Idris Buang

Summary

Datuk Idris Buang is the PBB assemblyman for Muara Tuang (N.16) in Sarawak and serves as Deputy Speaker of the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly. A former police officer and border scout, he was PBB's information chief for several terms before being appointed to the party's Supreme Council in May 2025. He is a prominent voice on Sarawak's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and on petroleum revenue claims against the federal government.

Biography

Datuk Idris Buang is a Sarawak politician serving as the Member of the State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Muara Tuang (N.16) under Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a component party of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). He was born around 1956 and was aged 65 at the time of the December 2021 Sarawak state election [1]. Prior to entering politics, he served as a border scout and police officer [2]. He has held the Muara Tuang seat across multiple election cycles, contesting under Barisan Nasional in 2016 and under GPS in 2021 [3]. Following the 2021 election, he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly [4]. Within PBB, he served as the party's information chief for an extended period, a role he held as recently as August 2022 [2], before being elevated in May 2025 to member of the PBB Supreme Council for the 2025–2028 term [5]. He also served as a non-executive director of Amanah Saham Sarawak Berhad (ASSAR), a Sarawak state trust fund [2]. Idris has been a consistent advocate for Sarawak's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including on issues such as Petronas' payment of the Sarawak state sales tax and Sabah and Sarawak's entitlement to one-third of federal parliamentary seats [3].

Known for

Idris Buang is primarily known as a long-serving PBB assemblyman and GPS party spokesperson on Sarawak rights, particularly around the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and petroleum revenue claims. He served as PBB information chief across multiple terms before his elevation to the PBB Supreme Council in 2025. He also holds the office of Deputy Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.

Political positions

Idris Buang has consistently championed Sarawak's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), arguing that Sabah and Sarawak are entitled to one-third of federal parliamentary seats based on the Intergovernmental Committee Report and Cobbold Commission recommendations [3]. He has publicly pressed Petronas to pay the Sarawak state sales tax on petroleum product exports, and criticised Pakatan Harapan's record during its federal tenure for failing to deliver on Sarawak-specific promises [6]. On religious and social matters, he has stated that the use of the word 'Allah' by Christians is not an issue in Sarawak, reflecting the state's distinct multi-religious tradition [3]. He has taken the position that GPS is open to coalitions with parties other than DAP, PKR, and PSB [2]. He opposed the return of former communist leader Chin Peng's ashes to Malaysia, drawing on his background as a former police officer and border scout [2].

Before politics

1. Pre-1990sServed as a border scout and police officer before entering politics, as stated by Idris Buang himself.⛓

Political career

1. May 2016Won the Muara Tuang state seat (N.16) under Barisan Nasional in the 11th Sarawak state election, with a majority of 8,578 votes.⛓
2. August 2022Re-appointed as PBB information chief and simultaneously served as Deputy Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.⛓
3. December 2021Won the Muara Tuang state seat (N.16) under GPS in the 12th Sarawak state election with 5,097 votes, defeating PSB candidate Yakup Khalid (1,361 votes).⛓
4. 2022Appointed Deputy Speaker of the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly following the 2021 state election.⛓
5. May 2025Elevated to member of the PBB Supreme Council for the 2025–2028 term; his previous role as PBB information chief was filled by Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.⛓

Election history

• 2021Muara Tuang (N.16)Won⛓
• 2016Muara Tuang (N.16)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentAs PBB information chief and then Supreme Council member, Idris Buang has consistently articulated the GPS state government's position on Sarawak rights, MA63 obligations, and federal-state relations, including on petroleum revenue claims and parliamentary seat allocations.⛓
• OppositionOpposition figures including DAP's Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii have disputed Idris Buang's characterisation of Pakatan Harapan's record on Sarawak rights, arguing that PH had taken steps on MA63 during its federal tenure, a claim Idris contested.⛓
• VerifiedFactsIdris Buang has held the Muara Tuang state seat since at least 2016 (under BN) and 2021 (under GPS). He serves as Deputy Speaker of the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly and was elevated to the PBB Supreme Council in May 2025.⛓

Business interests (publicly reported)

Idris Buang served as a non-executive director of Amanah Saham Sarawak Berhad (ASSAR), a state-linked unit trust fund, as reported by Malay Mail in May 2019 (Source: malaymail.com). No other business interests have been reported by credible Malaysian news outlets.