Ali Rustam: First Malacca-born governor for the state

Mohd Ali Rustam, who was sworn in as the seventh governor of Malacca today, is the first Malacca-born politician appointed to the post.

His six predecessors were all from other states, with two from Perak, and the other four from Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kedah and Pahang.

Ali (above, left), a former Malacca chief minister who was responsible for developing the state into a world popular tourist destination, was born in Kampung Bukit Katil, Malacca on Aug 24, 1949.

On April 28, 1984, he married Asmah Abdul Rahman, 64, who hails from Muar, Johor, and the couple has two sons, Mohd Ridhwan, 33, and Muhammad Hamka, 30, and a daughter, Wan Nadzirah, 32.

Ali, 70, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Universiti Sains Malaysia and a Master’s Degree from Universiti Malaya.

He started work as a clerk at the then National Electricity Board in 1969 and was there for 10 years, before joining the civil service as Community Development Department director in Perlis in 1980. 

He became the department’s Federal Territory director in 1981 and then took the same position in Malacca the year after.

Known for his people-friendly attitude, he became a state assemblyperson for the first time after winning the Ayer Molek seat in 1986 and the Sungai Udang state seat in the 1990 general election.

In the 1995 general election, he contested the Batu Berendam parliamentary seat and won, which then saw his appointment to the cabinet as deputy transport minister until January 1999, and then as deputy health minister until November the same year.

In the 1999 general election, Ali, popularly known as “Tok Ali” won the Paya Rumput state seat and was then appointed the ninth Malacca chief minister, replacing Abu Zahar Isnin.

When he helmed the state, Ali had not only succeeded in elevating international tourism in Malacca, but turned it into a developed state by 2010.

He served in the top state post for three terms until May 5, 2013 and was made a senator on Oct 2 the same year after losing the contest for the Hang Tuah Jaya parliamentary seat in the 13th general election in 2013.

In politics, he was Bukit Katil Umno Youth chief in 1972 and in 1986 the party’s Batu Berendam divisional head. The division is now known as Bukit Katil.

He was Malacca Umno liaison secretary in 1988 and in 1996 was appointed its chairperson.

In the 2004 Umno general assembly, Ali was appointed the party’s vice-president.

He was also active in non-governmental organisations, having been the president of the Malaysian 4B Youth Movement, World Assembly of Youth, World Youth Foundation and the Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam organisation.

- Bernama