Azalina Othman Said

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Othman Said is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their 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
Azalina Othman Said in 2023
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
Monarch Abdullah
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Deputy Ramkarpal Singh
(2022–2023)
M. Kulasegaran
(since 2023)
Preceded by Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
(Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law))
Constituency Pengerang
In office
29 July 2015 – 10 May 2018
Monarchs Abdul Halim
(2015–2016)
Muhammad V
(2016–2018)
Prime Minister Najib Razak
Deputy Razali Ibrahim
Preceded by Nancy Shukri
Succeeded by Liew Vui Keong
Constituency Pengerang
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Law and Human Rights
In office
30 September 2021 – 30 August 2022
Monarch Abdullah
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Position abolished
Constituency Pengerang
Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat II
In office
13 July 2020 – 23 August 2021
Monarch Abdullah
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin
(2020–2021)
Ismail Sabri Yaakob
(2021)
Preceded by Nga Kor Ming
Succeeded by Alice Lau Kiong Yieng
Constituency Pengerang
Minister of Tourism
In office
18 March 2008 – 9 April 2009
Monarch Mizan Zainal Abidin
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib
Preceded by Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor
Succeeded by Ng Yen Yen
Constituency Pengerang
Minister of Youth and Sports
In office
27 March 2004 – 18 March 2008
Monarchs Sirajuddin
(2004–2006)
Mizan Zainal Abidin
(2006–2008)
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy Ong Tee Keat
(2004–2006)
Liow Tiong Lai
(2006–2008)
Preceded by Hishammuddin Hussein
Succeeded by Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Constituency Pengerang
Information Chief of the
United Malays National Organisation
Assumed office
22 March 2023
President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Preceded by Isham Jalil
1st Women Youth Chief of the
United Malays National Organisation
In office
9 April 2001 – 25 September 2004
President Mahathir Mohamad
Deputy Noraini Ahmad
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Noraini Ahmad
Chairperson of the
National Film Development Corporation
In office
1 June 2015 – 29 July 2015
Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Preceded by Md Afendi Hamdan
Succeeded by Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Pengerang
Assumed office
21 March 2004
Preceded by Position established
Majority Walkover (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

December 31, 1963
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Political party United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political
affiliations		 Barisan Nasional (BN)
Alma mater University of Malaya
London School of Economics and Political Science
Occupation Politician
Profession Lawyer

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 in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Najib Razak from July 2015 to the collapse of the BN administration in May 2018 and in the Anwar Ibrahim Cabinet 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 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 and Division Chief of Pengerang of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the BN coalition. She has also served as the Information Chief of UMNO since March 2023 and also served as the 1st Women Youth Chief of UMNO from April 2001 to September 2004.

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. 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)Olympics Beijing,Japan,Malaysia?
  • 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. Her comments drew criticisms from Bersatu and Pakatan Harapan leaders.

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2004 P157 Pengerang, Johor 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) 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