Tan Sri Dato' Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria (born in 1966) is a Malaysian chartered accountant and a fellow of CPA Australia. He is currently the President of Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and also holds the post of President of Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia.
An avid polo player, Norza also plays tennis and his passion in badminton brought him into sports administration where he was elected President of the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association in 2010.
Having contributed at the grassroots level with the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association, Norza was the choice of the grassroots to become the President of Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in 2017 - a post which he holds until today.
His leadership at the helm of the BAM propelled Malaysia to the world stage of badminton. Norza is also a board member of National Sports Council (NSC) and Chairman of Audit Committee of NSC from 2018 until present.
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. The unanimous appointment, made at Badminton Asia's Annual General Meeting, is a tribute and recognition to the efforts that Norza has made in Malaysian badminton.
Norza's contribution to Malaysian sports was also recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) when he was appointed, on 12 July 2023, as the Chair of the Sports for All Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for the quadrennial term of 2023–2027. By virtue of the appointment, Norza also sits on the executive board of the OCA.
The appointments at the continental level is a culmination of Norza's experiences in various leadership positions in Malaysian sports. Among others:
- Chef de Mission (CDM) of Malaysia for the 28th Southeast Asian Games which was held from 5–16 June 2015 in Singapore. The gold medal tally achieved by the Malaysian contingent in Singapore is still the highest to date for a SEA Games held outside Malaysia.
- Chairman of the National Sports Institute Board (October 2013 - May 2017)
- Treasurer of the Football Association of Malaysia (May 2014 - March 2017)
- President of the Royal Malaysian Polo Association (RMPA) (2021 - 2022)
- President of the Putra Polo Club, Malaysia (August 2015 – present)
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 managerial, executive and high level positions with Bank Negara Malaysia, Petronas, SPK Sentosa, Mun Loong Berhad and Gabungan Strategik Sdn Bhd.
Norza sits on board of a public listed company (PLC) in Malaysia, Citaglobal Berhad, and was appointed as an Executive Chairman & President of the company since May 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.
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.,[1] Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad,[2] Samalaju Industrial Port Sdn Bhd,[3] 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 and TH Plantations Berhad.
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.
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.
Malaysia :
Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2020)[4][5]
Federal Territory (Malaysia) :
Grand Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SMW) – Datuk Seri (2015)[6]
Kelantan :
Knight Commander of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (DJMK) – Dato' (2006)[7]
Pahang :
Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato' (2004)
Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2016)[8]
Perlis :
Member of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (AMP) (2001)
Companion of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SMP) (2002)
