Wan Muhamad Noor Matha | |
|---|---|
วันมูหะมัดนอร์ มะทา | |
 Wan Noor in 2023 | |
| Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the National Assembly of Thailand | |
| Assumed office 5 July 2023 | |
| Monarch | Vajiralongkorn |
| Prime Minister | Prayut Chan-o-cha Srettha Thavisin |
| Preceded by | Chuan Leekpai |
| In office 24 November 1996 – 27 June 2000 | |
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Prime Minister | Banharn Silpa-archa Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Chuan Leekpai |
| Preceded by | Booneua Prasertsuwan |
| Succeeded by | Bhichai Rattakul |
| Leader of Prachachat Party | |
| In office 31 October 2018 – 3 July 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Tawee Sodsong |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand | |
| In office 10 March 2004 – 6 October 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra |
| Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives | |
| In office 6 October 2004 – 11 March 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra |
| Preceded by | Somsak Thepsuthin |
| Succeeded by | Sudarat Keyuraphan |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office 3 October 2002 – 10 March 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra |
| Preceded by | Purachai Piamsomboon |
| Succeeded by | Pokin Palakul |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 17 February 2001 – 3 October 2002 | |
| Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra |
| Preceded by | Suthep Thaugsuban |
| Succeeded by | Suriya Juangroongruangkit |
| In office 13 July 1995 – 24 November 1996 | |
| Prime Minister | Banharn Silpa-archa |
| Preceded by | Vichit Suraphongchai |
| Succeeded by | Suwat Liptapanlop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 May 1944 Mueang, Yala, Thailand |
| Political party | Prachachat |
| Other political affiliations | Social Action (until 1984) Democrat (1985–1987) Solidarity (1987–1992) New Aspiration (1992–2002) Thai Rak Thai (2002–2006) People's Power (2007–2008) Matubhum (2010–2012) Pheu Thai (2012–2018) |
| Alma mater | Chulalongkorn University |
| Profession | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Thailand |
| Branch/service | Volunteer Defense Corps |
| Rank | VDC Gen.[2] |
Wan Muhamad Noor Matha (Thai: วันมูหะมัดนอร์ มะทา; Thai pronunciation: [wān.muː.hà.mát.nɔː má.tʰāː] ⓘ; RTGS: Wanmuhamatno Matha), also called Wan Noor, (Thai: วันนอร์; Thai pronunciation: [wān.nɔː] ⓘ; RTGS: Wan No; born 11 May 1944 in Yala, Thailand) is a Thai politician and the current Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand since 2023. He was accepted by members of the House of Representatives without nominating anyone else. Furthermore, he was the former leader of the Prachachart Party (Party-list) before resigning according to the constitution to serve in the Speaker role. In addition, he has also held several ministerial positions such as the Ministry for the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister. He was also the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 20th House of Representatives (before he served again in the 26th House of Representatives) during the Thaksin Shinawatra government (and he is also the first Thai Muslim, ethnic Malay and individual of ethnic minority descent who served as House Speaker, twice non-consecutively).[3]
In addition, he is also the founder of Wahdah, a small political faction grouping of minority ethnic Malay-Muslim politicians hailing from the Southern provinces and is a former university lecturer at Songkhla Rajabhat University and Thaksin University.[4]
Wan Muhamad Noor Matha firstly attended primary school at Ban Sateng School, Yala Province, then he furthered his lower secondary education at Kanaratbamrung School, also in Yala Province and later finished his upper secondary education at the Islamic College of Thailand in Bangkok.[5]
After that he received a Bachelor's degree of Education at Chulalongkorn University with a Ministry of Interior scholarship and had a Master's degree in the Faculty of Education (Educational Administration) from the aforementioned university as well.[6]
He began to serve as a teacher and was appointed head teacher at Attarkiah Academy in Narathiwat Province when he was only 20 years old. In 1969, he moved to become a teacher at Songkhla Teachers College (currently Songkhla Rajabhat University). In 1975, he was a professor of the Faculty of Education, Srinakharinwirot University, Songkhla (now Thaksin University) and is a special professor Faculty of Education at Prince of Songkla University as well.
Then in the year 1978 he was appointed Vice President of Songkhla Teacher College.[4][7]
He was elected to the Thai House of Representatives in 1979, representing Yala Province and the Social Action Party until 1984. He moved to the Democrat Party in 1986, to the Solidarity Party in 1988, and to the New Aspiration Party in 1992. Each time he took a group of representatives from the Muslim-majority provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala—called "Wahdah Group"—with him. After 1980 he worked in the Ministry of Finance and Industry. From 1994 to 1995, he was appointed Deputy Minister of the Interior and was President (Speaker) of Parliament from November 1996 to June 2000.[8]
When New Aspiration Party dissolved and merged with the Thai Rak Thai party in 2001.[9] He became Minister of Transport and Communications, in October 2002 Minister of the Interior.[10]
As one of 111 executive members of the TRT, he was banned from political activities for five years after the 2006 coup d'état.[11]
After the 2006 Thai coup d'état and Thaksin's fall, Wan Noor was appointed Director of the National Drug Control Centre and promised vigorous action. He initially joined the TRT's successor party People's Power Party in 2008, but at the time a five-year ban on political activity was enforced. The Wahdah Group evolved into the Matubhum Party.
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