Rais Yatim

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Yang Berhormat Menteri Datuk Seri Utama
 Dr Rais Yatim
Malaysian Foreign Minister
Incumbent
Assumed office 
March 18, 2008
Preceded by Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Jelebu
Incumbent
Assumed office 
1999
Preceded by Unknown
Political party Flag of Malaysia UMNO part of Barisan Nasional
Spouse Datin Masnah
Children 4
Occupation Flag of Malaysia Member of Parliament Minister
Religion Islam

Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim is the current Malaysian Foreign Minister . He is also a Member of Parliament from the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the leading party in the ruling coalition of Barisan Nasional.

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[edit] Education and legal career

He is a lawyer by profession. In 1964, he graduated from Language Institute, Kuala Lumpur. In 1968, he taught Bahasa Malaysia to the American Peace Corps in the United States. He obtained his honors degree from National University of Singapore. In 1994, he obtained a PhD from the University of London. His doctoral dissertation was eventually published in 1995 as Freedom Under Executive Power in Malaysia: A Study of Executive Supremacy.[1]

[edit] Political career

Rais Yatim has held various positions in the national cabinet 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 was out of favour within the UMNO leadership, he resumed his law career. Rais worked with a firm called Raim, 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 ends in March 2008. However, he pulled out on July 26, citing the 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.[2]

[edit] Personal life

Rais Yatim is married to Datin Masnah and has four children. His hobbies are photography and travelling. He is also a writer on the subjects of law, politics, and Malay society.

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Yatim, Rais (1995). Freedom Under Executive Power in Malaysia: A Study of Executive Supremacy, p. xii. Endowment Publications. ISBN 983-99984-0-4.
  2. ^ Rais Withdraws From Commonwealth Sec-Gen Race (mirrored). Bernama/Diplomacy Monitor (2007-07-28). Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
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