Introduction
Tan Sri Muhammad bin Haji Muhammad Taib (also fondly known as Mat Taib) is a Malaysian politician who currently is a PKR member. He was the former Rural and Regional Development Minister. He was also the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) information chief and former Menteri Besar of Selangor. He contested the post of UMNO deputy president in 2009 but came second.
Early life and education
Born in Kampung Sungai Manggis, Kuala Kalumpang, Hulu Selangor, he was of Minangkabau descent from Rao, West Sumatera. He went to and English Primary School in Kuala Kubu, Baru. Muhammad is a graduate from Universiti Malaya and was also a former teacher in SMK Kuala Kubu Baru.
Politics
The political veteran joined UMNO in 1964, and quickly rose within its ranks to be elected UMNO vice-president in 2004. He was also appointed as Selangor Umno deputy state liaison committee chief in the same year.
Muhammad was also former Batang Kali state assemblyman, winning in the general elections of 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1995. He served as Menteri Besar of Selangor from 1986 to 1997. However, he was forced to resign as Selangor Mentri Besar in April 1997 after he was charged in Australia over currency irregularities amounting to RM3.8mil. However, he was later found not guilty. Muhammad Muhammad Taib was cleared by the court as he pleaded that he did not understand English and therefore did not understand the currency regulations. However, in a later development, an investigative committee found that the court had erred in its judgment.
Senatorship
In 2006, he was appointed as a senator in the Dewan Negara. This allowed him to be appointed as a minister by Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March 2008. His stint in the Cabinet ended after a reshuffling by new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in April 2009.
Joining PAS
On April 2013, Mat Taib joined PAS, a component party of Pakatan Rakyat. He was formally introduced by the party on 22 April 2013 (Monday) two days after the 13th General Election nomination day to avoid allegations that he took the step to be nominated in the general election. PAS is the only party that can lead Malaysia towards Islam, Mat Taib said.
Ironically, in previous statements Muhammad was a strong critic for the current Pakatan Rakyat led state of Selangor. He stated that Pakatan Rakyat Selangor, under the helm of the current Mentri Besar of Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was losing grip of the state. He even stated that he believes that Saiful Bukhari Azlan, the accuser of Anwar Ibrahim sexual escapades was the real victims and no one is helping Saiful Bukhari.
On 10 September 2015, Mat Taib quit PAS and join PKR .