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Abdul Aziz Bari

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In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Bari is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Abdul Aziz. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Abdul Aziz Bari (born 22 August 1959) is a Malaysian politician and academic who has served as Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Tebing Tinggi since May 2018. He served as State Leader of the Opposition of Perak from May 2020 to November 2022 and Member of the Perak State Executive Council (EXCO) in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) state administration under former Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu from May 2018 to the collapse of the PH state administration in March 2020. He is a member and State Vice Chairman of Perak of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the PH coalition.[1]

Yang Berhormat Dr.
Abdul Aziz Bari
MLA
عبد العزيز باري‎
Abdul Aziz Bari
State Leader of the Opposition of Perak
In office
9 May 2020 – 21 November 2022
MonarchNazrin Shah
Menteri BesarAhmad Faizal Azumu
(2020)
Saarani Mohamad
(2020–2022)
Preceded bySaarani Mohamad
Succeeded byRazman Zakaria
ConstituencyTebing Tinggi
Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly
for Tebing Tinggi
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 May 2018
Preceded byOng Boon Piow
(PH–DAP)
Majority3,927 (2018)
660 (2022)
Member of the
Perak State Executive Council
2018–2020Chairman of the Education, Science, Environment, Green Technology and Information
Personal details
Born
Abdul Aziz bin Bari

(1959-08-22) 22 August 1959 (age 65)
Sabak Bernam, Selangor, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
Political partyPeople's Justice Party (PKR)
(2013–2015)
Democratic Action Party (DAP)
(since 2015)
Other political
affiliations		Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
(2013–2015)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(since 2015)
Barisan Nasional (BN)
(aligned:since 2022)
Alma materUniversiti Teknologi MARA (DPA)
International Islamic University Malaysia (LLB)
University of Nottingham (LLM)
University of Birmingham (PhD)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionProfessor and Lecturer
WebsiteAbdul Aziz Bari on Facebook

Background

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Aziz was born in Sabak Bernam[2] and resides in Bandar Baru Selayang, Selangor.[3]

Professional career

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Aziz is a former member of academia and lecturer in the field of law. He served in the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) as well as University of Selangor (UNISEL).[4] He is notable in Malaysian monarchy and constitutional law.[5]

Whilst serving as a lecturer in IIUM he was suspended[6] for his observations on statements of the Sultan of Selangor in a much controversial publicised action by Muslim religious authorities against a Methodist church for proselytization.[7] He was also a subject of investigation by authorities when he commented on the appointment of the Selangor Chief Minister being a prerogative of the Sultan of Selangor[8] whilst still serving as a lecturer in UNISEL.

Politics

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Aziz for the first time stood in the 2013 general election (GE13) as People's Justice Party (PKR) candidate for the Sabak Bernam parliamentary seat contesting against Mohd Fasiah Fakeh from United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) of Barisan Nasional (BN). He lost by 1644 votes from the 31,697 polled.[9][10][11]

He subsequently revived his political ambitions by joining the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in 2015.[12] He stood as a candidate in the Perak state assembly seat of Tebing Tinggi[13][14] in the 2018 general election (GE14). He won the seat against Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)'s Khoo Boon Chuan and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)'s Mazlan Md Isa with a majority of 3,927 votes against the closest challenger Khoo.[15] He retained the seat and was reelected as the Tebing Tinggi MLA with a smaller majority of only 660 votes in the 2022 Perak state election.

Aziz was appointed as the EXCO Chairman for Education, Environment, Green Technology & Information in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) new state government until its collapse due to the political crisis in 2020.[16] On 9 May 2020, he was chosen as the new Opposition Leader of Perak.[17] He relinquished the position following the return of PH to the state government of Perak on 21 November 2022 following the 2022 Perak state election. He was replaced with Razman Zakaria, Gunong Semanggol MLA from Perikatan Nasional (PN) that became the new state opposition coalition after the formation of the Barisan Nasional (BN) and PH state coalition government.

Controversies and issues

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Views and observations

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Aziz is often quoted based on his knowledge of the law, but he has also been known to give his personal opinion on matters,[18] including quotes that often put him at odds with religious movements and leaders.[19] In the leadup to the GE14, he publicly stated that PAS should not even dream of being in government.[20] In 2015, he commented that the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Idris should be investigated on charges of sedition, responding to social media posting by the Crown Prince on Johor's right to separate from Malaysia.[21]

None was as controversial as his earlier comments in 2011, when he commented on the Sultan of Selangor's defense of Muslim religious officials raiding a Methodist church. That resulted in his suspension as a law lecturer in IIUM, and then reinstatement upon widespread protests by students. However, he subsequently chose to resign from his position at IIUM.[22]

His outspoken views also often put him in trouble with the law, and he was probed further for illegal assembly in 2014[23] as well as a sedition probe.[24] His comments on the right to criticise the monarchy remain one of his most controversial statements.[25]

Suspension from work

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On 20 October 2011, Aziz was issued a show cause letter by IIUM and suspended from work[26] 'to facilitate investigations' as announced by the rector of IIUM, Zaleha Kamaruddin. She also clarified that his suspension was not without pay, and his rights to associate himself with the faculty remained open despite rumours against it. In the course of his suspension, other politicians clamoured for his resignation, including Member of Parliament (MP) of Kulim-Bandar Baharu, Zulkifli Noordin, which resulted in a lawsuit against the MP and the Malay newspaper Utusan Malaysia by Aziz.[27]

His main contention and comments that under the Sedition Act 1948 saying that the rights in the constitution allows anyone to criticize the monarchy, and that the right cannot be denied.[clarification needed][28]

Sedition probe

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While lecturing in UNISEL, Aziz was probed for sedition arising from an online newsportal report Sultan Selangor terikat Deklarasi 1992, perlu lantik Wan Azizah, kata Aziz Bari and Only God, not Sultan, has absolute powers.[29] This resulted in almost 100 police reports made against Aziz, and he was then investigated by the police. He responded by remaining silent during investigations.[30]

Vote of no confidence against Menteri Besar of Perak (purported)

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This purportedly arose from underlying currents in the 14th State Assembly sitting of the Perak Legislative Assembly, which Kota Tampan State Assemblyman Saarani Mohamad referred to when he made a statement to the media that the MB of the seating Ahmad Faizal Azumu would face a vote of no confidence led by State EXCO member Aziz Bari.[31] MP of Batu Gajah V. Sivakumar, in a response to the initial media statement, lodged a police report citing the Malaysian Penal Code at the Dang Wangi Police Station.[32] Other responses included one from fellow Perak State EXCO member A.Sivanesan who claimed that UMNO was 'daydreaming'.[33] With one day to the end of the 4th meeting of the 14th session of the state assembly, Aziz denied the claims by stating that he would never have achieved anything, citing only getting 18 votes of support from his party, whereas as claimed, another further five from UMNO and would still be short seven votes.[31] The talk of the purported vote of no confidence first emerged in mid-August when State Public Accounts Committee Chairman Abdul Yunus Jamahri publicly stated that it was mere speculation by the opposition.[34]

Election results

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Parliament of Malaysia[35][36]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2013 P092 Sabak Bernam Abdul Aziz Bari (PKR) 14,620 46.96% Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (UMNO) 16,510 53.04% 31,859 1,890 85.37%
Perak State Legislative Assembly[35][37][38]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2018 N26 Tebing Tinggi Abdul Aziz Bari (DAP) 10,334 39.70% Tony Khoo Boon Chuan (MCA) 6,407 24.60% 21,094 3,927 81.00%
Mazlan Md Isa (PAS) 3,931 15.10%
2022 Abdul Aziz Bari (DAP) 11,286 40.58% Mohammad Iskandar Abdul Rahman (BERSATU) 10,626 38.21% 27,811 660 74.71%
Tony Khoo Boon Chuan (MCA) 5,705 20.51%
Mior Haidir (PEJUANG) 194 0.70%

References

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  1. ^ "DAP law expert: Forming Perak govt a political issue". The Star Online. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  2. ^ "GE13: Former teachers and retired lecturer for Sabak Bernam and Sungai Besar seats - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  3. ^ "IIUM don gets bullet and death threat for remarks on Ruler - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  4. ^ "Law professor probed under assembly law over 2014 UIA gathering | Malay Mail". Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  5. ^ Abdul Aziz Bari (2013). The monarchy and the constitution in Malaysia. ISBN 9789671009451. OCLC 845081999.
  6. ^ "Students stage demonstration against IIUM don's suspension - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  7. ^ "'Don't politicise Jais church raid' - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  8. ^ "Latest academic targeted in sedition dragnet says unfazed by coming probe | Malay Mail". Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  9. ^ "Aziz Bari Bertanding Di Sabak Bernam Atas Tiket PKR". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  10. ^ "undi.info - Sabak Bernam - P92 | Malaysiakini". undi.info - Sabak Bernam - P92. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  11. ^ "Aziz Bari bertanding satu lawan satu di Sabak Bernam". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  12. ^ "Aziz Bari joins DAP - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  13. ^ "DAP proposes record 10 Malay candidates for GE14". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  14. ^ "Ipoh Timur's Khoo to face Abdul Aziz in Tebing Tinggi - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  15. ^ "undi.info - Tebing Tinggi (P64-N26) | Malaysiakini". undi.info - Tebing Tinggi (P64-N26). Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  16. ^ "Perak state exco sworn in - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  17. ^ "DAP's Aziz Bari appointed Perak Opposition leader". Malay Mail. 9 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Aziz Bari: Dr M can't say he acted on police advice - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  19. ^ "Fairuz's interpretation of Islamic law 'weird', says law expert". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  20. ^ "Don't dream of forming government, PAS told | Daily Express Newspaper Online". Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  21. ^ "No princes should be exempted from Sedition Act, says Aziz Bari | Astro Awani". english.astroawani.com. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  22. ^ Censorship, Index on (2011-12-21). "Malaysian professor resigns after threatened for criticising monarchy - Index on Censorship Index on Censorship". www.indexoncensorship.org. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  23. ^ "Law professor probed under assembly law over 2014 UIA gathering | Malay Mail". Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  24. ^ "Sassy MP » Blog Archive » Bukit Aman summons constitutional law expert Aziz Bari over 2014 sedition probe". teresakok.com. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  25. ^ "Aziz Bari: Tidak salah kritik Raja-raja". Malaysiakini (in Malay). 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  26. ^ "Prof Aziz suspension to facilitate investigation – IIUM Rector". BtuWeekly. 2011-10-21. Retrieved 2018-12-01.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ "Former UIA don sues MP and paper over slander allegations - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  28. ^ "Curbing insults to Malay royalty". www.asiaone.com. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  29. ^ "Academician Aziz Bari to be probed under Sedition Act | Astro Awani". english.astroawani.com. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  30. ^ "Aziz Bari opts to remain silent in sedition probe". The Edge Markets. 2014-10-01. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  31. ^ a b "Abdul Aziz Bari: I'm not out to oust Perak MB - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  32. ^ "Pakatan MP urges cops to probe rumours of plot against Perak MB | Malay Mail". Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  33. ^ "Umno daydreaming about no-confidence vote against Perak MB, says exco man". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  34. ^ "BERNAMA.com - No confidence vote against Perak MB claim mere speculation - Exco". www.bernama.com. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  35. ^ a b "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  36. ^ "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2013. Results only available for the 2013 election.
  37. ^ "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  38. ^ "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
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