Perak's New MB...

Perak's new Mentri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is a consultant engineer by training and was the administrative director of several private firms when he was elected Pasir Panjang assemblyman on March 8.

Born on March 17, 1957, he received his early education at SK Methodist (ACS) Kampar and later at SM Methodist (ACS) Kampar and SM Teknik Ipoh. After completing his A-Levels at the Norwich City College of Arts and Technology in Norfolk, England, Mohammad Nizar went on to pursue his degree in mechanical engineering at the Aston University of Science and Technology in Birmingham, England.

Since then, he has worked for various agencies, including the Public Works Department, Urban Development Corporation and Penang Development Corporation.

Mohammad Nizar’s field of experience includes phases two and three of the Dayabumi project in 1983, the Wisma Darul Iman project in Terengganu in 1985, the expansion of Masjid Negara in 1986 and contributions to the Plus North-South Expressway from 1997 till now.

Specialising in vertical transport conveyance, he also oversaw the management of the elevators at government hospitals in Perak, Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Sabah. His engineering work took him to many countries such as Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Italy, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Qatar, Iran, Singapore and India.

Mohammad Nizar has been a PAS member since 1995 and is now the Perak party secretary.

In 2004, he first stood for election against incumbent Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz but lost by a majority of 5,557 votes. This time, he defeated MIC’s Datuk Dr S. Vasan by 4,474 votes.

He is married to Fatimah Taat and has eight children, three of whom are daughters.