Azhar Azizan Harun

Azhar bin Azizan Harun (Jawi: أزهر بن عزيزان هارون; born 26 October 1962) is a Malaysian politician and lawyer. He is also known as Art Harun.[1] He has served as Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat since July 2020.[2] He served as Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) from September 2018 until his resignation in June 2020.[3][4]

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Azizan Harun is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Azhar.
Yang Berhormat Datuk

Azhar Azizan Harun

PJN
أزهر عزيزان هارون
10th Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
Assumed office
13 July 2020
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterMuhyiddin Yassin
DeputyMohd Rashid Hasnon
Azalina Othman Said
Preceded byMohamad Ariff Md Yusof
ConstituencyNon-MP (Independent)
9th Chairman of the Election Commission
In office
21 September 2018 – 29 June 2020
Nominated byMahathir Mohamad
Appointed byMuhammad V
Preceded byMohd Hashim Abdullah
Succeeded byAbdul Ghani Salleh
Personal details
Born (1962-10-26) 26 October 1962
Kampung Sanglang, Ayer Hitam, Kedah, Federation of Malaya
CitizenshipMalaysian
Political partyIndependent
RelativesIdrus Harun (elder brother)
Alma materUniversity of Malaya (LLB)
King's College London (LLM)
OccupationLawyer
Other namesArt Harun

Early life and Education

Azhar was born in Ayer Hitam, Kedah. He is the younger brother of Idrus Harun, who has been the Attorney-General of Malaysia since March 2020.[5][6]

Azhar read law at the University of Malaya and graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1986.[7] He then furthered his studies at the King's College London and obtained his degree of Master of Laws (with merit) there.[4]

Career

Azhar started his career at a firm named Allen & Gledhill in 1987 and also used to work at Tetuan KH Koh, Azhar & Koh in 1992. Then, he continued his career at various law firms like Tetuan Khaw & Hussein, Tetuan TH Su & Partners, Tetuan Lamin & Co, Tetuan Hisham Sobri & Kadir, Tetuan Shafee & Co and Tetuan Cheang & Ariff (owned by Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md. Yusof). He was also a defendant lawyer, as well as a solicitor at Tetuan Azhar & Goh.[4][8]

Chairman of Election Commission (2018-2020)

Azhar was appointed as the Chairman of EC on 21 September 2018 and served the office until his resignation on 29 June 2020. Eight by-elections were held under his chairmanship. He has implemented a number of reforms in the country’s electoral system including online voter registration, voter’s card, providing facilities for disabled and elderly voters as well as live-streaming of the vote counting process on Facebook.[4]

Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (since 2020)

Azhar was nominated as the next Speaker by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on 29 June 2020.[4] The nomination was made together with a motion to unseat Mohamad Ariff "as there is another nomination to the seat". Azhar won uncontested[9] and took the seat of Speaker on 13 July 2020, the same day the motion to unseat Mohamad Ariff, moved by Muhyiddin and seconded by Senior Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, succeeded with a 111-109 vote.[10]

Honours

References
  1. Yunus, Arfa (13 July 2020). "No regrets, says Art Harun on accepting Speaker's role | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  2. Yunus, Arfa (13 July 2020). "No regrets, says Art Harun on accepting Speaker's role | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  3. "Art Harun, dari mahkamah dan SPR ke Parlimen" [Art Harun, from court and EC to Parliament]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 13 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  4. "Art Harun, from court, EC and now Parliament". Bernama. The Edge Market. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  5. "Azhar Harun candidate for Dewan Rakyat speaker, Azalina deputy". 12 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. "Parlimen: Art Harun Speaker baharu". 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  7. "Art Harun dengan dua idolanya..." Malaysia Today (in Malay). 6 March 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  8. "Pelantikan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya". 21 September 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  9. Hasnan, Harits Asyraf (13 July 2020). "Azhar Azizan Harun YDP Dewan Rakyat baharu, angkat sumpah dalam suasana gempita". Astro Awani (in Malay). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  10. Palansamy, Yiswaree. "Malaysia likely set precedent as first country to remove a sitting parliamentary Speaker, says Mohamad Ariff | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  11. "795 terima darjah kebesaran, pingat sempena Hari Keputeraan Agong" (in Malay). Sinar Harian. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
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