Hanifah Hajar Taib

Hanifah Hajar binti Abdul Taib; also known as Hanifah Hajar Taib Alsree (born 28 August 1972^[1]) is a Malaysian politician and businesswoman who has served as the Deputy Minister of Economy in the Unity Government administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Minister Rafizi Ramli since December 2022 and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mukah since May 2018. She was the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs for the second term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Minister Maximus Ongkili from August 2021 to the collapse of the PN administration in November 2022 and the first term in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Minister Maximus Ongkili from March 2020 to August 2021. She is a member of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a component party of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition and formerly BN coalitions.^[2] She is also the daughter of Abdul Taib Mahmud, the former Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak and former Chief Minister of Sarawak.

Background

Hanifah is the youngest daughter of the former Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Abdul Taib Mahmud, who was the longest-serving Chief Minister of Sarawak.^[3] while her mother, Laila Taib (née Lejla Chaleck), is Polish Lipka Tatar Muslim. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.^[1]

Before venturing into politics, she spent about two decades working in different fields.^[1] She is chief executive officer at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology as well as the Executive Director at Cats FM and Miri Marriott Resort & Spa.^[4] She is also a shareholder of Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad and the Non-Independent & Non-Executive Director of Sarawak Cable Berhad.^[1][4] She is also the Chairwoman of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia (PERKIM) Wanita Bahagian Sarawak.^[4]

Hanifah is married to a Singaporean businessman Syed Ahmad Alwee Alsree since 2000. In 2017, her wealth was estimated at RM 309 million, making her one of the richest women in Malaysia.^[1]

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaysia
  • Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2024)
• Sarawak
  • Commander of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (PSBS) – Dato (2013)
  • Gold Medal of the Sarawak Independence Diamond Jubilee Medal (2023)^[6]

References

1. ^ Ellia Pikri (26 July 2017). "Meet 9 of the Richest Women in Malaysia As of 2017". Vulcan Post. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
2. ^ "Portal Rasmi Parlimen Malaysia – Ahli Parlimen – YB DATO HAJJAH HANIFAH HAJAR TAIB" (in ms-MY). parlimen.gov.my. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
3. ^ Ellia Pikri (28 April 2018). "Hanifah wants to be out of her father's shadow". New Straits Times. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
4. ^ "Sarawak Cable Bhd (SCABLE:Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange)". Bloomberg. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
5. ^ "Federal Government Gazette – Results of Contested Election and Statements of the Poll after the Official Addition of Votes, Parliamentary Constituencies for the State of Sarawak [P.U. (B) 321/2018]". Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
6. ^ "Fadillah dahului senarai penerima pingat 60 Tahun Sarawak Merdeka" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.