Baddrol Bakhtiar

Summary

Baddrol bin Bakhtiar (born 1 February 1988) is a former professional footballer and PAS politician serving as the ADUN for Gurun, Kedah, since August 2023. He is best known for his long career with Kedah Darul Aman FC, including captaining the Malaysia U-23 team to a SEA Games gold medal in 2011, before retiring from football and transitioning to politics. He won the Gurun state seat in the 2023 Kedah state election under the Perikatan Nasional ticket with a majority of 6,584 votes.

Biography

Baddrol bin Bakhtiar (born 1 February 1988) is a Malaysian politician and former professional footballer who has served as Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Gurun since August 2023 [1]. He is a member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition [1]. Born in Sarawak, he currently resides in Ambangan Heights, Sungai Petani, Kedah [1]. Baddrol spent the bulk of his professional football career with Kedah Darul Aman FC, playing more than 400 matches and scoring 123 goals in all competitions, making him recognised as the club's all-time top scorer [1]. He was also a former member of the Malaysia U-20, U-23 and senior national team squads [1]. He captained the Malaysia U-23 team that won gold at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout against the host nation [1]. After playing for Kedah for almost 16 years, he signed for Sabah FC on a free transfer at the age of 33 and ended his football career there as team captain [1]. He retired from football in July 2023 and immediately joined PAS, stating his purpose was to defend the leadership of then-Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Sanusi Md Nor [1]. He was fielded as the PN candidate for the Gurun state seat in the 12 August 2023 Kedah state election, defeating PKR's Mohammed Firdaus Johari with 17,771 votes to 11,187 votes, a majority of 6,584 [2][3].

Known for

Baddrol Bakhtiar is best known as a former captain of both Kedah Darul Aman FC and the Malaysia national football team, transitioning directly from professional sport to electoral politics in 2023 [4]. He is one of the few former national footballers to win a seat in a Malaysian state assembly, having secured the Gurun DUN seat under the PAS/PN ticket in the 2023 Kedah state election [2]. His entry into politics was closely associated with his stated support for Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor [1].

Political positions

Baddrol joined PAS in 2023, stating his primary motivation was to defend the leadership of then-Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Sanusi Md Nor and to champion religion and race [5]. He operates within the PAS framework and the broader Perikatan Nasional coalition in Kedah, a state government controlled by PN. No detailed publicly reported positions on specific policy issues — such as cost of living, education, or healthcare — have been sourced from the allowlist domains as of the time of this profile. His pre-election campaigning drew public attention when he stated he would reveal his vision for Gurun only after voters had elected him, a remark that attracted criticism from opposition figures including PKR Deputy President Rafizi Ramli [4].

Education

1. 2005Baddrol signed his first professional contract with Kedah in the 2005-06 season, having been identified through the Kedah youth team system.⛓

Before politics

1. 2005-06Earned first call-up to the Malaysia U-20 national team in 2005 and made his youth international debut in the AFC Youth Championship 2006 qualifying round on 12 December 2005.⛓
2. 2006Was part of the Kedah team that won silver at the 2006 Sukma Games.⛓
3. April 2008Selected by Gifted Group and the Football Association of Malaysia for a two-week training stint with Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge.⛓
4. 2009Called up to the Malaysia U-23 squad for the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos; scored 3 goals as Malaysia won gold.⛓
5. August 2009Made his full international debut for the Malaysia senior national team against Kenya on 12 August 2009.⛓
6. 2011Captained the Malaysia U-23 team at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout against Indonesia to win gold.⛓
7. 2018Selected as an overage player for the Malaysia U-23 team at the 2018 Asian Games; captained the team throughout the tournament.⛓
8. 2021After playing for Kedah for almost 16 years — scoring 123 goals in over 400 matches and recognised as the club's all-time top scorer — Baddrol signed for Sabah FC on a free transfer at age 33.⛓
9. 15 July 2023Played his final match for Sabah FC — a 4-0 win over Sri Pahang — and departed the club, ending his professional football career after 42 appearances and 15 goals for Sabah.⛓

Political career

1. July 2023Joined the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) immediately after leaving Sabah FC, stating his purpose was to defend the leadership of Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Sanusi Md Nor.⛓
2. 26 July 2023Announced as the Perikatan Nasional (PAS) candidate for the N.22 Gurun state seat in the 2023 Kedah state election at the PN candidate announcement event at Kompleks PAS Kedah.⛓
3. 12 August 2023Won the N.22 Gurun state seat in the 2023 Kedah state election with 17,771 votes, defeating PKR's Mohammed Firdaus Johari (11,187 votes) by a majority of 6,584.⛓
4. August 2023Sworn in as the Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Gurun.⛓

Election history

• 2023N.22 Gurun (Kedah State Legislative Assembly)Won43.4%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentPN fielded Baddrol as a PAS candidate in Gurun, with the support of Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who was described by Baddrol himself as his political 'manager' during the campaign.⛓
• OppositionPKR Deputy President Rafizi Ramli criticised Baddrol during the campaign for declining to present a manifesto, saying it was the first time he had heard of a manifesto being a 'surprise' that voters must elect a candidate to find out.⛓
• OppositionUmno Supreme Council member Zahida Zarik Khan was reported to have claimed that Baddrol lacked direction in his state election campaign, citing an interview on nomination day where he appeared uncomfortable answering journalists' questions.⛓
• PublicAccording to Malaysiakini, Baddrol's public profile as a former national footballer and his association with Kedah MB Sanusi were seen as key factors in mobilising support among Gurun voters, including younger demographics.⛓
• VerifiedFactsBaddrol won the 2023 Gurun state seat with 17,771 votes (43.4% of registered voters) against PKR's Mohammed Firdaus Johari who received 11,187 votes, giving a majority of 6,584. He is a first-term ADUN with no previously held elected office.⛓