Azalina Othman Said

Dato' Sri Azalina binti Othman Said (born 31 December 1963) is a Malaysian politician. She is the Member of Parliament for Pengerang, Johor (2004–present). She was Malaysia's Minister for Tourism from 2008 to 2009 and the Minister for Youth and Sports from 2004 to 2008. She is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the main component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Early life

Azalina was born in Johor Bahru on 31 December 1963 to a father of Buginese ancestry and a mother of Arab lineage. She spent her early years in Penang where she received her elementary education at a Catholic school, Convent Green Lane.^[1] Azalina started her tertiary education in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) (or Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM) as it was known then) by taking her Diploma in Public Administration (DPA). Upon graduating with ITM, she read laws in Universiti Malaya and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours.) or LL.B Hons. After graduating in 1988, she went on to further her studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom and graduated with a Master of Laws (LLM) in 1990.

She first started her career in Malaysia as a legal assistant at Messr Raja Darryl & Loh law firm (1988–1989, 1991–1994). After gaining experience, she became an associate partner of Azalina Chan & Chia law firm (1994–2001) and with Messrs Skine (2001–2002).

In 2002, she formed a partnership with Messrs Zaid Ibrahim & Co [2002–2004], which is the largest law firm in Malaysia and later on with Zaid Ibrahim & Co. LLP, Singapore in 2003. Coincidentally, Zaid Ibrahim was also her cabinet colleague, having been appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in-charge of Legal Affairs at the same time as her appointment as Tourism Minister.

Before getting involved in politics, she was the host of various television talk shows, mainly discussing about political, economic and social issues, such as Dateline Malaysia and Lidah Pengarang on ntv7.

Political career

• Pro tem Head, Puteri UMNO Malaysia (2001–2002) Appointed by the then President of UMNO, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as the Pro Tem Head of Puteri UMNO Malaysia, in April 2001.
• Head of UMNO Civil Action Bureau (2000–2004) Appointed as Head the Civil Action Bureau of UMNO Malaysia (BTS UMNO), which is based in Sungai Way, in August 2000.
• Head of Puteri UMNO Malaysia & Vice-President of UMNO (2002–2004) Elected the first Head of Puteri UMNO Malaysia, on 1 November 2002. The Head of Puteri UMNO Malaysia is automatically one of the six Vice-Presidents of UMNO.
• Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia (31 March 2004 – 7 March 2008)
• Member of UMNO Supreme Council (2000–Present) Appointed to sit as a member of the UMNO Supreme Council, the highest decisions-making body of the party, in July 2000, by the then Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who is also the president of UMNO. There are four female Supreme Councilors out of 46 in the Council.
• Minister of Tourism Malaysia (18 March 2008 – 9 April 2009)

Social contributions

Azalina is also active in various social organisations. She is directly involved as Adviser to associations such as the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association, Malaysian Women Contractors and Construction Organisation, Yayasan Pembangunan Malaysia and the Women's Crisis Centre. She is also a member of Sisters in Islam, which fights for Muslim women's rights and equality.^[2]

Awards and recognition

Awards

• Global Leader for Tomorrow (GLT) 2003—awarded by the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland

Titles

• SSAP – Darjah Kebesaran Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang
• SPMP – Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak
• DGMK – Darjah Gemilang Seri Mahkota Kedah
• DPMS – Darjah Paduka Mahkota Selangor
• PGDK – Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu

References