Dzulkefly Ahmad

Summary

Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad is the AMANAH Member of Parliament for Kuala Selangor and currently serving his second term as Malaysia's Minister of Health under the Unity Government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, having first held the portfolio from 2018 to 2020 [1]. A toxicologist by training, he co-founded AMANAH in 2015 after departing from PAS and has represented Kuala Selangor across three parliaments since 2008 [2]. His ministerial tenure has been defined by healthcare financing reform, smoking product regulation, and efforts to address medical workforce and insurance cost pressures [3][4].

Biography

Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly bin Ahmad (born 1 January 1956, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan) is the Member of Parliament for Kuala Selangor, representing Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH) under the Pakatan Harapan coalition [2]. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Birmingham, a Master of Science from the University of Surrey, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciences (Toxicology) from Imperial College London (St. Mary's Hospital Medical School), obtained in 1993 [1]. Before entering politics, he served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang and at HUSM, Kelantan, from the mid-1980s through the late 1990s [5]. Dzulkefly was formerly a member of PAS, where he led its research centre and was identified as part of the moderate 'Erdogan' (G18) faction [2]. Following his ouster from PAS at the 2015 Muktamar, he co-founded AMANAH and served as the party's Strategy Director [2]. He first won the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat in 2008 under PAS, lost it in 2013, then recaptured it in 2018 under AMANAH and retained it in 2022 [6]. He served as Minister of Health under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad from May 2018 to February 2020, and was reappointed to the same portfolio by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in December 2023 [1]. He is married to Azlin Hezri and they have seven children [5]. He has also served as Vice President of AMANAH following the party's December 2023 National Convention [2].

Known for

Dzulkefly Ahmad is defined politically by his dual role as a trained toxicologist turned legislator and twice-serving Minister of Health. He is associated with the ban on smoking in food premises and the subsequent passage of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 [5]. He was also a founding figure of AMANAH after breaking from PAS in 2015, and has long served as the party's Strategy Director [2].

Political positions

On public health, Dzulkefly has consistently advocated for expanding the smoking ban and enforcing the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, stating enforcement is a 'moral responsibility' [1]. He has also championed healthcare financing reform, the Rakan KKM premium-economy hospital initiative, the introduction of the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) payment system, and a revamped basic Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful (MHIT) product in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia [3][1]. On inter-religious matters, he publicly supported the Malaysian High Court's 2010 decision allowing a Catholic publication to use the term 'Allah' [2]. During his time in PAS he was associated with the progressive G18 faction that favoured a more pluralist and welfare-oriented approach to Islamic governance [2]. He has co-chaired the Joint Ministerial Committee on Private Healthcare Costs alongside Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan [4].

Education

1. Pre-1984Obtained Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Birmingham, England.⛓
2. Pre-1984Obtained Master of Science degree from the University of Surrey, England.⛓
3. 1993Completed Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciences (Toxicology) at Imperial College London (St. Mary's Hospital Medical School).⛓

Before politics

1. 1984–1989Served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang.⛓
2. 1993–1997Served as a lecturer at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan.⛓
3. 1999–2003Founded and chaired Jaiputra College Management Board in Kelantan, reported as the first privately-owned tertiary institution (IPTS) fully accredited by the Ministry of Education integrating professional and religious education.⛓

Political career

1. 1998–2015Served as director of the PAS Research Centre and as a member of the PAS Central Work Committee; was part of the moderate G18 ('Erdogan') faction of PAS.⛓
2. 1999Made electoral debut contesting the Kapar parliamentary seat in Selangor under PAS in the 10th General Election; lost.⛓
3. 2004Contested the Rembau parliamentary seat in Negeri Sembilan under PAS in the 11th General Election; lost.⛓
4. March 2008Won the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat under PAS in the 12th General Election with a majority of 862 votes, wresting it from Barisan Nasional.⛓
5. May 2013Lost the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat in the 13th General Election to BN's Datuk Seri Irmohizam Ibrahim by a margin of 460 votes.⛓
6. 2015Together with other G18 leaders under Mohamad Sabu, launched Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB), which eventually became AMANAH, after being ousted from PAS at its 2015 Muktamar.⛓
7. May 2018Recaptured the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat under AMANAH/PH in the 14th General Election with a majority of 8,498 votes.⛓
8. 21 May 2018Appointed Minister of Health (first term) by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, replacing Subramaniam Sathasivam.⛓
9. 24 February 2020Resigned as Minister of Health during the Sheraton Move political crisis that collapsed the Pakatan Harapan government.⛓
10. November 2022Retained the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election in a four-cornered contest with a majority of 1,002 votes, defeating BN's Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.⛓
11. 12 December 2023Reappointed Minister of Health (second term) by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a Cabinet reshuffle, replacing Dr Zaliha Mustafa.⛓
12. 24 December 2023Re-elected to AMANAH's Central Committee at the party's National Convention with the highest delegate vote count (900 votes); subsequently appointed as Vice President.⛓

Election history

• 2022Kuala SelangorWon30.1%⛓
• 2018Kuala SelangorWon43%⛓
• 2013Kuala SelangorLost⛓
• 2008Kuala SelangorWon⛓
• 2004RembauLost⛓
• 1999KaparLost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reappointed Dzulkefly in December 2023, stating he needed Dzulkefly's experience to strengthen the Health Ministry which was facing many issues, per Bernama.⛓
• IndustryThe Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia, via its president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, publicly identified a wide range of reforms that Dzulkefly needed to address upon his return to the Health Ministry, including staff shortages and structural issues, as reported by BFM.⛓
• AffectedAn anonymous medical officer writing in CodeBlue (May 2025) alleged that eight months into his second term, Dzulkefly had failed to deliver on promises to healthcare workers, citing no increases in on-call allowances, no reform to contract doctor policies, and low morale in public hospitals.⛓
• VerifiedFactsDzulkefly polled 31,033 votes (30.1% vote share) to retain Kuala Selangor in GE15 with a majority of 1,002 votes over BN's Tengku Zafrul, per The Star and NST official results.⛓
• ExpertCodeBlue reported that anti-tobacco groups urged Dzulkefly not to appeal a May 2026 High Court ruling that struck down the delisting of liquid nicotine, arguing the decision gave the government an opportunity to correct a policy mistake.⛓

Business interests (publicly reported)

According to Wikipedia, Dzulkefly held a directorship in a Main Board public-listed company from 2003 to 2004, served as Senior Advisor to a Saudi-owned real estate company in Kuala Lumpur from 2005 to 2007, and has served as a director of an international education company based in Oman from 2017 onwards. He also founded and chaired the Jaiputra College Management Board in Kelantan from 1999 to 2003 (Source: en.wikipedia.org). These are reported on Wikipedia only; no independent Malaysian news outlet reporting has been found to corroborate or expand on current commercial interests.