44 being appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong .The Dewan Negara...
and chairman of Bank Nasional Bernama before becoming the head of UMNO's youth wing. In 1998, Zahid spoke out against then Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, calling for an end to cronyism and nepotism in the Malaysian government. Zahid , seen as an ally of deposed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
, was subsequently arrested and held in prison under the Internal Security Act
Internal Security Act (Malaysia)
The Internal Security Act 1960 is a preventive detention law in force in Malaysia. The legislation was enacted after Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. The ISA allows for detention without trial or criminal charges under limited, legally defined circumstances...
. However, in 1999, Zahid was welcomed back into the UMNO fold, stating that Anwar had put him up to raising allegations of cronyism and nepotism and alleging that Anwar had used his position as Finance Minister to direct business opportunities to Zahid.
After the 2004 election
Malaysian general election, 2004
General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...
, Zahid became a Deputy Minister in the government of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
. While a Deputy Minister, Zahid studied for and was conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Universiti Putra Malaysia
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Universiti Putra Malaysia , or UPM, is a leading research intensive public university located in central Peninsular Malaysia, close to the capital city, Kuala Lumpur. It was formerly known as Universiti Pertanian Malaysia or Agricultural University of Malaysia...
.
After the 2008 election
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
, Zahid became a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. He was appointed as Minister for Defence in April 2009.
Election results
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"|+ Parliament of Malaysia
Dewan Rakyat
The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara , before they are given Royal Assent by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...
: Bagan Datok
Bagan Datoh
Bagan Datoh is a small township around 28 miles west of Teluk Intan, in the state of Perak, Malaysia. It is situated south-west of Ipoh city, the state capital....
, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
!|Year
!
!|Barisan Nasional
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|1995
Malaysian general election, 1995
General elections were held in Malaysia on 25 April 1995. The result was a victory for the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional, which won 162 of the 192 seats. Voter turnout was 68.3%.-Results:...
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |17,646
| |80%
|
| |Asha'ri Marsom (S46
Semangat 46
Parti Melayu Semangat 46 or Spirit of 46 Malay Party is a now defunct Malaysian political party. The party was formed in 1988 under the leadership of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who felt capable of mounting a realistic challenge to the dominance of then UMNO under Mahathir's leadership and its...
)
| align="right" |2,816
| |13%
|-
|1999
Malaysian general election, 1999
The 1999 Malaysian General Election was held on 29 November 1999 as stipulated by the laws of Malaysia for general elections. As expected, the Barisan Nasional coalition maintained its majority in parliament, and thus, its grip on the post of Prime Minister....
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |12,938
| |58%
|
| |Mohamad Dahalan Arhsad (PKR)
| align="right" |8,321
| |38%
|-
|2004
Malaysian general election, 2004
General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |17,049
| |75%
|
| |Ayyathurai Achutharaman (PKR)
| align="right" |4,510
| |20%
|-
|2008
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |13,115
| |54%
|
| |Madzi Hasan (PKR)
| align="right" |10,423
| |43%