Ahmad Yakob

Summary

Ahmad bin Yakob (born 1 February 1950) is a PAS politician and former teacher who has represented the Pasir Pekan state constituency in Kelantan without interruption since 1995, winning seven consecutive terms. He served as Menteri Besar of Kelantan from May 2013 to August 2023, stepping down for health reasons after overseeing a decade of PAS-led state governance centred on Islamic administration and rural economic development. He holds senior party positions as PAS Deputy Spiritual Leader and Kelantan State Commissioner.

Biography

Ahmad bin Yakob (born 1 February 1950, Kampung Berangan, Tumpat, Kelantan) is a Malaysian politician and former teacher who has served as the Member of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Pasir Pekan since April 1995 [1]. He is a member, Deputy Spiritual Leader (Timbalan Mursyidul Am), and State Commissioner of Kelantan of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition [1]. Born into a family with deep PAS roots — his father, Yakob Ishak, was a senior PAS activist and village religious teacher — Ahmad pursued religious education at the Islamic Studies College in Kelantan, Al-Azhar University in Egypt where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Sharia in the 1970s, and Ain Shams University where he earned a Diploma of Education (Arabic Language) in 1979 [1]. He worked as a secondary school teacher from 1980 until 1995, when he resigned to contest the Pasir Pekan seat [1]. He joined PAS formally in 1986 [1]. After winning the Pasir Pekan seat in 1995, he served as a State Executive Councillor (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, holding portfolios including Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurial Development (from 1997), and later Housing, Local Government, Science, Technology and Environment [1]. He was appointed Deputy Menteri Besar of Kelantan in March 2004 [1]. Following the 2013 state election, he was sworn in as Menteri Besar of Kelantan on 6 May 2013, replacing the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat [1]. He served as Menteri Besar until August 2023, when he stepped down citing health reasons, having retained his Pasir Pekan seat for a seventh consecutive term in the August 2023 state election [2]. He is married to Siti Zabidah Ab Hamid and has 12 children [1].

Known for

Ahmad Yakob is known as the longest-serving Menteri Besar of Kelantan in the post-Nik Aziz era, holding the post for a decade from 2013 to 2023 [3]. He is closely associated with PAS's push to implement the Syariah Criminal Code (hudud) in Kelantan, having tabled the relevant amendments to the state enactment in 2015 [4]. At the state level, he represents an unbroken seven-term incumbency at Pasir Pekan, making him one of Kelantan's most durable elected representatives [5].

Political positions

Ahmad Yakob has consistently aligned with PAS's Islamist governance agenda throughout his career. During his tenure as Menteri Besar, he actively championed the implementation of the Syariah Criminal Code (hudud) in Kelantan, tabling amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code II (1993) in the state assembly in March 2015 [2]. He stated publicly that the state government had completed its preparations for hudud but that the impediment lay at the federal level — specifically the need to amend Act 355 of the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) 1965 [4]. On economic development, during his tenure he chaired the ECER Implementation and Coordination Committee and promoted the Kelantan Special Incentive Package to attract investment in agriculture, agribusiness, manufacturing and energy [6]. He oversaw infrastructure initiatives including the RM64 million Kota Bharu Sentral (KB Sentral) bus terminal project, to be developed via privatisation and aligned with the ECRL project [3]. He also directed state allocations toward the fisheries and agri-food sectors as part of food security efforts [3]. His political identity is rooted in Islamic governance, with his state budgets framed around religious and community welfare thrusts [3].

Education

1. Early 1960s–late 1960sReceived elementary education at Berangan Primary School and Bustanul Ariffin Islamic School, Tumpat, followed by secondary education at Islamic Studies College in Kelantan and the Islamic Higher Education Centre of Kelantan, Kota Bharu.⛓
2. 1970sObtained a Bachelor's degree in Sharia from Al-Azhar University, Egypt.⛓
3. 1979Awarded a Diploma of Education (Arabic Language) from Ain Shams University, Egypt.⛓

Before politics

1. 1980Began teaching career at Dato' Bentara Dalam Secondary School, Segamat, Johor.⛓
2. 1986–1987Taught at Dabong Secondary School (Gua Musang), Pasir Mas Girls' Secondary School, and Rantau Panjang Secondary School.⛓

Political career

1. 1986Registered as a PAS member and was appointed to party posts in the Tumpat chapter.⛓
2. April 1995Resigned from teaching and won the Pasir Pekan state seat in the 9th General Election, defeating BN candidate Saupi Daud with a majority of 2,734 votes.⛓
3. 17 May 1997Appointed State Executive Councillor (EXCO) by Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, holding the Industry, Trade, Entrepreneurial Development and Human Resources portfolio.⛓
4. 1999Re-elected to Pasir Pekan in the 10th General Election; subsequently appointed EXCO for Housing, Local Government, Science, Technology and Environment.⛓
5. 2004Won the 11th General Election at Pasir Pekan, defeating BN candidate Mohd Noor Yaakob with a majority of 2,271 votes.⛓
6. 23 March 2004Appointed Deputy Menteri Besar of Kelantan, replacing Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman.⛓
7. 6 May 2013Sworn in as Menteri Besar of Kelantan, replacing Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat following the 13th General Election.⛓
8. March 2015Tabled amendments to the Syariah Criminal Code II (1993) in the Kelantan State Assembly, initiating the state's legislative push toward hudud implementation.⛓
9. August 2023Retained his Pasir Pekan seat for the seventh consecutive term in the 2023 Kelantan state election with a majority of 12,811 votes, then stepped down as Menteri Besar citing health reasons.⛓
10. 15 August 2023Succeeded as Menteri Besar by Mohd Nassuruddin Daud following the 2023 state election.⛓

Election history

• 2023Pasir PekanWon75.8%⛓
• 2018Pasir PekanWon⛓
• 2013Pasir PekanWon⛓
• 2008Pasir PekanWon⛓
• 2004Pasir PekanWon⛓
• 1999Pasir PekanWon⛓
• 1995Pasir PekanWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsAhmad Yakob served seven consecutive terms as ADUN for Pasir Pekan (1995–present) and as Menteri Besar of Kelantan from 6 May 2013 to 12 August 2023. He stepped down from the Menteri Besar post citing health reasons after the 2023 state election.⛓
• GovernmentPAS president Abdul Hadi Awang confirmed that Ahmad's departure from the Menteri Besar post was at Ahmad's own request due to health issues, stating that Ahmad had been hospitalised multiple times and the party ultimately agreed to his request not to be retained.⛓
• OppositionParti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) president Ibrahim Ali criticised the PAS-led Kelantan state government under Ahmad Yakob for purchasing luxury cars for the Menteri Besar and state executive councillors at a cost of approximately RM9 million, describing it as inconsistent with the state's economic condition.⛓
• IndustryThe East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) reported that Ahmad Yakob, as chair of the ECER Implementation and Coordination Committee, actively promoted the Kelantan Special Incentive Package, which offers eligible investors a 0% income tax rate for 15 years to attract investment in the state.⛓