Hanifah Hajar Taib

Summary

Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib is the PBB/GPS Member of Parliament for Mukah, Sarawak, first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. She has held deputy ministerial posts across three successive federal governments — covering Sabah and Sarawak Affairs (2020–2022), the Economy (2022–2025), and Health (December 2025 to present). She is the youngest daughter of the late Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and brings a combined background in business, education, and media to her parliamentary and ministerial work.

Biography

Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib (born 28 August 1972) is a Malaysian politician and member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a component party of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) [1]. She has served as the Member of Parliament for Mukah, Sarawak, since May 2018. She is the youngest daughter of the late Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Sarawak and former Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak [1]. Her mother, Laila Taib (née Lejla Chaleck), was of Polish Lipka Tatar Muslim descent [1]. Hanifah graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration [1]. Before entering politics, she spent approximately two decades working across multiple sectors, holding positions including CEO at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology and Executive Director at Cats FM and Miri Marriott Resort & Spa [1]. She is also a shareholder of Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad and Non-Independent & Non-Executive Director of Sarawak Cable Berhad [1]. She first won the Mukah parliamentary seat at the 14th General Election in May 2018 and retained it at the 15th General Election in November 2022 with a majority of 15,686 votes [2]. She served as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) from March 2020 to November 2022, and as Deputy Minister of Economy from December 2022 [1]. Following a Cabinet reshuffle on 16 December 2025, she was appointed Deputy Minister of Health under Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad [3]. She is married to Singaporean businessman Syed Ahmad Alwee Alsree since 2000 [1].

Known for

Hanifah Hajar Taib is known as the MP for Mukah and a GPS representative in the federal cabinet, having held deputy ministerial roles across three successive governments. She was among the key voices from Sarawak in the federal government on Sabah and Sarawak affairs under the Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional administrations, and subsequently on economic policy under the Unity Government. She is also known as the youngest daughter of the late Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and has a background spanning corporate, media, and education sectors prior to entering politics.

Political positions

As Deputy Minister of Economy (2022–2025), Hanifah Hajar Taib positioned herself on several economic policy issues. She advocated for the use of the Central Database Hub (PADU) to formulate socioeconomic development policies under the 13th Malaysia Plan [4]. She tabled the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Bill in the Dewan Rakyat, stating it was based on a 'whole-of-nation approach' and emphasising Malaysia's potential as a regional CCUS hub [3]. She spoke on the government's readiness to consider Sabah and Sarawak's requests for greater economic development autonomy, while noting any move would require examination in line with the Federal Constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963 [4]. On labour, she stated that the skills-related underemployment rate stood at 37% in Q2 2024 and stressed the government's commitment to upskilling and reskilling to address graduate-job mismatches [4]. She also highlighted Malaysia's care economy potential at US$25.5 billion and linked it to the ageing population [4]. On poverty, she noted that hardcore poverty incidence fell from 0.2% in 2022 to 0.09% in 2024 but cautioned that challenges remain for low-income households [5]. On aid targeting, she stated that 'for now, most assistance is determined using the Poverty Line Income, covering basic household needs such as food, non-food items, housing, healthcare and education' [5]. As Deputy Minister of Health from December 2025, she has focused on strengthening primary care and GP-specialist coordination, and has highlighted the need to increase the number of nurses through both public training institutions and the private sector [6].

Education

1. Pre-1995 (approx.)Graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.⛓

Before politics

1. Late 1990s–2010sSpent approximately two decades in business prior to politics, serving as CEO at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology and Executive Director at Cats FM and Miri Marriott Resort & Spa.⛓

Political career

1. May 2018Won the Mukah parliamentary seat at the 14th General Election (GE14) under Barisan Nasional – PBB, with 13,853 votes (45.3%) and a majority of 7,000.⛓
2. March 2020Appointed Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional administration.⛓
3. August 2021Continued as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's Barisan Nasional administration.⛓
4. November 2022Re-elected as MP for Mukah at the 15th General Election (GE15) under GPS – PBB, with 21,733 votes (46.3%) and a majority of 15,686.⛓
5. December 2022Appointed Deputy Minister of Economy in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with Minister Rafizi Ramli.⛓
6. 16 December 2025Appointed Deputy Minister of Health following a Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, replacing Lukanisman Awang Sauni who was moved to Deputy Foreign Minister.⛓

Election history

• 2022MukahWon46.3%⛓
• 2018MukahWon45.3%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentAs a GPS representative in the Unity Government cabinet, Hanifah Hajar Taib has been given deputy ministerial portfolios spanning Economy and Health, reflecting GPS's continued participation in the Anwar Ibrahim-led government. Bernama reported Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's December 2025 reshuffle as aimed at 'strengthen[ing] Cabinet cohesion and effectiveness' — the context in which she moved to the Health Ministry.⛓
• VerifiedFactsElection results verified: GE14 (2018) — 13,853 votes, 45.3% share, majority 7,000 (The Star election data). GE15 (2022) — 21,733 votes, 46.3% share, majority 15,686 (The Star election data; confirmed by FMT and Utusan Malaysia).⛓
• IndustryThe Edge Malaysia reported that Hanifah and her sister Jamilah Hamidah Taib collectively hold a 12.54% stake in Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad through Majaharta Sdn Bhd, making the family among the most significant shareholders in the Sarawak-based conglomerate. The Edge also noted that her husband Datuk Syed Ahmad Alwee Alsree was the face of CMS from 2006 to 2019.⛓

Business interests (publicly reported)

According to The Edge Malaysia, Hanifah and her sister Jamilah Hamidah Taib collectively control a 12.54% stake in Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMSB) through their private vehicle Majaharta Sdn Bhd, and Hanifah also holds a direct 0.21% interest in CMSB (Source: theedgemalaysia.com/node/756801). Wikipedia also lists her as a shareholder of Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad and a Non-Independent & Non-Executive Director of Sarawak Cable Berhad (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanifah_Hajar_Taib). She has also held positions as CEO of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology and Executive Director at Cats FM and Miri Marriott Resort & Spa (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanifah_Hajar_Taib). Her husband, Datuk Syed Ahmad Alwee Alsree, was the face of CMS between 2006 and 2019, according to The Edge Malaysia (Source: theedgemalaysia.com/node/702285).