Rais Yatim
Encyclopedia
Dato' Seri Utama
Dr. Rais Yatim (born in Jelebu, 15 April 1942) is the current Malaysian Information, Communications, and Culture Minister. His ministry is considered a new ministry formed from the merger of three separate ministries in Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
's smaller cabinet. He is the longest serving Cabinet member of the Federal Government, having served five Prime Ministers since 1974.
He is also a Member of Parliament
from the United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO), the leading party in the ruling coalition of Barisan Nasional
.
in the United States. He obtained his honors degree from National University of Singapore
. In 1994, he obtained a PhD from King's College London
. His doctoral dissertation was eventually published in 1995 as Freedom Under Executive Power in Malaysia: A Study of Executive Supremacy.
and other state government positions. He had been appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Menteri Besar
of Negeri Sembilan
(1978 - 1982), Minister of Land and Regional Development (1982-1984), Minister of Information (1984-1986) and Foreign Minister (1986-1987).
When he fell out of favour of the UMNO leadership in April 1987, he resumed his law career. Rais worked with a firm called Ram, Rais & Partner (1987-1999) before being reappointed as cabinet minister in 1999.
In June 2007, Rais was nominated as a candidate for the post of the next Commonwealth Secretary-General
after Don McKinnon
's term in office ended in March 2008. However, he pulled out on July 26, citing the lateness of campaigning, and his duties and commitments as the Main Committee of the upcoming 50th Merdeka
celebrations, which limited him from traveling out of the country to lobby for his candidacy.
Rais served another term as Foreign Minister from March 18, 2008 until April 9, 2009. Since April 10, 2009, he has been the Information, Communications & Culture Minister.
, politics
, and Malay society.
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. Rais Yatim (born in Jelebu, 15 April 1942) is the current Malaysian Information, Communications, and Culture Minister. His ministry is considered a new ministry formed from the merger of three separate ministries in 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...
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...
's smaller cabinet. He is the longest serving Cabinet member of the Federal Government, having served five Prime Ministers since 1974.
He is also a 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...
from 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), the leading party in the ruling coalition of 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...
.
Education and legal career
He is a lawyer by profession. In 1964, he graduated from Language Institute (also known as Language Teaching College), Kuala Lumpur. In 1968, he taught Bahasa Malaysia to the American Peace CorpsPeace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in the United States. He obtained his honors degree from National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
. In 1994, he obtained a PhD from King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
. His doctoral dissertation was eventually published in 1995 as Freedom Under Executive Power in Malaysia: A Study of Executive Supremacy.
Political career
Rais has held various positions in the national cabinetCabinet 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...
and other state government positions. He had been appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Menteri Besar
Menteri Besar
The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
of Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
(1978 - 1982), Minister of Land and Regional Development (1982-1984), Minister of Information (1984-1986) and Foreign Minister (1986-1987).
When he fell out of favour of the UMNO leadership in April 1987, he resumed his law career. Rais worked with a firm called Ram, Rais & Partner (1987-1999) before being reappointed as cabinet minister in 1999.
In June 2007, Rais was nominated as a candidate for the post of the next Commonwealth Secretary-General
Commonwealth Secretary-General
The Commonwealth Secretary-General is the head of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the central body which has served the Commonwealth of Nations since its establishment in 1965, and responsible for representing the Commonwealth publicly...
after Don McKinnon
Don McKinnon
Sir Donald Charles "Don" McKinnon, ONZ, GCVO is a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand. He was the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations from 2000 until 2008.-Early life:...
's term in office ended in March 2008. However, he pulled out on July 26, citing the lateness of campaigning, and his duties and commitments as the Main Committee of the upcoming 50th Merdeka
Hari Merdeka
Hari Merdeka is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957, celebrated on August 31 each year. It is not to be confused with the formation of Malaysia...
celebrations, which limited him from traveling out of the country to lobby for his candidacy.
Rais served another term as Foreign Minister from March 18, 2008 until April 9, 2009. Since April 10, 2009, he has been the Information, Communications & Culture Minister.
Personal life
Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim is married to Datin Seri Utama Masnah Rais and has four children. His hobbies are photography and travelling. He is also a writer on the subjects of lawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, and Malay society.