Abdul Rahim bin Thamby Chik (, ; born 10 April 1949) is a Malaysian politician. He was the 6th Chief Minister of Malacca from 1982 to 1994. He is a former Youth Chief of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a major component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He was aligned with Mahathir Mohamad during the 1987 UMNO General Assembly. He was a member and the Division Chief of Alor Gajah of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition and State Chairman of BERSATU of Melaka from January 2025 to 2026. He is also formerly the Chairman of the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) from 2010 to 2015. Presently, he is a member and Vice President of WAWASAN.

Personal life His father, Thamby Chik Abdul Karim, died before his 16th birthday.

Background Rahim is married to Puan Sri Zabedah Abdullah and the couple have 4 children; Zetty Juyanty, Tutty Rahiza, Petty Diyana and Rahimy. Their eldest daughter, Zetty married the former TV3 personality, Zahir Kelvin Ong Abdullah (né Kelvin Ong), an ethnic Chinese from Kuching, Sarawak.

Education Rahim received his primary school education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah. Then he studied at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ghafar Baba, Malacca and Sekolah Menengah Datuk Seri Amar DiRaja, Muar, Johor. He continued his studies at University of Malaya (UM) and managed to graduate with bachelor's degree of Applied Economy (1969–1973).

Controversies In 1994 Rahim was initially charged with the statutory rape of an underaged girl; however, the public prosecutor later withdrew the charge citing lack of evidence. He resigned as chief minister of Malacca and youth chief of UMNO amid allegations he had sexual relations with the 15-year-old girl. In 1995, Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader, Lim Guan Eng, who in the past had accused Rahim of raping the minor and had criticised the then-government for not acting against Rahim; was charged and sentenced to 18 months’ jail by the Melaka High Court for maliciously printing false news instead under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and under the Sedition Act 1948, but Lim was eventually released after 12 months.Luahan Hati Nenek Pendek Terhadap Rahim ‘Perogol Budak Bawah Umur’ Kenyataan Sabri bin Mohamed Yasin Bagi Pihak Ibunya Pendek binti Ahmad, HarakahDaily 3 November 1999

In 1999, Anwar Ibrahim in one of four police reports he made; Tun H.S. Lee report 22517/99 dated 20 August 1999 had accused that the then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah and Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail for abuse of power to cover-up the corruption case involving Rahim.Tiga tokoh didakwa -- Karpal, Marina dan Ezam mengaku tidak bersalah Utusan Malaysia, 15 January 2000.Ezam dipenjara dua tahun kerana miliki dokumen rasmi kerajaan Leong Kar Yen, MalaysiaKini 7 August 2002. A copy of the report was also sent to the Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) then.SURAT TERBUKA KEPADA KPN, Mat Zain bin Ibrahim - Abu Nuha Corner, 28 March 2010.Ezam ditahan bawah OSA -- Mengagih-agihkan dokumen rahsia kerajaan 6 November lalu , Azian Abd Aziz, Utusan Malaysia, 14 January 2000.

On 21 March 2011, Rahim was one of the 'Datuk T' trio; together with Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Datuk Shuaib Lazim who screened a sex video at Bilik Seri Makmur, Hotel Carcosa Seri Negara; claiming it was of the opposition leader then Anwar Ibrahim allegedly engaging a prostitute to journalists which Anwar had denied the allegation. On 24 June 2011, they were charged and fined by Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court for screening the sex video after they pleaded guilty."Peguam: Pakar Amerika 99.99% pasti Anwar" Kow Gah Chie, Malaysiakini.com 24 Jun 2011.

Rahim was fined RM1,900 in default three months imprisonment by the Shah Alam Sessions Court on 20 September 2016, for making an offensive comment about Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah on 25 September 2015. He also tendered a public apology to Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Tengku Amir, besides expressing remorse for his action. Rahim had earlier on 5 October 2015 claimed trial to an original charge of posting a seditious claim in his Facebook account that Tengku Amir was an apostate. However, the prosecution withdrew the charge after he pleaded guilty to the alternative charge.

Election results + Parliament of Malaysia Percentage figures based on total turnout.YearConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout1978P095 Alor Gajah (UMNO)22,74576.79%Yaakop Abdul Hassan (PAS)6,87623.21%15,869

+ Malacca State Legislative AssemblyYearConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout1982N04 Kelemak (UMNO)1986N03 Masjid TanahAbdul Rahim Thamby Chik (UMNO)5,19983.24%Kassim Yunus (PAS)1,04716.76%6,5624,15270.32%1990Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik (UMNO)6,26286.66%Kassim Yunus (PAS)96413.34%7,4625,29878.78%

Honours Honours of Malaysia

Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (1990) Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1980)

Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (1984) Recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)

Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (DPMJ) – Dato' (1982)

Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) – Datuk Amar (1986)

Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSSA) – Dato' Seri (1988)

References