Background
Ghazali was born in 1922 in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.
Diplomat entrepreneur politician
Ghazali was born in 1922 in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.
He then studied at the University of Wales and the London School of Economics.
He served as Foreign Minister and Home Minister during his career. He was of Minangkabau descent from Rao, West Sumatra. He was part of the clandestine resistance to the Japanese occupation of Malaya in World World War World War II After a career in the civil service, Ghazali entered politics.
He served as Home and Information Minister from 1973 to 1981, and was then appointed as Foreign Minister until 1984.
As Foreign Minister, he was known for his role in Association of Southeast Asian Nations"s diplomacy in respect of conflict in Cambodia. Described as a "flamboyant politician", his nickname was "King Ghaz".
In 1982, Ghazali survived an aeroplane crash in which he was the pilot. His bodyguard and co-pilot were killed.
There had been reports (for example in the New York Times) that Ghazali had been killed in the crash.
A coroner later blamed the accident on what the coroner found to be Ghazali"s negligence. After leaving politics, he held a range of positions in the corporate sector and with international organisations. Ghazali died on 24 January 2010 at 7.45pm, at his home in Subang Jaya.
He was buried at Makam Pahlawan, Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur.
He represented the Parliamentary seat of Lipis from 1974, before which he was a member of the Dewan Negara (upper house of parliament).