Idris Haron

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Haron is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Idris. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Seri Utama Idris Haron DUNM DGSM SSAP DCSM DMSM DSM
إدريس هارون‎
10th Chief Minister of Malacca
In office 7 May 2013 – 10 May 2018
Governor	Mohd Khalil Yaakob
Preceded by	Mohd Ali Rustam
Succeeded by	Adly Zahari
Constituency	Sungai Udang
Leader of the Opposition of Malacca
In office 10 May 2018 – 24 April 2020
Governor	Mohd Khalil Yaakob (2018-2020)
Chief Minister	Adly Zahari
Preceded by	Khoo Poay Tiong
Succeeded by	Adly Zahari
Constituency	Sungai Udang
Ministerial roles
2008–2009	Deputy Minister of Higher Education
Exco roles (Melaka)
2020–2021	Chairman of the Regional, Rural Development and Flood Management Committee
Other roles
2010–	President of World Assembly of Youth
Personal details
Born	Idris bin Haron (1966-05-13) 13 May 1966 (age 58) Asahan, Malacca, Malaysia
Citizenship	Malaysian
Political party	United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (1993-2021) Independent (2021) People's Justice Party (PKR) (since 2021)
Other political affiliations	Barisan Nasional (BN) (1993-2021) Perikatan Nasional (PN) (2020–2021) Muafakat Nasional (MN) (2019–2021) Pakatan Harapan (PH) (since 2021)
Spouse	Fadilah Abdullah
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Texas at El Paso
Occupation	Politician
Website	idrisharon.blogspot.com

Idris bin Haron (born 13 May 1966^[1]) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 10th Chief Minister of Melaka from May 2013 to May 2018, Member of the Melaka State Executive Council (EXCO) from March 2020 to his resignation in October 2021, Member of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Sungai Udang from May 2013 to November 2021, Deputy Minister of Higher Education from March 2008 to April 2009 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tangga Batu from March 2004 to May 2013. Internationally, he is President of the World Assembly of Youth.^[2] He is a member of the People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. He was also member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Background

Idris is married with four children. For his primary education, he went to four different schools: Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan (SRK) Simpang Bekoh, SRK Belading, SRK Asahan from 1973 to 1977 and SRK Kubu from 1977 till 1978. He received his secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Sains Muzaffar Syah (MOZAC), Melaka^[3] from 1979 till 1983. At MOZAC, he became the school's best student. He later pursued his tertiary education at University of Texas at El Paso and received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering .^[1] His ambition was to become a pilot but he changed his mind to become an electrical engineer instead during interviews.

He was the Chairman of the Malaysian Student Conference until he graduated in 1989. In 1993 he participated in an intensive Japanese language training at ITM before pursuing further studies in a technical field at the Kensyu Centre in Tokyo, Japan. He has trained by the Kandenko Corporation Ltd for six months in Tokyo, Japan, in the field of electrical distribution systems. Before his election to Parliament, Idris was chairman of the Alor Gajah district council.^[4]

Political career

Idris was elected to federal parliament in the 2004 election for the newly created seat of Tangga Batu.^[5] In his first year in Parliament, Idris made international news for complaining that the outfits worn by stewardesses on Malaysia Airlines would result in male passengers sexually harassing the stewardesses.^[6] After the 2008 election, Idris was appointed a Deputy Minister for Higher Education in the government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.^[7]

In the 2013 election, Idris vacated his federal parliamentary seat to contest the seat of Sungai Udang in the Malacca State Legislative Assembly. The move was far from a demotion: it was carried out by the Barisan Nasional coalition to install him as the Chief Minister of Malacca, replacing Mohd Ali Rustam.^[8] The coalition retained its majority in the state assembly and Idris was sworn in as Malacca's tenth Chief Minister.^[9]

Chief Minister of Melaka

He continued the legacy of his predecessor, Mohd Ali Rustam, but with opposing style^[10] by establishing "Melaka Maju-Fasa Dua" (Progressive Melaka-Phase Two). He set up four principles under this umbrella.

1. First, to raise Melaka's quality of products and services to the highest possible level, exceeding the expectations of customers who comprise investors, tourists and the people in the state.
2. Second, system and mechanism of products and services in Melaka must be sustainable.
3. Third, establishing conducive environment for investors and
4. fourth, to maintain the motivation of Melaka's workforce to produce top-notch quality.^[11] He also works under the word "Berkat, Tepat, Cepat" (Blessed, Fast, Accurate).^[10]

Under his leadership, Melaka obtained its biggest investment ever in her history of RM 4.38 billion in 2014. The waterfront of Melaka, stretching as far as 73 kilometers, were also upgraded for future beach port.^[12] He launched "Don't Mess With Melaka", modeled after a 1986 "Don't Mess With Texas" campaign in a bid against littering, crime and social ills. The goal of the campaign was to ensure the state remained one of the cleanest in the country. The statewide campaign used T-shirt and billboard advertising. The campaign's slogan drew criticism on the basis that it could seem to promote gangsterism. Idris defended the slogan, saying that it was a way to grasp the attention of youths through creative and aggressive marketing.^[13]

In 2016, Malacca become the safest place to live in Malaysia.^[14] The state crime rates dropped by 15.5 per cent in 2017 with 3,096 cases recorded compared to 3,663 in 2016.^[15] The State Socioeconomic Report 2017 published on 26 July 2018 reported that Malacca was the state that recorded the lowest unemployment rate in 2017 with only 1.0 percent.^[16]

Redevelopment of the Big Island

He headed the Big Island (Pulau Besar) redevelopment project starting with electricity supply to Big Island involving 12 towers from 4.7 kilometers of Siring Beach which will supply electricity at a capacity of five megawatts to a maximum capacity of 132 megawatts. The project, which began on 5 November 2012 and completed in February 2015, is aimed at making 129.64 hectares of the Big Island and houses resorts and historic areas, as one of the major tourism products in Melaka. The upgrading of Sekolah Menengah Agama Dan Tahfiz Al-Quran Pulau Besar Melaka is also ongoing to provide students with greater comfort to memorize the Koran.^[17] He has planned to develop Pulau Besar as a tourist island in the state. In March 2016, preliminary allocations were given to repair the mosque and food court on the island, besides the construction of a Maahad Tahfiz. Focus is on basic development before being followed by other facilities, including an international standard food court. When all the repair and construction work on the island is completed, it will be able to become an international resort island capable of attracting many visitors. The development process in the island is run in stages. The island's maintenance and development project will be able to attract a large number of tourists. At the same time, it will be one of the major contributors to the Melaka economy.^[18]

Taking Serious Look At Khurafat Activity

A complete jetty and mosque with police cottages and CCTV surveillance are designed to be built on the Big Island to avoid the bad deeds of the visitors, thereby preventing the activities of superstition.^[19] He has decided to direct the State Mufti Department, the Melaka Islamic Religious Department to hold a deep discussion to resolve the issue of superstition in the Big Island. In February 2018, he had received a full report on his activities on the Big Island and requested that a discussion involve a large desk be made to find the most appropriate approach to address the problem. He had interviewed the organizers of the program on the Big Island, most of them defending that they were doing the right way because each brought in insight from some of the corners of the world. He has told them that the practice is against the Islamic creed and it has to be eradicated.^[20]

Melaka Development

Total gross domestic product (GDP) revenue of RM27.9 billion and per capita income of RM35,699 recorded in 2013 increased to RM33.2 billion and per capita income of RM41,363 in 2017. During 2013 to 2017, Melaka successfully brought investments from outside amounted to RM17.1 billion and this excludes agreed investment, bringing the total to more than RM22 billion. The elevated viaduct was constructed at the intersection of MITC International Trade Center and Peringgit and is expected to be completed in June 2018 to reduce traffic congestion.^[21]

Melaka Sports Development Icon

Idris has been named the recipient of the Melaka Sports Development Icon Award in March 2018 in recognition of his services helping to develop state sports especially football. Malacca football has made a resurgence within a short period of time and continues to be in the Super League. Excellence in sports is able to enhance the image and attention of the Melaka state in the eyes of the world, especially with the achievements of boasting Melaka athletes and teams.^[22]

Defection, resignation as EXCO member and subsequent defeat in reelection as MLA

On 4 October 2021, he and three other MLAs, Pantai Kundor MLA Nor Azman Hassan of UMNO, Telok Mas MLA Noor Effandi Ahmad of Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) and independent Pengkalan Batu MLA Norhizam Hassan Baktee declared their loss of confidence and withdrawal of support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali as well as claiming that the state government had fallen. On the same day, his UMNO membership was also nullified, after he triggered the collapse of the state government led by his party UMNO.^[23] He, Noor Effandi and Norhizam also resigned as EXCO members at the same day.^[24] He started aligning himself and three other MLAs with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition coalition to form a new state government. However, the assembly was instead dissolved and an election was called. However, he carried on aligning with PH and allowed PH to decide on the future of their political careers. On 6 November 2021, he officially joined the People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the PH coalition and was fielded to contest the Asahan state seat with the PH ticket but lost.

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia^[5]^[25]^[26]

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
2004	P136 Tangga Batu		Idris Haron (UMNO)	26,766	79.36%		Shamsul Iskandar Md. Akin (PKR)	7,522	20.64%	42,965	24,444	80.62%
2008			Idris Haron (UMNO)	30,460	65.62%		Zainon Jaafar (PKR)	15,960	34.38%	49,675	14,500	82.53%

Malacca State Legislative Assembly^[25]^[26]^[27]^[28]^[29]^[30]^[31]

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
2013	N11 Sungai Udang		Idris Haron (UMNO)	12,145	79.15%		Asri Buang (PKR)	3,009	19.61%	15,345	9,136	87.00%
2018			Idris Haron (UMNO)	10,073	56.22%		Mohd Lokman Abdul Gani (PKR)	7,844	43.78%	17,917	2,229	80.30%
2021	N10 Asahan		Idris Haron (PKR)	2,666	30.99%		Fairul Nizam Roslan (UMNO)	5,659	65.77%	8,604	2,993	65.18%
							Dhanesh Basil (Gerakan)	1,364	15.83%
							Mohd Noor Saleh (IND)	136	1.58%
							Azmar Ab Hamid (IND)	99	1.15%
							Mohd Akhir Ayob (IND)	44	0.51%

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

•  Malacca :
  • Member of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DSM) (2002)^[32]
  • Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (2005)^[33]
  • Knight Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DCSM) – Datuk Wira (2011)^[33]
  • Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2013)^[33]
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM) – Datuk Seri Utama (2016)^[33][34]
•  Pahang :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2015)^[33][35]

References

1. "Idris Haron Tangga Batu Melaka". Retrieved 25 January 2010.
2. "Idris Haron is World Assembly of Youth president". Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
3. Norizah Baba (2 March 2010). "MOZAC e Tinta". Retrieved 10 February 2016.
4. "City Council status for Malacca". New Straits Times. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
5. "Malaysia Decides 2008". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010. Includes results from the 2004 election. Percentage figures are calculated based on total turnout.
6. "Lust in the sky troubles Malaysia's parliament". USA Today. 15 April 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
7. "Focus on Higher Education issues in Muslim nations". New Straits Times. 25 March 2008.
8. Hafidah Samat (16 April 2013). "Idris Haron to replace Ali Rustam as Malacca MB candidate?". Yahoo. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
9. "Idris Haron sworn in as Malacca Chief Minister". ABN News. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
10. "'Melaka lapan bulan bawah Idris Haron, style berbeza...'". ww1.utusan.com.my. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
11. "Idris Haron plans to build 'first class Melaka'". Retrieved 10 February 2016.
12. SUFFIAN ABU BAKAR ialah Ketua Biro Utusan Malaysia Melaka. "Idris Haron dan Melakanya". Utusan Online. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
13. "'Don't Mess with Melaka' or you'll get fined". NST Online. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
14. "Terengganu second safest place to live in after Malacca | New Straits Times". 22 January 2016.
15. "Kadar jenayah di Melaka turun 15.5 peratus - Melaka & NS - Sinar Harian". Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
16. "LAPORAN SOSIOEKONOMI NEGERI 2017" (in Malayalam). Department of Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
17. "Penduduk Pulau Besar terima manfaat - Melaka - Utusan Online". Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
18. "Edisi". 26 December 2018.
19. "Masjid, jeti RM12j akan dibina di Pulau Besar". 29 May 2016.
20. "Semua pihak perlu berbincang atasi isu khurafat di Pulau Besar - Negara - Kosmo Online". www.kosmo.com.my. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018.
21. "Pembangunan Melaka bukti manifesto di landasan tepat". 9 January 2018.
22. Datuk seri utama ir Idris Haron dinobat ikon pembangunan sukan negeri Melaka^{[permanent dead link‍]}
23. Kumar, Kamles. "Is it time for Anwar Ibrahim to step aside?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
24. "Keahlian Idris, nor Azman dalam UMNO gugur". 4 October 2021.
25. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 27 April 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
26. "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
27. "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
28. "PRU-13". Utusan. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
29. "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
30. "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
31. "N.10 ASAHAN". SPR Dashboard. 7 November 2021. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
32. "410 receive Malacca awards". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 16 July 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
33. "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
34. "Idris leads Malacca awards list". The Star. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
35. "Tengku Abdul Aziz dahului senarai penerima darjah Pahang" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2020.

Political offices
Preceded by Mohd Ali Rustam	Chief Minister of Melaka 2013-2018	Succeeded by Adly Zahari
Parliament of Malaysia
Preceded by Constituency established	Member of the Dewan Rakyat for Tangga Batu 2004-2013	Succeeded by Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Mohd Ali Rustam	President of the World Assembly of Youth 2010-present	Incumbent