Lawyer’s Profile:

Datuk Zaid obtained a LLB (Hons) from the University of London. He is a Barrister-At-Law, Inner Temple. Datuk Zaid was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1976.

Datuk Zaid was the Founder and Senior Partner of Zaid Ibrahim & Co. for 30 years until 2008. He holds the singular distinction of developing Zaid Ibrahim & Partners into the largest law firm in Malaysia. He was also instrumental in developing the ZICO brand name throughout Southeast Asia.

Datuk Zaid left Zaid Ibrahim & Co. in 2008 to take up appointment as a Minister in the Government of Malaysia. Datuk Zaid served in the Cabinet of the then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi in 2008 as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Legal Affairs and Judicial Reforms. Datuk Zaid was previously a Senator in the Dewan Negara, Malaysia.

Datuk Zaid initiated the preparation of the Judicial Appointments Commission to address the lack of a suitable framework and process in the way Judges were appointed. Datuk Zaid was also involved in the preparation of the framework for the establishment of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Datuk Zaid has now retired completely from politics and has also ceased to be member of any political party.

Apart from his passion for the  law, Datuk Zaid is a prolific writer who has contributed numerous articles across wide ranging subjects particularly in relation to Malaysian political and socio-economic issues.

Memberships/Appointments:

• Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Legal Affairs and Judicial Reforms
• Former Senator in the Dewan Negara, Malaysia
• Barrister-at-Law, Inner Temple, England & Wales
• Member, Malaysian Bar
• Member, Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee

Speaking Engagements/Articles written:

Dato’ Zaid is a prolific writer. He has produced many books and articles of general interest. Amongst the books authored are:

• Ampun Tuanku – an analysis and discussion of Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy
• Assalamualaikum – a critique of Islamisation in Malaysia
• I, Too, Am Malay – a semi autobiography growing up in the early years of Merdeka and looking at race relations from a kampung Malay perspective

Languages spoken other than English:

Malay