Datuk Samsolbari Jamali

Summary

Datuk Samsolbari bin Jamali (born 1 July 1960) is an UMNO politician and the longest-serving incumbent assemblyman in Johor, having held the Semarang state seat without interruption since 2004 across five consecutive election victories. He served as a Johor EXCO member responsible for agriculture and rural development from 2020 to 2022, and has held the position of Deputy Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly since April 2022. He is contesting Semarang for a sixth term in the 16th Johor State Election, with polling set for 11 July 2026.

Biography

Datuk Samsolbari bin Jamali (born 1 July 1960, Johor) is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Semarang since March 2004, making him the longest-serving incumbent assemblyman in Johor as of the 2026 state election cycle [1]. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and serves as Division Chief of Ayer Hitam [2]. He also held the position of Secretary of the UMNO Johor Liaison Body [3]. Between March 2020 and March 2022, Samsolbari served as a member of the Johor State Executive Council (EXCO) under former Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad, with responsibility for the Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee [3]. Following the March 2022 Johor state election — in which he won his fifth consecutive term for Semarang with a majority of 5,846 votes — he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly in April 2022, proposed by Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi [3]. During his tenure as EXCO chairman overseeing agriculture, Samsolbari was publicly associated with efforts to enhance Johor's food security, including the formation of a state-level food security committee and promoting Johor as a national food production hub [4]. In the 2026 Johor state election (polling day: 11 July 2026), he is contesting the Semarang seat under the BN-UMNO banner for a sixth consecutive term, facing challengers from Pakatan Harapan (Amanah) and Perikatan Nasional (Bersatu) [5].

Known for

Samsolbari Jamali is defined politically by his unbroken tenure at the Semarang state seat since 2004, recorded as the longest consecutive winning streak among Johor assemblymen heading into the 2026 election [1]. He held the Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development portfolio as a Johor EXCO member from 2020 to 2022, advocating for food security initiatives and positioning Johor as a national food basket [4]. Since April 2022 he has served as Deputy Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly [3].

Political positions

Based on available news reporting, Samsolbari Jamali's most prominently documented policy area is agriculture and rural development. During his term as Johor EXCO chairman for Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development (2020–2022), he publicly advocated for a state food security committee to be chaired by the Menteri Besar, with membership drawn from relevant agencies, industry players and academics [4]. He expressed the view that Johor should be developed as a national food production centre, emphasising the need to rebalance land use between the agriculture and commodities sectors [4]. No detailed public positions on other policy areas such as education, healthcare or housing have been identified in allowlisted sources.

Political career

1. March 2004First elected as Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly for Semarang under the BN-UMNO banner at the 11th Malaysian general election. The Semarang constituency was first contested in this election.⛓
2. 2008Re-elected as MLA for Semarang for a second consecutive term under BN-UMNO.⛓
3. May 2013Re-elected as MLA for Semarang for a third consecutive term under BN-UMNO at the 13th Malaysian general election.⛓
4. May 2018Re-elected as MLA for Semarang for a fourth consecutive term under BN-UMNO at the 14th Malaysian general election, winning 10,751 votes with a majority of 5,842, defeating PKR and PAS candidates.⛓
5. March 2020Appointed as member of the Johor State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad, with responsibility for the Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee.⛓
6. 12 March 2022Re-elected as MLA for Semarang for a fifth consecutive term under BN-UMNO at the 15th Johor State Election, winning 11,122 votes with a majority of 5,846, defeating candidates from PN, PKR, and Pejuang.⛓
7. April 2022Appointed Deputy Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (15th Assembly) following nomination by Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, after taking his oath of office as MLA.⛓
8. 27 June 2026Confirmed as BN-UMNO candidate for Semarang (N20) at the 16th Johor State Election nomination day, facing challengers from PH-Amanah and PN-Bersatu. Polling is set for 11 July 2026.⛓

Election history

• 2026Semarang, JohorPending⛓
• 2022Semarang, JohorWon⛓
• 2018Semarang, JohorWon⛓
• 2013Semarang, JohorWon⛓
• 2008Semarang, JohorWon⛓
• 2004Semarang, JohorWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsSamsolbari Jamali has won the Semarang state seat at every election since the constituency was first contested in 2004, a record identified by The Star as the longest consecutive winning streak among Johor state assemblymen heading into the 2026 election.⛓
• GovernmentSamsolbari was nominated by Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi as Deputy Speaker of the Johor DUN in April 2022, indicating confidence from the BN state leadership in his suitability for a senior procedural role in the legislature.⛓
• ExpertAccording to data cited by The Star from ElectionData.MY, Samsolbari Jamali has emerged as the longest-serving incumbent among all current Johor state assemblymen as of the 2026 election cycle.⛓