TopicsPolitician AnalysisAb Rauf Yusoh

Ab Rauf Yusoh

Ab Rauf Yusoh

Party
UMNO · United Malays National Organisation
Coalition
BN
Constituency
Tanjung Bidara
State
Melaka
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Why this matters to you

As Chief Minister of Melaka, Ab Rauf Yusoh leads the state government that directly governs land use, local infrastructure, tourism policy, and state-level business licensing that affect residents' livelihoods and cost of living in Melaka. His administration's investment drive — including targeting a RM10 billion investment milestone by 2030 and developing technology parks — has direct implications for job creation and economic opportunities for Melakans (Source: bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2420970). His stated priority of expanding TVET education and entrepreneurship support programmes means that policies on skills training and small business financing in the state are shaped by his administration's direction (Source: bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2316493). With the next Melaka state election approaching before the end of 2026, voters in Tanjung Bidara and across Melaka will decide whether to return his BN government to power (Source: nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/03/1396868/melaka-polls-likely-within-six-months).

Summary

Datuk Seri Ab Rauf bin Yusoh (born 20 September 1961) is the 13th Chief Minister of Melaka, a position he has held since 31 March 2023, and the ADUN for Tanjung Bidara since November 2021. A long-standing UMNO figure in Melaka, he also serves as State Chairman of BN and UMNO Melaka and is a member of the UMNO Supreme Council. His administration has centred on investment attraction, tourism expansion, and infrastructure development under the Melakaku Maju Jaya Strategic Plan 2035, with a state election expected before the end of 2026.

Biography

Datuk Seri Ab Rauf bin Yusoh was born on 20 September 1961 in Masjid Tanah, Melaka [1]. He received his early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Jeram before furthering his studies at Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM) in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur [2]. He is a member of UMNO and has served as State Chairman of Barisan Nasional (BN) and UMNO Melaka since July 2018, as well as UMNO Division Chief for Masjid Tanah and a member of the UMNO Supreme Council [1]. He made his electoral debut in the November 2021 Melaka state election, winning the Tanjung Bidara seat for BN with 3,559 votes in a three-cornered contest [1]. Following the election, he was appointed Senior EXCO Member for Investment, Industry, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives under Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali — a role that made him the de facto Deputy Chief Minister [1]. Prior to that, he served as Speaker of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly from May 2020 to October 2021 [1]. On 31 March 2023, he was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Melaka before Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam at Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh [2]. He is married to Datin Seri Zuriyah Aziz [2]. As of mid-2026, he has indicated the next Melaka state election will be held within the year, with the current assembly term expiring in December 2026 [3].

Known for

Ab Rauf Yusoh is known primarily as the 13th Chief Minister of Melaka, a position he has held since March 2023 after ascending from the roles of State Assembly Speaker and Senior EXCO Member. He has positioned himself as a proponent of investment attraction, tourism development, and economic modernisation for Melaka, including the Melakaku Maju Jaya Strategic Plan 2035. Within UMNO, he serves as both Melaka BN and UMNO State Chairman, and is a member of the UMNO Supreme Council.

Political positions

Ab Rauf Yusoh has consistently emphasised investment promotion and economic development as the central pillars of his administration. He has publicly pledged to make Melaka an investor-friendly state and has overseen efforts to attract foreign and domestic direct investment, including partnerships targeting the German Technology Park in Ayer Panas, Bemban, and a halal industry hub [2]. On tourism, he has championed the Visit Melaka Year programme and positioned the state to host the 2025 World Tourism Day and World Tourism Conference [2]. He has also prioritised TVET education as a path to producing skilled workers, and has promoted the development of Melaka as a TVET centre of excellence [2]. On party governance, he has taken a firm stance against assemblymen who break ranks, reflecting a discipline-first approach to coalition management. He has not publicly taken positions that deviate from the BN/UMNO federal coalition stance on major national policy issues.

References

  1. [1]en.wikipedia.org
  2. [2]bernama.com
  3. [3]nst.com.my

Education

  1. Early childhoodReceived early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Jeram, Masjid Tanah, Melaka.⛓
  2. Post-secondaryFurthered his studies at Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM) in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur.⛓

Political career

  1. July 2018Appointed State Chairman of BN and UMNO Melaka, consolidating his position as the top UMNO figure in the state.⛓
  2. 11 May 2020Elected as Speaker of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly, following BN's takeover of the state administration from Pakatan Harapan.⛓
  3. 20 November 2021Won the Tanjung Bidara seat in the 15th Melaka State Election with 3,559 votes in a three-cornered contest, defeating PN's Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (3,195 votes) and PH's Zainal Hassan (489 votes) by a majority of 364 votes.⛓
  4. 26 November 2021Appointed Senior EXCO Member for Investment, Industry, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives under Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali, serving as the de facto Deputy Chief Minister.⛓
  5. 31 March 2023Sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Melaka before Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam at Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh, following the resignation of Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.⛓
  6. 5 April 2023Swore in his state EXCO lineup, comprising 10 BN MLAs and 1 PH MLA, retaining seven members from the previous administration and appointing three new members.⛓
  7. March 2023Re-appointed as Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Melaka (UMNO Melaka State Chairman) by UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and won the Masjid Tanah UMNO Division Chief post unopposed.⛓

Election history

  • 2026Tanjung Bidara (Melaka State)Pending⛓
  • 2021Tanjung Bidara (Melaka State)Won⛓

Stance evolution

Public statements grouped chronologically. The party tag shows which party the politician was contesting under at that point.

  1. 2025UMNO
    • We are confident that investors will soon establish a presence at the GTP, as they are inspired by the success stories of German companies that have already invested in Melaka, some of which have been here for up to 50 years.

      Remarks to reporters after the MoU exchange ceremony between Melaka Corporation (MCorp) and the World Economic Council (WEC) for the German Technology Park. · Source

    • This project is also in line with the Melakaku Maju Jaya Strategic Plan 2035, as we aim to achieve not just rapid physical development but also balanced economic and social growth.

      Remarks at the opening of the Jalan Serkam-Bemban road in Jasin, Melaka. · Source

  2. 2024UMNO
    • A top priority is to develop Melaka as a renowned educational hub and a centre of excellence for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) through the establishment of a special unit under the supervision of Melaka Corporation (MCorp) for the coordination of TVET programmes and the establishment of the Melaka Centre of Excellence (MCOE).

      Winding-up speech at the Melaka State Legislative Assembly sitting. · Source

Perspectives on key issues

  • GovernmentAb Rauf Yusoh characterised his EXCO lineup as pro-business and pro-reform, and pledged to make Melaka an investor-friendly state upon assuming the chief ministership in March 2023 (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ab_Rauf_Yusoh). His administration has cited investment and tourism milestones — including FDI and DDI reaching RM8.18 billion in 2024, surpassing the RM5 billion target — as evidence of sound economic stewardship (Source: bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2460196).⛓
  • OppositionAccording to Wikipedia, fellow BN MLA Muhammad Jailani Khamis (Rembia) labelled Ab Rauf a 'backdoor' Chief Minister upon his appointment in March 2023, citing the fact that he was not directly elected to the post through a state election. Both Ab Rauf and Jailani have since parted ways within BN, with Jailani later reported to have joined PAS.⛓
  • ExpertMalay Mail reported that UiTM Melaka senior lecturer Dr Shafezah Abdul Wahab noted that BN still has strong potential ahead of the 2026 state election, but cautioned that stability alone is insufficient if the outcomes of the administration are not felt by voters, particularly on cost of living, employment and grassroots welfare.⛓
  • VerifiedFactsAb Rauf Yusoh won the Tanjung Bidara seat in November 2021 with 3,559 votes and a majority of 364 votes over PN's candidate. He was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Melaka on 31 March 2023. The Melaka state assembly term expires in December 2026, with the next election to be held before February 2027.⛓

Sources

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