Abdul Ghani bin Othman (Jawi: عبدالغاني بن عثمان; born 14 November 1946) served as the 14th Menteri Besar of Johor in Malaysia from 1995 to 2013. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He had held the political party position of Ledang Division Chairman, Johor State Liaison Chairman and National Supreme Council member of UMNO before. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of Sime Darby Berhad, starting from 1 July 2013.[1]
Abdul Ghani Othman | |
|---|---|
| عبدالغني عثمان | |
| 14th Menteri Besar of Johor | |
| In office 3 May 1995 – 14 May 2013 | |
| Monarchs | Iskandar Ibrahim |
| Preceded by | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Succeeded by | Mohamed Khaled Nordin |
| Constituency | Serom |
| Minister of Youth and Sports | |
| In office 1 December 1993 – 24 April 1995 | |
| Monarchs | Azlan Shah Ja'afar |
| Deputy | Teng Gaik Kwan |
| Preceded by | Annuar Musa |
| Succeeded by | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Constituency | Ledang |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Ledang | |
| In office 3 August 1986 – 24 April 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Ngah Abdul Rahman (UMNO-BN) |
| Succeeded by | Hashim Ismail (UMNO-BN) |
| Majority | 10,665 (1986) 7,547 (1990) |
| Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly for Serom | |
| In office 25 April 1995 – 5 May 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Hashim Ismail (UMNO-BN) |
| Succeeded by | Abd Razak Minhat (UMNO-BN) |
| Majority | 13,496 (1995) 8,248 (1999) 8,081 (2004) 4,971 (2008) |
| Senator (Appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong) | |
| In office 11 December 1984 – July 1986 | |
| Monarch | Iskandar |
| Prime Minister | Mahathir Mohamad |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abdul Ghani bin Othman 14 November 1946 Sungai Mati, Tangkak (formerly part of Muar District), Johor, Malayan Union (now Malaysia) |
| Citizenship | Malaysian |
| Political party | United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) |
| Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN) |
| Spouse | Jamilah Ariffin |
| Alma mater | La Trobe University University of Queensland |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life and education
editHe received his primary education at Tangkak Boys School (Sekolah Laki-Laki Tangkak) before entering Muar High School (Sekolah Tinggi Muar). Qualifying for a Colombo Plan scholarship, Abdul Ghani furthered his studies at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics (Hons). Prior to returning to Malaysia, Abdul Ghani completed a Master's Degree in Economics at the University of Queensland. Upon returning to his homeland, he joined the Economics Faculty of University Malaya (1974–1980) and within several years, was promoted to be the Dean of the School (1980–1984). In addition to that, he also served as Master of First College (Residential) for University of Malaya (1979 – 1984).[2]
Political career
editAbdul Ghani's political career began when he was first appointed to be a Senator (December 1984 - July 1986). This was followed by his election to the Federal Parliament in 1986 general election for Ledang seat.
From May 1987 to November 1990, Abdul Ghani held the post of Deputy Minister for Energy, Telecommunication and Post. Subsequently, he was then given the portfolio of Deputy Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993.
In December 1993, Abdul Ghani was promoted to become the Minister of Youth and Sports (1 December 1993 - March 1995). He immediately initiated a national youth program called 'Rakan Muda' (Young Friend), which helped mobilise Malaysian youths through healthy activities such as sports and cultural events.
Abdul Ghani won the Johor State Legislative Assembly seat of Serom in the 1995 general election. In March 1995, Abdul Ghani was appointed to become the Menteri Besar of Johor and has held that position for the next 17 years.
During the 2013 Malaysian general election however, he was defeated in an upset result by Democratic Action Party (DAP) advisor Lim Kit Siang in Gelang Patah, Johor and was replaced by Mohamed Khaled Nordin as Menteri Besar for Johor.
Controversy
editBangsa Malaysia
editGhani did not agree with the Bangsa Malaysia concept and alleging that Bangsa Malaysia was a "nebulous concept" which overstepped the bounds of the Constitution. "Even if the term Bangsa Malaysia is to be used, it must only be applied in the context of all the peoples of Malaysia with the Malays as the pivotal race," he said.[3]
Ghani insisted that those advocating Bangsa Malaysia were echoing Lee Kuan Yew's call for a Malaysian Malaysia made during the early 1960s when Singapore was a state in Malaysia, even though the campaign had been repudiated by the government.[4]
After the 2006 UMNO Annual General Assembly, Ghani elaborated that his opposition to Bangsa Malaysia and Malaysian Malaysia was because:
It is about everything being equal and this does not capture the hearts of Malaysians. Therefore, regardless of whatever name is given, the concept is similar and this is against idea kenegaraan (the idea of nationhood) which we have inherited.
Ghani defined his idea kenegaraan as "the idea that has united the Malays, and also the same idea that has given privileges to other races to be citizens, live together and share power and prosperity."[5]
Election results
edit| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | P116 Ledang, Johor | Abdul Ghani Othman (UMNO) | 21,558 | 66.43% | Lee Tiong King (DAP) | 10,893 | 33.57% | 33,679 | 10,665 | 71.39% | ||
| 1990 | Abdul Ghani Othman (UMNO) | 21,802 | 60.47% | Othman Tambi (S46) | 14,255 | 39.53% | 37,569 | 7,547 | 73.13% | |||
| 2013 | P162 Gelang Patah, Johor | Abdul Ghani Othman (UMNO) | 39,522 | 42.04% | Lim Kit Siang (DAP) | 54,284 | 57.74% | 95,071 | 14,762 | 89.08% | ||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | N04 Serom | Abdul Ghani Othman (UMNO) | 16,789 | 80.15% | Husni Md. Alip (S46) | 3,293 | 15.72% | 20,946 | 13,496 | 71.79% | ||
| 1999 | Abdul Ghani Othman (UMNO) | 14,652 | 67.12% | Abdullah Husin (PAS) | 6,404 | 29.34% | 21,830 | 8,248 | 71.75% | |||
| 2004 | N11 Serom | Abdul Ghani Othman (UMNO) | 11,276 | 75.99% | Abu Bakar Tambi (PAS) | 3,195 | 21.53% | 14,838 | 8,081 | 73.08% | ||
| 2008 | Abdul Ghani Othman (UMNO) | 10,088 | 64.63% | Rusman Kemin (PAS) | 5,117 | 32.78% | 15,609 | 4,971 | 75.85% | |||
Honours and awards
editThe Sultan of Johor awarded Abdul Ghani the Order of the Crown of Johor; Setia Mahkota Johor (SMJ) medal in 1989 and the Royal Family Order of Johor; Darjah Kerabat Johor Yang Amat Dihormati Pangkat Kedua (D.K. II) in 1996.[9] He was then conferred the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Johor (SPMJ) in 2004, which carries the title Dato'.[10]
On 9 April 2009, Sultan Iskandar bestowed upon Abdul Ghani the highest award in the State of Johor, DK (I). It is very rare for a commoner to receive such an award, which is normally given to royals.
Honours of Malaysia
edit
Malaysia :
Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2014)[11][12]
Johor :
Companion of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SMJ) (1989)[13]
Second Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK II) (1996)[11][9]- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato' (2004)[11][10]
First Class of the Sultan Ibrahim Medal (PIS I) (2008)[14]- First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I) (2009)[15]
References
edit- ^ "Board of Directors". Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
- ^ "kk1.um.edu.my". Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
- ^ Nambiar, Ravi & Nadzmi, Siti Nurbaiyah (6 November 2006). "Ghani: Bangsa Malaysia is rojak and unacceptable" Archived 13 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, p. 10. New Straits Times.
- ^ Nambiar, Ravi & Nadzmi, Siti Nurbaiyah (7 November 2006). "No Bangsa Malaysia in Constitution, says Najib", p. 6. New Straits Times.
- ^ Tan, Marsha (3 December 2006). Ghani on why people cannot accept concept. The Star.
- ^ a b "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 27 May 2010. Percentage figures exclude informal votes. Independent and third party candidates not listed.
- ^ a b "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. Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2017.Results only available for the 2013 election.
- ^ a b "Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran Bergelar Bagi Tahun 1996 Mengikut Negeri" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Abdullah tops Johor Sultan's birthday list". The Star. 8 April 2004. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b c "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "IGP leads King's honours list". The Star. 7 June 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Dr M Heads Johore Sultan's Awards. New Straits Times. 8 April 1989.
- ^ "Ghani to receive highest award in Johor". The Star. 8 April 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "Sultan of Johor Birthday's Honours List 2009". The Star. 11 April 2009. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
External links
edit- Umno's Men-In-Waiting, 12 May 2000, Asiaweek