Tan Sri Abdul Rahim bin Thamby Chik (, ; born 10 April 1950) 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 ...

. He was the 6th

Chief Minister of Malacca The Chief Minister of Malacca () is the head of government in the Malaysian state of Malacca. According to convention, the chief minister is the leader of the majority party or largest coalition party in the Malacca State Legislative Assembly. T ...

from 1982 to 1994. He is a former Youth Chief 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 major component party of

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. He was aligned with

Mahathir Mohamad Mahathir bin Mohamad (; ; born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician, author and doctor who was respectively the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020. He was the ...

during the 1987 UMNO General Assembly. Presently, he is a member and the Division Chief of

Alor Gajah Alor Gajah is a town and district seat of Alor Gajah District in the Malaysian state of Malacca. It is governed by Alor Gajah Municipal Council (), which was formerly known as Alor Gajah District Council () from 1 July 1978 until 1 May 2003. E ...

of the

Malaysian United Indigenous Party The Malaysian United Indigenous Party ( Malay: ''Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia''; abbrev: BERSATU or PPBM) is a nationalist political party in Malaysia. The party was preceded by the United Indigenous Association of Malaysia ( Malay: ) and ...

(BERSATU), a component party of the

Perikatan Nasional Perikatan Nasional (PN; ) is a Malaysian Parliamentary group, political coalition consisting of Right-wing politics, right-wing and Far-right politics, far-right political parties. It is the second largest political coalition in Dewan Rakyat w ...

(PN) coalition and State Chairman of BERSATU of

Melaka Malacca (), officially the Historic State of Malacca (), is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca. The state is bordered by Negeri Sembilan to the north and west and Johor to t ...

since January 2025. He is also formerly the Chairman of the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) from 2010 to 2015.

Personal life

His father, Thamby Chik Abdul Karim, died before his 16th birthday.

Background

Rahim married Zabedah Abdullah and the couple have 4 children; Zetty Juyanty, Tutty Rahiza, Petty Diyana and Rahimy. Their eldest daughter, Zetty married the former

TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso * Canal 3 Niger, a commercial television channel in Niger * Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala * Can ...

personality, Kelvin Ong née Zahir Kelvin Ong Abdullah.

Education

Rahim received his primary school education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pengkalan Balak,

Masjid Tanah Masjid Tanah (Jawi: مسجد تانه) is a town and parliamentary constituency in northwestern Malacca, Malaysia, bordering Negeri Sembilan across the Linggi River. History According to local oral folklore, Masjid Tanah was first settled ...

. Then he studied at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ghafar Baba, Malacca and Sekolah Menengah Datuk Seri Amar DiRaja, Muar, Johor. He continued his studies at

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 ...

(UM) and managed to graduate with bachelor's degree of Applied Economy (1969–1973).

Controversies

In 1994 Rahim was initially charged with

statutory rape In common law jurisdictions, statutory rape is nonforcible sexual activity in which one of the individuals is below the age of consent (the age required to legally consent to the behaviour). Although it usually refers to adults engaging in sex ...

of an underaged girl; however, the public prosecutor later withdrew the charge citing lack of evidence. He resigned as chief minister of Malacca and youth chief of UMNO amid allegations he had sexual relations with the 15-year-old girl. In 1995,

Democratic Action Party The Democratic Action Party (DAP; ) is a social democracy, social democratic and Secularism, secular political party in Malaysia, sitting on the Centre-left politics, centre-left of the political spectrum. As one of four component parties of ...

(DAP) leader,

Lim Guan Eng Lim Guan Eng (; born 8 December 1960) is a Malaysian politician and accountant who served as the Minister of Finance of Malaysia from 2018 to 2020. A member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), he has served as the party's second advisor si ...

, who in the past had accused Rahim of raping the minor and had criticised the then-government for not acting against Rahim; was charged and sentenced to 18 months’ jail by the Melaka High Court for maliciously printing false news instead under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and under the Sedition Act 1948, but Lim was eventually released after 12 months. In 1999,

Anwar Ibrahim Anwar bin Ibrahim (; born 10 August 1947), also known by his abbreviation as DSAI and PMX, is a Malaysian politician who is the 10th prime minister of Malaysia since 2022. A member of the People's Justice Party (Malaysia), People's Justice P ...

in one of four police reports he made; Tun H.S. Lee report 22517/99 dated 20 August 1999 had accused that the then-

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Mahathir Mohamed,

Attorney-General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...

Mohtar Abdullah Mohtar bin Abdullah (7 May 1944 – 7 July 2003) was a Malaysian lawyer. He was the Attorney General of Malaysia from 1994 to 2000 and also served as a judge in the High Court and Federal Court. Mohtar's term as Attorney General was marred by ...

and Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor

Abdul Gani Patail Abdul Gani bin Patail (born 6 October 1955) is a Malaysian prosecutor. He was the Attorney General of Malaysia from 2002 to 2015, the first from Sabah to hold the position (hailing from Lahad Datu and was born in Lahad Datu district). In July ...

for abuse of power to cover-up the corruption case involving Rahim. A copy of the report was also sent to the Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) then. On 21 March 2011, Rahim was one of the 'Datuk T' trio; together with Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Datuk

Shuaib Lazim Shuaib bin Haji Lazim (: 22 December 1938 – 11 November 2023), sometimes misspelled as Shuib bin Lazim, was a Malaysian politician, businessman and teacher who served as the Senator in the Malaysian parliament from April 1988 to July 1991. He ...

who screened a sex video at Bilik Seri Makmur, Hotel Carcosa Seri Negara; claiming it was of the opposition leader then Anwar Ibrahim allegedly engaging a prostitute to journalists which Anwar had denied the allegation. On 24 June 2011, they were charged and fined by Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court for screening the sex video after they pleaded guilty. Rahim was fined RM1,900 in default three months imprisonment by the Shah Alam Sessions Court on 20 September 2016, for making an offensive comment about Raja Muda of Selangor,

Tengku Amir Shah Tengku Amir Shah ( Jawi: تڠكو أمير شاه; born 12 December 1990) is a member of the Selangor royal family who is the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Selangor and heir apparent to the Selangor throne. He is the youngest child and only so ...

on 25 September 2015. He also tendered a public apology to

Selangor Selangor ( ; ), also known by the Arabic language, Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the e ...

Ruler

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj ( Jawi: ; born 24 December 1945) has been the Sultan of Selangor since ascending to the throne in November 2001. Early life and education Sharafuddin was ...

and Tengku Amir, besides expressing remorse for his action. Rahim had earlier on 5 October 2015 claimed trial to an original charge of posting a seditious claim in his Facebook account that Tengku Amir was an

apostate Apostasy (; ) is the formal disaffiliation from, abandonment of, or renunciation of a religion by a person. It can also be defined within the broader context of embracing an opinion that is contrary to one's previous religious beliefs. One who ...

. However, the prosecution withdrew the charge after he pleaded guilty to the alternative charge.

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 (1990) ** Member of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace of God-Defender of the Realm). The o ...

(AMN) (1980) * : ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Grand Commander of the

Exalted Order of Malacca The Exalted Order of Malacca () is the third-highest state order of Malacca which is conferred by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca. The order was constituted in 1978 by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Syed Zahiruddin along with the Premier and Exalted ...

(DGSM) – Datuk Seri (1984) ** MY-MAL Pingat Jasa Kebaktian

Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: Singapore *Pingat Jasa Gemilang, or Meritorious Services Me ...

(PJK) * : ** Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar

Knight Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Johor The Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor ( Malay: ''Darjah Mahkota Johor Yang Amat Mulia'') is an Order of chivalry awarded by the Sultan of Johor. It was first instituted on July 31, 1886. It is awarded in three classes: *Knight Grand Co ...

(DPMJ) – Dato' (1983) * : ** Knight Commander of the

Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * A socio-political or established or existing order, e.g. World order, Ancien Regime, Pax Britannica * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * H ...

(DA) – Datuk Amar (1988) * : ** MY-SEL Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah - Knight Grand Companion - SSSA

Knight Grand Companion of the

Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah The Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah () is an obsolete order of chivalry conferred by the Sultan of Selangor as a reward for general services to the sultan and state of Selangor during the reigning of the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Azi ...

(SSSA) – Dato' Seri (1989)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik Living people 1950 births Malaysian politicians of Malay descent Malaysian Muslims Malaysian businesspeople Former United Malays National Organisation politicians Independent politicians in Malaysia Members of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly Malacca state executive councillors Chief ministers of Malacca Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor Members of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Malaysian MPs 1978–1982