Abdul Hadi Awang

Summary

Abdul Hadi Awang (born 20 October 1947) is the President of PAS and Member of Parliament for Marang, Terengganu, serving in that parliamentary seat from 1990 to 2004 and again since 2008. A trained Islamic scholar with degrees from the Islamic University of Madinah and Al-Azhar University, he has been the principal figure of Malaysia's main Islamist party for over two decades, having served as Terengganu Menteri Besar (1999–2004) and Federal Opposition Leader (2003–2004). As of 2026, he remains PAS president, leads the party's engagement within the Perikatan Nasional coalition ahead of GE16, and represents the Marang parliamentary constituency in the Dewan Rakyat.

Biography

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang was born on 20 October 1947 in Kampung Rusila, Marang, Terengganu [1]. He received his early education at Rusila National School and Marang Religious School before pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Syariah from the Islamic University of Madinah (1969–1973) and a Master's degree in Political Science (Siyasah Syar'iyyah) from Al-Azhar University, Cairo [2]. Upon returning to Malaysia, he served as an officer at the Terengganu Islam Foundation and joined Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia as Terengganu state chief [3]. He began PAS political involvement in 1964 and first contested elections in the 1978 Marang state constituency, which he lost by 64 votes [1]. He rose through PAS ranks, becoming Vice President in 1980, Deputy President in 1989, and Acting President in 2003 following the death of Fadzil Noor [1]. He officially became PAS President in 2005 and retained the post uncontested for the 2025–2027 term [4]. He served as the 11th Menteri Besar of Terengganu from November 1999 to March 2004, and as Federal Opposition Leader from 2003 to 2004 [1]. He has been Member of Parliament for Marang from 1990 to 2004 and again since 2008 [1]. He was appointed Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the Middle East with ministerial rank on 2 April 2020 under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, a post he held until August 2021 [5]. He has 14 children from two marriages and has authored over 160 books on Islamic topics [4].

Known for

Abdul Hadi Awang is the longest-serving president in PAS's history, having led the party since 2003. He is known for his push to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act via a private member's bill (RUU355), tabled in Parliament in April 2017, which drew national debate [6]. He is also closely associated with the 'Amanat Hadi' sermon of 1981, a politically significant address whose implications have been debated for decades [1].

Political positions

Abdul Hadi Awang has consistently championed the expansion of Islamic law in Malaysia's governance framework. His most concrete legislative initiative was the private member's bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (RUU355), tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in April 2017, which sought to expand the sentencing powers of Syariah courts [7]. He has argued that Islamic affairs fall within the jurisdiction of Malay Rulers and should not be subject to interference by non-Muslim legislators [8]. On international relations, Hadi served as Special Envoy to the Middle East from April 2020, with his brief covering religion, education, trade and investment interests in the region [9]. On domestic coalition politics, as of May 2026, Hadi stated that PAS was reassessing its alliance with Bersatu within Perikatan Nasional, citing a series of actions by Bersatu that the party found unsatisfactory [10]. On the GE16 prime ministerial candidate, Hadi stated in September 2025 that PAS preferred a candidate who was under 70 years old and physically healthy, and indicated he did not consider himself fit for the role [11].

Education

1. 1955Began formal education at Rusila National School, followed by secondary education at Marang Religious School and Sultan Zainal Abidin Religious Secondary School, Kuala Terengganu.⛓
2. 1969–1973Pursued a Bachelor's degree in Syariah at the Islamic University of Madinah, funded by the Saudi Arabian government.⛓
3. 1974–1976Obtained a Master's degree in Siyasah Syar'iyyah (Islamic Political Science) from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.⛓

Before politics

1. 1977–1978Served as an officer at the Terengganu Islam Foundation. Also joined Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), becoming its Terengganu state chief.⛓

Political career

1. 1964Began involvement in PAS politics at age 17, serving as branch secretary of PAS Kampung Rusila, Marang.⛓
2. 1976Appointed Terengganu PAS Youth Chief and member of the Central PAS Youth Council EXCO.⛓
3. 1978Appointed Acting Vice President of PAS Central; contested the Marang state constituency in GE4 for PAS, losing by 64 votes.⛓
4. 7 April 1981Delivered the 'Amanat Hadi' sermon at Kampung Banggol, Peradong, Kuala Terengganu, a speech whose political significance has been debated extensively since.⛓
5. 1982Won the Marang state seat (DUN) with a majority of 320 votes in GE5, though lost the Dungun parliamentary contest.⛓
6. 1989Elected PAS Deputy President when Fadzil Noor became party President.⛓
7. 1990First elected as Member of Parliament for Marang in GE8, a seat he has held in most subsequent elections.⛓
8. 2 November 1999Appointed 11th Menteri Besar of Terengganu after PAS won 28 of 32 state seats in GE10; served until March 2004.⛓
9. 2003–2004Served as Federal Opposition Leader, replacing the late Fadzil Noor. Lost the Marang parliamentary seat in the 2004 general election.⛓
10. 2005Officially confirmed as PAS President at the party convention, following his acting role since 2003.⛓
11. 2008Regained the Marang parliamentary seat in GE12, resuming his role as MP for Marang.⛓
12. April 2017Tabled a private member's bill (RUU355) in the Dewan Rakyat to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, seeking expanded sentencing powers for Syariah courts.⛓
13. 2 April 2020Appointed Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the Middle East with ministerial rank by PM Muhyiddin Yassin, covering religion, education, trade and investment interests.⛓
14. 16 August 2021Tenure as Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the Middle East ended following the collapse of the Muhyiddin-led Perikatan Nasional government.⛓
15. September 2025Retained PAS presidency uncontested at the party's 71st Annual General Assembly for the 2025–2027 leadership term.⛓

Election history

• 2022Marang (Parliament)Won⛓
• 2018Marang (Parliament)Won⛓
• 2013Marang (Parliament)Won⛓
• 2008Marang (Parliament)Won⛓
• 2004Marang (Parliament)Lost⛓
• 1999Marang (Parliament)Won⛓
• 1995Marang (Parliament)Won⛓
• 1990Marang (Parliament)Won⛓
• 1986Ru Rendang (State – DUN)Won⛓
• 1986Marang (Parliament)Lost⛓
• 1982Marang (State – DUN)Won⛓
• 1982Dungun (Parliament)Lost⛓
• 1978Marang (State – DUN)Lost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• ExpertUniversiti Malaya socio-political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi assessed that Abdul Hadi is seen as the most senior PAS leader with historical legitimacy and ideological influence within PN, but that his health and the demands of the PAS presidency open possibilities for alternative candidates for the Perikatan Nasional chairmanship.⛓
• ExpertDr Oh Ei Sun, adjunct senior fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, assessed that Hadi's 2020 appointment as Special Envoy to the Middle East was a political appointment to appease party presidents not included in Cabinet, entitling them to ministerial privileges domestically and abroad.⛓
• OppositionThe G25 group of former senior civil servants issued statements arguing that RUU355 (Abdul Hadi's private member's bill) is unconstitutional and would create two sets of laws for the same crimes, affecting all Malaysians regardless of religion.⛓
• VerifiedFactsThe Federal Court dismissed BN candidate Jasmira Othman's election petition on 15 November 2023, upholding Abdul Hadi's GE15 victory in Marang with a majority of 41,729 votes. The three-member bench ruled that the petitioner failed to prove the petition beyond reasonable doubt.⛓
• GovernmentWhen Abdul Hadi was appointed Special Envoy to the Middle East in 2020, the Prime Minister's Office stated his role was to advise the PM on enhancing Malaysia's interests in the region, covering fields of Islam, education, trade and investment, and that his work outcomes were reported directly to the Prime Minister.⛓

Notable legal history

Court record (finalised 1 February 2019, London High Court, Queen's Bench Division): Abdul Hadi Awang and Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown settled their defamation dispute via a consent order. Abdul Hadi withdrew his claims — filed in April 2017 over Sarawak Report's 2016 article alleging PAS received RM90 million from then-Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak — and Rewcastle-Brown withdrew her counterclaims. The consent order stipulated no order as to costs (Source: bernama.com; malaymail.com; malaysiakini.com). Rewcastle-Brown's position: She publicly stated she felt "utterly vindicated"; the original article remained online (Source: thestar.com.my). She subsequently disclosed to The Edge Malaysia that she received RM1.4 million from Abdul Hadi as part of the settlement (Source: theedgemalaysia.com). PAS's position: PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan denied that any payment was made, citing the consent order's no-costs provision (Source: theedgemalaysia.com; malaysiakini.com). PAS's political secretary also stated no costs order was made. Both parties' representatives stated the settlement's terms were confidential.