Rafidah Aziz
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri
Rafidah binti Abdul Aziz (born 4 November 1943) is a Malaysian politician and the current Member of Parliament
for the Kuala Kangsar
constituency since 1986.
Born in Kuala Kangsar, Perak
, Rafidah was the former Minister of International Trade and Industry from 1987 to 2008. As minister, she had been the chairman of MATRADE
since 1991.
She was also the head of United Malays National Organisation
's Woman Wing (Wanita UMNO in Malay
) but lost in 2009 UMNO General Assembly election to Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
after seeking reelection for another term.
In 2006, she was accused of corruption related to the issuance of Approved Permits (AP) for importing foreign vehicles by former Prime Minister
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
in his series of criticisms against the Government of Malaysia. Mahathir had also criticised then Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
's handling of the Approved Permits (AP) issue, expressing his surprise that Rafidah Aziz
was still retained as a Cabinet
member although two people on the list of persons issued with highest number of APs were linked to Rafidah.
In March 2008, following the general election
held in that month, she was dropped from cabinet, despite winning her parliamentary seat when other ministers had lost theirs. After thirty two years in government service, and twenty years as a minister, she described herself as being "blessed and content." When asked if she was saddened, she said that she wished then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
had told her earlier on not to contest the election.
|+ Parliament of Malaysia
: Kuala Kangsar
, Perak
!|Year
!
!|Barisan Nasional
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|1986
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |16,196
| |69%
|
| |Ab Aziz Ishak (PAS)
| align="right" |6,598
| |28%
|-
|1990
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |16,548
| |64%
|
| |Jamaluddin Mohd Din (S46
)
| align="right" |8,554
| |33%
|-
|1995
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |15,393
| |73%
|
| |Abdul Kahlid Mohd Nasir (S46
)
| align="right" |4,744
| |23%
|-
|1999
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |12,074
| |55%
|
| |Asmuni Awi (PAS)
| align="right" |9,300
| |42%
|-
|2004
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |12,938
| |64%
|
| |Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
(PAS)
| align="right" |6,747
| |33%
|-
|2008
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |10,735
| |52%
|
| |Khairuddin Abd Malik (PAS)
| align="right" |9,277
| |45%
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....
Rafidah binti Abdul Aziz (born 4 November 1943) is a Malaysian politician and the current Member of Parliament
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...
for the Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia, located at the downstream of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River. It is the main town in the administrative district of Kuala Kangsar.-History:...
constituency since 1986.
Born in Kuala Kangsar, 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...
, Rafidah was the former Minister of International Trade and Industry from 1987 to 2008. As minister, she had been the chairman of MATRADE
MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre
MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre is a trade centre, exhibition hall, and convention centre in the City of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MECC, established by MATRADE , provides convention facilities, exhibition halls, and meeting rooms...
since 1991.
She was also the head of 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....
's Woman Wing (Wanita UMNO in Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
) but lost in 2009 UMNO General Assembly election to Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is a Malaysian politician and the current Minister of Women, Family and Community Development in the Malaysian cabinet...
after seeking reelection for another term.
In 2006, she was accused of corruption related to the issuance of Approved Permits (AP) for importing foreign vehicles by former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Mahathir bin Mohamad
Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad . is a Malaysian politician who was the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, making him Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister. His political career spanned almost 40 years.Born and raised in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mahathir...
in his series of criticisms against the Government of Malaysia. Mahathir had also criticised then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
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...
's handling of the Approved Permits (AP) issue, expressing his surprise that Rafidah Aziz
Rafidah Aziz
Tan Sri Rafidah binti Abdul Aziz is a Malaysian politician and the current Member of Parliament for the Kuala Kangsar constituency since 1986....
was still retained as a Cabinet
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...
member although two people on the list of persons issued with highest number of APs were linked to Rafidah.
In March 2008, following the general 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...
held in that month, she was dropped from cabinet, despite winning her parliamentary seat when other ministers had lost theirs. After thirty two years in government service, and twenty years as a minister, she described herself as being "blessed and content." When asked if she was saddened, she said that she wished then Prime Minister 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...
had told her earlier on not to contest the election.
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...
: Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia, located at the downstream of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River. It is the main town in the administrative district of Kuala Kangsar.-History:...
, 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
|-
|1986
Malaysian general election, 1986
General elections were held in Malaysia on 3 August 1986. The result was a victory for Barisan Nasional, which won 148 of the 177 seats. Voter turnout was 68.1%.-Results:...
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |16,196
| |69%
|
| |Ab Aziz Ishak (PAS)
| align="right" |6,598
| |28%
|-
|1990
Malaysian general election, 1990
General elections were held in Malaysia on 21 October 1990. The result was a victory for the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional, which won 127 of the 180 seats...
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |16,548
| |64%
|
| |Jamaluddin Mohd Din (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" |8,554
| |33%
|-
|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" |15,393
| |73%
|
| |Abdul Kahlid Mohd Nasir (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" |4,744
| |23%
|-
|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" |12,074
| |55%
|
| |Asmuni Awi (PAS)
| align="right" |9,300
| |42%
|-
|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" |12,938
| |64%
|
| |Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
Datuk Seri Ir. Haji Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the former Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Perak, a post equivalent to a Chief Minister and Member of Malaysian Parliament for Bukit Gantang. Nizar is the secretary of the Perak's Branch Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party . Nizar was appointed as...
(PAS)
| align="right" |6,747
| |33%
|-
|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" |10,735
| |52%
|
| |Khairuddin Abd Malik (PAS)
| align="right" |9,277
| |45%