Azalina Othman Said
Encyclopedia
Dato' Seri
Azalina binti Othman Said was the Tourism Minister in the previous Cabinet of Malaysia
. Before that, she was the Youth
and Sports Minister. She is a member of the United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO), the main component party of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional
.
Azalina is the Member of Parliament
for Pengerang
, Johor
. She won her Pengerang parliamentary seat uncontested in the 2008 Malaysian general election
. She also won the previous election
uncontested also due to last minute pulling out of opposition candidacy.
on 31 December 1963, 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
.
, which fights for Muslim women's rights and equality.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Azalina binti Othman Said was the Tourism Minister in the previous Cabinet of Malaysia
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...
. Before that, she was the Youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
and Sports Minister. She is a member of the United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO), the main component party of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
.
Azalina is the Member of Parliament
Dewan Rakyat
The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara , before they are given Royal Assent by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...
for Pengerang
Pengerang
Pengerang is a small custom cum immigration post in southeast Johor, Malaysia. It has a few houses and a road leading to Sungai Rengit - the larger town where food and lodging can be found....
, Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
. She won her Pengerang parliamentary seat uncontested in the 2008 Malaysian general election
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
. She also won the previous election
Malaysian general election, 2004
General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...
uncontested also due to last minute pulling out of opposition candidacy.
Early life
Born in Johor BahruJohor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
on 31 December 1963, Azalina started her tertiary education in Universiti Teknologi Mara
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Universiti Teknologi MARA is a coeducational public university with its main campus located in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.It is the flagship institution of the 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
ITM
ITM may stand for:*ITM-IFM, Mumbai*Irish traditional music*IATA Airport Code of Osaka International Airport, Japan*IBM Tivoli Monitoring, an IT management tool*In The Morning, a catch phrase from the popular podcast No Agenda...
, she read laws in Universiti Malaya and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(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
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 2003. Coincidentally, Zaid Ibrahim
Zaid Ibrahim
Dato' Mohd Zaid Ibrahim is a prominent Malaysian lawyer turned politician and is a former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of legal affairs and judicial reform...
was also her cabinet
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...
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
Ntv7
Natseven TV Sdn Bhd or better known as ntv7 is a terrestrial television channel in Malaysia. It was launched nationwide on 7 April 1998 and was the country's third private free-to-air TV station after TV3 and Astro. Its mission is to promote a happier and more enlightened Malaysia...
.
Political career
- Protem 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 MinisterPrime Minister of MalaysiaThe Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
, 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 IslamSisters in Islam
Sisters in Islam is an organization of Muslim women in Malaysia which seeks to articulate women's rights in Islam by emphasising the need to interpret the Qur'an and the hadith in their proper historical and cultural contexts. It also advocates for the right of women to hold public office...
, which fights for Muslim women's rights and equality.
Awards
- Global Leader for Tomorrow (GLT) 2003—awarded by the World Economic ForumWorld Economic ForumThe World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
, DavosDavosDavos is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of 11,248 . Davos is located on the Landwasser River, in the Swiss Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range...
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
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