Reezal Merican Naina Merican
Reezal Merican bin Naina Merican (Jawi: ريزل مريکن بن ناينا مريکن; born 29 July 1972) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Minister of Youth and Sports in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin since March 2020 after the implosion of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration in February 2020. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kepala Batas since May 2013 after the retirement of 5th and former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the MP from politics. He is also a member of the Supreme Council of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). He is a Malay of Indian descent.
Yang Berhormat Dato' Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican SSAP DIMP MP | |
---|---|
ريزل مريکن ناينا مريکن | |
Minister of Youth and Sports | |
Assumed office 10 March 2020 | |
Monarch | Abdullah |
Prime Minister | Muhyiddin Yassin |
Deputy | Wan Ahmad Fayhsal |
Preceded by | Syed Saddiq |
Constituency | Kepala Batas |
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
In office 29 July 2015 – 10 May 2018 | |
Monarch | Abdul Halim Muhammad V |
Prime Minister | Najib Razak |
Minister | Anifah Aman |
Preceded by | Hamzah Zainudin |
Succeeded by | Marzuki Yahya |
Constituency | Kepala Batas |
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Kepala Batas | |
Assumed office 5 May 2013 | |
Preceded by | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (UMNO–BN) |
Majority | 4,176 (2013) 4,736 (2018) |
Personal details | |
Born | Reezal Merican bin Naina Merican July 29, 1972 Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia |
Citizenship | Malaysian |
Political party | United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) |
Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN) Perikatan Nasional (PN) Muafakat Nasional (MN) |
Spouse(s) | Ismalina Ismail, Sharifah Norhaslinda |
Alma mater | International Islamic University Malaysia |
Before entering Parliament, Reezal worked in the bank sector.[1] Reezal took over Abdullah as the party's Division Head of Kepala Batas and as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the parliamentary seat.[2] Reezal won the seat in the 2013 Malaysian general election while defeated a candidate from the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) by 4,176 majority of the votes.[3] In October 2013, he was elected to Supreme Council of UMNO, the highest-ranking body of the party.[4] In a Cabinet reshuffle on 28 July 2015, Reezal was handpicked as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs by former Prime Minister Najib Razak. In the 2018 Malaysian general election, Reezal was re-elected.
Controversies
On 29 August 2015, Reezal intimated Malaysians participating in the Bersih 4 demonstrations abroad that the Foreign Ministry would gather their information for eventual legal action against them, without even citing which law the citizen abroad violated.[5]
Family
Reezal was rumoured to marry a third wife, a former actress in the nineties Mas Anizan.[6] After first wife Ismalina Ismail and second wife Sharifah Norhaslinda which once filed for divorce with Reezal but retracted.[7]
Election results
Year | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Reezal Merican Naina Merican (UMNO) | 25,128 | 54.53% | Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PAS) | 20,952 | 45.47% | 46,738 | 4,176 | 90.52% | ||
2018 | Reezal Merican Naina Merican (UMNO) | 22,459 | 42.94% | Zaidi Zakaria (AMANAH) | 17,723 | 33.89% | 53,127 | 4,736 | 87.78% | ||
Siti Mastura Muhammad (PAS) | 12,120 | 23.17% |
Honours
Pahang : Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato' (2006)[15][16] Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2008)[15][17]
See also
References
- "Reezal Merican appointed chairman of Amanah Raya Berhad". The Star. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- "Kepala Batas Umno division plans to set up Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Leadership Development Institute". ABN News. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- "Maklumat Terperinci Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- Irwan Muhammad Zain (20 October 2013). "Three UMNO Youths in supreme council". Astro Awani. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- "BERNAMA - Foreign Ministry Identifying Malaysian Protestors Abroad - Reezal Merican". www.bernama.com. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- Zaidi Mohamad (24 March 2015). "Mas Anizan bukan madu saya - Lynn Alkhaired" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- "Sinarharian - Sharifah Haslinda tarik balik permohonan cerai". www.sinarharian.com.my (in Malay). Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 26 May 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
- "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 24 March 2017.Results only available for the 2013 election.
- "my undi : Kawasan & Calon-Calon PRU13 : Keputusan PRU13 (Archived copy)". www.myundi.com.my. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
- "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13". Utusan Malaysia. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- "PM ketuai penerima darjah Pahang" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 24 October 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- "David Arumugam, Khadijah Ibrahim now Datuks". Bernama. The Star. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2018.