Mokhtar Hashim

Mokhtar Hashim
Ministerial roles
1973–1974Parliamentary Secretary of Culture, Youth and Sports
1974–1976Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
1976–1978Deputy Minister of Defence
1978–1980Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
1980–1983Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
1972–1974Alliance Party
1974–1983Barisan Nasional
Personal details
Born(1942-05-01)1 May 1942
Negeri Sembilan, Japanese Malaya
Died18 November 2020(2020-11-18) (aged 78)
Ampang Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Resting placeBukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur
CitizenshipMalaysian
PartyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political
affiliations
Barisan Nasional
Alliance

Mokhtar bin Hashim (1 May 1942 – 18 November 2020) was a Malaysian politician who served as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (1980–1983). He was convicted for the 1982 murder of a rival politician, Negeri Sembilan Assembly Speaker Taha Talib, but the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He was ultimately granted a royal pardon in 1991.

Background

Mokhtar Hashim was educated at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar. In 1972, after winning the Rembau-Tampin parliamentary seat, he was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports. At that time, Datuk Hamzah Abu Samah was the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports.

On 12 November 1974, he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Murder

The murder took place in Kampung Seri Asahan, Gemencheh, Negeri Sembilan at 1:30 AM on 14 April 1982. Datuk Mokhtar Hashim was arrested at his home on Jalan 16/6, Petaling Jaya at 1:30 AM. At that time, the 1982 Malaysian general election was just 8 days away, scheduled for 22 April 1982. The motive stemmed from the two being political rivals within the Tampin UMNO Division, where they were vying for power against each other.

Other individuals involved included Rahmat Satiman (46 years old - village head), Nordin Johan (33 years old - businessman), Aziz Abdullah (65 years old - self-employed, Aziz PJK), and Aziz Tumpuk. However, Mokhtar Hashim's supporters were released.

The 75-day trial took place in 1983 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. On 6 March 1983, Judge Tan Sri Hashim Yeop Abdullah Sani handed down the death sentence. The defense counsel for Mokhtar Hashim was Jagjit Singh. A Felda settler who was supposed to be an alibi witness failed to appear during the trial. The police chief who investigated the case was Musa Hassan.

There were no witnesses who saw Mokhtar Hashim at the rubber plantation during the full moon. However, ballistics tests conducted on the pistol and bullets clearly showed that they belonged to Mokhtar Hashim. Most members of parliament kept pistols for their personal safety.

Released from Court

The death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Datuk Mokhtar Hashim was released from prison on 10 July 1991, after receiving a royal pardon. He was welcomed by his wife and daughter.

Death

Hashim passed away on 18 November 2020 at 3:10 AM at Ampang Hospital and was laid to rest at the Bukit Kiara Islamic Cemetery at 12:30 PM.

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout%
1972 P081 Rembau-Tampin, Negeri Sembilan Mokhtar Hashim (UMNO) 13,228 63.81% Tengku Jaril Tengku Sulaiman (PAS) 4,018 19.38% 21,101 9,210 N/A
Muhamed Sharif Harun (DAP) 3,483 16.80%
1974 P094 Tampin, Negeri Sembilan Mokhtar Hashim (UMNO) None None
Unopposed
1978 Mokhtar Hashim (UMNO) 23,968 81.13% Mohd Ali Napiah Ismail (PAS) 5,575 18.87% N/A 18,393 N/A
1982 Mokhtar Hashim (UMNO) 27,587 74.05% Loo Ah Man @ Loo Ming Chai (DAP) 6,603 17.72% 38,381 20,981 77.93%
Azahari Hamzah (PAS) 3,065 8.23%

References

  1. ↑ Information Malaysia. Berita Publ. Sdn. Bhd. 18 November 1983 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ "Former culture, youth and sports minister Mokhtar Hashim dies". The Edge Markets. 18 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Mokhtar resigns". New Straits Times. New Straits Times Press. 1 March 1983. p. 1. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  4. ↑ "Ex-minister Mokhtar Hashim dies". The Malay Mail. 18 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Ex-minister pardoned for 1982 murder dies". MalaysiaNow. 18 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Percentage figures based on total turnout.