Khaidirah Abu Zahar

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Abu Zahar is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Khaidhirah. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berhormat Datuk
Khaidirah Abu Zahar
DPSM MLA
خضيرة أبو ظهر‎
Deputy Member of the
Malacca State Executive Council
(Economic Planning, Finance, Land Affairs, Non-governmental Agencies, Investment, Industry, Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Development)
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 April 2023
GovernorMohd Ali Rustam
Chief MinisterAb Rauf Yusoh
MemberAb Rauf Yusoh
ConstituencyRim
Deputy Speaker of the
Malacca State Legislative Assembly
In office
27 December 2021 – 6 April 2023
GovernorMohd Ali Rustam
Chief MinisterSulaiman Md Ali
(2021–2023)
Ab Rauf Yusoh
(March–April 2023)
SpeakerIbrahim Durum
Preceded byGhazale Muhamad
Succeeded byKerk Chee Yee
ConstituencyRim
Member of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly
for Rim
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 November 2021
Preceded byGhazale Muhamad
(BN–UMNO)
Majority1,327 (2021)
Faction represented in Melaka State Legislative Assembly
2021–Barisan Nasional
Personal details
Born
Khaidhirah binti Abu Zahar

(1984-03-02) 2 March 1984 (age 40)
Merlimau, Malacca, Malaysia
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (BN)
Spouses
Tengku Shafriz-Rullah Tengku Shahid
​
​
(m. 2006; div. 2010)​
Helmi Yusof
​
​
(m. 2011; div. 2016)​
Syfik Izdzywan Sidek
​
​
(m. 2020)​
RelationsAbu Zahar Ithnin (father)
Children1 daughter & 1 adopted son
Alma materUniversiti Teknologi MARA
University of Malaya
Occupation
  • Actress
  • director
  • politician
  • host
NicknameDira

Datuk Khaidhirah Abu Zahar (born 2 March 1984) is a Malaysian politician, host, director and former actress who has served as Deputy Member of the Malacca State Executive Council (EXCO) in the Barisan Nasional (BN) state administration under Chief Minister and Member Ab Rauf Yusoh since April 2023 and Member of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Rim since November 2021. She served as Deputy Speaker of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly from December 2021 to her appointment as a Deputy EXCO Member in April 2023. She is a member and the Division Vice Chief of Jasin of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. She is also popularly known by her screen name namely Dira.

She is the first actress to be elected as an elected representative after her win in the 2021 Malacca state election, overall the second celebrity to become a representative after the late former Senator Jins Shamsuddin.[1][2]

  1. ^ "Artis Pertama Menang Pilihan Raya, Selamat Berkhidmat Untuk Rakyat Dira Abu Zahar". Astro Gempak (in Malay). 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  2. ^ "PRN Melaka: Dira Abu Zahar artis pertama menang pilihan raya". Astro Awani (in Malay). 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.