Shahid Rafique Malik[1] (Urdu: شاہد رفیق ملک نے; born 24 November 1967) is a British technology and media industry chairman and former politician.
In his last ministerial role, he led the British government's efforts in fighting extremism; overseeing race, faith, and community cohesion; developing the Thames Gateway; and managing the Fire and Rescue Service.
[7] After graduating, Malik initially worked with the East Lancashire Training and Enterprise Council in a business development capacity and later served as chief executive of the Pakistan Muslim Centre in Sheffield and the Haringey Regeneration Agency.
[15] In April 2003, Malik won a public apology and "substantial" libel damages after being wrongly accused of throwing bricks during the riots in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph on 17 January 2002.
Malik's lawyer told the High Court in London: "At the time referred to in the article, he was acting as a mediator and peacemaker in a volatile situation following disturbances in Burnley.
He also served on the Environmental Audit Select Committee until the cabinet reshuffle of May 2006 when he was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the then Minister of State for Schools Jim Knight.
Soon after his election to the House of Commons in 2005, Malik became one of the public faces of Muslim leadership in the UK and a leading voice in the battle with Islamic extremism in Britain.
In 2008, he was made an honorary Doctor of the University of Bradford for his contributions as Member of Parliament and, in particular, in recognition of the distinctive role he has played in working towards community cohesion and in striving for racial harmony.
[20] Just two months after Malik was elected to the House of Commons, it was revealed that the leader of the 7 July 2005 London bombings, Mohammad Sidique Khan, came from his Dewsbury constituency.
"[22] Malik found controversy in February 2007 when he wrote, again in The Times, that the Muslim Council of Britain should "stop whingeing and show leadership."
Referring to their decision not to play a part in Holocaust Memorial Day, Malik wrote: "Its flawed moral leadership places the MCB alongside the likes of the BNP leader, Nick Griffin, as nonattendees.
"[23] In October 2006 Malik garnered national attention when he spoke out in support of the decision to suspend, and later sack, a Muslim teaching assistant from Dewsbury for refusing to remove her veil in the classroom.
I believe the education authority has bent over backwards to be accommodating and has been extremely reasonable and sensible in the decision it has come to.” "There is no religious obligation whatsoever for Muslim women to cover themselves up in front of primary school children.
"There are no laws stating what clothes or attire are acceptable and so whether one chooses to wear a veil or burqa, a miniskirt or goth outfit is entirely at the individual's discretion.
[28][29] In his speech on election night, Malik also accused the independent candidate, Khizar Iqbal, of being "brought forward not to win but to make sure that I lost".
[31][32][33] Malik was responsible for the UK's largest global aid programmes including in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as the Middle East and North Africa, the rest of Asia, South America and Europe.
In this role he acted as an honest broker engaging with the Maoists leader Chairman Prachanda and the seven party alliance including PM Koirala.
[47][48][49][50] Malik was responsible for ensuring the £9 billion Olympic legacy investment had a beneficial impact on the regeneration of East London for the next twenty years.
He also oversaw work with major businesses such as Land Securities PLC and helped initiate the dredging of the Dubai Ports World's £1.8 billion UK investment.
[51] He dealt with local authorities and private sector organisations to develop the Thames Gateway project and was responsible for the appointments of board members on the Olympic Park Legacy Company.
The defending newspaper suggested the case was attack on freedom of speech and a petition was presented to the Prime Minister protesting against Malik's legal action.
[56] In a trial at the High Court, despite the country's most senior Libel Judge, Lord Justice Eady, ruling in favour of Mr Malik giving him victory on three of the four defences that the Press newspaper, Lockwood and Scott had put forward against Mr Malik's defamation claim, the case ended in a mistrial due to the jury's inability to arrive at a majority of at least 10 out of 12 on the fourth defence.
In the statement, Scott stated "I am happy to make clear that my letter was never intended to accuse Malik of orchestrating gangs of thugs or playing the race card.
"[59] Malik criticised the BBC's decision not to broadcast an appeal by the Disaster and Emergencies Committee to help raise millions of pounds for people in need of food, medicines and shelter following Israel's three-week assault on the Palestinian territory.
Former Government adviser Paul Richards criticised the move, saying: "There is a real danger that if ministers relax the focus on Muslim youth, then it dilutes efforts to tackle terrorism".
Malik said Prevent, which includes measures like helping mosques to spot the early signs of extremism in vulnerable youngsters, was too focused on the Muslim community.
[70] In December 2009, a 55-year-old man from Woodley, Berkshire pleaded guilty under the Malicious Communications Act of 1988, of sending an indecent or grossly offensive email to Malik for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety.