TAN SRI RAFIDAH AZIZ - “The Role of Education in the Development of Youth towards Nation-Building”

INPUMA PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES : TAN SRI RAFIDAH AZIZ - “The Role of Education in the Development of Youth towards Nation-Building”

About the Speaker

TAN SRI RAFIDAH AZIZ

Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz was born in Selama, Perak on 4 November and had her education in various schools in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bharu and Johor Bharu.

Tan Sri Rafidah graduated with a BA Degree in Economics in 1966, and a Master of Economics in 1970 from the University of Malaya. She served as Tutor and as Lecturer in the Faculty of Economics, University of Malaya between 1966 and 1976.

In 1974, Tan Sri Rafidah was appointed as Senator, but subsequently resigned to contest in the General Elections in 1978. She served as Member of Parliament from 1978 to 2013 in the Selayang Constituency (1978 to 1982) and Kuala Kangsar Constituency (1982 – 2013).

In 1976, Tan Sri Rafidah was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Enterprises and in 1977 was promoted to Deputy Minister of Finance. She was made Minister of Public Enterprises in 1980 and was appointed Minister for Trade and Industry in 1987 (later renamed Minister of International Trade and Industry), where she served for 21 years.

Tan Sri Rafidah served in the UMNO Supreme Council for 38 years since winning a seat in the council in 1975.

Throughout her career, Tan Sri Rafidah has received various awards from the states of Selangor, Perak, Malacca, Terengganu and Sarawak, as well as accolades from Thailand, Argentina and Chile.

Tan Sri Rafidah has also been conferred Honorary Doctorates from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Tun Razak Malaysia and Dominican University of California, USA.

Currently, Tan Sri Rafidah serves as Chairman of Air Asia X, Megasteel and Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studio. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia.

Tan Sri Rafidah is Patron of several NGOs and Advisor to the Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA).