Amizar Abu Adam

Summary

Datuk Amizar bin Abu Adam (born 1973) is the UMNO assemblyman for Pelangai, Pahang, elected in the October 2023 by-election with a 2,949-vote majority after the seat was vacated by the death of its incumbent in an air crash. A native of Felda Chemomoi with postgraduate qualifications from UTM and USM, he was appointed to the Pahang State Executive Council in February 2024 with responsibility for FELDA Affairs, Cooperatives and Entrepreneurship. His political career centres on representing Felda settler communities and continuing BN's long-standing hold on the Pelangai state seat.

Biography

Datuk Amizar bin Abu Adam (born 1973) is a Malaysian politician from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) serving as the Member of the Pahang State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Pelangai since October 2023 [1]. He is also a member of the Pahang State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, a position he has held since February 2024 [1]. A native of Felda Chemomoi in the Pelangai constituency, Amizar holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and a Master of Science in Strategic Management and Leadership from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) [2]. Before entering elected politics, he was active in Felda settler community organisations, serving as Treasurer-General of Kami Anak Felda (KAF) and as Chairman of Kami Anak Felda for the Mempaga region in Bentong [2]. He is a committee member of the UMNO Bentong Division [3]. Amizar made his electoral debut in the November 2022 Pahang state election, contesting the Ketari seat for BN but narrowly lost to Thomas Su Keong Siong of Pakatan Harapan by just 120 votes [1]. He was subsequently selected as BN's candidate for the Pelangai by-election on 7 October 2023, called following the death of incumbent Johari Harun in the Elmina plane crash on 17 August 2023 [4]. Amizar won the by-election with a majority of 2,949 votes, obtaining 7,324 votes against Perikatan Nasional's Kasim Samat (4,375 votes) and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli (47 votes) [2]. On 13 February 2024, he was sworn in as Pahang EXCO Member and assigned the portfolio of Felda Affairs, Cooperatives and Entrepreneurship the following day [3].

Known for

Amizar Abu Adam is defined politically by his roots as a native of Felda Chemomoi and his role as Pahang's EXCO member overseeing FELDA Affairs, Cooperatives and Entrepreneurship — a portfolio directly relevant to the settler farming communities that form the backbone of his Pelangai constituency [3]. He won his seat in a 2023 by-election triggered by the death of his predecessor, and his victory was cited by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as evidence of continued support for the unity government [5]. He has positioned himself as a continuation of the legacy of former Menteri Besar Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob, who held the Pelangai seat for eight consecutive terms from 1986 [6].

Political positions

Amizar has publicly advocated for agrotourism development in Pelangai, emphasising the constituency's durian cultivation and palm oil farming as assets to be developed into tourism destinations and alternative income streams for local residents [5]. In his EXCO capacity, he has championed the expansion of the Pahang government's Skim Tanah Rakyat (STR), adding 16 new areas under the scheme to provide land access to the next generation of Felda settlers [7]. He has consistently aligned himself with the BN-led unity government framework at both state and federal levels, and during the by-election campaign described Pelangai as one of BN's traditional strongholds in Pahang, a seat BN has held since 1986 [4].

Education

1. Pre-2023Completed a Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).⛓
2. Pre-2023Completed a Master of Science in Strategic Management and Leadership from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).⛓

Before politics

1. Pre-2023Served as Treasurer-General of Kami Anak Felda (KAF) and as Chairman of Kami Anak Felda for the Mempaga region in Bentong, representing the interests of Felda settler communities.⛓

Political career

1. Pre-2023Appointed as Committee Member of the UMNO Bentong Division.⛓
2. November 2022Contested the Ketari state seat in the 15th General Election (GE15) under BN, but narrowly lost to Thomas Su Keong Siong of Pakatan Harapan by 120 votes.⛓
3. September 2023Announced as BN's candidate for the Pelangai state by-election by Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.⛓
4. 7 October 2023Won the Pelangai state by-election with 7,324 votes, defeating PN's Kasim Samat (4,375 votes) and independent Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli (47 votes) by a majority of 2,949 votes.⛓
5. December 2023Sworn in as ADUN Pelangai at the Pahang State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang.⛓
6. 13 February 2024Sworn in as Pahang State Executive Council (EXCO) Member, receiving his letter of appointment from the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, at Istana Abdulaziz in Kuantan.⛓
7. 14 February 2024Assigned the portfolio of FELDA Affairs, Cooperatives and Entrepreneurship in the Pahang state government following a restructuring of three EXCO portfolios announced by Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy.⛓

Election history

• 2023Pelangai (Pahang State)Won62.2%⛓
• 2022Ketari (Pahang State)Lost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in a Facebook post after the Pelangai by-election result, congratulated Amizar and said the victory was a continuation of the unity government's excellence, adding that it inspires the government to continue the national development agenda under the Madani framework.⛓
• GovernmentPahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail announced Amizar as BN's candidate, noting that his selection was made in consultation with UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and expressed confidence that voters would accept Amizar as someone who could continue the legacy of the late Johari Harun.⛓
• ExpertChin Yee Mun, of the Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social and Policy Studies at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, described Amizar's February 2024 EXCO appointment as a 'minor reshuffle' that maintained the status quo, noting that Amizar was filling a vacancy created by the late Johari Harun's death.⛓
• OppositionUMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, while acknowledging BN's reduced majority in the Pelangai by-election compared to GE15 (a drop of approximately 50%), denied it reflected declining support for BN, attributing it instead to 'false accusations' against the candidate.⛓
• VerifiedFactsAmizar won the 2023 Pelangai by-election with 7,324 votes (majority of 2,949) against PN's Kasim Samat (4,375 votes) and independent Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli (47 votes). This is confirmed by multiple sources including Bernama, Utusan Malaysia, and Sinar Harian.⛓