Mohamad Norza Zakaria Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato' Sri
Mohamad Norza Zakaria
Honorific-Suffix:PSM SMW SSAP DIMP DJMK SMP
Birth Name:Mohamad Norza bin Zakaria
Birth Date:29 August 1966
Birth Place:Malacca, Malaysia
Occupation:Group President & CEO
Office:5th President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia
Term Start:5 May 2018
Deputy:Abdul Azim Zabidi
(2018–2021)
Hamidin Mohd Amin
Minister:Khairy Jamaluddin
(2018)
Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman
(2018–2020)
Reezal Merican Naina Merican
(2020–2021)
Ahmad Faizal Azumu
(2021–2022)
Hannah Yeoh
Predecessor:Tunku Imran
Office1:President of the Badminton Association of Malaysia
Term Start1:29 April 2017
1Blankname1:Patron
1Namedata1:Rosmah Mansor
(2017–2018)
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
(2018–2021)
Muhaini Zainal Abidin
Citizenship:Malaysian
Profession:Chartered Accountant
Alma Mater:University of Wollongong

Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria (born in 1966) is a Malaysian sports administrator and chartered accountant. He is a fellow of CPA Australia. He is the President of Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and also the President of Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia.

He participated in sports administration when he was first elected as the President of the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association in 2010. He later became the President of Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in 2017, a post which he holds until today.

During his leadership at BAM, Malaysian won its first World Championship title in badminton through the Men's Doubles pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.[1] Another highlight was the emergence of women's doubles pair Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan who created history by becoming the first Malaysian women's doubles pair to win the French Open title since its inception in 1908.[2]

Norza is a board member of National Sports Council (NSC) and Chairman of Audit Committee of NSC since 2018. In search of Malaysia's first ever Olympic Gold medal, Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh established a Road to Gold (RTG) Committee to boost athletes' performance win gold medals at the 2024 and he 2028 Olympics. Together with the Honorable Sports Minister, Norza co-chairs the Committee.

At the continental level, on 29 April 2023, Norza became the first Malaysian to be elected to the post of Honorary President of Badminton Asia for the term 2023 to 2027.

Norza's contribution to Malaysian sports was also recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) when he was appointed, on 4 October 2023, as a member of the Coordination Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for the quadrennial term of 2023–2027.

His other roles included:

Early life and educational background

Norza is the son of school teachers and was born in Malacca and grew up in Negeri Sembilan. After his studies in Sekolah Tuanku Jaafar in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, he received his Higher School of Certificate from the Randwick Boys High School in Australia in 1985.

A Chartered Accountant (CA) from the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) by profession, Norza studied and received his Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Wollongong in Australia from 1986 to 1988.

In 2008, Norza qualified as a Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA) from CPA Australia Ltd.

Professional background

As a Chartered accountant, Norza started his career with Arthur Andersen & Co, and held positions at Bank Negara Malaysia, Petronas, SPK Sentosa, Mun Loong Berhad and Gabungan Strategik Sdn Bhd.

Norza sits on board of Citaglobal Berhad and is the Executive Chairman & President of the company since February 2020. He is also the Group President & CEO of TIZA Global Sdn Bhd, a company he started in 2008 that has a wide diversity of business holdings from oil and gas, hospitality, transportation and media technology.

Prior to starting TIZA Global Sdn. Bhd., Norza served as the Political Secretary to the Malaysian Minister of Finance II for the term of 2004 - 2008.

Previously, Norza has been appointed as the board of directors and Chairman of Audit Committee of a government linked PLCs, namely AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd.,[3] Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad,[4] Samalaju Industrial Port Sdn Bhd,[5] Lembaga Urusan Tabung Haji, Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia, PT XL Axiata Tbk (formerly known as PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk), Pelikan International Corporation Berhad, TH Heavy Engineering Berhad, Tropicana Corporation Berhad, Tropicana Gold & Country Resort Berhad, RHP Saribas Sdn. Bhd., TH Heavy Engineering Berhad, TH Plantations Berhad, THHE Fabricators Sdn. Bhd. and Biport Bulkers Sdn. Bhd.

Honours

On 17 August 2020, Norza was conferred the award of 'Darjah Kebesaran Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM)' which carries the title 'Tan Sri' by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah in conjunction with the birthday celebrations of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

Earlier on 24 October 2016, he was conferred the award of 'Darjah Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (SSAP)’ which carries the title 'Dato' Sri' by Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah in conjunction with the birthday celebrations of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang.

Prior to this, Norza was conferred the award of 'Darjah Kebesaran Seri Mahkota Wilayah (SMW)’ which carries the title 'Datuk Seri' by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Almu’tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku AlHaj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni AlMarhum Sultan Badlishah in conjunction with Federal Territory Day on 1 February 2015.

Awards

In recognition of his leadership qualities in sports, the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) selected Norza as the first recipient of the Sports Leadership Award in conjunction with the SAM-100PLUS 2022 Awards ceremony held on 5 September 2023.[11]

On 20 November 2021, Norza was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate in Sports Management by the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Tanjung Malim in conjunction with their 22nd Convocation Ceremony which was graced and officiated by Her Majesty the Chancellor, Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim.

Internationally, the World Chinese Economic Forum awarded Norza with its Lifetime Achievement Award on 27 December 2021 in recognition of his invaluable contribution and support for the 2021 World Chinese Economic Forum.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Guan . Kng Zheng . 2022-08-28 . Aaron-Wooi Yik are world champions New Straits Times . 2024-04-01 . NST Online . en.
  2. Web site: Reporters . F. M. T. . 2022-10-30 . Pearly-Thinaah create history by winning French Open title . 2024-04-01 . Free Malaysia Today . en.
  3. Web site: 2022-03-23 . AirAsia Aviation Group Limited announces Board of Directors . 2023-07-16 . airasia newsroom . en-US.
  4. Web site: Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad Board of Directors. Bintulu Port Holdings. 6 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121013010914/http://www.bintuluport.com.my/Port/About-Us/Board-of-Director/. 13 October 2012. dead.
  5. Web site: Biport Board of Directors. Biport Bulkers Sdn Bhd. 6 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203051327/http://www.biportbulkers.com.my/PalmOilStorage/About-Us/Board-of-Director/. 3 December 2013. dead.
  6. Web site: 17 August 2020. Malay. Berita Harian. Tengku Maimun, Dr Arshad Ayub dahului senarai penerima darjah kebesaran, pingat. 17 August 2020.
  7. Web site: Tengku Maimun, Arshad Ayub dahului senarai penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Pingat sempena Keputeraan Agong. Bernama. 17 August 2020. 17 August 2020. ms.
  8. Web site: Jackie Chan now a Datuk. Sira Habibu. The Star. 1 February 2015. 21 September 2018.
  9. Web site: Abdullah heads honours list. The Star. 30 March 2006. 21 September 2018.
  10. Web site: 613 terima darjah kebesaran Sultan Pahang. Mohamad Shofi Mat Isa. Utusan Malaysia. 24 October 2016. Malay. 21 September 2018.
  11. Web site: Norza named first recipient of new sports leadership award . 2024-04-01 . The Star . en.
  12. WCEF 2021 Awards Ceremony Sheraton Petaling Jaya December 27th, 2021 #WCEF2021 By World Chinese Economic Forum 世界华人经济论坛Facebook . en . 2024-04-01 . www.facebook.com.