Jamil Khir Baharom

Jamil Khir bin Baharom (Jawi: جميل خير بن بهرام) is a Malaysian politician and former military officer who has served as Chairman of Ex-Serviceman Affairs Corporation since February 2021. He served as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of religious affairs from April 2009 to the collapse of the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration in May 2018 the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jerai from May 2013 to May 2018, Senator from April 2009 to May 2013. He was a major general in the Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera of the Malaysian Army.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Baharom is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Jamil Khir. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berbahagia Major General (Rtd) Dato' Seri
Jamil Khir Baharom
PSAT SSDK SSAP DIMP DSNS JSM KMN
جميل خير بن بهرام
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
(Religious Affairs)
In office
10 April 2009 – 9 May 2018
MonarchsMizan Zainal Abidin
Abdul Halim
Muhammad V
Prime MinisterNajib Razak
DeputyMashitah Ibrahim (2009–2013)
Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (2015–2018)
Preceded byAhmad Zahid Hamidi
Succeeded byMujahid Yusof Rawa
ConstituencySenator
Jerai
Chairman of Ex-Serviceman Affairs Corporation
Assumed office
8 February 2021
MinisterIsmail Sabri Yaakob
(2021)
Hishammuddin Hussein
(2021–2022)
Mohamad Hasan
(since 2022)
Preceded byAbdul Aziz Ibrahim
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Jerai
In office
5 May 2013 – 9 May 2018
Preceded byMohd Firdaus Jaafar (PAS)
Succeeded bySabri Azit (PAS)
Majority1,196 (2013)
Personal details
Born
Jamil Khir bin Baharom

(1961-06-25) 25 June 1961
Yan, Kedah, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
CitizenshipMalaysian
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (BN)
SpouseFatmawati Saidin
Children6 (5 sons and 1 daughter)
Alma materUniversity of Malaya
Cordoba University
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionMilitary officer
Military service
AllegianceMalaysia Malaysia
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Branch/service Malaysian Army
Military Religious Corps
Years of service1986–2009
RankMajor General
CommandsDirector of the Religious Corps

Biography

Jamil Khir obtained his Bachelor of Sharia from the University of Malaya in 1986 and Master in Islamic Studies from the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences, Cordoba University in Virginia in 2000. He began his military service in 1986, as lieutenant in the Military Religious Corps (KAGAT). He was promoted to colonel in 2002 and brigadier general in 2005. In 2005, he was appointed director of Kagat, the first ever two-star general to serve in that capacity.[1][2]

He is a member of the Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Religious Programme Advisory Committee and often appears on RTM1's religious talk show Forum Perdana Ehwal Islam.[1]

Political career

In April 2009, Jamil Khir was appointed a Senator in the Dewan Negara. He joined Prime Minister Najib Razak's inaugural Cabinet, serving as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of religious affairs and heading the Department of Islamic Advancement of Malaysia (JAKIM).[3]

Following the revelation by authorities in 2010 that terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) had been actively expanding its activities in Malaysia, Jamil Khir became one of the leading figures in the Cabinet to deal with the situation.[4] He assured Malaysians that local Muslim missionary groups and religious schools were not influenced by JI and that his department was working with the Home Ministry to stifle the purported JI movement in Malaysia.[5][6] Regarding terrorism and religion, he said: "There are individuals or groups trying to make their way into these institutions to influence students. They use religion to realise their goal and this is the reason why terrorism is linked to Islam."[6] He also said that Malaysian students in the Middle East were being monitored for suspicious activity.[7]

Following a controversy in March 2011 involving underaged girls being married to middle-aged men, Jamil Khir defended the country's Syariah marriage laws, which apply only to Muslims. Rights groups called for laws that allow marriage under the age of 16 if religious officials give their consent to be amended. However, Jamil Khir disagreed, arguing that the current laws are sufficient as authorities "does not simply grant the consent [to marry someone aged 16 and below]."[8]

In June 2010, the site of the Warrior's Day celebration was moved from the National Monument as the National Fatwa Council deemed celebrations around the statues as idolatry and contrary to Islamic practices.[9]

Jamil Khir is an outspoken opponent of homosexuality. In November 2011, he called homosexuality "unconstitutional"; though he later clarified he meant it is against the Penal Code.[10] In response to a gay Malaysian pastor getting married in New York, Jamil Khir said same-sex marriage is a form of "extreme human rights" and "will create social problems."[11] He also criticised LGBT-rights event Seksualiti Merdeka for promoting "a deviation from society's norms."[12]

In the 2013 election, Jamil Khir moved to the House of Representatives, winning the seat of Jerai in Kedah. He defeated the incumbent Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Mohd Firdaus Jaafar.[13]

In the 2018 election, Jamil Khir failed to retain the Jerai parliamentary seat when he lost to Sabri Azit from PAS, in a closely three-corner fight with Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi from People's Justice Party (PKR) of Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Controversies

Fake Allegation Of Zakat Fund Misuse

On June 21, 2011, People's Justice Party (PKR)'s Secretary-General, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail questioned the Federal Government Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) misuse of RM32 thousand zakat. The RM31,150.00 check was submitted to Che Mat, Zainul Riijal Talha & Amir, who was self-signed by Che Mat, who is also Secretary MAIWP on April 21, 2010.While they are not the eighth asnaf. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim revealed that MAIWP's zakat allocation was used to finance the legal fees of Dato' Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and JAWI Director-General Datuk Che Mat Ali. They both faced court action for not initiating prosecution against Saiful Bukhari in the case of Qazaf involving case of Defamation II Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The question arises as "Datuk Che Mat Ali approves Datuk Che Mat Ali."

In September 2011, Jamil Khir denied an allegation by Malaysia Today that he used zakat funds collected by religious authorities to finance a house for his family. Malaysia Today had published a photo of his home, alleging that it was worth millions of ringgit. Jamil Khir said his house was renovated with his own money.[14][15]

Allegation of YaPEIM Fund Abuse

On 11 November 2015, National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) has claimed that Jamil Khir had used Malaysian Islamic Economy Development Foundation (YaPEIM) funds to go shopping and play golf in the United States.[16] Jamil Khir denied the allegation, stressing that it was not a recreational trip and has demanded for written apology from NOW's director, Akmal Nasir.[17]

Akmal Nasir appealed to be referred the law was decided by the Court of Appeal in the case of Defamation suit of Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob against Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd. (UMMB). Then the court strikes out Jamil Khir's lawsuit against Akmal Nasir.

The High Court has struck out a suit by Yayasan Pembangunan Anak Yatim/Miskin (Foundation for the Advancement of Orphans and the Poor, or Pemangkin) against YaPEIM and six others over misconduct and efforts to shut down the foundation.

False statement

In February 2020, while testifying as a defense witness in the trial of former Prime Minister Najib Razak concerning SRC International Sdn Bhd, Jamil Khir Baharom's testimony claiming that he was with Najib in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2010, for an informal meeting with the late King Abdullah was challenged by a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer. Mohd Nasharudin Amir, who serves as MACC’s assistant commissioner, informed the High Court that an article published in a bulletin by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) indicated that Jamil Khir was, in fact, addressing a gathering in Putrajaya on that very day.[18][19]

Election results
Parliament of Malaysia[13][20][21]
Year Constituency Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2013 P012 Jerai, Kedah Jamil Khir Baharom (UMNO) 32,429 50.94% Mohd Firdaus Jaafar (PAS) 31,233 49.06% 64,778 1,196 87.06%
2018 Jamil Khir Baharom (UMNO) 21,773 33.12% Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi (PKR) 21,651 32.94% 66,920 539 83.68%
Sabri Azit (PAS) 22,312 33.94%
2022 Jamil Khir Bahrom (UMNO) 16,269 19.77% Sabri Azit (PAS) 49,461 60.10% 83,294 33,192 78.37%
Zulhasmi Shariff (DAP) 15,590 18.94%
Mohd Nizam Mahsyar (PEJUANG) 973 1.18%

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

See also

References
  1. "Kagat director to handle Islamic affairs". The Nut Graph. 9 April 2009.
  2. "Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera". Archived from the original on 16 July 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  3. "Najib names 28-member Cabinet". The Star. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  4. "All-out effort needed against JI activities". The Star. 20 June 2010.
  5. "Local Missionary Groups Not Spreading JI Teachings – Jamil Khir". NAM News Network. Bernama. 19 June 2010.
  6. "Religious schools not recruiting JI members – Jamil Khir". Malay Mail. Bernama. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  7. "Students in Middle East Being Monitored To Prevent Involvement With Militant Activities". Bernama. 16 June 2006.
  8. "Malaysian minister rejects child marriage reform". AFP. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  9. Syed Mu'az Syed Putra (9 June 2011). "Jamil Khir: Don't question National Monument, Tunku's statue". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  10. Husna Yusop (22 November 2011). "Jamil Khir: I was "misquoted" on being homosexual is unconstitutional". The Sun. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  11. Chi, Melissa (14 August 2011). "Gay pastor union will cause social ills, Jamil Khir says". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  12. "Jamil wants Islamic units meet on sexuality, apostasy". The Malaysian Insider. 21 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  13. "Maklumat Terperinci Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  14. Syed Mu'az Syed Putra (15 September 2011). "Jamil Khir: I did not steal zakat money". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  15. NURHIDAYAH RAMLI."No zakat fund misuse", The Star, 13 January 2012. Retrieved on 23 April 2013.
  16. P. DIVAKARAN."Jamil Khir denies abusing funds for orphans and the poor ", The Star, 13 November 2015. Retrieved on 18 November 2015.
  17. RAHMAH GHAZALI."Apologise or get sued, Jamil Khir tells NOW ", The Star, 16 November 2015. Retrieved on 18 November 2015.
  18. "Ex-minister Jamil was not in Riyadh as he had claimed, says MACC man". The Edge Malaysia. 2 March 2020.
  19. TEE, KENNETH (2 March 2020). "SRC Trial: MACC man says Jamil Khir was in Putrajaya, not Saudi Arabia during informal Jan 2010 meeting with King Abdullah". Malay Mail.
  20. "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  21. "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  22. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
  23. "Negri Ruler heads Kedah Sultan's birthday honours list". The Star. 17 January 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  24. "Tengku Abdul Aziz dahului senarai penerima darjah Pahang" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
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