Summary
Ahmad Faizal bin Azumu (Jawi: أحمد فيصل بن ازومو; born 10 June 1970), nicknamed Peja, is a Malaysian politician who served as the Minister of Youth and Sports in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration in August 2021, 12th and 13th Menteri Besar of Perak from May 2018 to his first resignation in March 2020 and again from March 2020 to his second resignation in December 2020.[1][2][3] He also served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tambun and Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Chenderiang from May 2018 to November 2022. He is a member, Deputy President and State Chairman of Perak and Pahang of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the PN and formerly Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions. He also served as the 2nd State Chairman of PN and BERSATU of Negeri Sembilan from May 2023 to February and January 2024 respectively.[4] He was also the State Chairman of PH of Perak.[5] He was one of the only two state leaders of Malaysia who has led state administrations of two different and opposing political coalitions alongside Mukhriz Mahathir.
Ahmad Faizal Azumu | |
|---|---|
| أحمد فيصل ازومو | |
 Faizal in 2022 | |
| Minister of Youth and Sports | |
| In office 30 August 2021 – 24 November 2022 | |
| Monarch | Abdullah |
| Prime Minister | Ismail Sabri Yaakob |
| Deputy | Ti Lian Ker |
| Preceded by | Reezal Merican Naina Merican |
| Succeeded by | Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan |
| Constituency | Tambun |
| Special Advisor to the Prime Minister | |
| In office 5 August 2021 – 16 August 2021 | |
| Monarch | Abdullah |
| Prime Minister | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| 12th and 13th Menteri Besar of Perak | |
| In office 13 March 2020 – 5 December 2020 | |
| Monarch | Nazrin Shah |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Saarani Mohamad |
| Constituency | Chenderiang |
| In office 12 May 2018 – 10 March 2020 | |
| Monarch | Nazrin Shah |
| Preceded by | Zambry Abdul Kadir |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Constituency | Chenderiang |
| 2nd Deputy President of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party | |
| Assumed office 23 August 2020 | |
| President | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Preceded by | Mukhriz Mahathir |
| 2nd State Chairman of the Perikatan Nasional of Negeri Sembilan | |
| In office 31 May 2023 – 12 February 2024 | |
| Deputy | Rafiei Mustapha |
| National Chairman | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Preceded by | Eddin Syazlee Shith |
| Succeeded by | Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker |
| 2nd State Chairman of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party of Negeri Sembilan | |
| In office 31 May 2023 – 28 January 2024 | |
| President | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Preceded by | Eddin Syazlee Shith |
| Succeeded by | Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Tambun | |
| In office 9 May 2018 – 19 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (BN–UMNO) |
| Succeeded by | Anwar Ibrahim (PH–PKR) |
| Majority | 5,320 (2018) |
| Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly for Chenderiang | |
| In office 9 May 2018 – 19 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Mah Hang Soon (BN–MCA) |
| Succeeded by | Choong Shin Heng (BN–MCA) |
| Majority | 39 (2018) |
| Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat | |
| 2018–2020 | Pakatan Harapan |
| 2020 | Malaysian United Indigenous Party |
| 2020–2022 | Perikatan Nasional |
| Faction represented in Perak State Legislative Assembly | |
| 2018–2020 | Pakatan Harapan |
| 2020 | Malaysian United Indigenous Party |
| 2020–2022 | Perikatan Nasional |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ahmad Faizal bin Azumu 10 June 1970 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia |
| Citizenship | Malaysian |
| Political party | United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (till 2017) Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) (since 2017) |
| Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN) (till 2017 aligned: 2020-2022) Pakatan Harapan (PH) (2017–2020) Perikatan Nasional (PN) (since 2020) |
| Relations | Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi (sister-in-law) |
| Alma mater | Edith Cowan University (ungraduated) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Other names | Peja |
| Website | Ahmad Faizal Azumu on Facebook |
He was removed from office of the Menteri Besar of Perak after losing the motion of the 2020 vote of no confidence in the Perak State Legislative Assembly on 4 December, and he served in caretaker capacity for another day despite his intention to only resign once the appointment of a new officeholder and formation of a new state administration take place.[6][7]
Background and education edit
Ahmad Faizal was born in Ipoh, Perak. He received his primary education at Cator Avenue School, Ipoh and had his secondary education at Anderson School, Ipoh.
Political career edit
He began his political career as a Special Officer to Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai between 2011 and 2013 before becoming Senior Special Officer to Kedah Mentri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir between 2013 and 2016. He is also formerly served in the Special Affairs Department (JASA).[8]
He was the former United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Ipoh Barat Youth chief (2016–2017) before he became Perak BERSATU chairman. He was subsequently named Perak Pakatan Harapan chairman in August 2017. He was appointed as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on 5 August 2021, who is in charge of advising Muhyiddin on matters related to community networking, community communications and socioeconomic development. [9]
Controversies edit
Ahmad Faizal was reported to have pursued a Business Studies degree from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia.[10] He however denied the reports and claimed that while he did pursue the course he had to put his studies on hold due to personal reasons. Ahmad Faizal holds a Masters Degree in Political Science from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.[11]
Ahmad Faizal has been very critical of the Orang Asli indigenous tribes ever since he took office as Menteri Besar. On 23 November 2018, Ahmad Faizal made a statement that the Orang Asli should improve themselves before asking for aid.[12] On 29 July 2019, Ahmad Faizal claimed that there is no definition or recognition of ancestral or customary land (tanah adat) for Orang Asli under the state constitution.[13] It was refuted by fellow PH's MP, Ramkarpal Singh and the Malaysian Bar.[14][15] During his administration, many Orang Asli residents were arrested for protesting over the state government's decision to acquire their land for logging activities.[16]
As special adviser to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, he faced brickbats from netizens for his apathy in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he posted a food review in his office.[17] Some questioned his appointment as special adviser in a time when the backdoor government was struggling with bloated spending.
On 13 June 2022, he made a statement on Twitter about Malaysian football supporters due to the Malaysian football team losing against Bahrain in Bukit Jalil National Stadium, causing a backlash from supporters. He later apologized.[18]
Filmography edit
Drama edit
| Year | Title | Role | TV channels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ratu Ten Pin 2 | Pak Peja | Astro Ria | Special Appearances in Drama Ratu Ten Pin 2 |
Discography
- Moh Perak Ke Kita (Moh Beraya) ft Shiha Zikir and Dato Jamal Abdillah
Personal life edit
He is married to Dr Nomee Ashikin Mohammed Radzi and has two children.[19] His sister-in-law who is Dr Nomee's younger sister; Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi is the UMNO turned independent and later hopped to BERSATU Tulang Sekah constituency MLA since 2008.[20]
Election results edit
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | P063 Tambun | Ahmad Faizal Azumu (BERSATU) | 38,661 | 44.46% | Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (UMNO) | 33,341 | 38.35% | 88,920 | 5,320 | 82.51% | ||
| Muhd Zulkifli Mohd Zakaria (PAS) | 14,948 | 17.19% | ||||||||||
| 2022 | Ahmad Faizal Azumu (BERSATU) | 45,889 | 36.78% | Anwar Ibrahim (PKR) | 49,625 | 39.77% | 126,444 | 3,736 | 77.71% | |||
| Aminuddin Md Hanafiah (UMNO) | 28,140 | 22.55% | ||||||||||
| Abdul Rahim Tahir (PEJUANG) | 1,115 | 0.89% | ||||||||||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | N47 Chenderiang | Ahmad Faizal Azumu (BERSATU) | 7,662 | 33.90% | Chong Shin Heng (MCA) | 7,623 | 33.70% | 17,441 | 39 | 77.20% | ||
| Nordin Hassan (PAS) | 1,735 | 7.70% | ||||||||||
Honours edit
Honours of Malaysia edit
Perak:
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2018)[24]
Member of the Order of the Perak State Crown (AMP) (2007)[25]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Perak Pakatan chairman Ahmad Faizal sworn in as Perak MB". The Star Online. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- ^ "Ahmad Faizal appointed as 13th Menteri Besar of Perak (in Malay)". Berita Harian. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Perak MB Ahmad Faizal Azumu loses vote of confidence". Malay Mail. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Eddin Syazlee dropped as Negri Perikatan chief". The Star. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Pakatan Harapan announces state chiefs". Free Malaysia Today. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- ^ "Constitutional experts: Ahmad Faizal practically ousted as MB, should resign with whole exco line-up". Malay Mail. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Ahmad Faizal resigns as Perak MB today". Malay Mail. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Perak demands for effective, transparent and honest new government: New Perak MB". New Straits Times. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Pakatan Harapan appoints state chiefs". New Straits Times Online. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- ^ "23部长"有经验"· 副部长多属新脸孔" [23 ministers are "experienced" and vice ministers are mostly new faces]. 星洲网. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Perak MB: Be truthful about qualifications". Malaysiakini. Bernama. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Orang Asli must uplift themselves before seeking aid – Perak MB". Bernama. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ John Bunyan (29 July 2019). "No such thing as Orang Asli ancestor land in the state, Perak MB told NGOs". Malay Mail. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ Martin Carvalho (30 July 2019). "Not recognising Orang Asli customary land rights is wrong, says Ramkarpal". The Star Online. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ Martin Carvalho (31 July 2019). "Malaysian Bar: Perak wrong to say Orang Asli have no customary rights". The Star Online. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "NGO wants 'anti-Orang Asli' Perak MB replaced". Malaysiakini. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Faizal fried by netizens over 'curry mee' TikTok video".
- ^ "Ahmad Faizal mohon maaf". Berita Harian Online. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Pelantikan YAB Ahmad Faizal Dato Azumu Menteri Besar Perak ke-12". Official Perak Government Portal (in Malay). Official Perak Government Portal. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- ^ Sylvia Looi and John Bunyan (14 May 2018). "New Perak MB keeps it in the family". Malay Mail. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Malaysia General Election : undiinfo Malaysian Election Data". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
- ^ a b "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE – 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ a b "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ "Perak MB now a 'Datuk Seri'". Bernama. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- ^ "CARIAN REKOD PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN/PINGAT NEGERI PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN". pingat.perak.gov.my.
External links edit
- Ahmad Faizal Azumu on Facebook
