Zambry Abdul Kadir

Zambry obtained his early education on Pangkor Island and attended secondary school in Sitiawan (SMK Sitiawan) before continuing his upper secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Panglima Bukit Gantang, Parit Buntar, Perak.^[5]

He holds a PhD in Political Thoughts with distinction from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (1995), after completing his master's degree in Political Philosophy and Comparative Religion from the same university in 1993.^{[citation needed]}

Zambry also holds another master's degree, in Islamic Thoughts, from the International Islamic University Malaysia, which he received in 1991 after completing his first degree, a B.Econ (Hon) in Economics from the same institution.

Zambry entered politics in 1995 after returning from the United States. He began his political career as the Pangkor UMNO Branch Chief before being elected as the Lumut UMNO Youth Division Chief. He later served as a State UMNO Youth Chief and became an executive council member of the National UMNO Youth.^[7]

In the 2004 Malaysian general election, he was elected as the Perak State Legislative Assembly member for Pangkor and retained the seat in the 2008^[8] and 2013 general elections.

Zambry was the head of Perak UMNO until he was succeeded by Saarani Mohamad. He continues to hold the Lumut UMNO Division Chief position.

In 1998, he was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

A member of the Perak state legislative assembly, Zambry was a figure in the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis as the intended Menteri Besar. After three state assembly persons from the Pakatan Rakyat coalition announced their intention to support a candidate for Menteri Besar, they lent their support to a vote of no confidence in the incumbent Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin. Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak requested Nizar's resignation and swore in Zambry as the new Menteri Besar on February 6, 2009, in which Zambry held for about three months. However, Nizar maintained that the Sultan was not permitted by the state constitution to dismiss him as the Menteri Besar. On May 11, 2009, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Nizar had always been the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak.^[9] To maintain administrative continuity, Nizar tentatively endorsed most of Zambry's policies, subject to later review, but reinstated the 817 village development and security committees and 318 local government councillors whom Zambry had sacked.^[10] However, the following day, the Court of Appeal granted a conservation of the High Court judgement, and Zambry returned to the post.^{[citation needed]}

On May 22, 2009, the Court of Appeal unanimously declared Zambry as the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak.^[11] The court ruled that the High Court's earlier decision on declaring Nizar as the legitimate Menteri Besar was erroneous and accordingly set it aside. Delivering oral judgement, Justice Md. Raus held that the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, was correct in appointing Zambry as the new Menteri Besar under Article 16(2) of the Perak Constitution, after being satisfied that Zambry had the command of the majority of the state legislative assembly.^[12][13]

Among the books he has written are 'UMNO dan Jiwa Merdeka (CELDES KL 1998),' 'Pemuda UMNO Menebus Maruah,' 'Menuju Arah (May 2000),' and 'Islam Malaysia & Amerika.' His poems are compiled in an anthology in a book titled 'Suara Pelaut (The Voice of a Seaman).'^{[citation needed]}

Zambry has edited publications on education and development for Nurin Enterprise, K.L (1980) and served as editor of Business Administration in Islam, Hizbi (1991). He also edited Memperkasa Kepimpinan Merentas Masa Depan, CELDES, KL (1991). He was the Editorial Chief for Imbas Gemilang KBS 1998, a publication for the Ministry of Youth and Sports.^{[citation needed]}

Among his translation works are Faces of Islam (Berita Publishing, 1990), Qur'anic Sciences (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 1991) and Islamic Legal Philosophy (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Oktober, 2000).^{[citation needed]}

In 2014, Zambry received a special recognition at the Global Islamic Finance Awards held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The award acknowledged his role in establishing the Yayasan Bina Upaya Darul Ridzuan, a state foundation aimed at addressing poverty-related issues in Perak.

He was also awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from the University of East London for his contributions to the State of Perak.^[14]

• Malaysia
  • Recipient of the General Service Medal (PPA)
  • Recipient of the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
  • Recipient of the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
  • Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
• Malaysian Armed Forces
  • Warrior of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service (PAT) (2014)^[22]
• Malacca
  • Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2009)^[23]
• Perak
  • Ordinary Class of the Perak Family Order of Sultan Azlan Shah (SPSA) – Dato' Seri DiRaja (2011)^[23][24]
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2009)^[23]
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (DPMP) – Dato' (2002)^[23]
  • Recipient of the Sultan Azlan Shah Silver Jubilee Medal (2009)
  • Recipient of the Sultan Nazrin Shah Installation Medal (6 May 2015)
• Selangor
  • Member of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (AMS)

• Monaco
  • Commander of the Order of Saint-Charles (27 November 2023)^[25]