DATO’ SERI (DR.) HAJI ABDUL RAFIQUE KARIM

DATO’ SERI (DR.) HAJI ABDUL RAFIQUE KARIM was born in Penang and had
his primary education at Westlands Primary School after which he went on to Penang
Free School for his secondary education until 1974. In January 1975 he established Syarikat Manora Sdn. Bhd. to venture into the
construction and development field so as to diversify from the family business. This
company has developed and constructed a number of housing and commercial units
in Penang.

In 1983 he was chosen by the Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia for a short
course in Management at the International Institute of Business, Arizona, U.S.A. under the Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development Programme. He also became an active member of the Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce and from being a Committee Member in 1988, he was elected as the Vice President in 1990 and Deputy President from 1995 until 2004.

In 2001 he was also elected as an Executive Council Member of the National Malay Chamber of Commerce in Kuala Lumpur and he served until 2004. He also participated in various International meetings and led trade delegations within Asean and other Asian countries.

At the present moment he holds various posts in other trade and Non-Government Organizations. He is the President of the Council of Dato’ Dato’ Penang, Hon. Advisor of the Penang Xiamen Friendship Association, President of the Malaysian Pakistani League, Penang, Committee Member of Penang Malay Association, Vice-President of Penang Goodwill Council and Chairman of Honorary Consular Corps Malaysia among others. He was appointed a Municipal Councillor in the Penang Municipal Council in 1988 which he served for one term.

In the year of 2007 he was appointed as the Honorary Consul-General of Pakistan in Penang by the Government of Pakistan.
He is a Director and shareholder in a number of companies as he believes that with his wealth of knowledge and experience in business for the past 40 years he is be able to help expand and manage the businesses in the various business sectors.
For his commitment towards business and social activities for the community and he was awarded the PJK award in 1996, the DJN award in 2001, DSPN award with the title of Dato’ in 2006, awarded DMPN with the title of Dato’ in 2010 and DGPN award with the title of Dato’ Seri in 2019 by the State Government of Penang. On 23rd. March 2016, he was awarded “TAMGHA-I-PAKISTAN” by the Government of Pakistan in recognition
of his services in Malaysia for Pakistan. On 29th. April 2023 he was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Civil Laws by Twintech International University College of Technology for his active role in various organisations.