Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi (Jawi: احمد زاهد بن حميدي; born 4 January 1953) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the 8th President of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the 6th Chairman of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which is aligned with another ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, since June 2018. He briefly served as the 14th Leader of the Opposition from July 2018 to March 2019. He also served as the 11th Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Defence and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in the BN administration under former Prime Ministers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak from March 2008 until the collapse of the BN administration in May 2018.[1]

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Hamidi is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Ahmad Zahid. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri Dr.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
DUNM SPDK DP SJMK SPSN PNBS SSAP DPMK SPMP DMSM MP
احمد زاهد حميدي‎
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in 2016
8th President of the United Malays National Organisation
Assumed office
30 June 2018
Acting: 12 May 2018 – 30 June 2018
On leave: 18 December 2018 – 30 June 2019
DeputyHishammuddin Hussein (Acting) (2018)
Mohamad Hasan (since 2018)
Preceded byNajib Razak
11th Youth Chief of the
United Malays National Organisation
In office
1996–1998
PresidentMahathir Mohamad
Preceded byRahim Thamby Chik
Succeeded byHishammuddin Hussein
14th Leader of the Opposition
In office
18 July 2018 – 10 March 2019
Monarch
Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad
Preceded byWan Azizah Wan Ismail
Succeeded byIsmail Sabri Yaakob
Ministerial roles
2004–2006Deputy Minister of Tourism
2006–2008Deputy Minister of Information
2008–2009Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
2009–2013Minister of Defence
2013–2018Minister of Home Affairs
2015–2018Deputy Prime Minister
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
1995–Barisan Nasional
Personal details
Born
Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi

(1953-01-04) 4 January 1953
Bagan Datuk, Perak, Malaysia
Political partyUMNO (since 1973)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (since 1973)
Muafakat Nasional (since 2019)
Perikatan Nasional (10 March 2020 - 8 July 2021)
Spouse(s)Hamidah Khamis
Children5
Residence(s)Bagan Datuk, Perak
EducationUniversity of Malaya (BA)
University Putra Malaysia (PhD)
OccupationPolitician
WebsiteOfficial blog
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Facebook
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Parliament of Malaysia

On 24 January 2022, Ahmad Zahid has been ordered to enter his defence against all 47 criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering charges involving funds from Yayasan Akalbudi, a charity foundation which he had set up.[2]

Early life

Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi was born on 4 January 1953 in Bagan Datuk, Perak,[3][4] the eldest son of nine children (seven sons and two daughters) in the family.[5][6] On 1 October 2011, his mother, Tuminah Abdul Jalil, died of a stroke and heart complication in her hometown Sungai Nipah Darat, Bagan Datoh. She was previously hospitalized at the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Both of his parents are Indonesian-born Malaysians.[7]

He was raised by a Chinese foster-father, Chen Jin Ting and sold ice cream together for six years with his foster family when he was in elementary school. Chen was not highly educated and would cycle from his house at Simpang Tiga, Hilir Perak to about three kilometers away selling ice cream. Chen was married with his foster mother, Guo Jin Luan. His father later died in 1999, more than ten days after the general election of that year.[8] Following accusations that he was anti-Chinese, he stated "Am I anti-Chinese when I have a Chinese foster father?".[9]

Education and early career

Before venturing into politics, Ahmad Zahid studied at University of Malaya for his bachelor's degree. He also holds a Certificate in Banking from Bank Negara Malaysia before being a banker for OCBC. He was also one of the directors of Bank Simpanan Nasional (1995–1998) and also Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). He was also a Marketing Executive for Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad, Executive Director for Scandinavian Motors Sdn Bhd, chief executive officer of Kretam Holding Berhad, Chairman of Tekala Corporation Berhad, Chairman of Seng Hup Berhad and Pengerusi Ramatex Berhad. In 1999 he became the Chairman of Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB).[10] In 2008, he has received his PhD in Communication at Universiti Putra Malaysia after he spent seven years to complete his thesis.[11]

Political career

Political secretary and UMNO Youth Chief

In 1986, Zahid was appointed political secretary to Najib Razak during the latter's term as Youth Minister (1986–1990) and then Minister of Defence (1990–1995).

He was elected UMNO Youth Chief in 1996. He was once the chief of UMNO youth Bagan Datoh branch, the Vice Chief for the state of Perak UMNO youth, Head of the UMNO Communication for UMNO youth.

Election to Parliament and UMNO Supreme Council

In 1995, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi became a member of parliament after winning the Bagan Datoh parliamentary seat in Perak in the general elections.

In 1999, Zahid was re-elected Member of Parliament for Bagan Datoh in Perak in the general elections. He was elected to the UMNO Supreme Council in the following year.

Ministerial career
Hamidi in 2010

After he won the seat for a third time in the 2004 general elections, Zahid was appointed Deputy Tourism Minister by former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. While being a Deputy Minister, he pursued a Doctor of Philosophy degree from UPM, thesis entitled Barisan Nasional Manifesto As Agenda for Malay Language Newspaper During the General Election Campaign.

In the political tsunami of 2008, Zahid again retained his Bagan Datoh parliamentary seat at a time when many BN party heavyweights were trounced. He was then appointed a full Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. In the April 2009 cabinet reshuffle, Zahid was appointed Minister of Defence by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

He was able to retain his parliamentary seat of Bagan Datoh in the 2013 election, although with a decreased majority. He was appointed as Minister of Home Affairs in 2013, replacing Hishamuddin Hussein, who took Zahid's previous position at the Ministry of Defence.[12]

In July 2015, he was appointed the country's 11th Deputy Prime Minister in a cabinet reshuffle.[13]

UMNO President

In the 2018 UMNO leadership election, Zahid gained more votes than his rivals, Khairy Jamaluddin and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, making him the new president of UMNO and also the first Leader of the Opposition from BN coalition.

After facing weeks of mounting pressure to step down as party president and calls for fresh party polls,[14][15] Zahid finally announces his decision to temporary step down and take leave on 18 December 2018.[16] His deputy, Mohamad Hasan, acted the position of leading the party.[17] On 30 June 2019, he announced his return from "garden leave" back to active role as UMNO president.[18][19]

Controversies and issues

Ahmad Zahid had been sued by businessman Amir Bazli Abdullah for allegedly punching him in the face on 16 January 2006 at the Country Heights recreational club in Kajang, Selangor, causing the latter to suffer a nasal bone fracture and a swollen left eye.[20] The case was pursued in the civil courts for six years before the matter was settled out of court.[21]

Controversial statements

Shortly after the Black 505 rallies following the 13th Malaysian General Election due to claims of electoral fraud and vote manipulation, he said that Malaysians who are unhappy with the country's political system and dislike the BN government should "get lost" from the country. This statement has raised discontentment among the citizens, putting a serious question mark over his political future in a multiracial society.[22] The statement was made after a series of street demonstrations led by opposition parties that has refused to accept the results of the 13th Malaysian General election. His first act as Home Minister was to order a crack down against opposition leaders and dissent, landing him in a bigger controversy with sedition laws being used to attempt to suppress the voices of opposition parties.[23]

During a speech in Malacca, Zahid was recorded endorsing the police policy of "shoot to kill" when arresting dangerous criminals,[24] including backing a certain group of gangsters.[25][26][27]

Corruption charges

On 18 October 2018, Zahid was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and charged in court the following day on 45 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), abuse of power and money laundering involving a total of RM114 million (about US$27.4 million) funds of Yayasan Akalbudi.[28][29] On 14 December 2018, he was charged with another CBT offence, involving RM10 million.[30] On 20 February 2019, Zahid was again charged with an additional CBT charge, involving RM260,000.[31][32]

On 26 June 2019, Zahid became the subject of 7 new corruption charges involving S$4.2 million (RM12.8 million) which he allegedly received from a foreign visa (VLN) system operator totalling RM42.76 million under his capacity as the Home Minister then. [33] On the next day, he faced 33 more charges totalling RM42.76 million involving the VLN system two years before.[34] The latest charges brought the total number of outstanding charges to 87.[35][36][37]

On 24 January 2022, Zahid has been ordered to enter his defence against all 47 criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering charges involving funds.[38][39][40][41][42]

On 17 February 2022, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has divulged more details regarding his claims that Ahmad Zahid sought his intervention in court cases. Muhyiddin said Zahid visited a few days after he took office as prime minister with a pile of files. He said he refused to interfere in Zahid and Najib Razak's court cases, which incited their anger and resulted in attempts to destabilise the government.[43]

On 23 February 2022, Mahathir Mohamad said he had a meeting with Zahid before the former became prime minister in 2018. Mahathir said Zahid went to his house with three other individuals and tried to be nice to him to avoid being charged for his misconduct when Umno was in power.[44]

Personal life

He is married to Hamidah Khamis and has 5 children. He is fluent in Standard Malay, local Perak Malay and Javanese. His English is sub-par,[45] and he speaks some Mandarin.[46]

Election results
Parliament of Malaysia: Bagan Datoh, Perak[47][48][49]
Year Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1995 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (UMNO) 17,646 86.24% Asha'ri Marsom (S46) 2,816 13.76% 21,937 14,830 62.02%
1999 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (UMNO) 12,938 60.86% Mohamad Dahalan Arhsad (PKR) 8,321 39.14% 22,164 4,617 60.24%
2004 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (UMNO) 17,049 79.08% Ayyathurai Achutharaman (PKR) 4,510 20.92% 22,690 12,539 66.38%
2008 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (UMNO) 13,115 55.72% Madzi Hasan (PKR) 10,423 44.28% 24,414 2,692 70.42%
2013 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (UMNO) 17,176 53.27% Madhi Hasan (PKR) 15,068 46.73% 33,069 2,108 82.83%
2018 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (UMNO) 18,909 51.37%
Pakhrurrazi Arshad (PKR) 13,836 37.59% 37,620 5,073 79.89%
Ata Abdul Muneim Hasan Adli (PAS) 4,061 11.03%

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

See also

References
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  2. Rashid, Hidir Reduan Abdul (24 January 2022). "Zahid ordered to answer 47 charges in Yayasan Akalbudi corruption case". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  3. "Biography : The Honourable Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi". Official Website : Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
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  13. Zahid Hamidi is new DPM
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