Hanafiah Mat

Summary

Datuk Hanafiah bin Mat is a PAS politician who has represented the Cukai state seat (N31) in the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly since 2013 and has served on the Terengganu State Executive Council since 2018, overseeing infrastructure, utilities and rural development [1]. He is the Division Deputy Chief of Kemaman for PAS and is a member of the Perikatan Nasional-led state government, which holds all 32 seats in the Terengganu assembly following the 2023 state election [2]. His public profile has been shaped by statements on federal cost-of-living policies, including opposition to targeted diesel subsidies and a viral food-related incident in 2023 [3].

Biography

Datuk Hanafiah bin Mat is a Malaysian politician from the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) who has served as the Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Cukai (N31) since May 2013 [1]. He is also a member and Division Deputy Chief of Kemaman within PAS [1]. Since May 2018, he has served concurrently as a member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, first under the Gagasan Sejahtera coalition and subsequently under Perikatan Nasional [1]. In the Terengganu state government, he chairs the Committee on Infrastructure, Utilities and Rural Development [4]. He was nominated as PAS's candidate for N31 Chukai in the 2023 Terengganu state election, which PN won in a clean sweep of all 32 seats — the first such result in the state's history since 1978 [5]. He is reported to be 66 years of age as of February 2026 [6]. His political profile has attracted public attention on several occasions, including an incident in March 2023 in which a video of him at a meal went viral and drew criticism from politicians across party lines who alleged he was mocking the federal government's Menu Rahmah affordable food programme — allegations he denied [7]. He also publicly called on the federal government in May 2024 to abandon its targeted diesel subsidy policy, citing concerns about the cost of fishing [1].

Known for

Hanafiah Mat is known as a multi-term PAS assemblyman for the Cukai constituency in Kemaman, Terengganu, having held the seat since 2013. He is the state EXCO member overseeing infrastructure, utilities and rural development in the Perikatan Nasional-led Terengganu government. He has drawn national attention for public statements on federal cost-of-living policies, including comments related to the Menu Rahmah programme and targeted diesel subsidies [8].

Political positions

Hanafiah Mat is a PAS member operating within the Perikatan Nasional coalition at the state level. On federal economic policies, he has publicly opposed the targeted diesel subsidy mechanism introduced by the Anwar Ibrahim administration, arguing in May 2024 via a TikTok video that the policy would increase costs for fishing activities [1]. On the Menu Rahmah affordable meal initiative, he denied allegations that a viral video showed him mocking the programme, stating his meal was not a Menu Rahmah item; he indicated plans to pursue legal action against those making what he characterised as false accusations [9]. In his infrastructure portfolio, he has been involved in state-level decisions on utilities and rural development, including responses to water supply disruptions in Terengganu [10].

Political career

1. May 2013First elected as Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Cukai (N31) under PAS, then part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.⛓
2. May 2018Re-elected as ADUN for Cukai under PAS (Gagasan Sejahtera coalition). Appointed as member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar following PAS's victory in forming the Terengganu state government.⛓
3. August 2023Re-elected as ADUN for Cukai (N31) under Perikatan Nasional (PAS). PN won all 32 Terengganu state seats, the first clean sweep in the state since 1978.⛓
4. March 2023A viral video showing Hanafiah pouring his drink onto his meal drew national criticism from politicians across party lines, who alleged he was mocking the federal government's Menu Rahmah affordable food programme. He denied the allegation, stating the meal was not a Menu Rahmah item.⛓
5. 28 May 2024Publicly called on the federal government and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim via a TikTok video to abandon the incoming targeted diesel subsidy policy, citing increased burden on fishing activities.⛓

Election history

• 2023N31 Cukai, TerengganuWon⛓
• 2018N31 Cukai, TerengganuWon⛓
• 2013N31 Cukai, TerengganuWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentCommunications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that Hanafiah's actions in the viral meal video were akin to insulting a blessing from God, describing them as 'despicable and immoral' (Source: freemalaysiatoday.com).⛓
• OppositionMuar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said Hanafiah's actions were 'embarrassing', pointing out that many poor Malaysians have benefited from the Menu Rahmah initiative (Source: freemalaysiatoday.com).⛓
• VerifiedFactsHanafiah Mat has served as ADUN for Cukai (N31) since May 2013 and as Terengganu EXCO member since May 2018, overseeing the state's infrastructure, utilities and rural development portfolio (Source: en.wikipedia.org; thestar.com.my).⛓

Business interests (publicly reported)

According to The Star and Free Malaysia Today, Hanafiah Mat served as chairman of the board of directors of Pangkalan Bekalan Kemaman Sdn Bhd (PBKSB), a state government-linked company, concurrent with his role as Terengganu EXCO member (Source: thestar.com.my; freemalaysiatoday.com). No other business interests have been reported by credible Malaysian news outlets on the allowlist.