Mukhriz Mahathir

This is a Malay name; the name Mahathir is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Mukhriz.
Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri
Mukhriz Mahathir
MLA, S.P.M.K., D.H.M.S., D.S.D.K.
Menteri Besar of Kedah
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2013
Monarch Abdul Halim
Preceded by Azizan Abdul Razak
Constituency N.04 Ayer Hitam
Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly
for Ayer Hitam
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2013
Preceded by Abdul Ghani Ahmad
Majority 2,446 (2013)
Malaysian Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry
In office
10 April 2009 – 3 April 2013
Prime Minister Najib Razak
Preceded by Liew Vui Keong
Succeeded by Hamim Samuri
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Jerlun
In office
8 March 2008 – 5 May 2013
Preceded by Abdul Rahman Ariffin
Succeeded by Othman Aziz
Majority 2,205 (2008)
UMNO Youth EXCO
Incumbent
Assumed office
2004
Personal details
Born 25 November 1964
Kedah, Malaysia
Political party United Malays National Organisation – BN
Spouse(s) Norzieta Zakaria
Children 4
Parents Mahathir Mohamad
Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali
Occupation Politician
Profession Businessman
Religion Sunni Islam
Website mukhriz.com

Dato' Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (born 25 November 1964) is a Malaysian politician who has been Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of the State of Kedah since 2013. From 2009 to 2013 he was the federal Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry. He is a son of Mahathir Mohamad, who was Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003. Like his father, he is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Political career

Pre-parliamentary career

In 2004, he won election to the executive council of UMNO's youth wing, by garnering the highest number of votes of any candidate.[1][2] He was also seen as a potential candidate for being the deputy chief of UMNO Youth, but he later withdrew his candidacy.[3]

Mukhriz was noted for his continuous efforts in speaking for his father in the events of the rift between Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his father.[4][5] In 2006, his father lost a bid to be elected as one of seven delegates from Kubang Pasu to UMNO's general assembly; Mukhriz was elected as one of the seven.[6] Mukhriz drew flak from sections of UMNO after he commented on Prime Minister Abdullah's speech at the assembly that he was a "little bit" disappointed and that it had offered nothing new.[7] He later apologised for his remarks.[8]

Federal parliamenterian (2008–2013)

In the 2008 Malaysian general election, Mukhriz won the Jerlun Parliament Seat (P005) with the sum of the DUN differing markedly from Parlimen.[9][10] Before this, he offered himself to contest in Langkawi Parliament Seat but was rejected by 85 out of 91 UMNO branches in Langkawi.[11] 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.[12]

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,[13] 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.[14]

Chief Minister of Kedah (2013–)

In the 2013 election, Mukhriz gave up his seat in federal parliament to contest the Kedah State Assembly seat of Ayer Hitam. The move was taken with a view to becoming the Chief Minister of Kedah if the Barisan Nasional coalition could defeat the Pakatan Rakyat state government led by Azizan Abdul Razak. Mukhriz won Ayer Hitam (defeating the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) incumbent), Barisan Nasional reclaimed the state government, and Mukhriz was sworn in as Chief Minister on 6 May, the day after the election, in the presence of his father.[15]

On 21 June 2013 Mukhriz attempted to charge Penang for the use of water from a river located in Penang state, on the basis that the source of the water was in Kedah. In return the Chief Minister for Penang, Lim Guan Eng, requested the Kedah government to pay rent for the land which the river occupies in Penang state.[16]

Business career and personal life

Mukhriz has held various posts in several business firms, which include Opcom Holdings,[17][18] Kosmo Tech[19] as well as the Malaysian Franchise Association.[20] He is also the executive director of Perdana Peace Global Organisation.[21]

Mukhriz is married to Datin Paduka Norzieta Zakaria,[22] and has four children.[3] He is currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Malaysian cancer vaccine company, Bioven.[23]

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia: P005 Jerlun, Kedah[24]
Year Government Votes Pct Opposition Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2008 Mukhriz Mahathir (UMNO) 19,424 53.01% Idris Ahmad (PAS) 17,219 46.99% 37,242 2,205 81.83%
Kedah State Legislative Assembly: N04 Ayer Hitam[24]
Year Government Votes Pct Opposition Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2013 Mukhriz Mahathir (UMNO) 14,083 54.55% Abdul Ghani Ahmad (PAS) 11,637 45.07% 26,200 2,446 88.61%

References

  1. ↑ PHOTO GALLERY
  2. ↑ UMNO elections a time for reinvention
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sabah: the battleground for the Umno Deputy Presidency (part 2)
  4. ↑ Baptism of fire for Mukhriz?
  5. ↑ Remarks unfair, unwarranted: Umno Youth
  6. ↑ Mukhriz shocked; claims move well-planned
  7. ↑ Mukhriz: Nothing new in speech
  8. ↑ Mukhriz to face Youth exco
  9. ↑ Mukhriz ke Parlimen Jerlun
  10. ↑ Kedah: Mukhriz to fight Jerlun, Badruddin stays in Jerai
  11. ↑ Mukhriz ‘the right man to contest in Langkawi’
  12. ↑ Mukhriz, Selamat Datang ke Jerlun!.
  13. ↑ Pilih Khairy, Pemuda Umno hilang hala tuju – from harakahdaily.net. Accessed on 29 March 2009.
  14. ↑ Penjelasan Mengenai Keputusan Lembaga Disiplin UMNO (Malay) – from Khairy's official blog, Rembau.net. Accessed on 29 March 2009.
  15. ↑ "GE13: Mukhriz sworn in as Kedah MB". The Star. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  16. ↑ http://www.thesundaily.my/news/749212
  17. ↑ 30-09-2004: Opcom expects 2D-growth with more capacity
  18. ↑ Opcom To Venture Into Broadband Infrastructure Business By Year End
  19. ↑ Board of directors
  20. ↑ Openings for franchise companies
  21. ↑ Mukhriz: More time needed to bring peace to southern Thailand
  22. ↑ Ibu Mertua Mukhriz Meninggal Dunia
  23. ↑ Board of Directors
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 10 May 2013. Percentage figures based on total turnout, excluding informal votes.

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