Azhar Azizan Harun


Azhar bin Azizan Harun is a Malaysian politician and lawyer. He is also known as Art Harun. He has served as Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat since July 2020. He was also the Chairman of the Election Commission from September 2018 to his resignation in June 2020.

Early life and Education

Azhar is the younger brother of Idrus Harun, who has been the Attorney-General of Malaysia since March 2020.
Azhar read law at the University of Malaya and graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1986. He then furthered his studies at the King's College London and obtained his degree of Master of Laws there.

Career

Legal practice

Azhar started his career at a firm named Allen & Gledhill in 1987 and also used to work at Tetuan KH Koh, Azhar & Koh in 1992. Then, he continued his career at various law firms like Tetuan Khaw & Hussein, Tetuan TH Su & Partners, Tetuan Lamin & Co, Tetuan Hisham Sobri & Kadir, Tetuan Shafee & Co and Tetuan Cheang & Ariff. He was also a defendant lawyer, as well as a solicitor at Tetuan Azhar & Goh.

Chairman of Election Commission (2018-2020)

Azhar was appointed as the Chairman of EC on 21 September 2018 and served the office until his resignation on 29 June 2020. Eight by-elections were held under his chairmanship. He has implemented a number of reforms in the country’s electoral system including online voter registration, voter’s card, providing facilities for disabled and elderly voters as well as live-streaming of the vote counting process on Facebook.

Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (since 2020)

Azhar was nominated as the next Speaker by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on 29 June 2020. The nomination was made together with a motion to unseat Mohamad Ariff "as there is another nomination to the seat". Azhar won uncontested and took the seat of Speaker on 13 July 2020, the same day the motion to unseat Mohamad Ariff, moved by Muhyiddin and seconded by Senior Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, succeeded with a 111-109 vote.

Honours