TopicsPolitician AnalysisAbu Bakar Hamzah

Abu Bakar Hamzah

Party
BERSATU · Malaysian United Indigenous Party
Coalition
PN
Constituency
Kuala Perlis
State
Perlis
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Why this matters to you

As Menteri Besar of Perlis, Abu Bakar Hamzah holds the highest executive authority in the state, meaning his decisions directly affect the allocation of state funds for local infrastructure, rural development, and public services in Perlis (Source: bernama.com). His stated priority of developing the state's tourism sector and advancing cross-border connectivity — including a new ferry route to southern Thailand — has direct implications for livelihoods in Kuala Perlis and the broader Perlis economy (Source: thestar.com.my). His management of the PN coalition's internal dynamics determines the stability of the state government and, by extension, the continuity of existing state programmes for Perlis residents (Source: freemalaysiatoday.com).

Summary

Abu Bakar bin Hamzah is a BERSATU politician who has served as the Kuala Perlis assemblyman since November 2022 and became Menteri Besar of Perlis on 28 December 2025, succeeding PAS's Mohd Shukri Ramli who resigned citing health reasons [1]. He is the State Chairman of BERSATU Perlis and Deputy Chairman I of PN Perlis, and his appointment as Menteri Besar followed a period of inter-party tension within the PN coalition in the state [2]. He has stated that his administration's primary focus is on state development and restoring unity within Perikatan Nasional [2].

Biography

Abu Bakar bin Hamzah is a Malaysian politician who serves as the Menteri Besar of Perlis and as the Member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kuala Perlis. He is 57 years old [1] and is a member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition [3]. He holds the positions of State Deputy Chairman I of PN Perlis, State Chairman of BERSATU Perlis, and Division Chief of BERSATU Kangar [3]. Abu Bakar made his electoral debut in the November 2022 state election, winning the Kuala Perlis seat by a majority of 154 votes over the incumbent Pakatan Harapan assemblyman [4][5]. He was first appointed to the Perlis State Executive Council (EXCO) in November 2024, following two earlier unsuccessful bids for the position, and was entrusted with the Tourism, Arts and Culture as well as Rural Development portfolios [6]. On 28 December 2025, he was sworn in as Menteri Besar of Perlis before the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, at Istana Arau [1], succeeding PAS's Mohd Shukri Ramli who resigned citing health reasons [2]. His appointment was made in accordance with Articles 37 and 39 of the Perlis State Constitution [7]. Note: Sources conflict on his ordinal number as Menteri Besar — Bernama and Malay Mail describe him as the 9th, while NST and The Edge describe him as the 12th.

Known for

Abu Bakar Hamzah is known as the Bersatu state chairman who navigated a prolonged internal dispute with PAS within the Perikatan Nasional coalition in Perlis, ultimately assuming the Menteri Besar post in December 2025 following the resignation of his predecessor [2]. He has publicly stated that developing Perlis to be on par with other states is the top priority of his administration [2]. He also prioritises the restoration of PN coalition unity between Bersatu and PAS in Perlis [1].

Political positions

Abu Bakar has publicly committed to maintaining the Perikatan Nasional coalition framework and keeping BERSATU and PAS as coalition partners in Perlis [2]. As EXCO member, he oversaw the Tourism, Arts and Culture and Rural Development portfolios, and has promoted Perlis as a tourist destination and facilitated the development of the state's annual tourism event calendar, including international events [1]. As Menteri Besar, he has signalled plans to distribute EXCO portfolios equitably between BERSATU and PAS assemblymen [2]. He has also committed to maintaining good relations with the federal government and continuing existing state policies [1]. On cross-border connectivity, he is actively advancing a ferry service between Kuala Perlis and Satun, southern Thailand, and has indicated related legislation will be tabled at the state assembly [6].

References

  1. [1]bernama.com
  2. [2]freemalaysiatoday.com
  3. [3]en.wikipedia.org
  4. [4]bernama.com; note: The Edge reported a majority of 1
  5. [5]254 votes — figure conflict exists across sources
  6. [6]thestar.com.my
  7. [7]malaymail.com

Political career

  1. 19 November 2022Made his electoral debut in the 2022 Perlis state election, winning the Kuala Perlis seat under the Perikatan Nasional banner, narrowly defeating incumbent Pakatan Harapan MLA Nor Azam Karap by a majority of 154 votes.⛓
  2. 19 November 2022Took his seat as Member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly for Kuala Perlis.⛓
  3. November 2022Not appointed to the Perlis State Executive Council (EXCO) when the PN state administration was first formed, despite holding the position of State Chairman of BERSATU Perlis and PN Deputy Chairman I.⛓
  4. 16 November 2023Again excluded from the Perlis EXCO in a reshuffle by then-Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, despite backing from BERSATU President Muhyiddin Yassin. Abu Bakar publicly expressed regret and called for Mohd Shukri to step down.⛓
  5. 25 November 2024Appointed to the Perlis State EXCO for the first time in a second reshuffle, receiving the Tourism, Arts and Culture and Rural Development portfolios.⛓
  6. 28 December 2025Sworn in as Menteri Besar of Perlis before the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, at Istana Arau, succeeding PAS's Mohd Shukri Ramli who resigned on 25 December 2025 citing health reasons.⛓

Election history

  • 2022Kuala PerlisWon⛓

Stance evolution

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

  1. 2025BERSATU
    • PAS and Bersatu are one family, and whatever disagreements we have will be resolved in the near future.

      Said to reporters after his swearing-in as Menteri Besar of Perlis at Istana Arau on 28 December 2025. · Source

    • I hope relations within PN will remain good until the end of the term.

      Said to reporters after his swearing-in as Menteri Besar of Perlis at Istana Arau on 28 December 2025, as reported by Bernama. · Source

Perspectives on key issues

  • GovernmentPerlis State Secretary Datuk Rahimi Ismail confirmed that the Raja of Perlis consented to appoint Abu Bakar as Menteri Besar, stating the appointment was made in accordance with Articles 37 and 39 of the Perlis State Constitution.⛓
  • VerifiedFactsMultiple sources — Bernama, The Star, Malay Mail, Free Malaysia Today, and NST — confirm Abu Bakar was sworn in as Menteri Besar of Perlis on 28 December 2025 after winning the Kuala Perlis seat at the 2022 state election.⛓
  • OppositionPAS announced that its assemblymen would not participate in the new Perlis state government EXCO formed under Abu Bakar, with all existing PAS EXCO members set to resign in solidarity with former Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.⛓
  • PublicThe Raja of Perlis called for all speculation and allegations to end following Abu Bakar's appointment, urging all PN assemblymen to reunite and work together for the interests of the state and its people.⛓

Sources

Every URL the AI used to draft this profile, for editor and reader verification.

Reviewed by editorHigh confidence