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Datuk Mohd Zaid bin Ibrahim (Jawi: محمد زيد بن إبراهيم; born 10 April 1951) is a Malaysian politician, lawyer and former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Legal Affairs and Judicial Reform (March 2008-September 2008). He was previously a Senator in the Dewan Negara, the upper chamber of the Parliament of Malaysia.

He was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), before being suspended on 2 December 2008. UMNO is part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition which he joined in 2000. He was the Member of Parliament for Kota Bharu from 2004 to 2008. He is also the founder of Zaid Ibrahim & Co., the largest private law firm in Malaysia. Presently he is a member of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

He also acted as the defense attorney for former prime minister Najib Razak in the RM42 million SRC money laundering case. Najib was imprisoned on 23 August 2022, following an unsuccessful appeal.

Early life and legal career

Born in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Zaid went to Sultan Ismail College, Kota Bharu before started his law studies in Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam (or Institut Teknologi Mara as it was known then) by taking his LL.B (Hons.) External Programme which was conducted by the University of London. Upon graduating from ITM, he went to London and was accepted as a Barrister-at-Law, Inner Temple. In 1987 he founded Zaid Ibrahim & Co., which as of 2008 is the largest law firm in Malaysia with over 140 lawyers.

Early membership with UMNO

In 2000, he joined UMNO, becoming Kota Bharu UMNO division chief a year later. He was later suspended but became Kelantan Umno deputy lion chief two years later. Zaid contested and won the Parliamentary seat of Kota Bharu in the 2004 general election. However, UMNO dropped him as a candidate in the 2008 general election. It suffered heavy losses, including the 2/3 majority necessary in the Dewan Rakyat to pass amendments to the Constitution.

Zaid is known for his criticism of the government's handling of legal issues such as the judiciary, human rights and Islamic law. He supported the establishment of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Video Clip, criticising the government's initial response to the clip.

As minister

When the then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reshuffled his Cabinet after the just concluded 2008 general election, he appointed Zaid as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department to oversee legal affairs and judicial reform. He was previously dropped from defending his seat as Member of Parliament for Kota Bharu which he won in 2004.

Zaid succeeded Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, who had previously held the portfolio, but as of 2008 continues to be a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department tasked with parliamentary affairs. Zaid was also appointed senator to the Dewan Negara on 18 March so he could take up his Cabinet posting. His appointment was greeted by The Economist as the "most promising" in the new Cabinet.

His appointment as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of reforming the judiciary, which has been riddled with scandals, especially following the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Video Clip, is seen as an attempt by then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to weed out corruption and instill public respect and confidence in the judiciary.

Following his appointment as a Minister, Zaid resigned from all his posts in Zaid Ibrahim & Co., and relinquished his shares in the company. He was replaced as chairman by Nik Norzul Thani, who said the firm was implementing a succession plan they drew up after Zaid's election in 2004.

2008: Resignation from the Cabinet

After criticising the arrests of three prominent individuals—Democratic Action Party MP Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng—under the Internal Security Act, Zaid resigned from the Cabinet on 15 September 2008.

Zaid Ibrahim urged the Yang di-Pertuan Agong not to appoint Najib Razak as Prime Minister of Malaysia, and instead appoint someone else from UMNO. He pointed out Najib has been linked on the internet and by political rivals to the brutal murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu. Zaid also cited the RM400 million in commissions reportedly paid by the Defence Ministry while Najib was minister for the procurement of submarines, and pointed out that Abdul Razak Baginda, Najib's friend, was an agent in the deal. This was after Mahathir Mohamad, the former Prime Minister also said that Najib did not shine as a deputy prime minister and stated that Najib carried a lot of baggage into the Prime Minister's job.

Political career after 2009

2009-2010: Joining Parti Keadilan Rakyat

In June 2009 Zaid joined the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). As part of the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, Zaid was appointed to head the coalition's Common Policy Framework group where he was responsible for formulating a common manifesto and governing policy between the three disparate political parties (PKR, PAS, DAP) that made up the loose opposition alliance. He also headed efforts, in his role as Pakatan coordinator and pro-tem committee chairman of Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia, to register Pakatan Rakyat as an official political coalition party with Malaysia's Registrar of Societies on 3 November 2009. During the Hulu Selangor by-election in April 2010, Zaid was also fielded as the PKR candidate, but was narrowly defeated by P. Kamalanathan of the Malaysian Indian Congress.

In the 2010 PKR party elections, Zaid Ibrahim contested for the party post of Deputy President after having received over 30 nominations. He confirmed his candidacy in a posting on his blog on 16 October 2010. However, in November 2010, Zaid Ibrahim withdrew his candidacy as a sign of protest against serious allegations of fraud and electoral misconduct perpetrated in the PKR party elections by his opponent, the PKR establishment candidate Azmin Ali. He subsequently resigned from the party, citing his loss of confidence in the PKR party leadership for their involvement in the electoral fraud of the 2010 party elections.

2010-2012: Founding KITA

On 13 December 2010, the Malaysian Human's Justice Front (AKIM), a tiny Kelantan-based opposition party, announced that Zaid Ibrahim has joined its ranks as a party member, with the view of having Zaid lead and revamp AKIM into a viable political party for the coming 13th Malaysian General Elections. The party further explained that Zaid had submitted his membership application to join AKIM in Nov 2010 after his former party, PKR, accepted Zaid's resignation.

During the party's annual general meeting on 15 December 2010, Zaid Ibrahim was elected as the party's new president, taking over from Zakaria Salleh, the outgoing president of AKIM. The party also announced that it had adopted a new name, the People's Welfare Party or Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA). Zaid Ibrahim also announced that KITA would be a multi-racial democratic party open to all races in Malaysia, and despite its current small size, aims to make an impact in the country's political scene by focusing on goals for the long haul. Zaid also unveiled the KITA's official party ideology and principles, including its new constitution, manifesto, and logo, in Kuala Lumpur on 19 January 2011. Zaid resigned as KITA chief in 2012.

2012-2017: Becoming an Independent

In 2014, after stating that the lack of religious discourse by the religious leaders in Malaysia that does not allow for different interpretations of Islam promotes extremism and makes Malaysia similar to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, he was criticised by Islamic scholar Fathul Bari Mat Jahya for being a liberal who only wanted to follow civil laws and not those created by Allah and that it is the responsibility of the Ulema to specifically identify what is wajib (obligatory), halal (allowed), and haram (prohibited).

2017-2020: Joining Democratic Action Party

In 2017, Zaid had announced in a press conference in his Petaling Jaya home that he has officially joined the Democratic Action Party, reasoning that "he will be able to reach out to Malay voters".

On 20 April 2020, Zaid had announced he was leaving DAP.

On 20 October 2020, Zaid was no longer Kelantan DAP Chairman. He said "Many still describe me as Kelantan DAP chief. It's no longer true,...".

2022-present: Returning To UMNO

In August 2022, Zaid Ibrahim returned to UMNO. He said "I want UMNO because I feel that they can provide that solidarity. They can provide that energy and the strength to bring everybody else on board and institute real reform in this country..."

On 16 September 2022, Zaid rejoined UMNO. He said he wants to reform the party from “within”.

On 14 June 2023, Zaid has called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to release former Prime Minister Najib Razak "in the interest of the people." He argues that in the grand scheme of things, the RM42 million (the amount of corruption for which Najib is imprisoned) is a relatively minor issue.

Personal life

Zaid is married to Datin Suliana Shamsuddin Alias and the couple have three children. In 2008, he was one of four Malaysians named by Forbes in its list of generous and interesting philanthropists in Asia, for starting the Kelantan Foundation for the Disabled in 1998. The foundation provides free counselling services, physiotherapy, transportation and home visits to 2,400 disabled individuals from Zaid's home state of Kelantan, who have Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, blindness, or other disabilities.

Election results

Honours

•  Malacca :
  • Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (2003)

References

1. Lim, Ida (26 July 2022). "Najib drops Shafee for SRC appeal, appoints Zaid Ibrahim's firm as his new lawyers". Malay Mail.
2. Lim, Ida (12 August 2022). "Zaid Ibrahim: My law firm will continue as Najib's lawyers in SRC appeal, we don't abandon clients". Malay Mail.
3. Latiff, Rozanna (23 August 2022). "Malaysian ex-PM Najib goes to jail for graft after losing final appeal". Reuters.
4. ^ "Zaid quits his law firm". The Star. 24 March 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
5. ^ "New ministers and deputy ministers". The Star. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2008.
6. ^ "Shuffling deckchairs". The Economist. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
7. "Big surprises as Umno stalwarts dropped…and return". New Straits Times. 18 March 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
8. Loh, Deborah (18 March 2008). "'It's going to be one hell of a Parliament'". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
9. "Malaysian minister quits in furore over crackdown", AFP, 15 September 2008.
10. Zaid urges King not to make Najib PM , (Malaysian Insider), 18 March 2009.
11. Najib not right man for PM, says Zaid, (The Nut Graph), 18 March 2009.
12. Zaid joins PKR , (The Malaysian Insider), 13 June 2009.
13. Zaid outlines Pakatan blueprint for change, (Malaysiakini), 18 October 2009
14. Zaid: Pakatan's CPF a project of national liberation, (Malaysiakini), 19 December 2009
15. Zaid to helm Pakatan Rakyat, (Malaysiakini), 4 November 2009
16. Keeping PR together, (The Nut Graph), 9 November 2009
17. "Zaid Claims Election Was Not Clean". Bernama. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
18. "Zaid Stays in the Race for Number Two". Free Malaysia Today. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
19. Zaid quits No. 2 race, all PKR posts, (The Malaysian Insider), 8 November 2010
20. Zaid wants Anwar out, Azmin disqualified, (FreeMalaysiaToday), 9 November 2010
21. Zaid likely to form new party, (The Malaysian Insider), 19 November 2010
22. Malaysia's opposition: Nurul, just like the old one, (The Economist), 2 December 2010
23. Zaid Ibrahim now an Akim member Archived 16 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, (The Malaysian Insider), 13 December 2010
24. Akim renamed to Kita, Zaid is new chief, (The Star), 15 December 2010
25. Zaid resurrects political career, appointed new party chief Archived 17 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, (FreeMalaysiaToday), 15 December 2010
26. Zaid: Kita not in Pakatan fold Archived 18 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, (The Malaysian Insider), 15 December 2010
27. "No basis for ROS ultimatum, says KITA chief". Free Malaysia Today. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
28. Malaysia Today: "Respect ‘all-encompassing’ God’s laws, Umno cleric tells Zaid Ibrahim" Archived 23 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine October 1, 2014
29. Carvalho, Martin (7 February 2017). "Zaid Ibrahim joins DAP". The Star. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
30. "Letter to DAP" (JPG). Retrieved 26 August 2023.
31. "Zaid tidak lagi Pengerusi DAP Kelantan". 8 October 2020.
32. "Consider This: Zaid Ibrahim | "Why I'm Returning to UMNO"". YouTube.
33. "Zaid Ibrahim rejoins Umno".
34. "Zaid urges PM to free Najib because RM42m is 'small change'". Malaysiakini. 14 June 2023.
35. Champion of Unpopular Causes, (Forbes), 10 March 2008
36. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 19 June 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.

External links

• Official Blog

v t e Third Abdullah cabinet (2008–2009)
Prime Minister: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Najib Razak Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz Ahmad Zahid Hamidi Amirsham Abdul Aziz Zaid Ibrahim Bernard Giluk Dompok Nor Mohamed Yakcop Syed Hamid Albar Muhyiddin Yassin Hishammuddin Hussein Douglas Uggah Embas Zulhasnan Rafique Ong Tee Keat Mustapa Mohamed Liow Tiong Lai Azalina Othman Said Shafie Apdal Ong Ka Chuan Rais Yatim Mohamed Khaled Nordin Subramaniam Sathasivam Shahrir Abdul Samad Noh Omar Muhammad Muhammad Taib Mohd Zin Mohamed Maximus Johnity Ongkili Shaziman Abu Mansor Peter Chin Fah Kui Ng Yen Yen Ismail Sabri Yaakob Ahmad Shabery Cheek

• 1951 births
• Living people
• People from Kota Bharu
• Malaysian people of Malay descent
• Malaysian Muslims
• 20th-century Malaysian lawyers
• Malaysian political party founders
• United Malays National Organisation politicians
• Former People's Justice Party (Malaysia) politicians
• Former Democratic Action Party (Malaysia) politicians
• People's Welfare Party (Malaysia) politicians
• Independent politicians in Malaysia
• Government ministers of Malaysia
• Members of the Dewan Negara
• Alumni of the University of London
• Malaysian MPs 2004–2008