Zulkifli Noordin

This is a Malay name; the name Noordin is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Zulkifli.
Yang Berbahagia Dato'
Zulkifli Noordin
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Kulim–Bandar Baharu, Kedah
In office
8 March 2008 – 5 May 2013
Preceded by Abd. Aziz Sheikh Fadzir
Succeeded by Abd. Aziz Sheikh Fadzir
Personal details
Born (1962-02-19) 19 February 1962
Baling, Kedah, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
Political party Independent (2010–present)
PKR (2008–2010)
PAS (1997–2008)[1]
Occupation Sharia lawyer
Religion Sunni Islam
Website zul4kulim.blogspot.com

Dato' Zulkifli Noordin (born 19 February 1962) is a Malaysian politician and a former Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Kulim–Bandar Baharu constituency in Kedah. He held his seat as an Independent, having been elected as a member of the People's Justice Party (PKR). He is also the vice-president of right-wing Malay organisation, Perkasa

Zulkifli was elected to the Parliament in the 2008 election.[2] His election had been contested by the defeated UMNO candidate; however the court petition to overturn the result was eventually withdrawn.[3] In the 2013 election, he contested the Shah Alam parliamentary seat under the Barisan Nasional ticket and was defeated.

Zulkifli was born on 19 February 1962 in Baling, Kedah and is a Sharia lawyer.[4]

Controversies

Allah issue

Datuk Zulkifli Nordin was a public figure in the controversy over the use of the word 'Allah' in a Catholic publication. In response to the decision of the High Court allowing the publication Herald, Zulkifli stated "I can't understand how any Muslim can support this judgment".[5] Zulkifli also called for the resignation of a Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party MP, Khalid Samad for supporting the right of Christians to use the word 'Allah'.[6]

Dismissal from PKR

On 6 March 2010, Zulkifli was dismissed from PKR following the unanimous decision of a party disciplinary panel arising from Zulkifli's lodging of a police report against Khalid Samad and his public criticisms of the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng.[7][8] Zulkifli's request to have his case heard by an all-Muslim disciplinary panel had been dismissed by the party.[9] He immediately indicated he would remain in Parliament as an Independent.[10] He has been vocal in criticising the federal opposition, especially the PKR, since his dismissal.

Insulting remarks against Hindus

In March 2013, Zulkifli Noordin has been heavily criticised by several Hindu politicians after giving a religious sermon belittling Hinduism. A YouTube video of the speech has been circulating on social media. In his speech, he explained how he laughed at the Indian traders on why the Hindu gods could not prevent the trader's shop from being flooded. He also questioned the purity and holiness of the Ganges River, India, which is considered sacred by the Hindus, claiming that the Ganges River is filled with chicken carcasses and twigs floating. Besides that, Zulkifli also mocked the Hindu god Lord Ganesha, by questioning why the Hindus are fighting over buying the deity's statue with the trunk broken. He also questioned the holiness of the Hindu gods when he said when the broken parts of the statue can just be mended by plaster.[11]

The video clip has sparked outrage among many people from the Malaysian Hindu community. PKR vice-president and lawyer N. Surendran wants Zulkifli to be charged with Section 298A of the Penal Code for uttering words which causes disharmony, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will on grounds of religion. He added that Zulkifli is a close ally with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in which he described that UMNO and Barisan Nasional must take responsibility for the sacrilegious remarks and mockery of Hinduism.[12]

MIC central working committee member Datuk T. Rajagopalu told Zulkifli to 'shut up' and apologise for his insensitive remarks against the Hindus. He added that Zulkifli is unfit to be an MP, describing the lawyer as a half-baked lawyer and not a true Muslim man. MIC vice-president Datuk S.K. Devamany also demanded that Zulkifli apologise and withdraw his remarks. Aside from them, MIC central working committee member P. Kamalanathan condemned Zulkifli's remarks "in the harshest manner possible." Human rights group SUARAM also rebuked Zulkifli and urged voters to reject him in the upcoming Malaysian 13th general elections.[13] Hindu Sangam chief said that no legal action were taken against Zulkifli because he is a Muslim and vice-president of Perkasa.[14]

Zulkifli later apologised on 1 April 2013 for hurting the feelings of the Indian community. This change of sentiment was most probably due to the upcoming 13th general election.[15]

Zulkifli Nordin also states that his statement was made during his days in PAS and he was remorseful for his actions. He also added he had made a lot of mistakes during his tenure as a PAS member and also as a lawyer for Anwar Ibrahim. One of those mistake is the remarks he made to the Hindu community in Malaysia. Ironically, the video only resurfaced recently after he was ousted by the Pakatan Rakyat and now he is facing attacks from his former colleague eventhough no PAS members made any statements during Zulkifli Nordin's tenure as a representative from PAS.[16]

Insensitive remarks on the passing of Karpal Singh

On 17 April 2014, former Perkasa deputy president Zulkifli Noordin commented that Allah had killed off Karpal had received swift criticisms from Barisan and Opposition MPs.[17]

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia[18]
Year Constituency Opposition Votes Pct Government Votes Pct
2004 P112 Kuala Langat, Selangor Zulkifli Noordin (PKR) 12,623 26% Shafie Salleh (UMNO) 34,118 71%
2008 P018 Kulim-Bandar Baharu, Kedah Zulkifli Noordin (PKR) 22,255 55% Abd. Aziz Sheikh Fadzir (UMNO) 16,672 41%
2013 P108 Shah Alam, Selangor Khalid Samad (PAS) 49,099 56% Zulkifli Noordin (BN) 38,070 43%

References

  1. ↑ Zul Noordin lost PAS membership in 2008, says sec-gen Archived 29 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine., Adib Zalkapli, 7 July 2010, The Malaysian Insider
  2. ↑ "Malaysia Decides 2008". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  3. ↑ "Aziz Sheikh Fadzir Withdraws Petition Against Zulkifli Noordin". mysinchew.com. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  4. ↑ "Biodata". Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  5. ↑ Kuppusamy, Baradan (8 January 2010). "Can Christians say 'Allah'? In Malaysia, Muslims say No". TIME Magazine. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "MPs lock horns over Allah issue". The Star. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "PKR sacks Zul". Malaysian Mirror. 6 March 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  8. ↑ "PKR sacks Zulkifli Noordin". TheStar Online. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  9. ↑ Samy, Florence M (5 March 2010). "PKR sacks Zul Noordin (Update)". The Star. Star Publications (Malaysia). Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  10. ↑ Chooi, Clara (7 March 2010). "Zulkifli won't appeal, will stay as MP". The Malaysian Insider. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  11. ↑ "Zul Noordin asks why Hindu gods did not stop flood".
  12. ↑ "Charge insolent Zul Noordin".
  13. ↑ "MIC leaders tell Zul Noordin to 'shut up' and apologise".
  14. ↑ "No action so far against Zul Noordin 'because he is Muslim', says Hindu Sangam chief".
  15. ↑ "Zulkifli Noordin apologises to Indian community over remarks in video clip".
  16. ↑ News."I am sorry, Zulkifli tells Hindus", The Star, Kuala Lumpur, 2 April 2013. Retrieved on 18 April 2013.
  17. ↑ "Opposition MPs censure Karpal's critics for insensitive remarks". The Malaysian Insider. 17 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
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