View source for Musa Hitam

{{short description|Malaysian politician}}
{{Use Malaysian English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Malay name|Musa|Hitam|note=on}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[Malay styles and titles#Honorary styles|Yang Amat Berbahagia]] [[Malay styles and titles#Tun|Tun]]
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=MYS|size=100|SSM|PMN|SPMJ|SPMS|SPNS|SPDK|DUNM|SSIJ|PIS}}
| image               = 
| name                = Musa Hitam
| native_name         = {{lang|ms|{{Script|Arab|موسى هيتم}}}}
| order               = 5th
| office              = Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
| monarch             = [[Ahmad Shah of Pahang|Ahmad Shah]]<br />[[Iskandar of Johor|Iskandar]]
| term_start          = 18 July 1981
| constituency        = [[Labis (federal constituency)|Labis]]
| primeminister       = [[Mahathir Mohamad]]
| term_end            = 16 March 1986
| predecessor         = Mahathir Mohamad
| successor           = [[Ghafar Baba]]
| office2             = [[Minister of Home Affairs (Malaysia)|Minister of Home Affairs]]
| primeminister2      = Mahathir Mohamad
| term_start2         = 18 July 1981
| term_end2           = 16 March 1986
| constituency2       = Labis
| deputy2             = [[Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik]]<br />Mohd Kassim Ahmed
| monarch2            = Ahmad Shah<br />Iskandar
| predecessor2        = [[Ghazali Shafie]]
| successor2          = Mahathir Mohamad
| office3             = [[Minister of Education (Malaysia)|Minister of Education]]
| primeminister3      = [[Hussein Onn]]
| predecessor3        = Mahathir Mohamad
| successor3          = [[Sulaiman Daud]]
| term_start3         = 1976
| term_end3           = 1981
| monarch3            = [[Yahya Petra of Kelantan|Yahya Petra]]<br />Ahmad Shah
| constituency3       = Labis
| deputy3             = Chan Siang Sun<br />Salleh Jafaruddin<br />[[Najib Razak|Mohammad Najib Abdul Razak]]
| office4             = [[Minister of Primary Industries (Malaysia)|Minister of Primary Industries]]
| primeminister4      = [[Abdul Razak Hussein]]<br />Hussein Onn
| deputy4             = [[Paul Leong Khee Seong]]
| monarch4            = [[Abdul Halim of Kedah|Abdul Halim]]<br />Yahya Petra
| term_start4         = 1974
| term_end4           = 1976
| predecessor4        = [[Abdul Taib Mahmud]]
| successor4          = Abdul Taib Mahmud
| constituency4       = Labis
| office5             = [[Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Malaysia)|Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry]]
| primeminister5      = [[Tunku Abdul Rahman]]<br/>[[Abdul Razak Hussein]]
| minister5           = [[Khir Johari]]
| constituency5       = [[Segamat Utara (federal constituency)|Segamat Utara]]
| monarch5            = [[Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengganu|Ismail Nasiruddin]]<br/>Abdul Halim
| term_start5         = 1969
| term_end5           = 1974
| predecessor5        = 
| successor5          = 
| birth_name          = 
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1934|4|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Johor Bahru]], [[Johor]], [[British Malaya]] (now Malaysia)
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| resting_place       = 
| footnotes           = 
| signature           = 
| relations           = 
| children            = 
| parents             = 
| profession          = 
| caption             = 
| alma_mater          = [[University of Malaya]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) <br /> [[University of Sussex]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
| party               = [[United Malays National Organisation]] (UMNO) (until 1988)
| otherparty          = [[Barisan Nasional]] (BN)
| spouse              = Zulaikha Sheardin
| occupation          = 
}}

'''Musa bin Hitam''' ([[Jawi alphabet|Jawi]]: موسى بن هيتم; born 18 April 1934) is a [[Malaysia]]n retired politician who served as the [[Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia]] from 1981 to 1986, serving under [[Mahathir Mohamad]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Crossette | first=Barbara  | title=MALAYSIA LEADER FACING MAJOR REVOLT IN HIS PARTY | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=1987-03-28 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/28/world/malaysia-leader-facing-major-revolt-in-his-party.html | access-date=2018-02-16}}</ref> He was the chairman of [[Sime Darby]] Berhad.

==Early life and education==
Musa bin Hitam was born on 18 April 1934 in [[Johor Bahru]], [[British Malaya]], to a [[Malaysian Malays|Malay]] father of [[Javanese people|Javanese]] descent and a mother of [[Malaysian Chinese|Chinese]] descent, who was adopted by and grew up in a Malay household at the age of five.<ref>{{cite book |url={{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=UmNxAAAAMAAJ }} |title=Kerajaan mansuh kekebalan Raja Melayu|author=Mokhtar Petah|publisher=ART Media|pages=164|year=1993|isbn=9839835009}}</ref><ref name="Mother">{{cite book|last1=Dhillon|first1=Karminder Singh|title=Malaysian Foreign Policy in the Mahathir Era, 1981-2003: Dilemmas of Development|year=2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D3yN9R4jNy0C&q=Musa+Hitam+chinese+mother&pg=PA24|page=24|publisher=NUS Press |isbn=9789971693992}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Musa Hitam: A Political Biography|author=Bruce Gale|publisher=Eastern Universities Press (M)|pages=12|year=1982|isbn=9971-65-212-9}}</ref>

Musa continued his studies at the [[English College Johore Bahru]]. He received his bachelor's degree from the [[University of Malaya]] and his master's degree from the [[University of Sussex]]. He has since been awarded with various honours, including an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sussex and an Honorary Doctorate from [[Ohio University]] (in 1980). Musa has held various posts at the international level at various times. These included being Chairman of the [[Commonwealth Parliamentary Association]], Member of the Board of [[UNESCO]], Leader of the Commonwealth Observer Delegation to the [[Malawi]] general elections and Member of the Commonwealth Ministers Delegations to [[Nigeria]], [[Pakistan]], [[Fiji]] and [[Gambia]].

==Political career==
In the 1960s, Musa was briefly served as Acting Secretary-General of UMNO. He was later expelled from the party in the wake of the [[13 May Incident|13 May racial rioting]] for insubordination to Prime Minister and UMNO President [[Tunku Abdul Rahman]]. During his political exile, he obtained his Master's from the University of Sussex.

In 1971, he was readmitted to UMNO under the Tunku's successor, [[Abdul Razak Hussein]]. He rose quickly, becoming Deputy Whip of the [[Barisan Nasional|Alliance]] coalition in Parliament, and was elected as a member of the UMNO Supreme Council. He was elected as a UMNO Vice-President in 1978.<ref>Tan, Chee Khoon & Vasil, Raj (ed., 1984). ''Without Fear or Favour'', p. 43–44. Eastern Universities Press. {{ISBN|967-908-051-X}}.</ref>

When [[Mahathir Mohamad]] succeeded [[Hussein Onn]] as [[Prime Minister of Malaysia]], he declared the election for the Deputy Presidency of UMNO open; and thus by extension the Deputy Prime Ministership — was open; he would not support any candidate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lib.perdana.org.my/PLF/Digital_Content/NA/Newspaper/0006/TheStar%5B25June1981%5BDr.MLoserWillStayOn.pdf |title=Loser Will Stay On: Dr M to accept decision of delegates|work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |date=25 June 1981|via=[[Perdana Leadership Foundation#Library|Perdana Leadership Foundation Library]]}}</ref> Musa Hitam faced [[Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah]] in 1981 the party election.<ref>Tan & Vasil, p. 2.</ref> Eventually, Musa won the election with 722 votes to Razaleigh's 517 votes, becoming the new Deputy President and Deputy Prime Minister.<ref>Tan & Vasil, p. 204.</ref> Razaleigh blamed himself for taking "a rather passive stance" and not having a campaign strategy.<ref>Tan & Vasil, p. 112.</ref>

==Government positions==
Before becoming [[Malaysia]]'s fifth Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs in 1981–1986, Musa held a number of key government posts, including
* Chairman of the Federal Land Development Authority ([[FELDA]])
* Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry (1970–1974)
* Minister of Primary Industries (1974–1978); and
* Minister of Education (1978–1981).
* Deputy Prime Minister (1981–1987)
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]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1981-09-03 |title=Mahathir will miss C'wealth talks |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19810903-1.2.3 |website=The Straits Times}}</ref>

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

==Post-political career==
In 1987, Tengku Razaleigh challenged [[Mahathir Mohamad]] for the presidency of [[United Malays National Organisation|UMNO]]. Musa Hitam, who was then having a growing rift with Mahathir, resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, citing irreconcilable differences with Mahathir.<ref name="tunku">Putra, Tunku Abdul Rahman (1986). ''Political Awakening'', p. 86. Pelanduk Publications. {{ISBN|967-978-136-4}}.</ref> He then joined Razaleigh's Team B as UMNO deputy president candidate. In the election, Dr. Mahathir and his Team A managed to retain his position and power over the party. However, UMNO was split into two separate entities as Tengku Razaleigh was left unsatisfied with the result. The split forced the Malaysian court to declare [[United Malays National Organisation|UMNO]] as illegal. Shortly after the court ruling, Dr. Mahathir reestablished UMNO as UMNO Baru (New UMNO), though the new UMNO was badly weakened. Tengku Razaleigh at the same time went on his own path and found a new political party called [[Semangat 46]] in 1989. The number 46 refers to the year UMNO was founded. Musa, however, decided to retire from politics and has not joined the fray since.

Between 1990 and 1991, he was Malaysia's Special Envoy to the [[United Nations]], and since 1995 he has been the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). Tan Sri Musa also 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. As a member of UMNO, Musa has held various positions within the party up to Deputy President until 1987.

He also served as the Chairman of [[Suhakam]], the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, from 1999 till 2002. In 2007, Musa became the chairman of [[Synergy Drive (Malaysia)|Synergy Drive Berhad]], the entity which arose out of the newly formed merger between [[Sime Darby]], [[Guthrie (Malaysia)|Guthrie]], and [[Golden Hope|Golden hope Plantations]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F9%2F30%2Fbusiness%2F20070930202540&sec=business |title=Musa Hitam is chairman of Synergy Drive<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=1 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322210555/http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F9%2F30%2Fbusiness%2F20070930202540&sec=business |archive-date=22 March 2009 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }}</ref>  He also serves on the International Advisory Council of the [[Brookings Institution#Brookings Doha Center|Brookings Doha Center]]. Musa is currently the Chairman of the World Islamic Economic Foundation.<ref>{{cite web | title=WIEF Foundation Launch by Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of WIEF Foundation | website=World Islamic Economic Forum | date=2017-10-25 | url=https://wief.org/speech/wief-foundation-launch-tun-musa-hitam-chairman-wief-foundation/ | access-date=2018-02-16}}</ref>

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.

==Personal life==
Musa was married to Datin Ines Maria Reyna, a [[Peru]]vian of Spanish descent, whom he first met at [[Lima]], [[Peru]] in 1959 as an international student. They had 3 children: Mariana, Carlos Abdul Rashid and Rosana. Carlos was killed together with his wife Rozina Datuk Abu Bakar, a news anchor on [[TV3 (Malaysian TV network)|TV3]] during the [[Highland Towers collapse]] on 11 December 1993.<ref>Veera, R. V. et al., 12-storey apartment block collapses–53 people believed to be still buried, [[New Straits Times|new Sunday Times]], 12 December 1993, p. 1</ref>

Musa is now married to Toh Puan Zulaikha Sheardin.<ref>[http://majalah.tempointeraktif.com/id/arsip/1986/09/13/PT/mbm.19860913.PT35852.id.html Melangsungkan pernikahan], TEMPO, Majalah Berita Mingguan, 13 September 1986</ref> His daughter Mariana died on 5 November 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nst.com.my/amp/news/nation/2022/11/847642/ex-dpm-musa-hitams-daughter-dies|title=Ex-DPM Musa Hitam's Daughter dies|publisher=[[New Straits Times]]}}</ref>

==Election results==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Dewan Rakyat|Parliament of Malaysia]]'''<ref>{{Citation |title=TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS |date=2024-12-21 |url=https://github.com/TindakMalaysia/HISTORICAL-ELECTION-RESULTS/tree/main |access-date=2024-12-26 |publisher=TindakMalaysia}}</ref>
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
|[[1968 Segamat Utara by-election|1968]]
|rowspan="2"|'''P103 [[Segamat Utara (federal constituency)|Segamat Utara]]'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Musa Hitam''' ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
|align="right" |'''9,485'''
|'''62.34%'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|Lee Ah Meng ([[Democratic Action Party|DAP]])
|align="right" |5,731
|37.66%
|15,427
|3,754
|74.24%
|-
|[[1969 Malaysian general election|1969]]
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Musa Hitam''' ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
|align="right" |'''10,212'''
|'''61.18%'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|Tan Thian San ([[Democratic Action Party|DAP]])
|align="right" |6,480
|38.82%
|17,192
|3,732
|78.86%
|-
|[[1974 Malaysian general election|1974]]
| rowspan=2|'''P099 [[Labis (federal constituency)|Labis]]'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Musa Hitam''' ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
| colspan=9 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"|Unopposed
|-
|[[1978 Malaysian general election|1978]]
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Musa Hitam''' ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
|align="right" |'''19,576'''
|'''88.04%'''
|{{Party shading/PAS}} |
|Jamal Ahmad ([[Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party|PAS]])
|align="right" |2,659
|11.96%
|23,773
|16,917
|78.45%
|-
|[[1982 Malaysian general election|1982]]
|'''P108 [[Panti (federal constituency)|Panti]]'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Musa Hitam''' ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
| colspan=9 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center;"|Unopposed
|-
|[[1986 Malaysian general election|1986]]
|'''P128 [[Kota Tinggi (federal constituency)|Kota Tinggi]]'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Musa Hitam''' ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
|align="right" |'''33,891'''
|'''91.23%'''
|{{Party shading/PAS}} |
|Harun Embong ([[Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party|PAS]])
|align="right" |3,258
|8.77%
|38,456
|30,633
|76.54%
|}

==Honours==
===Honours of Malaysia===
* {{Flag|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#Grand Commander|Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia]] (SSM) – '''Tun''' (2006)<ref>{{cite web|title=Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2006.|url=https://www.istiadat.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tahun_2006.pdf}}</ref><ref>"[http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=201487 Tun For Musa Hitam] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103119/http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=201487 |date=29 September 2007 }}". [[Bernama]]. 3 June 2006.</ref>
** [[File:MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm)- PMN.svg|50px]] Commander of the [[Order of the Defender of the Realm#Commander|Order of the Defender of the Realm]] (PMN) – '''Tan Sri''' (1994)<ref>{{cite web|title=Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1994.|url=https://www.istiadat.gov.my//wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1994.pdf}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Johor}} :
** [[File:Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Crown of Johor]] (SPMJ) – '''Dato'''' (1973)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ht0qAAAAIBAJ&dq=dato+paduka+mahkota+johor&pg=PA11&article_id=952,404602|title=Johore Sultan's Birthday List Parade|publisher=New Straits Times|date=3 November 1973}}</ref>
** [[File:MY-JOH Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor ribbon bar.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Companion of the [[Order of Loyalty of Sultan Ismail of Johor]] (SSIJ) – '''Dato'''' (1977)
**[[File:Sultan_Ibrahim_Coronation_Medal_ribbon.gif|50px]] First Class of the [[List of post-nominal letters (Johor)|Sultan Ibrahim Medal]] (PIS I) (1982)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Musa Receives Johor Ruler's Award |pages=1 |date= 9 April 1982 |work=[[New Straits Times]]}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Malacca}} :
** [[File:MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca]] (DUNM) – '''Datuk Seri Utama''' (1982)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOhLAAAAIBAJ&dq=Malacca+awards+list&pg=PA3&article_id=5457,1823182|title=Musa gets state's highest award|publisher=[[New Straits Times]]|date=9 June 1982}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Negeri Sembilan}} :
** [[File:MY-NEG Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Negeri Sembilan|Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan]] (SPNS) – '''Dato' Seri Utama''' (1982)<ref>{{cite book|url=|title=Negeri Sembilan Award for Musa|publisher=New Straits Times|date=10 May 1982}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Sabah}} :
** [[File:MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - SPDK.svg|50px]] Grand Commander of the [[Order of Kinabalu]] (SPDK) – '''Datuk Seri Panglima''' (1984)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sabah's highest award for Mariam Robert |pages=4 |date=11 September 1984 |work=[[New Straits Times]]}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Selangor}} :
** [[File:MY-SEL Order of the Crown of Selangor - Knight Grand Commander - SPMS.svg|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Crown of Selangor]] (SPMS) – '''Dato' Seri''' (1982)<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=SPMS 1982|url=https://awards.selangor.gov.my/sublinkyear.php?cat=30&subcat=S.P.M.S.|website=awards.selangor.gov.my|access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>

===Foreign honour===

* {{Flag|Japan}} :
** [[File:JPN_Kyokujitsu-sho_1Class_BAR.svg|50px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Rising Sun]] (2018)<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Conferment Ceremony of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on Tun Musa Hitam, Former Deputy Prime Minister|url=https://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/newinfo_21062019.html|access-date=27 January 2021|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan}}</ref>

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.felda.net.my FELDA Official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604102736/http://www.felda.net.my/ |date=4 June 2020 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box
|before=[[Mahathir Mohamad]]
|title=[[Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia]]
|years=1981–1986
|after=[[Ghafar Baba]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Deputy Prime Ministers of Malaysia}}
{{Second Razak cabinet}}
{{First Hussein cabinet}}
{{Second Hussein cabinet}}
{{First Mahathir cabinet}}
{{Second Mahathir cabinet}}
{{Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex]]
[[Category:Deputy prime ministers of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Johor Bahru]]
[[Category:Malaysian Muslims]]
[[Category:Malaysian politicians of Malay descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Javanese descent]]
[[Category:Former United Malays National Organisation politicians]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm]]
[[Category:Grand Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor]]
[[Category:Ministers of education of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Home ministers of Malaysia]]
[[Category:University of Malaya alumni]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor]]
[[Category:Grand Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1964–1969]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1971–1974]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1974–1978]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1978–1982]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1982–1986]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1986–1990]]