Jamil Khir Baharom
Encyclopedia
Dato' Seri Jamil Khir bin Baharom (born in Yan, Kedah
) is a retired major general
in the Military Religious Corps of Malaysia
(Kagat) who is currently a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic Affairs. Prior to his ministerial appointment, Jamil Khir served as director of Kagat.
in 1986 and Master in Islamic Studies from the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences, Cordoba University
in Virginia
in 2000. He began his military service in 1986, as captain in the Military Religious Corps
(Kagat). He was promoted to colonel
in 2002 and brigadier general
in 2005. In 2005, he was appointed director of Kagat, the first ever two-star general to serve in that capacity.
He is a member of the Radio Televisyen Malaysia
(RTM) Religious Programme Advisory Committee and often appears on RTM1's religious talk show Forum Perdana Ehwal Islam.
. He joined Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
's inaugural Cabinet, serving as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
in charge of religious affairs and heading the Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM).
Following the revelation by authorities in 2010 that terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah had been actively expanding its activities in Malaysia, Jamil became one of the leading figures in the Cabinet to deal with the situation.
In 2010, during his term as minister, the site of the Warrior's Day celebration was moved from the National Monument as the National Fatwa Council deemed celebrations around the statues as idolatry
and contrary to Islam
ic practices.
In response to a gay Malaysian pastor getting married in New York
, Jamil Khir said same-sex marriage
is a form of "extreme human rights" and "will create social problems."
Yan, Kedah
Yan is a major town and district in Kedah, Malaysia.It is bordered by Kota Setar District to the north, Pendang District to the northeast, and Kuala Muda District to the south. Yan District is along the coast of the Straits of Malacca. Yan town is the administrative centre of Yan district, complete...
) is a retired major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Military Religious Corps of Malaysia
Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera
-History:Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera was officially formed on 19 April 1985, as the 16th corps of the Malaysian Army. Unique among corps of the Malaysian Army, KAGAT serves all three branches of the Malaysian Armed Forces, and not limited to the just the Malaysian Army.Initiatives for the formation...
(Kagat) who is currently a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic Affairs. Prior to his ministerial appointment, Jamil Khir served as director of Kagat.
Biography
Jamil Khir obtained his Bachelor of Syariah from the University of MalayaUniversity of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
in 1986 and Master in Islamic Studies from the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences, Cordoba University
Cordoba University
Cordoba University is an Islamic university located in Ashburn, Virginia. The university is made up of the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences and Cordoba School of Professional Studies...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 2000. He began his military service in 1986, as captain in the Military Religious Corps
Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera
-History:Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera was officially formed on 19 April 1985, as the 16th corps of the Malaysian Army. Unique among corps of the Malaysian Army, KAGAT serves all three branches of the Malaysian Armed Forces, and not limited to the just the Malaysian Army.Initiatives for the formation...
(Kagat). He was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 2002 and brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in 2005. In 2005, he was appointed director of Kagat, the first ever two-star general to serve in that capacity.
He is a member of the Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Radio Televisyen Malaysia
The Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia, DBA Radio Televisyen Malaysia , is a Malaysian state-owned public broadcaster. It owns and operates a number of radio and television stations in Malaysia, based in Kuala Lumpur...
(RTM) Religious Programme Advisory Committee and often appears on RTM1's religious talk show Forum Perdana Ehwal Islam.
Minister
In April 2009, Jamil Khir was appointed a Senator in the Dewan NegaraDewan 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...
. He joined 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 inaugural Cabinet, serving as Minister 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...
in charge of religious affairs and heading the Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM).
Following the revelation by authorities in 2010 that terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah had been actively expanding its activities in Malaysia, Jamil became one of the leading figures in the Cabinet to deal with the situation.
In 2010, during his term as minister, the site of the Warrior's Day celebration was moved from the National Monument as the National Fatwa Council deemed celebrations around the statues as idolatry
Idolatry
Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...
and contrary to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic practices.
In response to a gay Malaysian pastor getting married in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Jamil Khir said same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
is a form of "extreme human rights" and "will create social problems."