Mohd. Ali bin Mohd. Rustam (; born 24 August 1949) is a Malaysian

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

who has served as the 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca since June 2020. He served as the 9th Chief Minister of Malacca from December 1999 to May 2013, Deputy Minister of Health from November 1996 to December 1999, Deputy Minister of Transport from May 1995 to November 1996, Member of Parliament (MP) for Batu Berendam from April 1995 to November 1999, Member of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Bukit Batu from March 2004 to May 2013, for Paya Rumput from November 1999 to March 2004, for Sungai Udang from October 1990 to April 1995 and for Ayer Molek from August 1986 to October 1990. He was 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), a component party of the

Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional (BN; ) is a political coalition of Malaysia that was founded in 1974 as a coalition of centre-right and right-wing political parties to succeed the Alliance Party. It is the third largest political coalition with 30 seats in ...

(BN) coalition.

Early life and education

Mohd Ali was born in Kampung Bukit Katil, Malacca on 24 August 1949. He got his first education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Katil and Sekolah Kebangsaan Semabok and continued his secondary education at Malacca High School. He got his tertiary education with Bachelor of Social Science at

Universiti Sains Malaysia Universiti Sains Malaysia ( 'University of Science Malaysia'; abbreviated as USM) is a public research university in Malaysia. Founded on 1 June 1969 as a statutory body with its own constitution, it is the oldest institute of higher learning ...

(USM). He was awarded a Doctorate in History and Archeology by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from

University of Malaya The Universiti Malaya (lit 'University of Malaya'; abbreviated UM) is a public university, public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the oldest Malaysian institution of higher education, and was the only university in ...

for his research and thesis completion on "The Government's Role in Empowering Leadership and Socioeconomics of Youth in Malaysia, 1963-2013." Mohd Ali received his doctorate from UM Chancellor, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, on the first day of the university's 63rd Convocation ceremony.

Political career

Mohd Ali joined UMNO in 1968 and became its vice-president from 2004 to 2009. He has been an elected representative in Malacca since 1986 and became

Chief Minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union ter ...

on 3 December 1999 for fourteen years. He was a member of the

Dewan Rakyat The Dewan Rakyat (; Jawi script, Jawi: ), is the lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral Parliament of Malaysia, Parliament which is the federal legislature of Malaysia. The chamber and its powers are established by Article 44 of the Constitu ...

for Batu Berendam from 1995 to 1999 and tried to contest in Bukit Katil (later Hang Tuah Jaya) in 2013 and 2018

general elections A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. General elections ...

but lost both to Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin from People's Justice Party. Mohd Ali is also president of the Malaysian Silat Federation (PESAKA), Malaysian Karate Federation and of Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam.

Chief Minister of Malacca (1999-2013)

Malacca became a fully developed state in 2010 under the leadership of Mohd Ali. This news came after Malacca fulfilled 32 indicators of development specified by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Other contributions done by Mohd Ali include Melaka River Cruise, Melaka Straits Mosque and Taming Sari Tower.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca (since 2020)

Mohd Ali entered the office of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca on 5 June 2020 replacing Mohd Khalil Yaakob who ended his sixteen-year tenure as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca and was reappointed for second term on 28 May 2024. He is the first native Malaccan to hold the highest post.

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : **

Commander 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 ...

(PSM) – Tan Sri (2014) ** Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) – Tun (2020) * : ** MY-MAL Bintang Cemerlang Melaka

Recipient of the Community Service Medal (PBM) (1982) ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Member of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DSM) ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (1989) ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Knight Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DCSM) – Datuk Wira (1995) ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2001) ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Grand Master of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM) – Datuk Seri Utama (2020) **

Premier and Faithful Exalted Order of Malacca ribbon

Founding Grand Master and Knight Grand Commander of the Premier and Faithful Exalted Order of Malacca (SPSM) – Seri Setia (2020) * : ** MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - SPDK

Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2005) * : ** MY-FED Darjah Mahkota Wilayah - Grand Knight - SUMW

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SUMW) – Datuk Seri Utama (2021) * : ** Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama (2021) * : ** MY-PERL Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon bar

MY-PERL Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon bar

Recipient of Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail Silver Jubilee Medal (2025)

Honorary degrees

* : ** Honorary Ph.D. degree from

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (Jawi alphabet, Jawi: اونيۏرسيتي تيكنيكل مليسيا ملاك, literally meaning Technical University of Malaysia, Malacca, abbreviated as UTeM) is a public university located in Durian ...

(2003) ** Honorary Ph.D. degree in Management from

Multimedia University Multimedia University (; abbreviated as MMU), is a Private university, private research university in Cyberjaya and Melaka in Malaysia. Founded in 1997, it is the first private university within Malaysia and is a member of The Alliance of Gove ...

(2011)

References

{{Authority control Living people 1949 births Malaysian politicians of Malay descent Malaysian Muslims United Malays National Organisation politicians Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca Chief ministers of Malacca Members of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly Malacca state executive councillors Members of the Dewan Negara Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Grand Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Grand Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu Universiti Sains Malaysia alumni 21st-century Malaysian politicians Malaysian MPs 1995–1999