Haji Hajji (; sometimes spelled Hajjeh, Hadji, Haji, Alhaji, Al-Hadj, Al-Haj or El-Hajj) is an honorific title which is given to a Muslim who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca. Etymology ''Hajji'' is derived from the Arabic ' (), which ...

Alias Md Ali (c. 1939 – 10 March 2014) was a Malaysian politician and former

news News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different Media (communication), media: word of mouth, printing, Mail, postal systems, broadcasting, Telecommunications, electronic communication, or through the te ...

editor of ''

Bernama The Malaysian National News Agency (), is a news agency of the government of Malaysia. It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Communications. Headquartered at the Wisma Bernama, off Jalan Tun Razak near National Library, Kuala Lumpur ...

''. He served as an MP for

Hulu Terengganu Hulu Terengganu (, Terengganu Malay: ''Hulu Tranung'') is an interior district of Terengganu, Malaysia. The seat of the district is Kuala Berang, located about from the state capital, Kuala Terengganu. The local government of this district is H ...

from 1978 to 1995. He was also the former chairman of Agro Bank Malaysia.

Personal life

Alias Md Ali was born in

Kuala Berang Kuala Berang is the seat and largest town of Hulu Terengganu District, Terengganu, Malaysia. The town serves as a gateway to Kenyir Lake. The Terengganu Inscription Stone was found near Kuala Berang in 1899. The town of Kuala Berang was the firs ...

, Terengganu. He received a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

in creative writing from

Iowa State University Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricult ...

in the US. In 1950, he was elected the leader of the Hulu Terengganu Umno Youth. In 1960, he was appointed as the vice-chairman of the Terengganu Tengah Development Authority. In 1957, Alias began his career as a reporter for ''

Berita Harian ''BH'', previously known as ''Berita Harian'', is a Malay daily newspaper in Malaysia, published by the New Straits Times Press. It was first issued on 1 July 1957. Its Sunday edition, ''BH Ahad'' (formerly ''Berita Minggu''), debuted on 10 ...

''. He then joined the staff of the '' Utusan Melayu'' newspaper, where he became the paper's chief

news editor Copy editing (also known as copyediting and manuscript editing) is the process of revising written material (" copy") to improve quality and readability, as well as ensuring that a text is free of errors in grammar, style, and accuracy. ''The Ch ...

from 1968 to 1970. In 1970, Alias Ali became the chief sub-editor of ''

Malaysian language Malaysian Malay () or Malaysian ()endonymically known as Standard Malay () or simply Malay (, abbreviated to BM)is a standardized form of the Malay language used in Malaysia and also used in Singapore and Brunei (as opposed to the variety u ...

division. He was later promoted to editor of the General News Service of ''Bernama''. He resigned from ''Bernama'' in 1978 to enter politics.

Political career

In 1978, Alias was elected to the

Parliament of Malaysia The Parliament of Malaysia (; Jawi script, Jawi: ) is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives, Literal translation, lit. "People's As ...

for the

constituency as a member of the

United Malays National Organisation The United Malays National Organisation (Abbreviation, abbrev: UMNO; , PEKEMBAR) is a Conservatism, conservative, Nationalism, Malay nationalist political party in Malaysia. As the oldest national political party in the country (since its ince ...

(UMNO). He defeated his opponent, Mohd Ghazali Ahmad of the

Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party The Malaysian Islamic Party, also known as the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party ( Malay: ''Parti Islam Se-Malaysia''; abbrev: PAS), is an Islamist political party in Malaysia. Ideologically focused on Islamic fundamentalism and Malay dominanc ...

(PAS), by 4,370 votes. He was re-elected to Parliament from Hulu Terengganu in the next four general elections. He was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Primary Industries from 1987 to 1990. Alias declined to seek re-election in 1995 and retired from office.

Death

Alias died from colon cancer at his son's home in Prima Villa, Kemensah Heights, Ampang, on 10 March 2014, at the age of 75. He was survived by his wife, To' Puan Ramlah Datuk Abdul Rahman; two sons; three daughters; and fifteen grandchildren.

Election Results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : **

Companion of the

Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia The Most Esteemed Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country and awarded by the sovereign. The order was instituted on 15 April 1966 and gazetted on 30 June 1966 ...

(JSM) (1991) * : ** MY-TER Order of the Crown of Terengganu - Dato Paduka - DPMT

Knight Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Terengganu The Most Distinguished Order of the Crown of Terengganu (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota Terengganu Yang Amat Mulia'') is an honorific order of the Sultanate of Terengganu. History It was founded by Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengg ...

(DPMT) – Dato' (1988)

Books

* ''Gersang'', (1964) * ''Krisis'', (1966) * ''Selasih Ku Sayang'', (1967) * ''Kalau Berpaut Di Dahan Rapuh'', (1967) * ''Adat Muda Menanggung Rindu'', (1971)

References

{{Authority control 1930s births 2014 deaths People from Terengganu Malaysian politicians of Malay descent Malaysian Muslims Malaysian editors Malaysian journalists United Malays National Organisation politicians Iowa State University alumni Malaysian MPs 1978–1982 Malaysian MPs 1982–1986 Malaysian MPs 1986–1990 Malaysian MPs 1990–1995