Abd Ghani Ahmad

Summary

Abd Ghani bin Ahmad (born 3 June 1970) is the PAS Member of Parliament for Jerlun (P005), Kedah, under the Perikatan Nasional coalition, having won the seat in November 2022 with a majority of 20,456 votes. A UKM-trained holder of a PhD in industry and a degree in Islamic Studies (Syariah), he brings over two decades of state-level political experience, including as a Kedah EXCO member under the 2010–2013 Pakatan Rakyat state government. In Parliament, he has been active on issues of Islamic legal reform, anti-corruption enforcement, and fiscal accountability.

Biography

Dr Haji Abd Ghani bin Ahmad (born 3 June 1970) is a Malaysian politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jerlun (P005, Kedah) under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner since November 2022 [1]. He is a member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a component party of PN [1]. Academically, he holds a Doctor of Philosophy in industry and a Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Studies (Syariah), both from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) [1]. He is listed by Parliament of Malaysia as YB Dr. Haji Abd Ghani bin Ahmad, representing constituency P005 Jerlun for PN [2]. Abd Ghani's political career spans more than two decades. He was first elected to the Kedah State Legislative Assembly for the Ayer Hitam seat in 1999, lost it in 2004, regained it in 2008, and held it until 2013 [1]. He served as a member of the Kedah State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak in the Pakatan Rakyat state government from March 2010 until the collapse of the PR administration in May 2013 [1]. He lost the Ayer Hitam state seat to Mukhriz Mahathir of BN in the 2013 state election [1]. In GE14 (2018), he contested the Jerlun federal seat and lost to Mukhriz Mahathir of Pakatan Harapan, receiving 23.7% of votes [3]. In GE15 (November 2022), he won the Jerlun parliamentary seat, obtaining 31,685 votes with a majority of 20,456, defeating incumbent Mukhriz Mahathir of Pejuang, BN's Datuk Othman Aziz, and PH's Dr Mohamed Fadzil Mohd Ali [4]. He also serves as the Jerlun PAS chief [5].

Known for

Abd Ghani Ahmad is known as an opposition MP who actively uses his Dewan Rakyat platform to push for Islamic legal reform, notably calling for the re-tabling of Bill 355 to raise Shariah court penalties to parity with civil courts [6]. He has also raised governance and fiscal accountability issues in Parliament, including questioning the Inland Revenue Board's enforcement against high-value tax defaulters [6]. As Jerlun PAS chief and federal MP, he represents a constituency where rice farming and agricultural livelihoods are central concerns for constituents [7].

Political positions

Abd Ghani Ahmad has consistently advocated for the re-tabling of amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Bill 355), arguing that shariah punishments should be placed on equal footing with civil court penalties [6][8]. On anti-corruption, he has called for maximum jail terms, hefty fines, and asset forfeiture for those convicted of corruption, stating that current measures of disciplinary action or suspension are insufficient [9][8]. On fiscal accountability, he questioned the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) over its enforcement against ultra-wealthy tax defaulters, citing a rise in uncollected government receivables [6][10]. He has also raised questions about governance in public institutions, including the UKM vice-chancellor issue and Socso's use of AI in fraud detection [11]. During the 2022 election campaign, he pledged to address water supply shortages and road infrastructure in Jerlun, and to advocate for farmers' welfare and access to agricultural subsidies [9][12].

Education

1. Pre-2000Obtained Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Studies (Syariah) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).⛓
2. Pre-2022Awarded Doctor of Philosophy in industry from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).⛓

Political career

1. November 1999First elected as Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly for the Ayer Hitam seat.⛓
2. March 2004Lost the Ayer Hitam state seat to Othman Aziz of Barisan Nasional in the 2004 state election.⛓
3. March 2008Regained the Ayer Hitam state seat, defeating Othman Aziz in the 2008 Kedah state election.⛓
4. March 2010Appointed as Member of the Kedah State Executive Council (EXCO) by Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak under the Pakatan Rakyat state government.⛓
5. May 2013Lost the Ayer Hitam state seat to Mukhriz Mahathir of BN in the 2013 state election; Kedah EXCO role ended with collapse of the PR state government.⛓
6. May 2018Contested the Jerlun federal parliamentary seat for the first time in GE14, receiving 23.7% of votes (12,829 votes), and lost to Mukhriz Mahathir of Pakatan Harapan.⛓
7. 19 November 2022Won the Jerlun federal parliamentary seat (P005) in GE15 under the PN banner, receiving 31,685 votes with a majority of 20,456, defeating incumbent Mukhriz Mahathir (Pejuang), Datuk Othman Aziz (BN), and Dr Mohamed Fadzil Mohd Ali (PH).⛓

Election history

• 2022JerlunWon⛓
• 2018JerlunLost23.7%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• OppositionAbd Ghani Ahmad uses his parliamentary position to push for Shariah legal reform (Bill 355), stricter anti-corruption penalties, and accountability from federal revenue authorities, positioning himself as an opposition check on the Madani government.⛓
• PublicLawyer-activist Siti Kasim challenged Abd Ghani to repeat outside Parliament his claims that she had insulted Islam, saying she could not sue him due to parliamentary immunity, and questioning whether he could substantiate the allegations.⛓
• VerifiedFactsAbd Ghani Ahmad won the Jerlun (P005) seat in GE15 with 31,685 votes and a majority of 20,456. He is confirmed by Parliament of Malaysia's official members list as YB Dr. Haji Abd Ghani bin Ahmad, PN, P005 Jerlun.⛓