DEPUTY Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, who died at Pontian Hospital today, was born and raised in Mukim Serkat, Pontian.

Dr Farid, who became Tanjung Piai MP after winning the seat in the 14th general election last year, received his early education at SK Andek Mori, Serkat.

He later furthered his studies at SM Sains Muzaffar Syah, Malacca, before pursuing his A-Levels studies at Bedford Modern School in the United Kingdom.

He began his medical career in 2001 after graduating from the University of Belfast with a Bachelor of Medicine degree.

In 2008, he earned his anaesthesiology degree from the College of Anaesthesia, Royal College of Surgeon Ireland (RCSI), and went on to serve as an anesthesiologist in the UK before returning to Malaysia in 2014.

His involvement in politics began shortly after his return to Malaysia.

Though he was never geared towards politics, he became interested in the field after his mother, Norma Mohamed, who was former Umno Tanjung Piai Wanita chief, left the party in 2016.

His political career took off when he joined Bersatu and was appointed its Tanjung Piai division deputy chief.

Dr Farid won the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat in GE14 after defeating incumbent Wee Jeck Seng of MCA with 21,255 votes.

In October 2018, Dr Farid was conferred the Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka by Yang Dipertua Negri Malacca Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob, which carries the Datuk Wira title.

In January of this year, he received the honorary rank of Fire and Rescue Department deputy commissioner.

Dr Farid, who married Farah Syazwani Hanis Ismail in 2009, also leaves behind three daughters – Sophie Farissya, Eva Ariaana and Zara Aleena. – Bernama, September 21, 2019.