Datuk Zahari Sarip

Summary

Datuk Zahari bin Sarip is a Johor UMNO politician who has represented the Buloh Kasap state seat since 2018 and serves as the Johor EXCO member overseeing agriculture, agro-based industry, and rural development under Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi. He previously served as a Senator from 2017 to 2020 and is the UMNO Division Chief for Segamat. He is contesting the Buloh Kasap seat again in the 16th Johor State Election on 11 July 2026.

Biography

Datuk Zahari bin Sarip (born 18 February 1967) is a Malaysian politician from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) who has served as the Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Buloh Kasap since May 2018 [1]. He is also a member of the Johor State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, a position he has held since March 2022 [1]. Within the Johor state government, he chairs the State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee [2]. He also serves as the UMNO Division Chief for Segamat [1]. Prior to his election as ADUN, Zahari served as a Senator in the Dewan Negara from June 2017 to June 2020 [1]. He first won the Buloh Kasap seat in the 2018 Johor state election, securing 9,186 votes (42.8% vote share) with a majority of 877 over his nearest challenger from PPBM [3]. He retained the seat in the 2022 Johor state election with an increased majority of 5,377, polling 8,956 votes (31.4%) in a four-cornered contest [3]. As of June 2026, he is contesting the Buloh Kasap seat again in the 16th Johor State Election, scheduled for 11 July 2026, standing against a PKR candidate in a straight fight [4].

Known for

Zahari Sarip is primarily known for his stewardship of Johor's agriculture, agro-based industry, and rural development portfolio as a state EXCO member, overseeing initiatives aimed at strengthening food security and supporting Felda settler communities [5]. He has championed the Jemaluang Dairy Valley project in Mersing and the distribution of land titles to Felda settlers in Johor [5]. He has held the Buloh Kasap seat continuously since the 2018 Johor state election, increasing his majority substantially in 2022 [3].

Political positions

Based on his public statements as reported in the allowlist press, Zahari Sarip has positioned the Johor state government's agriculture agenda around national food security. He has emphasised Johor's role as the country's largest agricultural contributor, citing the state's 17.3% share of Malaysia's agricultural GDP and RM27.2 billion in agricultural sales value [5][6]. He has publicly supported the reduction of Malaysia's reliance on imported dairy through large-scale domestic production projects such as the Jemaluang Dairy Valley [5][7]. On rural welfare, he has advocated for the welfare of Felda settler communities and voiced disappointment when the federal government cancelled the 2026 Johor Felda Settlers' Day celebration, subsequently organising a state-level replacement event and proceeding with the handover of 210 outstanding land titles to settlers [5][8]. He has also raised the adequacy of penalties for drunk drivers in Parliament, according to Malaysiakini [9].

Political career

1. June 2017Appointed Senator (Dewan Negara), a position he held until June 2020.⛓
2. May 2018First elected as ADUN for Buloh Kasap in the 14th Johor State Election under BN-UMNO, winning with 9,186 votes (42.8%) and a majority of 877.⛓
3. June 2020Completed his term as Senator in the Dewan Negara.⛓
4. March 2022Re-elected as ADUN for Buloh Kasap in the 15th Johor State Election, polling 8,956 votes (31.4%) with a majority of 5,377 in a four-cornered contest.⛓
5. March 2022Appointed as a member of the Johor State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, chairing the State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee.⛓
6. March 2022Seconded the appointment of Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi as Speaker of the 15th Johor State Assembly, as reported by Bernama.⛓
7. June 2026Nominated as the BN-UMNO candidate for Buloh Kasap in the 16th Johor State Election; nomination day was 27 June 2026 with polling on 11 July 2026.⛓

Election history

• 2026Buloh Kasap (N01), Johor StatePending⛓
• 2022Buloh Kasap (N01), Johor StateWon31.4%⛓
• 2018Buloh Kasap (N01), Johor StateWon42.8%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentZahari Sarip is retained as BN-UMNO's candidate for Buloh Kasap in the 2026 Johor state election. Bernama reported that nine of the ten former EXCO members who contested in 2022 were retained as candidates, with Zahari among them.⛓
• VerifiedFactsIn the 2022 Johor state election, Zahari Sarip won Buloh Kasap with 8,956 votes (31.4%) and a majority of 5,377. In 2018, he won the same seat with 9,186 votes (42.8%) and a majority of 877. Both results are confirmed by The Star elections portal.⛓
• AffectedThe Star reported that more than 5,000 Felda residents from 73 settlements statewide had confirmed attendance at the federal Felda Settlers' Day event that was subsequently cancelled, illustrating the scale of the rural community stakeholders under Zahari's agriculture portfolio.⛓