TopicsPolitician AnalysisHanif Ghazali

Hanif Ghazali

Party
PAS · Malaysian Islamic Party
Coalition
PN
Constituency
Tanjong Dawai
State
Kedah
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Why this matters to you

As the Tanjong Dawai state assemblyman, Hanif Ghazali sits within the Kedah State Legislative Assembly — the body that decides local matters such as land use, water supply policy, and local government licensing in the district. His vocal stance on Kedah's water rights with Penang directly affects the water tariff and supply negotiations that impact residents on both sides of the state border. His alignment with the PAS-led Kedah government's policies on alcohol and gambling means local businesses in Tanjong Dawai and surrounding Malay-majority areas are subject to those regulatory directions.

Summary

Hanif bin Ghazali (born 1 January 1973) is a PAS politician serving as the Kedah State Assemblyman for N26 Tanjong Dawai, a seat he has held since winning it at the 2018 general election. He was comfortably re-elected in August 2023 under the Perikatan Nasional banner with 58.6% of the vote and a majority of 22,405. He is publicly associated with Kedah's claims over water rights and lease payments from Penang, and with the PAS-led state government's social policy positions on gambling and alcohol.

Biography

Hanif bin Ghazali (born 1 January 1973) is a Malaysian politician and member of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) who serves as the elected representative for N26 Tanjong Dawai in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly [1]. He first won the Tanjong Dawai state seat at the 14th General Election in May 2018, defeating BN's Tajul Urus Mat Zain with 29.0% of the vote (11,444 votes) in a three-cornered contest, giving him a majority of 952 [2]. He was re-elected at the 2023 Kedah state election held on 12 August 2023, this time under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner, securing 58.6% of votes (31,996 votes) with a majority of 22,405 in a straight fight against BN's Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin [2]. In the Kedah State Assembly, Hanif has been a vocal proponent of Kedah's claim over water rights and lease payments from Penang, arguing that Penang should pay for water drawn from Sungai Muda [3]. He has also raised issues related to gambling and alcohol sales in the state assembly [3]. His constituency of Tanjong Dawai falls within the Merbok parliamentary area in Kedah, a predominantly Malay-majority coastal district [1]).

Known for

Hanif Ghazali is known primarily as a PAS state assemblyman in Kedah who has consistently advocated for Kedah's claims over water rights and lease payments from Penang, publicly demanding that Penang pay annually for water drawn from Sungai Muda [3]. He has also been associated with the PAS-led Kedah state government's positions on restricting gambling and alcohol sales in the state. His 2023 re-election with a 22,405-vote majority under the PN coalition reflects his strong electoral standing in Tanjong Dawai.

Political positions

Hanif Ghazali has publicly supported Kedah's longstanding demand that Penang compensate the state for raw water drawn from Sungai Muda, proposing annual payments of RM50 million for water and RM100 million in lease fees [3]. He has also raised concerns in the Kedah state assembly over gambling, calling for restrictions consistent with PAS's broader policy positions on Islamic social values [3]. As a member of the PAS-led Perikatan Nasional state government, his positions align with the Kedah government's moves to restrict alcohol sales in Malay-majority areas of the state [3].

References

  1. [1]en.wikipedia.org
  2. [2]election.thestar.com.my
  3. [3]freemalaysiatoday.com

Political career

  1. May 2018Won the N26 Tanjong Dawai state seat at GE14 under the PAS ticket, securing 11,444 votes (29.0%) in a three-cornered fight with a majority of 952.⛓
  2. March 2022Raised the Kedah-Penang water rights and lease dispute in the Kedah State Assembly, calling for Penang to pay RM50 million yearly for water from Sungai Muda and RM100 million in annual lease payments.⛓
  3. November 2021Spoke in the Kedah State Assembly calling for restrictions on gambling and alcohol sales, including calling for alcohol sales to be stopped in Langkawi.⛓
  4. August 2023Re-elected as ADUN for N26 Tanjong Dawai at the 2023 Kedah state election under the Perikatan Nasional (PAS) banner, winning 31,996 votes (58.6%) with a majority of 22,405 against BN's Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin.⛓

Election history

  • 2023N26 Tanjong DawaiWon58.6%⛓
  • 2018N26 Tanjong DawaiWon29%⛓

Stance evolution

Public statements grouped chronologically. The party tag shows which party the politician was contesting under at that point.

  1. 2022PAS
    • The sultan has proven to the Malay rulers that Kedah rightfully owns Penang. Therefore, I urge Penang not to be shameless and pay up what is due.

      Statement made during a Kedah State Assembly sitting regarding the Kedah-Penang water rights and lease payment dispute. · Source

Perspectives on key issues

  • VerifiedFactsHanif Ghazali won N26 Tanjong Dawai in 2018 (majority 952) and retained it in 2023 (majority 22,405) under the PN-PAS ticket. He is confirmed as a member of PAS and sits in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly.⛓
  • GovernmentAs part of the PAS-led Perikatan Nasional Kedah state government, Hanif Ghazali has backed state government positions including restrictions on alcohol sales in Malay-majority areas and raising inter-state water rights claims against Penang.⛓
  • OppositionThe Penang state government has long disputed Kedah's claim that it is owed water or lease payments, maintaining that Penang draws water from its own portion of the river. Free Malaysia Today reported Penang as describing the claims as longstanding and contested.⛓

Sources

Every URL the AI used to draft this profile, for editor and reader verification.

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