Azalina Othman Said

Dato' Sri Azalina binti Othman Said (Jawi: ازلينا بنت عثمان سعيد; born 31 December 1963) is a Malaysian politician and lawyer who has served as the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department from July 2015 to the collapse of the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration in May 2018 and again in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since December 2022 as well as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pengerang since March 2004. She served as the Special Advisor to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Law and Human Rights from September 2021 to her resignation in August 2022, Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat II from July 2020 to her resignation in August 2021, Minister of Tourism from March 2008 to April 2009 and the Minister of Youth and Sports from March 2004 to March 2008 in the BN administration under former Prime Ministers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak and Chairperson of the National Film Development Corporation from June 2015 to her ministerial appointment in July 2015. She created history by being the first female deputy speaker. She is a member of the Supreme Council of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the BN coalition.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Othman Said is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Azalina. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berhormat Dato' Sri
Azalina Othman Said
SSAP SPMP PGDK DPMS DGMK MP
ازلينا عثمان سعيد‎
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
(Parliamentary Affairs: 29 July 2015–10 May 2018)
(Legal Affairs: 27 June 2016–10 May 2018)
(Law and Institutional Reforms: since 3 December 2022)
Assumed office
3 December 2022
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
DeputyRamkarpal Singh
Preceded byWan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
(Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law))
ConstituencyPengerang
In office
29 July 2015 – 10 May 2018
MonarchsAbdul Halim
(2015–2016)
Muhammad V
(2016–2018)
Prime MinisterNajib Razak
DeputyRazali Ibrahim
Preceded byNancy Shukri
Succeeded byLiew Vui Keong
ConstituencyPengerang
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Law and Human Rights
In office
30 September 2021 – 30 August 2022
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterIsmail Sabri Yaakob
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
ConstituencyPengerang
Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat II
In office
13 July 2020 – 23 August 2021
Serving with Mohd Rashid Hasnon
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterMuhyiddin Yassin
(2020–2021)
Ismail Sabri Yaakob (2021)
SpeakerAzhar Azizan Harun
Preceded byNga Kor Ming
Succeeded byAlice Lau Kiong Yieng
ConstituencyPengerang
Minister of Tourism
In office
18 March 2008 – 9 April 2009
MonarchMizan Zainal Abidin
Prime MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi
DeputySulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib
Preceded byTengku Adnan Tengku Mansor
Succeeded byNg Yen Yen
ConstituencyPengerang
Minister of Youth and Sports
In office
27 March 2004 – 18 March 2008
MonarchsSirajuddin
(2004–2006)
Mizan Zainal Abidin
(2006–2008)
Prime MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi
DeputyOng Tee Keat
(2004–2006)
Liow Tiong Lai
(2006–2008)
Preceded byHishammuddin Hussein
Succeeded byIsmail Sabri Yaakob
ConstituencyPengerang
1st Women Youth Chief of the
United Malays National Organisation
In office
9 April 2001 – 25 September 2004
PresidentMahathir Mohamad
DeputyNoraini Ahmad
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byNoraini Ahmad
Chairperson of the
National Film Development Corporation
In office
1 June 2015 – 29 July 2015
MinisterAhmad Shabery Cheek
Preceded byMd Afendi Hamdan
Succeeded byMohd Khusairi Abdul Talib
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Pengerang
Assumed office
21 March 2004
Preceded byPosition established
MajorityWalkover (2004)
Walkover (2008)
22,508 (2013)
11,417 (2018)
5,010 (2022)
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
2004–Barisan Nasional
Personal details
Born
Azalina binti Othman Said

(1963-12-31) 31 December 1963
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (BN)
Muafakat Nasional (MN)
(2019–2022)
Perikatan Nasional (PN)
(aligned:2020–2022)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(aligned:since 2022)
Alma materUniversity of Malaya
London School of Economics and Political Science
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer

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
  • Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia (31 March 2004 – 7 March 2008)
  • Minister of Tourism Malaysia (18 March 2008 – 9 April 2009)
  • Minister in the Primer Minister's Department (29 July 2015 – 9 May 2018)

Controversy

On 27 August 2022, Azalina said whoever became prime minister would usually appoint “one of their own” to become the AG, a post which came with wide-ranging powers.[2] Her comments drew criticisms from Bersatu and Pakatan Harapan leaders.[3][4]

On 1 September 2022, Azalina has resigned as Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s special adviser for law and human rights.[5]

Election results
Parliament of Malaysia:P157 Pengerang[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Year Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots
cast		 Majority Turnout
2004 Azalina Othman Said
(UMNO)
Walkover
2008 Azalina Othman Said
(UMNO)
2013 Azalina Othman Said
(UMNO)		 26,992 83.64% Tengku Intan Tengku Abd Hamid (PKR)[13] 4,484 13.89% 33,067 22,508 87.02%
Mohd Azaman Johari
(Independent)		 795 2.46%
2018 Azalina Othman Said
(UMNO)		 21,829 67.71% Norliza Ngadiran
(BERSATU)		 10,412 32.29% 33,580 11,417 82.96%
2022 Azalina Othman Said
(UMNO)		 21,738 51.96% Fairulnizar Rahmat (BERSATU) 16,728 39.98% 41,840 5,010 75.64%
Che Zakaria Mohd Salleh (AMANAH) 3,374 8.06%

Honours

Awards

See also

References
  1. An Umno that thinks beyond race, 11 October 2010, Ding-Jo Ann, The Nut Graph
  2. Kumar, B. Nantha (27 August 2022). "Azalina to PM: Why can't AG be replaced with one of your own?". Malaysiakini.
  3. "Radzi: Azalina is proof that Umno unrepentant". Malaysiakini. 28 August 2022.
  4. "DAP, PKR officials slam Azalina for wanting PM to appoint 'own' AG". The Vibes. 29 August 2022.
  5. Bernama (1 September 2022). "Azalina resigns as PM's special adviser". Malaysiakini.
  6. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 6 June 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  7. "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  8. "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  9. "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.
  10. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13". Utusan Malaysia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  11. "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  12. "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  13. NIEZAM ABDULLAH (22 April 2013). "Dayangku Intan Tidak Gentar 'Lawan' Azalina Othman" (in Malay). mStar. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  14. "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  15. "Abdullah conferred Kedah's highest award". The Star. 22 January 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  16. "Two ministers made Datuk Seris". Roslina Mohamad. The Star. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  17. "Sultan of Perak's Birthday Honours List 2007". The Star. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  18. "Khalil heads Sabah awards list". The Star. 16 September 2003. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  19. "Khir: Developed status should spur others on". The Star. 2 December 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2005.
  20. "Y.B. Dato' Azalina binti Dato' Othman Said : D.P.M.S. - Laman Web Rasmi Darjah Kebesaran Negeri Selangor". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  21. "IOC HONOURS FIRST FEMALE AND YOUNGEST SPORTS MINISTER IN MALAYSIA". International Olympic Committee. 8 March 2008.
  22. "Y.B. DATO' SERI AZALINA DATO' OTHMAN SAID-2007". Olympic Council of Malaysia.
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