Dato' Mukhriz bin Tun Mahathir (born November 1964) is the third son and fifth child of former Prime Minister Tun Dr.Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah. He is currently the Malaysian Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry.
Mukhriz, who is the third son of Dr Mahathir, has a degree in business administration from Sofia University, Bulgaria. Following his graduation, he had worked with the Bank of Tokyo in 1982.
He held various posts of several business firms, which include Opcom Holdings, Kosmo Tech as well as the Malaysian Franchise Association. He is also the executive director of Perdana Peace Global Organisation.
In 2004, he won the election of the Umno Youth exco by garnering the highest number of votesand was subsequently appointed to the post. He was also seen as a potential candidate for being the deputy chief of UMNO Youth's wing, but he later withdrew. Mukhriz's older brother, Mokhzani, had also played an active role in UMNO's politics.
Mukhriz was noted for his continuous efforts in speaking for his father in the events of the rift between Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and his father.In 2006, Mukhriz won the election of UMNO's Kubang Pasu division, coming in fifth. Mukhriz defended his father, who had lost in the same election he took part, by saying that there is a plan to topple him. Mukhriz drew flak from sections of UMNO after he commented on Prime Minister Abdullah's speech that he was a "little bit" disappointed and that it offered nothing new. He later apologised for his remarks.
In the 2008 Malaysian general election, Mukhriz won the Jerlun Parliament Seat (P005). Before this, he offered himself to contest in Langkawi Parliament Seat but was rejected by 85 out of 91 UMNO branches in Langkawi. However, many Langkawi leaders backed him later. The Jerlun UMNO division welcomed Mukhriz to contest in their Parliament seat and promised to give him full support in the election. Mukhriz also contested for UMNO Youth wing post during party nominations between October and November 2008.
Mukhriz is married to Datin Norzietah Zakaria, and has three children. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Malaysian cancer vaccine company, Bioven.
