Idris Jala
Encyclopedia
Dato' Sri
Idris Jala, who is from the Kelabit
ancestry, is the current Minister without Portfolio in the Prime Minister's Department
and chief executive officer of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu). He is a Senator in the Dewan Negara
, upper house of parliament.
Before that, Idris used to work for Shell
. In 2005, the Malaysian government elected him as CEO of Malaysia Airlines
due to massive losses of the company. In February 2006, he announced the airline's business turnaround plan from a 9-month loss of USD400 million in 2005 to achieving a record profit of USD260 million in 2007 until September 2009.
In May 2008, Idris appeared on national television announcing the airline's first ever 'zero fare' for domestic and a selection of international flights, a move that raised his spat between him and AirAsia
’s boss, Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes
to a new level.
Idris Jala is a Kelabit
from Sarawak
and is a Christian
. He is one of the few non-Malay non-Muslims to have been appointed to head a GLC.
, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department who is responsible for national unity and performance management.
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....
Idris Jala, who is from the Kelabit
Kelabit
The Kelabit, who have close ties to the Lun Bawang, are an indigenous people of the Sarawak highlands in Borneo with a minority in the neighbouring state of Brunei. The elevation there is slightly over 1,200 meters...
ancestry, is the current Minister without Portfolio in the Prime Minister's Department
Prime Minister's Department
The Prime Minister's Department is a federal government ministry in Malaysia. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Malaysia followed by other ministers in the Prime Minister's Department. The Department consists of the Prime Minister's Office, the Deputy Prime Minister's Office and more than 50...
and chief executive officer of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu). He is a Senator in the Dewan Negara
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...
, upper house of parliament.
Before that, Idris used to work for Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
. In 2005, the Malaysian government elected him as CEO of Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
due to massive losses of the company. In February 2006, he announced the airline's business turnaround plan from a 9-month loss of USD400 million in 2005 to achieving a record profit of USD260 million in 2007 until September 2009.
In May 2008, Idris appeared on national television announcing the airline's first ever 'zero fare' for domestic and a selection of international flights, a move that raised his spat between him and AirAsia
AirAsia
AirAsia Berhad is a Malaysian-based low-cost airline. AirAsia is Asia's largest low-fare, no-frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia. AirAsia group operates scheduled domestic and international flights to over 400 destinations spanning 25 countries. Its main hub is the Low-Cost...
’s boss, Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes
Tony Fernandes
Tan Sri Anthony Francis Fernandes CBE is a Malaysian entrepreneur and the founder of Tune Air Sdn. Bhd., who introduced the first budget no-frills airline, AirAsia, to Malaysians with the tagline "Now everyone can fly"...
to a new level.
Idris Jala is a Kelabit
Kelabit
The Kelabit, who have close ties to the Lun Bawang, are an indigenous people of the Sarawak highlands in Borneo with a minority in the neighbouring state of Brunei. The elevation there is slightly over 1,200 meters...
from Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
and is a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. He is one of the few non-Malay non-Muslims to have been appointed to head a GLC.
Cabinet minister
As of September 2009, Idris was sworn in as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. Idris was appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Prime Minister's Department and Chief Executive Officer of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu). As CEO of Pemandu, the unit monitoring the implementation of the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) initiative, he will assist and report to Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu KoonKoh Tsu Koon
Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon is a Malaysian politician. He was the Chief Minister of Penang from 1990 to 2008 and is currently a member of the Dewan Negara, the upper house of the Malaysian Parliament...
, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department who is responsible for national unity and performance management.