# Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim bin Thamby Chik (Jawi: عبدالرحيم ثمبي چئ, Malay pronunciation:; born 10 April 1950) is a Malaysian politician. He was the 6th Chief Minister of Malacca from 1982 to 1994. He is a former Youth Chief of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a major component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He was aligned with Mahathir Mohamad during the 1987 UMNO General Assembly. Presently, he is a member and the Division Chief of Alor Gajah of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition and State Chairman of BERSATU of Melaka since January 2025.He is also formerly the Chairman of the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) from 2010 to 2015.

## Personal Life

His father, Thamby Chik Abdul Karim, died before his 16th birthday.

## Background

Rahim married Zabedah Abdullah and the couple have 4 children; Zetty Juyanty, Tutty Rahiza, Petty Diyana and Rahimy. Their eldest daughter, Zetty married the former TV3 personality, Kelvin Ong née Zahir Kelvin Ong Abdullah.

## Education

Rahim received his primary school education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah. Then he studied at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ghafar Baba, Malacca and Sekolah Menengah Datuk Seri Amar DiRaja, Muar, Johor. He continued his studies at University of Malaya (UM) and managed to graduate with bachelor's degree of Applied Economy (1969-1973).

## Controversies

In 1994 Rahim was initially charged with statutory rape of an underaged girl; however, the public prosecutor later withdrew the charge citing lack of evidence. He resigned as chief minister of Malacca and youth chief of UMNO amid allegations he had sexual relations with the 15-year-old girl. In 1995, Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader, Lim Guan Eng, who in the past had accused Rahim of raping the minor and had criticised the then-government for not acting against Rahim; was charged and sentenced to 18 months’ jail by the Melaka High Court for maliciously printing false news instead under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and under the Sedition Act 1948, but Lim was eventually released after 12 months.
In 1999, Anwar Ibrahim in one of four police reports he made; Tun H.S. Lee report 22517/99 dated 20 August 1999 had accused that the then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah and Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail for abuse of power to cover-up the corruption case involving Rahim. A copy of the report was also sent to the Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) then.
On 21 March 2011, Rahim was one of the 'Datuk T' trio; together with Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Datuk Shuaib Lazim who screened a sex video at Bilik Seri Makmur, Hotel Carcosa Seri Negara; claiming it was of the opposition leader then Anwar Ibrahim allegedly engaging a prostitute to journalists which Anwar had denied the allegation. On 24 June 2011, they were charged and fined by Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court for screening the sex video after they pleaded guilty.
Rahim was fined RM1,900 in default three months imprisonment by the Shah Alam Sessions Court on 20 September 2016, for making an offensive comment about Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah on 25 September 2015. He also tendered a public apology to Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Tengku Amir, besides expressing remorse for his action. Rahim had earlier on 5 October 2015 claimed trial to an original charge of posting a seditious claim in his Facebook account that Tengku Amir was an apostate. However, the prosecution withdrew the charge after he pleaded guilty to the alternative charge.

## Election results

Parliament of Malaysia :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 1978 | P095 Alor Gajah, Malacca | | Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik (UMNO) | 22,745 | 76.79% | | Yaakop Abdul Hassan (PAS) | 6,876 | 23.21% | | 15,869 | |
Malacca State Legislative Assembly :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate |
| 1982 | N04 Kelemak | Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik (UMNO) |
| 1986 | N03 Masjid Tanah | Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik (UMNO) |
| 1990 | N03 Masjid Tanah | Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik (UMNO) |

## Honours
### Honours of Malaysia

* Malaysia :
** Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (1990)
** Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1980)
* Malacca :
** Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (1984)
** Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)
* Johor :
** Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (DPMJ) – Dato' (1983)
* Sarawak :
** Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) – Datuk Amar (1988)
* Selangor :
** Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSSA) – Dato' Seri (1989)