Ghazali Shafie

Biography

Ghazali was born in 1922 in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. He was of Minangkabau descent from Rao, West Sumatra. He was part of the clandestine resistance to the Japanese occupation of Malaya in World War II. He then studied at the University of Wales and the London School of Economics.

During the Malayan Emergency, Ghazali fully supported British military attempts to crush a pro-independence uprising led by the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), the armed wing of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP). Writing in The Times newspaper, Ghazali openly supported the killing and public display of the corpses of people suspected to have been members of the MNLA.

After a career in the civil service, Ghazali entered politics. He served as Home and Information Minister from 1973 to 1981, and was then appointed Foreign Minister until 1984. He represented the Parliamentary seat of Lipis from 1974, before which he was a member of the Dewan Negara (upper house of parliament). As Foreign Minister, he was known for his role in ASEAN's diplomacy in respect of conflict in Cambodia. Described as a "flamboyant politician", his nickname was "King Ghaz".

On 11 January 1982, Ghazali survived an aeroplane crash in which he was the pilot. His bodyguard and co-pilot were killed. There had been reports (for example in the New York Times) that Ghazali had been killed in the crash. A coroner later blamed the accident on what the coroner found to be Ghazali's negligence.

After leaving politics, he held a range of positions in the corporate sector and with international organisations.

Ghazali died on 24 January 2010 at 7.45pm, at his home in Subang Jaya. His wife, Toh Puan Khatijah Abdul Majid, died in April 2008. They are survived by his two sons, Bachtiar and Sheriffudin. He was buried at Makam Pahlawan, Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur.

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaysia
  • [[File:Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia - SSM.svg|50px]] Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) – Tun (2005){{cite web
  • [[File:MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm)- PMN.svg|50px]] Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (1965){{cite web
  • [[File:MY Pingat Peringatan Malaysia (Malaysian Commemorative Medal) ribbon.svg|50px]] Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Gold) (PPM) (1965)
• Pahang
  • [[File:MY-PAH Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang - Grand Knight - SSAP.svg|50px]] Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri
  • [[File:MY-PAH Order of the Crown of Pahang - Grand Knight - SIMP.svg|50px]] Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly **Dato'''', now **Dato' Indera''' (1972)
  • [[File:MY-PAH Order of the Crown of Pahang - Knight Companion - DIMP.svg|50px]] Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – '''Dato'''' (1970)
  • [[File:MY-PAH Order of the Crown of Pahang - Companion - SMP.svg|50px]] Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SMP) (1968)
• Sabah
  • [[File:MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - SPDK.svg|50px]] Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima
• Sarawak
  • [[File:MY-SAR Order of the Star of the Hornbill (Bintang Kenyalang) - 2. Knight Commander (DA).svg|50px]] Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) – Datuk Amar (1988)
• Selangor
  • [[File:MY-SEL Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah - Knight Grand Companion - SSSA.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSSA) – Dato' Seri (1985)

Foreign Honours

• Brunei
  • [[File:First_Class_of_the_Order_of_Paduka_Seri_Laila_Jasa_(PSLJ).svg|50x50px]] First Class of the Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa (PSLJ) – Dato Paduka Seri Laila Jasa (2002)
• Thailand
  • [[File:Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (MVM) (1983)
• South Vietnam
  • [[File:VPD National Order of Vietnam - Grand Officer BAR.svg|50px]] Grand Officer of the National Order of Vietnam (1965)

Places named after him

• MRSM Tun Ghazali Shafie, a MARA institutional boarding school in Kuala Lipis, Pahang
• Ghazali Shafie Graduate School Research Institute, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah
• Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah

References

References

1. [http://www.arkib.gov.my/en/web/guest/tun-muhammad-ghazali-bin-shafie Tun Muhammad Ghazali bin Shafie]. arkib.gov.my
2. http://ww1.utusan.com.my {{Webarchive. link. (10 March 2015 [http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/Sastera/20121118/sa_02/Memperkasakan-tokoh-Rao Memperkasakan Tokoh Rao] {{Webarchive). link. (2 September 2017)
3. Leifer, Michael. (2001). "Dictionary of the modern politics of South-East Asia". Taylor & Francis.
4. Hack, Karl. (2022). "The Malayan Emergency: Revolution and Counterinsurgency at the End of Empire". Cambridge University Press.
5. (25 January 2010). "Ghazali Shafie Dies". Bernama.
6. (11 January 1982). "Mohammad Ghazali bin Shafie, Malaysian official, dies in crash". [[New York Times]].
7. (11 January 1982). "Envoy Survives". The Pittsburgh Press (United Press International).
8. (23 June 1983). "Minister blamed". The Montreal Gazette.
9. (25 January 2010). "'King Ghaz' Remembered As No-nonsense Man". [[Bernama]].
10. (24 January 2010). "Ghazali Shafie dies". [[The Star (Malaysia)]].
11. (25 January 2010). "'King' Ghaz dies". The Malaysian Insider.
12. (25 January 2010). ""King Ghaz" buried at Warriors' Mausoleum". mysinchew.com.
13. "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". [[Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia)]].
14. (29 May 1972). "S'poreans made datos by Pahang Sultan". [[The Straits Times]].
15. (29 May 1970). "Kurniaan bintang kebesaran kapada Sultan Perak, Sultan Kedah". [[Berita Harian]].
16. (29 May 1968). "Lima Dato baharu di-Pahang kurnian Sultan hari ini". [[Berita Harian]].
17. (16 September 1988). "Yang di-Pertua's wife heads list". [[New Straits Times]].
18. "SSSA 1985".
19. Abu Bakar HAR. (2002-07-15). "31 dikurniakan bintang kebesaran". Pelita Brunei.
20. (2 April 1983). "Awards for four Foreign Ministers". [[New Straits Times]].
21. (7 October 1965). "Vietnam honours Tengku with a top —award". The Straits Times.