| Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim |
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|---|---|
| Malaysian Minister of Information, Communications and Culture | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 10 April 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Ahmad Shabery Cheek (Information) Shafie Apdal (Culture) |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Jelebu |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1999 |
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| Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 18 March 2008 – 9 April 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Syed Hamid Albar |
| Succeeded by | Anifah Aman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 April 1942 Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan |
| Political party | UMNO – BN (1974-1988; 1996-present) S46 (1988-1996) |
| Spouse(s) | Masnah Rais |
| Children | 4 |
| Occupation | Member of Parliament Minister |
| Religion | Islam |
Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim (born in Jelebu, 15 April 1942) is the current Malaysian Information, Communications, and Culture Minister. His ministry is considered a new ministry formed from the merger of three separate ministries in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's smaller cabinet. He is the longest serving Cabinet member of the Federal Government, having served five Prime Ministers since 1974.
He is also a Member of Parliament from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the leading party in the ruling coalition of Barisan Nasional.
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Rais was born on April 15, 1942 in Kampung Gagu, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan.
He is a lawyer by profession. In 1964, he graduated from Language Institute (also known as Language Teaching College), 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 King's College London. His doctoral dissertation was eventually published in 1995 as Freedom Under Executive Power in Malaysia: A Study of Executive Supremacy.[1]
Rais 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 fell out of favour of the UMNO leadership in April 1987, he resumed his law career. Rais worked with a firm called Ram, 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 ended in March 2008. However, he pulled out on July 26, citing 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]
Rais served another term as Foreign Minister from March 18, 2008 until April 9, 2009. Since April 10, 2009, he has been the Information, Communications & Culture Minister.
Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim is married to Datin Seri Utama Masnah Rais and has four children. His hobbies are photography and travelling. He is also a writer on the subjects of law, politics, and Malay society.
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