KUALA LUMPUR – Newly elected Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul not only has vast experience in politics but also in government administration.
Johari’s road to Parliament began when he contested for the Sg Petani parliamentary seat in Kedah in the 10th general election (GE10) on a PKR ticket. However, he lost in his first attempt.
He tried his luck again in GE11, this time for the Batu Arang state seat in Selangor, and again tasted defeat.
Despite the two election losses, he bounced back and tried again in GE12, managing to win the Sg Petani seat, which he then retained for the next three terms.
In fact, the holder of a master of strategic studies from the University of Lancaster, England and a bachelor of South Asian studies from Universiti Malaya not only retained Sg Petani but also won the Gurun state seat in GE14.
In GE15, he made way for his son, Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, 26, to contest the Sg Petani seat while he defended Gurun.
As expected, Dr Taufiq won the seat, and the father and son reunited in the Dewan Rakyat after Johari was elected and took his oath of office as the new speaker today.
In public administration and involvement in non-governmental organisations, Johari had also served as an administrative and diplomatic officer, director of the National Civics Bureau, investment director of Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia, and director of Yayasan Gerak Bakti Kebangsaan.
In 2009, he received the Dato’ Setia Diraja Kedah award which carries the title Datuk.
Yesterday, Johari vacated his Gurun state seat with immediate effect. – Bernama, December 19, 2022
