Khairy Jamaluddin

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Khairy Jamaluddin bigraphy, stories - Malaysian politician

Khairy Jamaluddin : biography

10 January 1976 –

Haji Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (born 10 January 1976) is a Malaysian politician, and the son-in-law of former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Since 2008, Khairy has been a member of the Malaysian Parliament representing the constituency of Rembau. He is also the Chairman of Barisan Nasional Youth (the youth organisation of Malaysia’s governing coalition), and the Head of the youth wing of the UMNO political party. At UMNO’s grassroots level, he holds the post of Youth Chief in the Rembau division, and also heads the UMNO branch in Gadong (the birthplace of his father).

Political views

Journalistic independence and the Printing Presses and Publications Act

Khairy believes that Malaysia should and could repeal the Printing Presses and Publications Act, and abolish the annual Home Ministry licensing requirement, through the creation of an independent body which will enforce a self-regulatory mechanism of the system similar to the United Kingdom’s Press Complaints Commission.The Star. May 11, 2008.

Internet censorship

In August 2008, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission blocked access to the popular site, Malaysia Today. Khairy spoke against the move, citing that the move was a “blatant and crude employment of state power” and “is inconsistent with the widening roads of democratic highways.”The Star. August 31, 2008. Khairy also said that such move will only eliminate young urban voters voting from the ruling party, and is at odds with the Multimedia Super Corridor Bill of Guarantees – a 10-point Bill that prescribes zero Internet censorship.”

Teaching of Maths and Science in English

Following concerns about the declining command of the English language among students, the Malaysian Ministry of Education implemented a policy whereby Science and Mathematics would be taught in English in Malaysian Government schools. The policy was implemented from January 2003.BERNAMA. January 20, 2006. In September 2008, Khairy called for the reversal of the policy, citing that the policy had failed and only caused burden to students.New Straits Times September 9, 2008.Letter to the NST on Teaching Maths and Science in English September 9, 2008.

Involvement in the Army

Khairy joined the Rejimen Askar Wataniah or the Territorial Army as a reservist after completing one month of training in Negeri Sembilan and Johor in May 2010.The Malaysian Insider. May 25, 2010. He then completed a five-week basic static parachuting course conducted by the army’s Special Warfare Centre with 78 others in February 2011. The group marked the occasion by parachuting from an aircraft at a height of 1,000 mm to a drop zone in Padang Senai, Kuala Nerang, Kedah, where Khairy received his "wings".The New Straits Times 18 February 2011

Personal background

Khairy is the only son of former diplomat Dato’ Jamaluddin Abu Bakar and Dato’ Rahmah Abdul Hamid. Khairy’s late father, Datuk Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, was a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, retiring as the Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Dato’ Jamaluddin died of throat cancer. Khairy’s mother, Dato’ Rahmah Abdul Hamid, has been heavily involved in volunteer work throughout her life. Khairy’s grandfather, Penghulu Abu Bakar, was a community leader in Kota, Rembau.

Khairy was born in Kuwait City, Kuwait. He had his secondary education at the United World College of South East Asia in Singapore, and his university education at Oxford University and University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom. While at Oxford, he studied at St Hugh’s College, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). In 1998, he completed his Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory at UCL.

After leaving university, Khairy worked as a journalist for a period. He served as a presenter on the talkshow Dateline Malaysia. He also had a stint working for The Economist in 1999. Thereafter, Khairy became a Special Officer in the office of Abdullah Badawi, who was then the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. He was Abdullah’s Deputy Principal Private Secretary from 2003-04.