Rina Harun

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Harun is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Rina. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri

Rina Harun

DGSM MP
رين هارون‎
Rina Mohd Harun (12 March 2021).jpg
Minister of Women, Family and Community Development
In office
10 March 2020 – 16 August 2021
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterMuhyiddin Yassin
DeputySiti Zailah Mohd Yusoff
Preceded byWan Azizah Wan Ismail
ConstituencyTitiwangsa
Minister of Rural Development
In office
21 May 2018 – 24 February 2020
MonarchMuhammad V
(2018–2019)
Abdullah
(2019–2020)
Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad
DeputySivarasa Rasiah
Preceded byIsmail Sabri Yaakob as Minister of Rural and Regional Development
Succeeded byAbdul Latiff Ahmad
ConstituencyTitiwangsa
1st Women Chief of the
Malaysian United Indigenous Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 April 2017
PresidentMuhyiddin Yassin
Deputy
(2017–2020)
Mas Ermieyati Samsudin
(since 2020)
ChairmanMahathir Mohamad
(2017–2020)
Muhyiddin Yassin
(Acting)
(2020)
Preceded byPosition established
ConstituencySepang
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Titiwangsa
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 May 2018
Preceded byJohari Abdul Ghani (UMNO–BN)
Majority4,139 (2018)
Personal details
Born
Rina binti Mohd Harun

(1973-04-18) 18 April 1973 (age 48)[1]
Tanjung Karang, Selangor, Malaysia
CitizenshipMalaysian
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (until 2016)
Malaysian United Indigenous Party (PPBM) (2016–present)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (BN)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
Perikatan Nasional (PN)
Alma materNorthwood University
MARA University of Technology
OccupationPolitician
Websitewww.rinaharun.com
Rina Harun on Facebook
Rina Harun on Parliament of Malaysia

Datuk Seri Rina binti Mohd Harun (Jawi: رين بنت محمد هارون) is a Malaysian politician who served as Minister of Women, Family and Community Development in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from March 2020 to August 2021 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Titiwangsa since May 2018. She served as Minister of Rural Development in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad from May 2018 to the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020.[2][3][4][5] She has also served as 1st Women Chief of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the ruling PN coalition, since April 2017.

Prior to joining BERSATU at its inception in 2016, she was a United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) member.

Early life[]

Rina was born on 18 April 1973 in Tanjung Karang, Selangor.[1] She grew up in Jalan Gurney, Kampung Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur and earned an early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Datuk Keramat 1, Kuala Lumpur. She then continued her studies at Sekolah Tun Fatimah before continuing her studies at the MARA Institute of Technology (now Universiti Teknologi MARA) in Diploma in Banking Studies. She pursued her first-degree studies at Northwood University in Michigan, USA and earned BBA in Banking and Finance.[6] [7]

Political career[]

UMNO

  • Sepang Women's Youth UMNO Division Chief – 2002–2013
  • Secretary of Selangor UMNO Women's Youth – 2002–2004
  • Deputy Chief of Selangor UMNO Women's Youth – 2004–2009
  • Selangor UMNO Deputy Women's Youth Chief – 2009
  • EXCO of UMNO Women's Chief – 2009–2013
  • UMNO Acting Women Chief of Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi – 2013–2016

PPBM

  • Srikandi Chief

Pakatan Harapan

  • Deputy Women Chief

Non-governmental organisations[]

  • Assistant Treasurer, Selangor Youth Council
  • Sepang District Youth Council Committee

Controversies[]

"Doraemon" wives[]

During the Movement Control Order (MCO) for COVID-19 pandemic period, the ministry under her charge has issued controversial tips for wives to dress up, apply makeup, take up more chores, as well as "speak with a high pitched voice" similar to that of the cartoon character Doraemon as well as giggle coyly at their husbands – all for the sole purpose of avoiding domestic arguments. Her ministry was urged to focus on the increase of domestic abuse, as well as the welfare of women who may be forced to shelter in place in abusive relationships, rather than to release what is perceived as a sexist set of recommendations.[8]

English pronunciation error[]

Actress, singer and former English teacher Adibah Noor, shared a clip of Rina Harun and corrected her erroneous pronunciation of the word "doubt" during the 59th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD59) at the United Nations. The video went viral and prompted wider discussions on how well the mastery of the English language should be held as important for leaders. [9]

Delay of the Sexual Harassment Bill[]

Rina Harun was criticised after informing the Dewan Rakyat that the tabling of the Sexual Harassment Bill was delayed partly due to the change in government with the new Perikatan Nasional administration taking over from Pakatan Harapan in March 2020. All Women's Action Society (AWAM) called for a set date for the bill to be tabled in the future and expressed Rina's failure on not focusing on the bill for the entire year when the draft was already presented, and in effect the ministry has lost the chance to ensure that a proper budget allocation was secured during the 2021 budget debate to ensure an effective implementation. [10]

Modelling session at the minister's office after weight loss[]

Rina attracted massive criticism for "disrespecful use of taxpayers' money" as well her lack of focus on substantive issues, after she held a photo shoot showcasing various outfits at the official minister's office. The viral photos have received both praise and criticism, and her weight loss prompted speculation of gastrectomy surgery, although she attributed her transformation to exercise, a proper diet and hard work.[11]

Netizens criticized her for “glamming up” in the middle of an economic downturn, while her ministry seems to have little achievement since the beginning of the pandemic and movement control order (MCO) last year. [12] Former CEO of the (Malay: Yayasan Kebajikan Negara, YKN) Datin Paduka Che Asmah Ibrahim released a public post on Facebook claiming that Rina's use of official space to model 2021 Hari Raya fashion during the pandemic was highly inappropriate.[13]

Possible false asset declaration[]

In February 2021, Rina Harun came under scrutiny after she paid off an RM1.3mil debt to avoid bankruptcy, with opposition politicians demanding explanations on how she managed to pay such a large sum based on her salary as Women, Family and Community Development Minister.[14] Through her now defunct company - Eurofine (M) Sdn Bhd, Fine Mobile Network Sdn Bhd and Fine TV Network Sdn Bhd – she had purchased several comedy shows and documentaries worth millions of ringgit from Sarl Novovision, a Paris-based production company between 2011 and 2013. She was earlier served with a bankruptcy notice for debts amounting to RM1,340,642.02. There were questions on how she had accumulated sufficient wealth and funds to pay off the huge debt in a short period of 15 months as the asset declaration data with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission showed that her assets stood at RM72,000 when the same was made public on Nov 20,2019, with an income of RM34,004.48 a month. [11]

Health[]

In January 2021, Rina was tested positive for COVID-19.[15]

Election results[]

Parliament of Malaysia[16][17][18]
Year Constituency Government Votes Pct Opposition Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2018 P119 Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur Rina Harun (PPBM) 23,840 47.31% Johari Abdul Ghani (UMNO) 19,701 39.10% 50,858 4,139 82.56%
Mohamad Nor Mohamad (PAS) 6,845 13.59%

Honours[]

  •  Malacca :
    • MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca.svg Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2018)[19]

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bernama Radio on Instagram: "Infografik: Profil Menteri Pembangunan Luar Bandar #BernamaRadio #semuanyatentanganda #pakatanharapan"". Instagram.
  2. ^ "Rina Mohd Harun dilantik Ketua Srikandi PPBM". www.astroawani.com.
  3. ^ "BERNAMA.com – Rina Mohd Harun named as Minister of Rural Development". www.bernama.com.
  4. ^ "PRU14 nanti soal 'menang atau mati', kata wanita Bersatu – The Malaysian Insight". www.themalaysianinsight.com.
  5. ^ "Rina Harun ready to serve rakyat as minister – Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  6. ^ "About: Rina Mohd Harun". Rina Harun. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  7. ^ Kasthuri Jeevendran (9 February 2019). "Rina tidak takut jika ada pihak mahu semak latarbelakang pendidikan". Malaysian Gazette (in Malay). Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  8. ^ "'Talk like Doraemon': Malaysian ministry issues tips for wives during COVID-19 movement control order". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Adibah Noor will continue to share videos of pronunciation mistakes". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Change of govt no excuse for delaying Sexual Harassment Bill, says NGO". Free Malaysia Today. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "Opposition lawmaker questions Rina Harun's source of wealth after million-plus-ringgit debt settled". The Star. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  12. ^ Pooi, Yin Leong (April 2021). "Digital Media: An Emerging Barometer of Public Opinion in Malaysia" (PDF). ISEAS Perspective. 38 (2021). Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  13. ^ Soo, Wern Jun (15 February 2021). "Women & Family Minister Rina Harun Hosts Fashion Shoot In Minister's Office, Catches Flack From Malaysians". Yahoo! News. Malay Mail. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Displays of wealth spell trouble for politicians". The Star. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Rina Harun latest minister to test positive for Covid-19". Free Malaysia Today. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2018. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  17. ^ "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE – 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  18. ^ "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  19. ^ "Husam kembali bergelar 'datuk', Mujahid Dr Dzul Ahmad Awang 'datuk seri'". MALAYSIADATELINE (in Malay). 13 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.

2. ^ "Federal Government Gazette – Notice of Polling Districts and Polling Centres for the Federal Constituencies and State Constituencies of the States of Malaya [P.U. (B) 197/2016]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-08.

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