22 Facts About Rais Yatim

Tan Sri Dato' Seri Utama Dr Rais bin Yatim is a Malaysian politician who is serving as the 18th President of the Dewan Negara since September 2020.

Rais Yatim was a Cabinet Minister in multiple federal governments from 1974 to 2013 and the 8th Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan from 1978 to 1982.

Rais Yatim was the Member of Parliament for Jelebu from November 1999 to May 2013.

Rais Yatim was a member of the United Malays National Organisation, the leading party in previous ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, except for a period in the 1990s when he became a member of the opposition Parti Melayu Semangat 46.

Rais Yatim graduated from Language Institute, Kuala Lumpur in 1964.

Rais Yatim was exposed to Shakespeare's dialogues especially King Henry V, Hamlet, Midsummer Night Dream, Romeo and Juliet and others.

In 1963, Rais Yatim was accepted into the Language Teaching College as a trainee teacher for 2 years.

Rais Yatim enrolled at Stamford Collage and later went on to study Law at the University of Singapore.

Rais Yatim was very active in participating in debate and speech competitions at the University of Singapore and often met Chandra in the competition.

Rais Yatim won the Beasley Shield Award for the general speech category, while Chandra won the debate competition.

Rais Yatim worked as a translator at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in 1971 besides being a part-time lecturer in Commercial Law at Institut Teknologi Mara.

Rais Yatim has held various positions in the national cabinet and other state government positions.

Rais Yatim had been appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Minister of Land and Regional Development, Minister of Information and Foreign Minister.

Rais Yatim held the ministry until the 2004 election, after which Abdullah Badawi, who had replaced Mahathir on his retirement, appointed him as Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage.

In June 2007, Rais Yatim was nominated as a candidate for the post of the next Commonwealth Secretary-General after Don McKinnon's term in office ended in March 2008.

Rais Yatim served another term as Foreign Minister from 18 March 2008 until 9 April 2009, when the incoming Prime Minister Najib Razak appointed him as the Minister for Information, Communications and Culture.

Rais Yatim remained in that ministry until the 2013 election, when he was dropped as a parliamentary candidate.

Rais Yatim accepted the decision and called on fellow UMNO members to remain loyal to the party.

Apart from being highly skilled in photography, Rais Yatim is talented in drawing.

Rais Yatim obtained an A mark in the Higher School Certificate examination.

Rais Yatim even produced a large mural for Dunearn Road Hostel at the University of Singapore and the mural is still on display at Shears Hall Great Hall in Kent Ridge.

Rais Yatim is an author and has written extensively on the subject of law, politics and the community where a total of 19 books have been produced by him to date.