H.E Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ramli Bin Ngah Talib elevation to the post as the presiding officer marks another milestone in the history of Parliament of Malaysia. Firstly, two candidates were nominated for the post where before only one name was nominated. Tan Sri’s nomination was moved by the Prime Minister. Tan Sri won handsomely in the election for the post of the Speaker. Secondly, it is the first time a sitting MP has been elected as the Speaker of The House of Representatives.
Tan Sri was born on 16th March, 1941 at Pasir Salak, Perak into a family whose descendants were well-known for their opposition and rebellion against the British intervention in Perak in 1874. He is married to Raja Puan Sri Dato’ Noora Ashikin binti Raja Abdullah with four children.
A qualified lawyer, Tan Sri received his law degree, LL.B(HONS), from Queen’s University of Belfast, United Kingdom and his Barrister-At-Law from Lincoln’s Inn, London. He was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1974 and became an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya. For his work in promoting and establishing The Perak Medical College jointly with Sheffield University, United Kingdom, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by Sheffield University, United Kingdom.
First involvement in politics was in 1974 and a few years later in 1978 he was elected as a Representative in the State Assembly of Perak, his home state, and appointed as a member of the Perak State Executive Council. Elevated to the post of Chief Minister of the State of Perak, Malaysia in 1982 and went on occupying the post for the next seventeen years. 1999 saw him contesting for Pasir Salak parliamentary constituency and appointed as Deputy Minister of Transport following his victory in the general election and held the post until 2004. Following the 2004 general election, he was appointed the Chairman of Public Accounts Committee. On 22nd November 2004, he was elected as the Speaker of the House.
In 1984 he was first elected to the UMNO political party’s Supreme Council obtaining the second highest votes. Thereafter for the next twenty years he went on to be elected to the Supreme Council until the year 2004 when he decided not to contest for any post in the UMNO Supreme Council.
Tan Sri stood for election under the banner of the National Front Party. The National Front (Barisan Nasional-BN) is a coalition of 14 political parties. He is a member of United Malay National Organization (UMNO) since 1974. UMNO is the dominant party and the backbone of the National Front.
Tan Sri is actively involved in social work and like to mix around with ordinary people and has chaired several associations. A keen sportsman, polo, horse riding, jogging, flying, skiing, mountain climbing, jungle tracking and badminton are among the games he will play when the occasion arise. He is also an avid reader.
In the literary field he has produced a number of books and numerous articles and working papers on numerous subjects.
For his dedication and distinguished service to the nation, the King conferred upon him the award of the Order of Chivalry Second Class (Panglima Setia Mahkota) that carries the title Tan Sri. For his excellent service and his contribution to the development of State of Perak, Malaysia, and as the Chief Minister of Perak for more than seventeen years, he was conferred the highest Perak award by the Sultan of Perak with the title Dato’ Seri DiRaja. Being a descendant of one of the Eight Chiefs of Perak that is, Orang Kaya-Kaya Seri Agar DiRaja, the Sultan of Perak appointed him as one of the Eight Royal Chiefs of Perak with that title Orang Kaya Kaya Seri Agar DiRaja (Dato’ Sagor), the post that has been with his family for generations.
He was conferred the highest award by Acheh in 1986 with the title Sri Maharaja Lela Mangkubumi. He was also conferred State awards by the Kingdom of Cambodia and by The Emperor of Japan.
He has led the ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Organization as its chairman, also holding the chairmanship of the Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries and Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. In August 2007 at the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in New Delhi he was appointed as the President of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
