Jamaluddin Jarjis

Jamaluddin bin Mohd Jarjis (25 May 1951 – 4 April 2015) was a Malaysian politician, diplomat and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. He served as the Chairman of the 1 Malaysia Peoples' Housing (PR1MA) and Malaysian special envoy to the United States.

Born on 25 May 1951 in Pekan, Pahang, Jamaluddin Jarjis obtained a First Class Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom in 1974 and MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manitoba, Canada in 1977. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems) from McGill University in 1980.

Jamaluddin was a Member of Parliament for Rompin, Pahang from 1990 until his death. He was elected to the UMNO Supreme Council in May 2000. In 2002, he was appointed as the Second Minister of Finance by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

While serving as Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Jamaluddin oversaw the Angkasawan program, which resulted in Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor becoming the first Malaysian in space on 10 October 2007, when he blasted off to the International Space Station on board Soyuz TMA-11.

Jamaluddin held various positions in the Cabinet of Malaysia:

• Second Minister of Finance (November 2002 – January 2004)
• Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (January 2004 – March 2004)
• Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (March 2004 – March 2008)
• Ambassador of Malaysia to the United States (July 2009 – February 2012)

Jamaluddin was married to a dentist, Puan Sri Dr. Kalsom Ismail, a renowned hardliner. The couple had four children.

Jamaluddin died in April 2015. In August 2018, his 83-year-old mother Aminah Abdullah has sought the Syariah Court to issue a faraid (Islamic wealth distribution) certificate to seek her share of her late son's estate said to be worth at least RM2.1 billion.

On 4 April 2015, Jamaluddin Jarjis was killed when an AS 3655N2 Dauphin (Registration Number 9M-1GB) crashed into a jungle at Jalan Sungai Lalang in Kampung Pasir Baru near Semenyih, Selangor. Among those killed were a businessman, CEO of SP Baiduri Sdn Bhd, Tan Huat Seang and also a private secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, Azlin Alias. He was buried at Makam Pahlawan, located inside the Masjid Negara compound, Kuala Lumpur.

• Malaysia
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2014)
• Pahang
  • Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SAP) (1990)
  • Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato' (1992)
  • Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (2001)
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2004)
• Kelantan
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (SJMK) – Dato' (2004)
• Perlis
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2007)