Bau Wong Bau Ek

Summary

Bau Wong Bau Ek (PKR) is the Sidam state assemblyman in Kedah and, since November 2023, the State Leader of the Opposition — the first person of Siamese community to hold either role in Kedah's history. He won the Sidam seat in the August 2023 state election with a 954-vote majority, becoming one of only three PH assemblymen elected in an election dominated by Perikatan Nasional. His legislative focus covers water infrastructure, affordable housing, road conditions, and government accountability in Kedah.

Biography

Bau Wong a/l Bau Ek is a Malaysian politician of Siamese (Thai-Malaysian) heritage who has served as Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Sidam since August 2023 [1]. He is a member of PKR, a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition [1]. Prior to elected office, he served as Special Officer to Sungai Petani Member of Parliament Tan Sri Johari Abdul from 2018 to 2022, and subsequently to Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari following the 15th General Election [2]. He ended his service role on 28 July 2023 to contest in the Kedah state elections [1]. On 12 August 2023, Bau Wong won the Sidam seat with a majority of 954 votes, garnering 21,859 votes against Perikatan Nasional candidate Juliana Abdul Ghani who obtained 20,905 votes [3]. He was among only three PH assemblymen to win seats in the Kedah state election, in which PN won 33 of 36 seats [3]. On 26 November 2023, Kedah State Assembly Speaker Zubir Ahmad announced his appointment as State Leader of the Opposition, replacing the former Suka Menanti assemblyman Datuk Zamri Yusuf [2]. He is the first ever Siamese Leader of the Opposition and the first elected representative of Siamese community in the history of Kedah, as well as the first non-Malay opposition leader in the Kedah state assembly [4]. At the time of his appointment as opposition leader, he was 56 years old [3]. In the state assembly, he has raised issues including water supply infrastructure, delays in water treatment plant upgrades, affordable housing, and environmental enforcement [5].

Known for

Bau Wong Bau Ek is defined in Malaysian politics by two historic firsts: he is the first elected representative of Siamese (Thai-Malaysian) community and the first non-Malay State Leader of the Opposition in Kedah's history [4]. He is one of only three PH assemblymen elected in the PN-dominant 2023 Kedah state election and leads the official opposition bloc in the Kedah State Assembly despite holding just three of 36 seats [3]. His legislative focus has centred on basic infrastructure — water supply, roads, and affordable housing — for his Sidam constituency and Kedah at large [5].

Political positions

Bau Wong has consistently emphasised bread-and-butter issues for Sidam residents. After his 2023 election win, he pledged to tackle poor road conditions, inadequate internet connectivity, and low water pressure as his primary priorities [3]. In the Kedah State Assembly, he raised concerns about the halted upgrade of water treatment plants and called on the state government to allocate sufficient funds and develop contingency plans to ensure timely project completion [5]. He also highlighted the need to coordinate between property developers and Syarikat Air Darul Aman Sdn Bhd (SADA) to meet domestic water demand in new residential areas, and urged prioritisation of affordable housing for low- and middle-income groups [5]. On state governance, he has stated that voters should assess government performance on outcomes, not rhetoric, and has argued that PN's dominance in Kedah may be eroded by intra-coalition divisions [6]. He has also called for tighter enforcement under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 against open burning [5].

Before politics

1. 2008–2022Served as Special Officer to Sungai Petani Member of Parliament Tan Sri Johari Abdul.⛓
2. 2022–2023Continued as Special Officer to Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, who won the Sungai Petani parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election.⛓

Political career

1. 28 July 2023Ended his role as Special Officer to contest in the 2023 Kedah state elections.⛓
2. 12 August 2023Won the Sidam state seat in the 15th Kedah state election under PKR/PH, defeating PN's Juliana Abdul Ghani with a majority of 954 votes (21,859 vs 20,905 votes). Became the first elected assemblyman of Siamese community in Kedah.⛓
3. 26 November 2023Appointed State Leader of the Opposition of Kedah at the Second Meeting of the 15th Kedah State Assembly, replacing former Suka Menanti assemblyman Datuk Zamri Yusuf. Became the first non-Malay opposition leader in Kedah state assembly history.⛓

Election history

• 2023Sidam (Kedah State)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsBau Wong Bau Ek won the Sidam seat in August 2023 with 21,859 votes (majority: 954) and was formally appointed Kedah State Leader of the Opposition on 26 November 2023 by State Assembly Speaker Zubir Ahmad.⛓
• GovernmentThe Kedah State Assembly Speaker formally recognised Bau Wong as the leader of the official opposition bloc, acknowledging PH's three-seat presence in the 36-seat assembly.⛓
• OppositionBau Wong has argued that PN's 2023 electoral dominance in Kedah may not hold at the next state election due to intra-coalition divisions following PAS's decision to sever ties with Bersatu, and that voters will judge the government on development outcomes.⛓