# Zambry Abdul Kadir

Zambry bin Abdul Kadir (Jawi: زمبري بن عبدالقادر‎; born 22 March 1962) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Minister of Higher Education in the Unity Government administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since and as a senator since December 2022. He previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs prior to the 2023 cabinet reshuffle from December 2022 to December 2023, non-independent and non-executive Chairman of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) from August 2020 to December 2022, Leader of the Opposition of Perak briefly from July 2018 to August 2018, 11th Menteri Besar of Perak from February 2009 to May 2018, Member of the Perak State Executive Council (EXCO) in the Barisan Nasional (BN) state administration under former Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali from March 2004 to the collapse of the BN state administration in March 2008, and Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Pangkor from March 2004 to November 2022. He is a Supreme Council Member and the Division Chief of Lumut of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the BN coalition. He has also served as BN's Secretary-General since June 2021.

## Personal life

Zambry was born on March 22, 1963, in Pangkor Island, a tourist fishing settlement island in Perak, Malaysia.
He is married to Saripah Zulkifli and a parent to five children.

## Education

Zambry obtained his early education in Pangkor Island and secondary schools in Sitiawan (SMK Sitiawan) before continuing his upper secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Panglima Bukit Gantang, Parit Buntar, Perak, a high school located in the mainland.
He holds a PhD in Political Thoughts with distinction from Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (1995), after completing his Master's degree in Political Philosophy and Comparative Religion from the same university in 1993.
The Perak 11th Chief Minister also holds another master's degree in Islamic Thoughts from the International Islamic University Malaysia in 1991, after completing his first degree, B.Econ (Hon) in Economics from the same institution. In June 2015, Zambry attended a two-week Executive Leadership Development Program entitled "Leaders in development – Managing Change in a Dynamic World" at Harvard University, USA.
| Year | Institutions | Fields |
| 1987 | International Islamic University Malaysia | B.Econs (Hons) |
| 1991 | International Islamic University Malaysia | M.A (Islamic Thought) |
| 1992 | Temple University, United States | M.A (Political Philosophy and Comparative Religion) |
| 1995 | Temple University, United States | PhD (Political Thought) (Distinction) |

## Political career

Zambry entered politics in 1995 after returning from the United States. He began his political career as the Pangkor UMNO Branch Chief before being elected as the Lumut UMNO Youth Division Chief. He later served as a State UMNO Youth Chief and became an executive council member of the National UMNO Youth.
In the 2004 Malaysian general election, he was elected as the Perak State Legislative Assembly member for Pangkor and retained the seat in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.
Zambry was the head of Perak UMNO until he was succeeded by Saarani Mohamad. He continues to hold the Lumut UMNO Division Chief position.
In 1998, he was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

### Perak Constitutional Crisis

A member of the Perak state legislative assembly, Zambry was a key player in the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis as the intended BN Menteri Besar. After three state assemblypersons from the Pakatan Rakyat coalition announced their intention to support a BN candidate for Menteri Besar and to lend their support to a vote of no confidence to the incumbent Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak requested Nizar's resignation and swore in Zambry as the new Menteri Besar on 6 February 2009. For about three months, Zambry served as Menteri Besar. However, Nizar maintained that the Sultan was not permitted by the state constitution to dismiss him as the Menteri Besar, and on May 11, 2009, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Nizar had always been the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak. To maintain administrative continuity, Nizar tentatively endorsed most of Zambry's policies, subject to later review, but reinstated the 817 village development and security committees and 318 local government councillors whom Zambry had sacked. However, the following day, the Court of Appeal granted a stay of the High Court judgment, and Zambry returned to work.
On May 22 2009, the Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision, declared Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak. The court held that the order made by the High Court on May 11 2009, in declaring Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the legitimate Menteri Besar, was wrong and set aside that decision. Justice Md. Raus, in his oral judgement, also held that the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, was right in appointing Zambry as the new Menteri Besar under Article 16(2) of the Perak Constitution, after being satisfied that Zambry had the command of the majority of the state legislative assembly. For the record, Sultan Azlan Shah himself was well-versed in law as he had served as Lord President of the Supreme Court from 1982 to 1984.

## Writings

Zambry has written essays for local media and publications.
Among the books he wrote were UMNO dan Jiwa Merdeka (CELDES KL 1998), Pemuda UMNO Menebus Maruah, Menuju Arah (May, 2000) and Islam Malaysia & Amerika. His poems were compiled in an anthology in a book entitled Suara Pelaut (The Voice of a Seaman).
Zambry edited publications on Education and Development for Nurin Enterprise, K.L (1980), served as the Editor for Business Administration in Islam, Hizbi (1991), editor for Memperkasa Kepimpinan Merentas Masa Depan, CELDES, KL (1991). He was also the Editorial Chief for Imbas Gemilang KBS 1998, a publication for the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Among his translation works are Faces of Islam (Berita Publishing, 1990), Qur'anic Sciences (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 1991) and Islamic Legal Philosophy (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Oktober, 2000).

## Awards and recognitions

Zambry received the (GIFA 2014) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The special award was presented to him as an exemplary leader in eradicating poverty in the state by setting up Yayasan Bina Upaya Darul Ridzuan (YBUDR).

## Election results

Perak State Legislative Assembly :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 2004 | N52 Pangkor | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 8,349 | 50.00% | Suwardi Sapuan (PKR) | 2,680 | 16.04% | 16,712 | 5,669 | 80.15% |
| 2004 | N52 Pangkor | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 8,349 | 50.00% | Mohd Ishak Mohd Som (IND) | 117 | 0.70% | 16,712 | 5,669 | 80.15% |
| 2008 | N52 Pangkor | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 10,906 | 57.11% | Pkhrazi @ Pakhrazi Musa (PKR) | 5,121 | 26.82% | 19,097 | 5,785 | 84.60% |
| 2013 | N52 Pangkor | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 12,291 | 61.95% | Mohd Saifullah Mohd Zulkifli (PKR) | 7,167 | 36.12% | 19,840 | 5,124 | 83.30% |
| 2013 | N52 Pangkor | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 12,291 | 61.95% | Bernard Parenpa A/L John Parenpa Pall Raj (IND) | 51 | 0.26% | 19,840 | 5,124 | 83.30% |
| 2018 | N52 Pangkor | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 8,378 | 33.80% | Nordin Ahmad Ismail (BERSATU) | 6,752 | 27.30% | 19,547 | 1,626 | 79.00% |
| 2018 | N52 Pangkor | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 8,378 | 33.80% | Zainal Abidin Saad Ibrahim (PAS) | 3,638 | 14.70% | 19,547 | 1,626 | 79.00% |
Parliament of Malaysia :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 2018 | P074 Lumut | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 21,555 | 40.18% | Mohd Hatta Ramli (AMANAH) | 21,955 | 40.93% | 53,645 | 400 | 81.96% |
| 2018 | P074 Lumut | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 21,555 | 40.18% | Mohammed Zamri Ibrahim (PAS) | 10,135 | 18.89% | 53,645 | 400 | 81.96% |
| 2022 | P074 Lumut | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 24,849 | 34.92% | Nordin Ahmad Ismail (BERSATU) | 25,212 | 35.43% | 71,162 | 363 | 76.54% |
| 2022 | P074 Lumut | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 24,849 | 34.92% | Mohd Hatta Ramli (AMANAH) | 20,358 | 28.61% | 71,162 | 363 | 76.54% |
| 2022 | P074 Lumut | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 24,849 | 34.92% | Mohd Isnin Ismail (WARISAN) | 385 | 0.54% | 71,162 | 363 | 76.54% |
| 2022 | P074 Lumut | Zambry Abdul Kadir (UMNO) | 24,849 | 34.92% | Mazlan Abdul Ghani (PEJUANG) | 358 | 0.50% | 71,162 | 363 | 76.54% |

## Honours
### Honours of Malaysia

* Malaysia:
** Recipient of the General Service Medal (PPA)
** Recipient of the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
** Recipient of the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
** Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
* Malaysian Armed Forces:
** Warrior of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PAT) (2014)
* Malacca:
** Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2009)
* Perak:
** Ordinary Class of the Perak Family Order of Sultan Azlan Shah (SPSA) – Dato' Seri DiRaja (2011)
** Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2009)
** Knight Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (DPMP) – Dato' (2002)
** Recipient of the Sultan Azlan Shah Silver Jubilee Medal (2009)
** Recipient of the Sultan Nazrin Shah Installation Medal (6 May 2015)
* Selangor:
** Member of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (AMS)

### Foreign honours

* Monaco:
** Commander of the Order of Saint-Charles (27 November 2023)