Abdul Ghafar Saad

Summary

Abdul Ghafar bin Saad is a BERSATU politician serving as the Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) for N.21 Guar Chempedak in Kedah since August 2023, having won the seat in the 15th Kedah State Election with a majority of 12,109 votes [1]. He is a member of Perikatan Nasional's BERSATU component and was fielded as a new face, replacing the previous incumbent at the seat [2]. In the Kedah State Legislative Assembly, he has raised questions on investment, tourism, and cost-of-living issues including the federal SST [2].

Biography

Abdul Ghafar bin Saad is a Malaysian politician serving as the Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) — Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly — for the N.21 Guar Chempedak seat since August 2023 [3]. He is a member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) and sits within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, which governs Kedah state [3]. He was fielded as a new face by PN for the 15th Kedah State Election (PRN15), replacing the previous incumbent Datuk Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail at the Guar Chempedak seat [2]. In the August 12, 2023 state election, Abdul Ghafar won the three-cornered contest with 17,266 votes — representing 57.4% of votes cast — defeating BN candidate Abdul Paris Abdul Hamid (5,157 votes) and independent Cikgu Ku Abdul Halim (176 votes) by a majority of 12,109 [4]. His candidacy was formally gazetted by the Election Commission of Malaysia [5]. In the Kedah State Legislative Assembly, he has raised oral questions on the state government's investment missions, Kedah tourism strategy, and cost-of-living issues including the implementation of the Sales and Services Tax (SST). No pre-political career, education background, or party position details have been sourced from the allowlist domains at the time of writing. Note to editor: Guar Chempedak is a state constituency (DUN) within the federal parliamentary constituency of Jerai. Abdul Ghafar Saad holds a state seat, not a federal parliamentary seat.

Known for

Abdul Ghafar Saad is known as the BERSATU-PN ADUN for Guar Chempedak, elected in the 2023 Kedah state election with one of the largest vote majorities in the Jerai parliamentary area [6]. Within the Kedah State Legislative Assembly, he has been active in raising questions on economic development, investment attraction, and tourism, as well as social-religious proposals such as advocating for a temporary suspension of shopping mall operations during Friday prayer times in Kedah [2]. He represents a constituency situated in the predominantly Malay rural district of Yan, Kedah [3].

Political positions

Based on his recorded activities in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly, Abdul Ghafar Saad has raised questions and participated in debates touching on economic investment, the Kedah state government's foreign investment missions (including to China), tourism development under Tahun Melawat Kedah 2025 and beyond, and the broader Malaysia Year of Tourism 2026 [2]. He participated in the DUN Kedah debate on a motion passed in August 2025 calling on the federal government to review the implementation of SST, a motion the PN state government framed as reflecting the cost-of-living concerns of Kedah residents [2]. He has also proposed that local authorities in Kedah require shopping malls to temporarily pause business operations during Friday prayer times, framing the proposal as aligned with the state's 'The Greater Kedah' vision [2]. No published positions on federal-level policies, health, education, or housing have been sourced from the allowlist at the time of writing.

Political career

1. July 2023Abdul Ghafar Saad was announced as the PN-BERSATU candidate for N.21 Guar Chempedak in the 15th Kedah State Election (PRN15), replacing incumbent Datuk Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail.⛓
2. August 2023Abdul Ghafar Saad won the N.21 Guar Chempedak state seat in the PRN15 Kedah State Election, securing 17,266 votes (57.4%) against BN and independent opponents, with a majority of 12,109.⛓
3. March 2024Abdul Ghafar Saad raised an oral question in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly regarding the state government's investment mission and working visit to China in January 2024.⛓
4. November 2024Abdul Ghafar Saad proposed during a DUN Kedah sitting that local authorities require shopping malls to temporarily halt business operations during Friday prayer times, as part of the state's 'The Greater Kedah' vision.⛓
5. November 2025Abdul Ghafar Saad raised an oral question in the Kedah DUN regarding the state's tourism promotion efforts and the Malaysia Year of Tourism 2026.⛓
6. August 2025Abdul Ghafar Saad participated in the DUN Kedah debate on a motion calling on the federal government to review SST implementation, which the assembly passed.⛓
7. April 2026Abdul Ghafar Saad raised an oral question in the Kedah DUN on the state's tourism investment strategy, prompting the state Exco to respond on long-term tourism development plans.⛓

Election history

• 2023Guar Chempedak (N.21, Kedah State)Won57.4%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsAbdul Ghafar Saad won the N.21 Guar Chempedak state seat in PRN15 (August 2023) with 17,266 votes and a majority of 12,109, as confirmed by The Star election results and Utusan Malaysia.⛓
• VerifiedFactsThe Election Commission of Malaysia's official gazette confirms Abdul Ghafar bin Saad as a candidate for N.21 Guar Chempedak in the 15th Kedah State Election.⛓
• GovernmentSinar Harian reported that Abdul Ghafar Saad participated in the DUN Kedah debate on a motion passed by the PN state government calling on the federal government to review the SST, framed as a response to cost-of-living pressures on Kedah residents.⛓
• PublicSinar Harian reported Abdul Ghafar Saad's proposal that local authorities in Kedah enforce temporary suspension of mall operations during Friday prayer times, a proposal made in the context of the PN state government's 'The Greater Kedah' vision.⛓