Mukhriz Mahathir
Encyclopedia
Dato'
Mukhriz bin Tun Dr. Mahathir (born November 1964) is the third son and fifth child of former Prime Minister of Malaysia
, Tun Dr. Mahathir and Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah
. He is currently the Malaysian Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry. He held various posts of several business firms, which include Opcom Holdings, Kosmo Tech as well as the Malaysian Franchise Association. He is also the executive director of Perdana Peace Global Organisation
.
Mukhriz was noted for his continuous efforts in speaking for his father in the events of the rift between the then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
and his father. In 2006, Mukhriz won the election of UMNO's Kubang Pasu division, coming in fifth. Mukhriz defended his father, who had lost in the same election he took part, by saying that there is a plan to topple him. Mukhriz drew flak from sections of UMNO after he commented on Prime Minister Abdullah's speech that he was a "little bit" disappointed and that it offered nothing new. He later apologised for his remarks.
Mukhriz is married to Datin Norzieta Zakaria, and has four children. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Malaysian cancer vaccine company, Bioven.
(UMNO) Youth Exco by garnering the highest number of votes and was subsequently appointed to the post. He was also seen as a potential candidate for being the deputy chief of UMNO Youth's wing, but he later withdrew. Mukhriz's older brother, Mokhzani
, had also played an active role in UMNO's politics.
In the 2008 Malaysian general election
, Mukhriz won the Jerlun
Parliament Seat (P005). Before this, he offered himself to contest in Langkawi
Parliament Seat but was rejected by 85 out of 91 UMNO branches in Langkawi. However, many Langkawi
leaders backed him later. The Jerlun
UMNO division welcomed Mukhriz to contest in their Parliament seat and promised to give him full support in the election.
In 2009, Mukhriz contested as a candidate for the new UMNO Youth Chief after the wing's predecessor, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein released his position. He was rivalled by Khairy Jamaluddin
and Khir Toyo. Nominations for the posts coincided with division meetings which took place between October and November 2008. Mukhriz was initially seen as leading in nominations compared to Khairy but eventually lost in the final vote count.
However, a controversy was sparked when Khairy was allowed to contest for the post even though he was found guilty for being involved with money politics
by the UMNO Disciplinary Board, while others who were found guilty for the same offence, such as Mohd Ali Rustam
who was supposed to contest for the UMNO Vice President post, were not allowed to contest for their respective posts. However, Khairy denied the allegation, as stated in his blog.
|+ Parliament of Malaysia
: Jerlun
, Kedah
!|Year
!
!|Barisan Nasional
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|2008
|
| | (UMNO)
| align="right" |19,424
| |52%
|
| |Idris Ahmad (PAS)
| align="right" |17,219
| |46%
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....
Mukhriz bin Tun Dr. Mahathir (born November 1964) is the third son and fifth child of former Prime Minister of Malaysia
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 and Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah
Siti Hasmah
Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah binti Haji Mohamad Ali is the wife of the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. She served as wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia for 23 years from 1981–2003....
. He is currently the Malaysian Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry. He held various posts of several business firms, which include Opcom Holdings, Kosmo Tech as well as the Malaysian Franchise Association. He is also the executive director of Perdana Peace Global Organisation
Perdana Leadership Foundation
Perdana Leadership Foundation is a foundation established to preserve, develop and spread information regarding former Prime Ministers of Malaysia...
.
Mukhriz was noted for his continuous efforts in speaking for his father in the events of the rift between the 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...
and his father. In 2006, Mukhriz won the election of UMNO's Kubang Pasu division, coming in fifth. Mukhriz defended his father, who had lost in the same election he took part, by saying that there is a plan to topple him. Mukhriz drew flak from sections of UMNO after he commented on Prime Minister Abdullah's speech that he was a "little bit" disappointed and that it offered nothing new. He later apologised for his remarks.
Mukhriz is married to Datin Norzieta Zakaria, and has four children. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Malaysian cancer vaccine company, Bioven.
Political Involvement
In 2004, he won the election of the United Malays National OrganisationUnited 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) Youth Exco by garnering the highest number of votes and was subsequently appointed to the post. He was also seen as a potential candidate for being the deputy chief of UMNO Youth's wing, but he later withdrew. Mukhriz's older brother, Mokhzani
Mokhzani Mahathir
Dato' Mokhzani bin Tun Dr. Mahathir is the second son of Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah. Like his younger brother Mukhriz, Mokhzani is a businessman and had played an active role in United Malays National Organisation , and at one time serving as...
, had also played an active role in UMNO's politics.
In the 2008 Malaysian 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...
, Mukhriz won the Jerlun
Jerlun
Jerlun is a small town in Perak, Malaysia. It is located in Kuala Kangsar....
Parliament Seat (P005). Before this, he offered himself to contest in Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
Parliament Seat but was rejected by 85 out of 91 UMNO branches in Langkawi. However, many Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
leaders backed him later. The Jerlun
Jerlun
Jerlun is a small town in Perak, Malaysia. It is located in Kuala Kangsar....
UMNO division welcomed Mukhriz to contest in their Parliament seat and promised to give him full support in the election.
In 2009, Mukhriz contested as a candidate for the new UMNO Youth Chief after the wing's predecessor, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein released his position. He was rivalled by Khairy Jamaluddin
Khairy Jamaluddin
Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar is a Malaysian politician, and the son-in-law of former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Since 2008, Khairy has been a member of the Malaysian Parliament representing the constituency of Rembau...
and Khir Toyo. Nominations for the posts coincided with division meetings which took place between October and November 2008. Mukhriz was initially seen as leading in nominations compared to Khairy but eventually lost in the final vote count.
However, a controversy was sparked when Khairy was allowed to contest for the post even though he was found guilty for being involved with money politics
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
by the UMNO Disciplinary Board, while others who were found guilty for the same offence, such as Mohd Ali Rustam
Mohd Ali Rustam
Datuk Seri Haji Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam is a Malaysian politician. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation and is the current Chief Minister of the state of Malacca.-Biography:...
who was supposed to contest for the UMNO Vice President post, were not allowed to contest for their respective posts. However, Khairy denied the allegation, as stated in his blog.
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...
: Jerlun
Jerlun
Jerlun is a small town in Perak, Malaysia. It is located in Kuala Kangsar....
, Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
!|Year
!
!|Barisan Nasional
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|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" |19,424
| |52%
|
| |Idris Ahmad (PAS)
| align="right" |17,219
| |46%