Ahmad Maslan

Summary

Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan is the Member of Parliament for Pontian, Johor, having held the seat since 2008, and currently serves as Deputy Minister of Works in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. A senior UMNO figure, he has held deputy ministerial roles across finance, trade, and public works portfolios in every government since 2009 except the Muhyiddin and Ismail Sabri administrations, and served as UMNO Secretary-General from 2020 to 2023. In September 2021, the High Court acquitted him of money laundering and false-statement charges after he paid a RM1.1 million compound, with the prosecution confirming the matter was finalised and no further charges would be brought.

Biography

Datuk Seri Ahmad bin Maslan (born 30 April 1966, Kampung Parit Yusuf, Benut, Pontian, Johor) is a Malaysian politician and Member of Parliament for Pontian, Johor, a seat he has held continuously since March 2008 [1]. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and Political Science from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and a Master of Business Administration from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia [1]. A member of UMNO and the Barisan Nasional coalition, Ahmad Maslan has served in multiple deputy ministerial portfolios across successive administrations. Under Prime Minister Najib Razak, he served as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (2009–2013), Deputy Finance Minister (2013–2017), and Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (April 2017–May 2018) [1]. Following BN's return to government as part of the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance I in December 2022, before being reassigned as Deputy Minister of Works in December 2023, a position he continues to hold under Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi [1]. Within UMNO, he served as Secretary-General from March 2020 to March 2023, and briefly as BN Secretary-General from January to June 2021 [2]. He has served as UMNO Pontian Division Chief and Johor UMNO Deputy Chairman since March 2023 [1]. Ahmad Maslan was first elected to Parliament in GE12 (2008) and has successfully defended his Pontian seat in GE13 (2013), GE14 (2018), and GE15 (2022), winning GE15 with a majority of 5,758 votes [3].

Known for

Ahmad Maslan is known as a long-serving UMNO lawmaker who has represented Pontian in Johor for over 16 years and has held deputy ministerial portfolios spanning finance, trade, and public works across multiple governments [1]. He served as UMNO Secretary-General during a turbulent period for the party (2020–2023) and has been an active voice in Dewan Rakyat on fiscal policy, illicit trade, and infrastructure matters [2]. He is also associated with publicly highlighting Malaysia's illicit cigarette market and calling for tax policy interventions to address lost tobacco tax revenue [4].

Political positions

As Deputy Minister of Works, Ahmad Maslan has been closely involved in the government's review of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system, including the halting of negotiations with the appointed central tolling company in December 2024, and has emphasised that financial viability must remain the government's priority in approving new highway projects [5]. He has also championed SST exemptions for residential construction projects and essential building materials such as cement, aggregate, and sand to ease costs for developers and support housing affordability [6]. As former Deputy Minister of Finance I, he publicly supported the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) programme, describing it as the highest cash assistance in the country's history and highlighting its multiplier effect on the B40 group and small traders [6]. On tobacco policy, he has advocated for reducing tobacco taxes as a mechanism to curb the illicit cigarette market, arguing that making legal cigarettes more affordable would reduce illegal trade and recover government revenue [4]. He has also proposed that the Construction Labour Exchange Centre Berhad (CLAB) manage foreign worker recruitment for the construction sector to reduce worker welfare abuses and worker dumping [6].

Education

1. Late 1980sGraduated with a Bachelor of Economics and Political Science from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.⛓
2. Early 1990sReceived a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).⛓

Political career

1. March 2008First elected as Member of Parliament for Pontian in GE12, winning the seat previously held by Hasni Mohammad of UMNO.⛓
2. April 2009Appointed Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department under Prime Minister Najib Razak.⛓
3. 2009Appointed UMNO Information Chief, a party position he held until January 2016.⛓
4. May 2013Re-elected as MP for Pontian in GE13; subsequently appointed Deputy Finance Minister.⛓
5. 29 January 2016Appointed as UMNO Information Technology (IT) Bureau Chief, succeeding his role as UMNO Information Chief.⛓
6. 3 April 2017Appointed Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI).⛓
7. May 2018Re-elected as MP for Pontian in GE14. BN lost its parliamentary majority and Ahmad Maslan was not appointed to any cabinet position in the subsequent Muhyiddin and Ismail Sabri administrations.⛓
8. March 2020Elected UMNO Secretary-General, a post he held until March 2023.⛓
9. January 2021Appointed Secretary-General of Barisan Nasional, replacing Annuar Musa; served until June 2021.⛓
10. November 2022Re-elected as MP for Pontian in GE15 with a majority of 5,758 votes, obtaining 23,201 votes.⛓
11. December 2022Appointed Deputy Minister of Finance I in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.⛓
12. March 2023Elected UMNO Pontian Division Chief, defeating incumbent Hasni Mohammad; also appointed Johor UMNO Deputy Chairman.⛓
13. December 2023Reassigned as Deputy Minister of Works under Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi in a cabinet reshuffle.⛓

Election history

• 2022PontianWon⛓
• 2018PontianWon⛓
• 2013PontianWon⛓
• 2008PontianWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentAhmad Maslan serves as Deputy Minister of Works in the Unity Government, representing UMNO within the BN component of the Pakatan Harapan-led coalition. In this role he has actively defended government infrastructure spending, construction sector policies, and the SST exemption framework for housing projects in Parliament.⛓
• VerifiedFactsAhmad Maslan has been MP for Pontian consecutively since 2008, contested and won four successive general elections (GE12–GE15), and has held a deputy ministerial post in every federal government since April 2009 except during the Muhyiddin and Ismail Sabri administrations (May 2018 – November 2022).⛓
• IndustryAs Deputy Works Minister, Ahmad Maslan proposed that the Construction Labour Exchange Centre Berhad (CLAB) manage the full recruitment pipeline for foreign workers in the construction sector, from sourcing in origin countries to providing accommodation and wages, to reduce worker dumping and forced labour risks.⛓

Notable legal history

In January 2020, Ahmad Maslan was charged in the Sessions Court with two offences under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA): (1) failing to declare to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) a sum of RM2 million he received from former Prime Minister Najib Razak, alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activity, and (2) giving a false statement to the MACC (Source: theedgemalaysia.com; malaymail.com). The case was transferred to the High Court. On 29 September 2021, the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted and discharged Ahmad Maslan of both charges after the prosecution withdrew the case following his payment of a RM1.1 million compound. High Court Justice Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh confirmed the prosecution would not pursue the same charges again (Source: theedgemalaysia.com; malaymail.com; freemalaysiatoday.com; thestar.com.my; malaysiakini.com). His legal representatives stated the compound payment was not an admission of guilt, and the Election Commission confirmed it did not affect his eligibility to serve as MP or to contest future elections (Source: malaymail.com). The MACC separately clarified that the RM1.1 million payment constituted a punitive penalty for money laundering under AMLATFPUAA (Source: malaymail.com).