Jamaluddin Jarjis

Malaysian politician

Jamaluddin bin Mohd Jarjis (25 May 1951 – 4 April 2015) was a Malaysian politician, diplomat and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. He served as the Chairman of the 1 Malaysia Peoples' Housing (PR1MA) and Malaysian special envoy to the United States.^[1]

Early life and education

Born on 25 May 1951 in Pekan, Pahang, Jamaluddin Jarjis obtained a First Class Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom in 1974 and MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manitoba, Canada in 1977. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems) from McGill University in 1980.^[2][3]

Political career

Jamaluddin was a Member of Parliament for Rompin, Pahang from 1990 until his death.^[4] He was elected to the UMNO Supreme Council in May 2000. In 2002, he was appointed as the Second Minister of Finance by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Jamluddim with Barack Obama in 2009

While serving as Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Jamaluddin oversaw the Angkasawan program, which resulted in Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor becoming the first Malaysian in space on 10 October 2007, when he blasted off to the International Space Station on board Soyuz TMA-11.^[5]

Cabinet positions

Jamaluddin held various positions in the Cabinet of Malaysia:

• Second Minister of Finance (November 2002 – January 2004)
• Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (January 2004 – March 2004)
• Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (March 2004 – March 2008)
• Ambassador of Malaysia to the United States (July 2009 – February 2012)

Family

Jamaluddin was married to a dentist, Puan Sri Dr. Kalsom Ismail, a renowned hardliner. The couple had four children.^[4][6]

Jamaluddin died in April 2015. In August 2018, his 83-year-old mother Aminah Abdullah has sought the Syariah Court to issue a faraid (Islamic wealth distribution) certificate to seek her share of her late son's estate said to be worth at least RM2.1 billion.^[7][8]

Death

On 4 April 2015, Jamaluddin Jarjis was killed when an AS 3655N2 Dauphin (Registration Number 9M-1GB) crashed into a jungle at Jalan Sungai Lalang in Kampung Pasir Baru near Semenyih, Selangor. Among those killed were a businessman, CEO of SP Baiduri Sdn Bhd, Tan Huat Seang and also a private secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, Azlin Alias.^[9][10] He was buried at Makam Pahlawan, located inside the Masjid Negara compound, Kuala Lumpur.^[11]

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

•  Malaysia :
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2014)^[13][14]
•  Pahang :
  • Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SAP) (1990)^[15]
  • Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato' (1992)
  • Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (2001)
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2004)^[16]
•  Kelantan :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (SJMK) – Dato' (2004)
•  Perlis :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2007)

References

1. "PR1MA wujud imbangan pembelaan". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 6 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
2. "Jamaluddin Jarjis: From academician to respectable diplomat". Astro Awani. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
3. "Your 10 questions with Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis". The Star. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
4. "Two new Ministers, one new deputy". The Star. Star Publications. 20 November 2002. Archived from the original on 30 November 2002. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
5. Bernama First Malaysian Goes Into Space, Nation Sets History^{[permanent dead link]} 10 October 2007
6. "Jamaluddin Jarjis's widow 'not ready to speak' - the Malaysian Insider". Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
7. "(Update) Jamaluddin Jarjis' mother seeks share of son's RM2 billion estate". Nor Azura Abdul Jalil and Rahmat Khairulrijal. New Straits Times. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
8. "Jamaluddin Jarjis RM2 Billion Fortune Opens Up A Can Of Worms – 22 Landed Properties In Malaysia , Properties In The US And Mecca , 19 Companies & 21 Bank Accounts". The Coverage. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
9. "Jamaluddin Jarjis, 5 others dead in Semenyih chopper crash". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
10. "Chopper crash: Jamaluddin Jarjis, five others killed". The Star.
11. "Semenyih crash: Jamaluddin laid to rest at National Mausoleum". The Star. 5 April 2015.
12. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
13. "IGP leads King's honours list". The Star. 7 June 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
14. "Fallen hero ASP Mohd Zabri, IGP head King's honours list". Bernama. The Sun Daily. 7 June 2014. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
15. Johor Ruler Heads Pahang honours list. New Straits Times. 24 October 1990.
16. "Sultan of Pahang's 74th birthday honours list". The Star. 26 October 2004. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.