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Malaysia Ismail Sabri Yaakob in 2021, Photo by OneNews-Wikimedia
10 of the Most Famous Malaysian Politicians
Malaysia operates in a constitutional monarchy with the head of state as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (He Who is Made Lord). The head of state is also referred to as the King or the Supreme Head.
The king’s election is by the Conference of Rulers made up of the rulers of the Malaysian states. He is also the Commander-in-Chief of the country’s Armed Forces.
Government comprises the executive, legislature, and judiciary. All three arms follow the Malaysian constitution to aid their operation.
The executive government consists of the Supreme Head, Prime Minister, and cabinet ministers. The judiciary has the Federal Court as its highest authority with other lower courts set up to deliver judicial services.
Legislative power belongs to the parliament. It’s a composition of the lower house (Dewan Rakyat) or the House of Representatives and the Senate (upper house) or Dewan Negara.
Here is a listing of the most prominent Malaysian politicians that have played a role in Malaysia’s governance over the years. Get to know them.
1. Mahathir Mohamad
Mahathir Mohamad in 2018 Photo by Kremlin-Wikimedia
Mahathir is a famous Malaysian politician born in the nation’s Alor Setar region on 10 July 1925. Besides politics, he has a background as a physician and an author.
His highest office in Malaysia’s political space was the position of the prime minister of Malaysia. He was the state’s fourth prime minister starting July 1981 to October 2003.
Mohamad later became the seventh prime minister of Malaysia from May 2018 to March 2020. He served twice in different regimes for a cumulative period of 24 years making him Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister.
Throughout his political career, he occupied different state offices. He was a member of parliament, Deputy Prime Minister, and Cabinet minister of various ministries.
Mahathir’s success in politics as prime minister was strengthening the economic status of Malaysia. He brought up relevant policy and implementation resulting in significant economic growth. He also increased foreign relations with countries across the globe.
2. Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Ismail Sabri Yaakob October 2021 Photo by OneNews-Wikimedia
Ismail Yaakob is a famed Malaysian politician, the ninth Prime Minister of Malaysia from August 2021. He was born in Malaysia at Temerloh, Pahang on18 January 1960. He is a Law major and a 1980 graduate of the University of Malaya. He practiced as a lawyer in his early career years.
Yaakob joined politics in 1987 as a Member of the Temerloh District Council. He later became a Member of Parliament (MP) starting in 2004 and was cabinet minister of different sectors.
He rose to become United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) vice-president. He was Leader of the Opposition in Parliament beginning in 2019 and appointed Deputy Prime Minister by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for a 40-day stint in July 2021.
Yaakob’s leadership in different capacities saw Malaysian citizens get food at affordable prices. Farmers obtained direct market to consumers eliminating middlemen. He enhanced rural infrastructure development to encourage young people to build their lives in rural areas.
3. Abdullah of Pahang
King Abdullah of Pahang at the Enthronement of Naruhito on October 21, 2019-Wikimedia
Abdullah of Pahang is a popular Malaysian politician serving as the 16th head of state of Malaysia sworn in on 31 January 2019. He was born in Pahang, Malaysia on 30 July 1959.
He attended Malaysian schools for his early education. He graduated with a Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy in 1981 from the United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth College.
His early career was in the military having trained at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom from 1978 to 1979. His political journey started with his appointment as the crown prince of Pahang (Tengku Mahkota), on 1 July 1975.
He held various positions of power until his highest position as King in 2019. His kingship has faced turbulent political times such as the Sheraton Move of 21 February 2020.
This saw members of parliament changing support of political parties resulting in no parliamentary majority. Tengku Abdullah managed to maintain the stability of the nation over the challenging period.
4. Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman 1960 Photo by Harry Pot-Wikimedia
Rahman Tunku was a Malaysian political great born in Alor Setar, Malaysia on 8 February 1903. He lived up to 6 December 1990.
He was a Law and History graduate from Cambridge University’s, St Catharine College in 1925. Tunku was the first prime minister of Malaysia.
Being among the pioneers of Malaysian politics, he played a memorable role in laying the foundation of the country’s operations. He also championed the independence of Malaysia. For his contribution, Tunku is honored as the founding father of the country and father of independence.
5. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, 2019 Photo-Wikimedia
Azizah Wan was a celebrated female Malaysian politician born in Singapore on 3 December 1952. She is an ophthalmologist by profession and a Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland graduate.
She joined politics to replace her husband Anwar Ibrahim after he went to prison. She started as a Member of Parliament and rose to the position of Deputy Prime Minister becoming the 12th to hold the office.
Azizah records history in Malaysia for becoming the first female Deputy Prime Minister and the first female Leader of the Opposition. The highest positions in the country’s history ever held by women.
She was also the first President of the People’s Justice Party (PKR) from April 1999 to November 2018. After which she handed over leadership to her husband Anwar when he left prison. She was a cabinet minister during the reign of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
6. Najib Razak
Najib Razak, in New Delhi on January 26, 2018, Photo by Prime Minister’s Office-Wikimedia
Razak Najib is a renowned Malaysian politician born on 23 July 1953 in the Pahang State. Starting in April 2009, he became the sixth prime minister of Malaysia serving until May 2018. His father Abdul Razak Hussein was also prime minister from 1970 to 1976.
Najib began his political career at 23 years. He was a Member of Parliament in 1976 to replace his father after his death. He served as cabinet minister for different industries. From November 2008 to May 2018 he was president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
His leadership as prime minister brought economic liberalization measures in Malaysia raising criticism. He cut government subsidies, lifted foreign investment restrictions, and reduced the preference for ethnic Malays in business.
Razak’s political career ended with an arrest by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on 3 July 2018. He was later convicted of corruption, fined RM210 million, and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.
7. Hussein Onn
Portrait of Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysian 3rd Prime Minister-Wikimedia
Onn Hussein was a notable Malaysian politician born in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on 12 February 1922. Hussein came from a political lineage.
His father Dato’ Onn Jaafar, was the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) co-founder and Malaysian independence fighter. His grandfather was chief minister during his time.
Before joining politics he was in civil service and practiced as a lawyer. He served as a Member of Parliament, became a minister then clinched the prime minister of Malaysia position making him the third to hold the office.
After retirement as prime minister, Hussein Onn continued to support welfare institutions. He helped establish the Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital. He advised the country’s oil company (Petronas) and chaired the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS).
Hussein Onn lived to the age of 68. He died on 29 May 1990 in Seton Medical Center in San Francisco, California.
8. Rina Harun
Rina Harun, 12 March 2021 Photo by Amir Noor Muhammad-Wikimedia
Harun Rina is a headline Malaysian female politician born on 18 April 1973 in Selangor, Malaysia. She is a Banking and Finance major and a graduate of Northwood University in Michigan, USA.
She was a commercial banker before venturing into politics. Rina has served as a member of parliament and cabinet minister under different regimes.
Rina was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). She left to occupy the position of first Women Chief of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) at its inception in 2016.
Her political mark in Malaysia is seen in her soldering for community development, especially in making the rural areas inclusive, suitable, and sustainable to live in. She has also fought for women’s respect and sustainability.
9. Muhyiddin Yassin
Muhyiddin Yassin State Department Photo-Wikimedia
Yassin Muhyiddin is a remarkable Malaysian politician born in Malaysia’s Johor area on 15 May 1947. He is a graduate of the University of Malaya (UM) and got into public service after his university studies.
Muhyiddin later joined politics and served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet minister in various functions. He was Malaysia’s eighth prime minister beginning March 2020 until August 2021. Yassin built his name in Malaysia’s politics by founding the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) in 2016.
10. Abdul Razak Hussein
Abdul Razak Hussein 1961 Photo (cropped)-Wikimedia
Razak Hussein was an outstanding Malaysian politician born on 11 March 1922 in Pahang. He became the second prime minister of Malaysia starting September 1970 until his death in January 1976.
His political praises came when he launched the Malaysian New Economic Policy (MNEP). His support for the inclusion of young leaders in important positions of leadership was a welcomed move by many during his reign as prime minister.
This listing only captures a few big-name Malaysian politicians. Take a look at these others that missed a spot on the list. Anwar Ibrahim, Yusof Ishak, Azmin Ali, Abdul Halim of Kedah and Lim Guan Eng.
Other noteworthy Malaysian politicians are Muhammad V of Kelantan, Yeo Bee Yin, and Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan. To conclude our list is Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Hishammuddin Hussein.
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