Wan Muhamad Noor Matha

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) is a Thai politician who is serving as speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand since 2023. In addition, he has also held several executive positions such as the minister of the interior and deputy prime minister. He also served as the speaker of the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000, becoming the first Thai Muslim, ethnic Malay, and individual of ethnic minority descent who served as House speaker in non-consecutive terms.^[2]

Wan Muhamad Noor Matha MPCh MWM PBh
วันมูหะมัดนอร์ มะทา
Wan Noor in 2023
Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the National Assembly of Thailand
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 July 2023
Monarch	Vajiralongkorn
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha Srettha Thavisin Paetongtarn Shinawatra
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	(1944-05-11) 11 May 1944 (age 80) 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	Politician lecturer
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Volunteer Defense Corps
Rank	VDC General[1]

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.^[3]

Education

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Careers

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.^[3][6]

Political career

Wan Muhamad at Ban Hoe Mosque, Chiang Rai in 2009

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.^[7]

When New Aspiration Party dissolved and merged with the Thai Rak Thai party in 2001.^[8] He became Minister of Transport and Communications, in October 2002 Minister of the Interior.^[9]

As one of 111 executive members of the TRT, he was banned from political activities for five years after the 2006 coup d'état.^[10]

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.

Honours

Wan Muhamad Noor has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

• 1994 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant^[11]
• 1993 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand^[12]
• 2003 - Knight Grand Cross of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn^[13]

Medals

• 1983 - Border Service Medal^[14]
• 1950 - King Rama IX Coronation Medal
• 1973 - Serving Free People Medal
• 2007 - Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, 1st Class (Gold Medal)

Honorary PhD

 Malaysia :

• • Honorary Doctarate Degree (PhD) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in Islamic Studies (2024)