Tan Sri Muhammad bin Haji Muhammad Taib | |
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Malaysian Minister of Rural and Regional Development | |
In office 18 March 2008 – 9 April 2009 |
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Preceded by | Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin |
Succeeded by | Shafie Apdal |
11th Chief Minister of Selangor | |
In office 14 August 1986 – 14 April 1997 |
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Preceded by | Ahmad Razali Mohd Ali |
Succeeded by | Abu Hassan Omar |
Personal details | |
Born | Hulu Selangor, Selangor |
Political party | United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) part of Barisan Nasional |
Spouse(s) | Asbi Rohani Asnan |
Religion | Islam |
Tan Sri Muhammad bin Haji Muhammad Taib (also fondly known as Mat Taib)[1] is the former Rural and Regional Development Minister. He is also the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) information chief and former Menteri Besar of Selangor. He contested the post of UMNO deputy president in 2009 but lost.
Born in Kampung Sungai Manggis, Kuala Kalumpang, Hulu Selangor, Muhammad is a graduate from Universiti Malaya and was also a former teacher in SMK Kuala Kubu Baru. The political veteran joined UMNO in 1964, and quickly rose within its ranks to be elected UMNO vice president in 2004. He was also appointed as Selangor Umno deputy state liaison committee chief in the same year.
Muhammad was also former Batang Kali state assemblyman, winning in the general elections of 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1995. He served as Menteri Besar of Selangor from 1986 to 1997. However, he was forced to resign as Selangor Mentri Besar in April 1997 after he was charged in Australia over currency irregularities amounting to RM3.8mil. However, he was later found not guilty.[2] Muhammad Muhammad Taib was cleared by the court as he pleaded that he did not understand English and therefore did not understand the currency regulations. However, in a later development, an investigative committee found that the court had erred in its judgment.[3]
Whilst serving as the Mentri Besar of Selangor, he eloped with Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah's daughter, Tengku Puteri Zaharia Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah to Thailand where they reportedly got married.[4] They have since divorced.
In 2006, he was appointed as a senator in the Dewan Negara. This allowed him to be appointed as a minister by Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March 2008. His stint in the Cabinet ended after a reshuffling by new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in April 2009.
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Ahmad Razali Mohd Ali |
Chief Minister of Selangor 1986 – 1997 |
Succeeded by Abu Hassan Haji Omar |