Zainuddin bin Maidin

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Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin
[[Image:Image:Zainuddinmaidin.jpg|225px|Zainuddin bin Maidin]]

Malaysian Minister of Information
In office
14 February 2006 – 8 March 2008
Preceded by Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.
Succeeded by Ahmad Shabery Cheek

Member of Parliament for Merbok
In office
24 March 2004 – 8 March 2008

Born 29 June 1939 (1939-06-29) (age 68)
Flag of Kedah Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah
Political party United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) part of Barisan Nasional
Spouse Datin Zaiton Zainol Abidin
Children 2 daughters and 2 sons
Occupation Journalist
Religion Islam

Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin (born in 29 June 1939), is a Malaysian politician and the former Information Minister in the Malaysian cabinet. He is also the former Chief Editor of Utusan Melayu, the most popular Malay language newspaper in Malaysia.

In the 12th General Election of Malaysia on 8 March 2008, he contested the Sungai Petani parliamentary seat but was defeated by Johari Abdul from Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Zainuddin was born in Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah, to a Malay Muslim family. He received his early education in Maktab Mahmud, Alor Star.

He later obtained his diploma in journalism from the Berlin Journalism Institute in 1969. In 1981, he was awarded with the Professional Jounalist Fellowship from the University of Michigan, USA.

Zainuddin is married to Datin Zaiton Zainol Abidin and is a father to two daughters and two sons.

[edit] Career

[edit] Journalism

Zainuddin started his career as a semi-professional journalist of Utusan Melayu in the Alor Star headquarters in 1951, before being appointed as a full-time journalist after 10 years. He once worked as a Representative of Utusan Melayu in London and became the Chief Editor of Utusan Melayu in 1982.

Since 1992, he held various non-editorial positions such as Consultant of the Editorial Department of Utusan Melayu (1992) and Executive Chairman of Utusan Publications and Distributors Sdn. Bhd. (UP&D) (1994).

Later he became a member of the Board of Directors of Kumpulan Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd. and became the Deputy Chairman of the Board in 1998.

[edit] Authorship

He wrote a few books, and among the most notable ones are Yang Pertama dan Terakhir, Malaysia-British Relations in London, Mahathir Di Sebalik Tabir, and Tun Razak: Jejak Bertapak Seorang Patriot.

[edit] Politics

Zainuddin was appointed as a member of the Dewan Negara in 1998, before being named the Parliamentary Secretary of the Information Ministry in 17 January 2001.

He was sworn as a member of the Dewan Negara for a second term in February 2001 and was appointed Deputy Information Minister in 21 November 2002.

Later, he won the Merbok Parliamentary seat in 2004 by beating a Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidate with a 15,162 majority.

In 14 February 2006, he was made the Information Minister by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, replacing Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.

In the 12th General Election of Malaysia on 8 March 2008, he contested the Sungai Petani parliamentary seat but was defeated by Johari Abdul from Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

[edit] Controversy

Zainuddin was criticised by some Islamic organisations for supporting a statement by Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, the Mufti of Perlis, who suggested that religious enforcement officers should stop publicly embarrassing couples who are caught being in close proximity (khalwat).

Zainuddin also said that religious officers should look at the bigger picture involving the Muslim community rather than the enjoyment of arresting couples for close proximity. He added that there are bigger issues that should be addressed that are happening under their nose, such as, robbery, snatch theft, mat rempit, and the drug problem among Muslims.[1]

He had also embarrassed himself as a minister on a live interview on aljazeera news regarding the BERSIH rally in Kuala Lumpur by calling the al-Jazeera correspondent an actor.

[edit] Awards and Recognition

  • 1982 - Ahli Mahkota Pahang (AMP)
  • 1987 - Ahli Mahkota Kedah (AMK)
  • 1990 - Johan Mahkota Negara (JMN)
  • 1990 - Setia Mahkota Selangor (SMS)
  • 1996 - Pingat Jasa Negara (PJN); carrying the title Datuk
  • 2003 - Darjah Pingat Dato’ Mahkota Selangor (DPMS)
  • 2006 - Datuk Paduka Mahkota Kedah (DPMK)
  • 2006 - Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM); carrying the title Datuk Seri

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Zainuddin sokong kes khalwat tidak diperbesarkan", Utusan Malaysia, December 17, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-12-24. (Malay) 
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