Dato' Seri Hamzah bin Zainudin (Jawi: حمزة بن زين الدين; born 12 March 1957) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the 17th Leader of the Opposition since December 2022[2][3] and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Larut since March 2008. He served as the Minister of Home Affairs for the second term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022 and the first term in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin from March 2020 to the collapse of the PN administration in August 2021, Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government in the BN administration under former prime ministers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak from March 2008 to the collapse of the BN administration in May 2018 as well as a senator from September 2000 to September 2006. He is a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition and was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He has also served as the Deputy Chairman of PN since December 2024 and 3rd Deputy President of BERSATU since November 2024.[4] He also served as the 1st Secretary-General of PN from March 2020 to December 2024 and the 3rd Secretary-General of BERSATU from March 2020 to November 2024.[5]
Hamzah Zainudin | |
|---|---|
| حمزة زين الدين | |
 Hamzah in 2024 | |
| 17th Leader of the Opposition | |
| Assumed office 10 December 2022 | |
| Monarchs | Abdullah (2022–2024) Ibrahim Iskandar (since 2024) |
| Prime Minister | Anwar Ibrahim |
| Preceded by | Anwar Ibrahim |
| Constituency | Larut |
| Minister of Home Affairs | |
| In office 30 August 2021 – 24 November 2022 | |
| Monarch | Abdullah |
| Prime Minister | Ismail Sabri Yaakob |
| Deputy | Ismail Mohamed Said Jonathan Yasin |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Saifuddin Nasution Ismail |
| Constituency | Larut |
| In office 10 March 2020 – 16 August 2021 | |
| Monarch | Abdullah |
| Prime Minister | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Deputy | Ismail Mohamed Said Jonathan Yasin |
| Preceded by | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Constituency | Larut |
| Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism | |
| In office 29 July 2015 – 10 May 2018 | |
| Monarchs | Abdul Halim (2015–2016) Muhammad V (2016–2018) |
| Prime Minister | Najib Razak |
| Deputy | Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah (2015–2016) Henry Sum Agong (2016–2018) |
| Preceded by | Hasan Malek |
| Succeeded by | Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumerism) Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof (Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives) |
| Constituency | Larut |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 16 May 2013 – 29 July 2015 | |
| Monarch | Abdul Halim |
| Prime Minister | Najib Razak |
| Minister | Anifah Aman |
| Preceded by | A Kohillan Pillay Richard Riot Jaem |
| Succeeded by | Reezal Merican Naina Merican |
| Constituency | Larut |
| Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities | |
| In office 10 April 2009 – 15 May 2013 Serving with G. Palanivel (2010–2011) | |
| Monarchs | Mizan Zainal Abidin (2009–2011) Abdul Halim (2011–2013) |
| Prime Minister | Najib Razak |
| Minister | Bernard Giluk Dompok |
| Preceded by | A Kohillan Pillay |
| Succeeded by | Noriah Kasnon |
| Constituency | Larut |
| Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government | |
| In office 19 March 2008 – 9 April 2009 Serving with Robert Lau Hoi Chew | |
| Monarch | Mizan Zainal Abidin |
| Prime Minister | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi |
| Minister | Ong Ka Chuan |
| Preceded by | Azizah Mohd Dun |
| Succeeded by | Lajim Ukin |
| Constituency | Larut |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Larut | |
| Assumed office 8 March 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN–UMNO) |
| Majority | 1,911 (2008) 5,296 (2013) 4,486 (2018) 11,598 (2022) |
| Senator Elected by the Perak State Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 8 September 2000 – 16 September 2006 (Gap 8–16 September 2003) Serving with Tan Ek Huat (2000) Yew Thuan Chiew (2000–2003) Chiam Yong Tee (2003–2006) | |
| Monarchs | Salahuddin (2000–2001) Syed Sirajuddin (2001–2006) |
| Prime Minister | Mahathir Mohamad (2000–2003) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (2003–2006) |
| Preceded by | Mustaffa Kamal Mohd. Nawi |
| Succeeded by | Azlan Osman |
| Deputy Chairman of Perikatan Nasional | |
| Assumed office 9 December 2024 | |
| Chairman | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Preceded by | Ahmad Faizal Azumu |
| 3rd Deputy President of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party | |
| Assumed office 4 November 2024 | |
| President | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Preceded by | Ahmad Faizal Azumu |
| 1st Secretary-General of Perikatan Nasional | |
| In office 18 March 2020 – 9 December 2024 | |
| Chairman | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Azmin Ali |
| 3rd Secretary-General of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party | |
| In office 18 March 2020 – 28 November 2024 | |
| President | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Chairman | Muhyiddin Yassin (Acting, February–August 2020) |
| Preceded by | Marzuki Yahya |
| Succeeded by | Azmin Ali |
| Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat | |
| 2008–2018 | Barisan Nasional |
| 2018–2019 | Independent |
| 2019–2020 | Pakatan Harapan |
| 2020 | Malaysian United Indigenous Party |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hamzah bin Zainudin 12 March 1957[1] Perak, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)[citation needed] |
| Citizenship | Malaysian |
| Political party | United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (–2018) Independent (2018–2019) Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) (since 2019) |
| Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN) (–2018) Pakatan Harapan (PH) (2018–2020) Perikatan Nasional (PN) (since 2020) |
| Spouse(s) |
Noraini Abdul Rashid
(m. 1981; div. 1996)Norashikin Abdul Ghani |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Tuanku Abdul Rahman School |
| Alma mater | University of Technology Malaysia (Dip) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Signature |  |
Early life and education
editHamzah was born on 12 March 1957 in Perak, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia).[citation needed] He was a student at Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (STAR).[6] He received his Diploma in Quantity Surveying from University of Technology Malaysia in 1975.[5][7]
Early career
editHe started of his life as a football player in the early 80s, and was playing for the state of Selangor. Later on, he became the General Manager with Maju Bangun Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary company of the Perak State Development Corporation from 1980 till 1987. He has also served as a member of the board of Ipoh City Council and Stadium Merdeka Corporation from 1987 to 1993 and 1991 to 1997 respectively. In 1989, he ventured into private business and sat on several companies listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (known then as the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange). He held various chairman and deputy chairman duties, including chairman of FELCRA Berhad, the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority that oversees land management and development of agro land owned by the individuals and states.[5][8]
Political career
editHamzah was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2008 election and was appointed a Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government.[9][10] He was previously a member of the Malaysian Senate.[11]
He served as the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former prime ministers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak from March 2008 to the defeat of BN in the 2018 general election in May 2018. He has also served as the member of parliament (MP) for Larut since March 2008. Presently he is a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) and its 3rd secretary-general since March 2020, a component party of the ruling PN coalition and he also serves as its 1st secretary-general since August 2020. He was a member of the then-ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the BN coalition.[12] He subsequently resigned from UMNO to join BERSATU in December 2018.[13]
In 2020, when the Pakatan Harapan government crumpled due to Mahathir Mohamad's sudden resignation after trying to eradicate those who are involved in the Sheraton Move but failed. He was elected as the Home Minister by the newly appointed Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in his cabinet.[5] He then retained as the Home Minister in Ismail Sabri cabinet.[14]
In December 2022, he led the Perikatan Nasional coalition to become the 17th Leader of the Opposition.
Controversies and issues
editDivorcing his first wife
editIn 2004, he was asked to pay his first wife Nooraini Rashid RM11.2 million in settlements for allegedly divorcing her to marry a much younger woman. In 2007 however, the Syariah Appeals Court allowed for his appeal to not pay his ex-wife.[5][15]
Allegations against Anwar Ibrahim
editIn August 2008, former best friend and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, filed a defamation suit against him seeking RM10 million in damages over Hamzah’s allegations that Anwar had harassed his wife in 1998. Hamzah allegedly made the remark when campaigning during the Permatang Pauh by-election in August 2008, which subsequently saw Anwar’s return to parliament after a 10-year absence.[5][15]
Intervention in PDRM
editIn 2021, he was caught having a phone conversation with the soon-to-retire Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to allow him to internally transfer staffs and also enable him to have over certain jurisdiction of Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) which will indirectly interfere with the operation. At the IGP's last week in office, Abdul Hamid Bador revealed all the dirty tricks of Hamzah trial efforts to interfere with the PDRM and how it will affect the PDRM's reputation.[5] He acknowledged that the voice of the recording was his and stand being corrected as it is not unlawful despite IGP's comment on how politician's interference will make operations hard for the PDRM.[16][17][18][19][20]
Personal life
editHamzah was married to Noraini Abdul Rashid in 1994 before divorcing her in 1996 to marry his second wife, Nurasikin Abdul Ghani.[5] He has 5 children.
Election results
edit| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | P056 Larut | Hamzah Zainudin (UMNO) | 15,878 | 53.20% | Mohd Dhari Othman (PAS) | 13,967 | 46.80% | 30,589 | 1,911 | 77.06% | ||
| 2013 | Hamzah Zainudin (UMNO) | 22,184 | 56.38% | Mohd Fauzi Shaari (PAS) | 16,888 | 42.92% | 40,100 | 5,296 | 86.09% | |||
| Raveendran M. Vallikana (IND) | 278 | 0.70% | ||||||||||
| 2018 | Hamzah Zainudin (UMNO) | 18,184 | 45.90% | Abu Husin Mohammad (PAS) | 13,698 | 34.57% | 40,470 | 4,486 | 81.84% | |||
| Khairil Anuar Akhiruddin (BERSATU) | 7,738 | 19.53% | ||||||||||
| 2022 | Hamzah Zainudin (BERSATU) | 28,350 | 54.65% | Mohd Shafiq Fhadly Mahmud (UMNO) | 16,752 | 32.29% | 51,875 | 11,598 | 78.93% | |||
| Zolkarnian Abidin (AMANAH) | 6,207 | 11.97% | ||||||||||
| Awzey Fazlan Sahidi (PEJUANG) | 566 | 1.09% | ||||||||||
Honours
editHonours of Malaysia
edit
Malaysia :
Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (2000)[29]
Perak :
Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (PPT) (1990)[30]
Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (PMP) (1992)[30]- Justice of the Peace (JP) (1996)[30]
Knight Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (DPMP) – Dato' (2002)
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2015)[29][31]
Negeri Sembilan :
Knight Commander of the Order of Tuanku Jaafar (DPTJ) – Dato' (1997)[29]
Sabah :
Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2020)[32][33]
Pahang :
Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2021)[34]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Calon PRU Hamzah Zainudin". pru.sinarharian.com.my.
- ^ "Hansard" (PDF). Dewan Rakyat. 19 December 2022. pp. 19, 20. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ "Hamzah selected to be Opposition leader in Parliament, says Takiyuddin". The Star. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "Bersatu polls: Muhyiddin, Hamzah win top two posts uncontested, Ahmad Faizal is VP". The Star. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Maya Suraya (16 June 2021). "From Property To Politics: Who Is Hamzah Zainudin? Malaysia's Home Minister was a business man before turning to politics". The Rakyat Post. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ "Hamzah Zainudin, daripada Samseng di Sekolah kepada Samseng di Pentas Politik". Aksi Muda. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Enam Alumni UTM Dilantik Terajui Negara". UTM News. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ Leoi Leoi, Sim (19 April 2003). "Felcra reminded of its social obligations". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ "Malaysia Decides 2008". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ "Branch Offices of Solid Waste Management Corporation To Be Set Up". Berita Wilayah. 30 March 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ "Don't sideline Umno, BN elected reps told". Daily Express (East Malaysia). 20 August 2006. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ "Hamzah Zainudin, Y.B. Datuk" (in Malay). Parliament of Malaysia. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- ^ Mazwin Nik Anis, Muguntan Vanar and Zakiah Koya (15 December 2018). "Six more MPs leave Umno". The Star. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ^ "Here's the new Cabinet members under PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob". Astro Awani. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ a b "WHO IS HAMZAH ZAINUDIN, THE MAN ACCUSED OF GIVING MUHYIDDIN BAD ADVICE?". Cilisos. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "It's me in leaked audio recording, confirms Hamzah". Free Malaysia Today. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "It was me, nothing wrong with it, Hamzah says of leaked audio recording". The Star. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Report: Ex-IGP Hamid says Home Minister Hamzah trying to configure Special Branch for own political gains". Malay Mail. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Ex-IGP blasts Hamzah again, claims he exploited Special Branch". Focus Malaysia. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Malaysia Decides 2008". The Star. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2010. Percentage figures are calculated based on total turnout.
- ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
- ^ "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "my undi : Kawasan & Calon-Calon PRU13 : Keputusan PRU13 (Archived copy)". www.myundi.com.my. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
- ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13". Utusan Malaysia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ a b c "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ a b c "CARIAN REKOD PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN/PINGAT NEGERI PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN". pingat.perak.gov.my.
- ^ "Zahid Hamidi penerima pertama Seri Paduka Sultan Nazrin Shah". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 28 November 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ "Ismail Sabri, Hamzah Zainudin head list of 679 Sabah award recipients". The Star Online. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Hamzah Zainudin, Ismail Sabri antara empat dapat Datuk Seri Panglima Sabah" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Hamzah, Saifuddin dahului senarai penerima darjah, pingat Pahang". Malaysiakini. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
