Azhar Azizan Harun
Azhar Azizan Harun | |
---|---|
اظهر عزيزان هارون | |
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat | |
Assumed office 13 July 2020 | |
Deputy | Mohd Rashid Hasnon Azalina Othman Said |
Preceded by | Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof |
Constituency | Non-MP |
Chairman of the Election Commission | |
In office 21 September 2018 – 29 June 2020 | |
Preceded by | Mohd Hashim Abdullah |
Succeeded by | Azmi Sharom (acting) |
Personal details | |
Born | Kampung Sanglang, Ayer Hitam, Kedah, Federation of Malaya | 26 October 1962
Citizenship | Malaysian |
Political party | Independent |
Relatives | Idrus Harun (elder brother) |
Alma mater | University of Malaya University of London |
Occupation | Lawyer |
Other names | Art Harun |
Azhar bin Azizan Harun (Jawi: اظهر بن عزيزان هارون; born 26 October 1962) is a Malaysian politician and lawyer. He is also known as Art Harun.[1] He has served as Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat since July 2020.[2] He was also the Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) from September 2018 until his resignation in June 2020.[3][4]
Early life and Education
Azhar is the younger brother of Idrus Harun, who has been the Attorney-General of Malaysia since March 2020.[5][6]
Azhar read law at the University of Malaya and graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1986.[7] He then furthered his studies at the King's College London and obtained his degree of Master of Laws (with merit) there.[4]
Career
Legal practice
Azhar started his career at a firm named Allen & Gledhill in 1987 and also used to work at Tetuan KH Koh, Azhar & Koh in 1992. Then, he continued his career at various law firms like Tetuan Khaw & Hussein, Tetuan TH Su & Partners, Tetuan Lamin & Co, Tetuan Hisham Sobri & Kadir, Tetuan Shafee & Co and Tetuan Cheang & Ariff (owned by Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md. Yusof). He was also a defendant lawyer, as well as a solicitor at Tetuan Azhar & Goh.[4][8]
Chairman of Election Commission (2018-2020)
Azhar was appointed as the Chairman of EC on 21 September 2018 and served the office until his resignation on 29 June 2020. Eight by-elections were held under his chairmanship. He has implemented a number of reforms in the country’s electoral system including online voter registration, voter’s card, providing facilities for disabled and elderly voters as well as live-streaming of the vote counting process on Facebook.[4]
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (since 2020)
Azhar was nominated as the next Speaker by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on 29 June 2020.[4] The nomination was made together with a motion to unseat Mohamad Ariff "as there is another nomination to the seat". Azhar won uncontested[9] and took the seat of Speaker on 13 July 2020, the same day the motion to unseat Mohamad Ariff, moved by Muhyiddin and seconded by Senior Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, succeeded with a 111-109 vote.[10]
Honours
- Malaysia
- Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) - Datuk (2019)[11]
References
- ^ Yunus, Arfa (13 July 2020). "No regrets, says Art Harun on accepting Speaker's role | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Yunus, Arfa (13 July 2020). "No regrets, says Art Harun on accepting Speaker's role | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Art Harun, dari mahkamah dan SPR ke Parlimen" [Art Harun, from court and EC to Parliament]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 13 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Art Harun, from court, EC and now Parliament". Bernama. The Edge Market. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Azhar Harun candidate for Dewan Rakyat speaker, Azalina deputy". 12 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Parlimen: Art Harun Speaker baharu". 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Art Harun dengan dua idolanya..." Malaysia Today (in Malay). 6 March 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Pelantikan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya". 21 September 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ Hasnan, Harits Asyraf (13 July 2020). "Azhar Azizan Harun YDP Dewan Rakyat baharu, angkat sumpah dalam suasana gempita". Astro Awani (in Malay). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Palansamy, Yiswaree. "Malaysia likely set precedent as first country to remove a sitting parliamentary Speaker, says Mohamad Ariff | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "795 terima darjah kebesaran, pingat sempena Hari Keputeraan Agong" (in Malay). Sinar Harian. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- 1962 births
- Living people
- People from Kedah
- Malaysian people of Malay descent
- Malaysian Muslims
- Malaysian lawyers
- Malaysian politicians
- Independent politicians in Malaysia
- University of Malaya alumni
- Alumni of the University of London
- Commanders of the Order of Meritorious Service
- 21st-century Malaysian politicians
- Malaysian politician stubs