20 Facts About Musa Hitam

Tun Musa bin Hitam is a Malaysian retired politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 1986, serving under Mahathir Mohamad.

Musa bin Hitam was born on 18 April 1934 in Johor Bahru, British Malaya, to a Malay father of Javanese descent and a mother of Chinese descent, who was adopted by and grew up in a Malay household at the age of five.

Musa Hitam received his bachelor's degree from the University of Malaya and his master's degree from the University of Sussex.

Musa Hitam has since been awarded with various honours, including an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sussex and an Honorary Doctorate from Ohio University.

Musa Hitam has held various posts at the international level at various times.

Musa Hitam rose quickly, becoming Deputy Whip of the Alliance coalition in Parliament, and was elected as a member of the UMNO Supreme Council.

Musa Hitam was elected as a UMNO Vice-President in 1978.

Musa Hitam faced Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in 1981 the party election.

In September 1981, Musa Hitam served as Acting Prime Minister when Mahathir Mohamad went on a two-week vacation with his family to Spain and Portugal.

Musa Hitam retired and was replaced by Ghafar Baba as Deputy Prime Minister in 1986.

Musa Hitam, who was then having a growing rift with Mahathir, resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, citing irreconcilable differences with Mahathir.

Musa Hitam then joined Razaleigh's Team B as UMNO deputy president candidate.

Musa Hitam decided to retire from politics and has not joined the fray since.

Tan Sri Musa Hitam led the Malaysian delegation to the UN Commission on Human Rights from 1993 to 1998 and was elected Chairman of the 52nd Session of the Commission in 1995.

Musa Hitam served as the Chairman of Suhakam, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, from 1999 till 2002.

In 2007, Musa Hitam became the chairman of Synergy Drive Berhad, the entity which arose out of the newly formed merger between Sime Darby, Guthrie, and Golden hope Plantations.

Musa Hitam serves on the International Advisory Council of the Brookings Doha Center.

Musa Hitam is currently the Chairman of the World Islamic Economic Foundation.

On 25 September 2024, Tun Musa Hitam appointed as the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia by Yang di-Pertuan Agong for three year-tenure, until 12 September 2027.

Musa Hitam was married to Datin Ines Maria Reyna, a Peruvian of Spanish descent, whom he first met at Lima, Peru in 1959 as an international student.