Jamaliah Jamaluddin

Summary

Jamaliah Jamaluddin is a DAP politician and two-term Selangor State Assemblywoman for Bandar Utama who, since August 2023, has served as Selangor's EXCO member for Public Health and Environment — the youngest person to hold an EXCO position in the state. Born in Hunan, China, and educated in Malaysia and the United States, she began her political career as a DAP volunteer in 2015 and won the Bandar Utama seat in 2018 with a commanding majority, retaining it in 2023. Her current portfolio centres on public healthcare access, environmental governance, and preventive health policy for Selangor's residents.

Biography

Jamaliah Jamaluddin (born 16 March 1989 in Hunan, China) is a Malaysian politician and member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP). She has served as the Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Bandar Utama since May 2018 and as a Member of the Selangor State Executive Council (EXCO) since August 2023 [1]. She grew up in the Klang Valley as the only child of radio host and political columnist Jamaluddin Ibrahim, and her political interest developed in her teenage years under her father's influence [1]. She is the granddaughter of Shamsiah Fakeh, a prominent leader of the Communist Party of Malaya and Malaysia's independence-era nationalist [2]. Jamaliah graduated with a First Class Diploma in Business Studies from Management & Science University Malaysia (MSU), before completing a First Class Bachelor's degree in International Business, graduating Magna Cum Laude, from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, United States [1]. Her background as a biracial person — with a Malay father and Chinese mother — has shaped her political outlook, particularly on race relations and diversity [3]. She began volunteering with DAP in 2015 and was appointed as a Local Councillor under Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) in 2016, serving also as special assistant to then-Damansara Utama Assemblywoman Yeo Bee Yin until 2018 [1]. In the 2018 general election, she won the Bandar Utama seat with 90.4% of votes and a majority of 38,561 [1]. She was re-elected in 2023 with 84.9% of votes and a 35,446 majority [1]. She was appointed as the youngest Selangor EXCO Member and one of only two female EXCO Members following the 2023 Selangor state election, holding the portfolio of Public Health and Environment, which covers public health, environment, climate change, and green technology [4][5].

Known for

Jamaliah is recognised for her work on public health policy and environmental governance as the Selangor EXCO for Public Health and Environment, overseeing programmes such as the Iltizam Selangor Sihat (ISS) healthcare subsidy scheme and the Selangkah digital health platform [5]. She is also noted for her advocacy on women's empowerment, youth development, and racial harmony, drawing partly from her identity as a biracial Malaysian of Malay and Chinese heritage [3][2]. She is the youngest person appointed as a Selangor state EXCO member and one of only two women on the executive council [1].

Political positions

Jamaliah has consistently articulated positions centred on preventive public health, women's empowerment, and racial and religious inclusivity. On healthcare, she has championed the Iltizam Selangor Sihat (ISS) programme — which provides GP visit subsidies of up to RM70 and an annual RM10,000 hospitalisation benefit for B40 recipients — and has advocated for greater healthcare digitalisation through the Selangkah app [5]. She has called for clear standard operating procedures governing state-federal cooperation in outbreak response, expressing concern about jurisdictional ambiguity during pandemics [5]. On youth voting and civic engagement, she has defended the Undi18 lowering of the voting age as a progressive decision, while emphasising the need to improve political education and critical thinking among young voters [6]. On gender issues, she has spoken out against period spot checks in schools, describing them as a violation of privacy and potential physical harassment [2]. On tobacco and vaping, she has advocated for vape tax revenues to be channelled to state and local authorities to fund enforcement and public education [6]. She has also introduced anti-bullying pilot initiatives in Selangor secondary schools via the Selangor Mental Health (Sehat) module [7].

Education

1. Before 2015Graduated with a First Class Diploma in Business Studies from Management & Science University Malaysia (MSU). Subsequently completed a First Class Bachelor's degree in International Business (Magna Cum Laude) from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, United States.⛓

Before politics

1. 2015Began volunteering for the Democratic Action Party (DAP).⛓
2. 2016Appointed as a Local Councillor under Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and as special assistant to then-Damansara Utama Assemblywoman Yeo Bee Yin, holding both positions until 2018.⛓

Political career

1. May 2018Elected as the ADUN for Bandar Utama (N36) in the 14th General Election on a DAP ticket, winning with 90.4% of votes and a majority of 38,561 — one of the youngest representatives elected to the Selangor State Assembly.⛓
2. 2018–2021Served as National Vice-Treasurer for DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) and held the post of Selangor Vice Chief.⛓
3. August 2023Re-elected as ADUN for Bandar Utama in the Selangor State Election with 84.9% of votes and a majority of 35,446 in a three-cornered race against MUDA's Abe Lim and Perikatan Nasional's Nur Alif Mohd Tafid.⛓
4. 21 August 2023Sworn in as Selangor State Executive Councillor (EXCO) for Public Health and Environment — covering public health, environment, climate change, and green technology — under Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari's second executive council. Reported as the youngest person appointed to a Selangor EXCO position.⛓

Election history

• 2023Bandar Utama (N36), SelangorWon84.9%⛓
• 2018Bandar Utama (N36), SelangorWon90.4%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentSelangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari's administration appointed Jamaliah to the EXCO citing her prior state assembly experience as making her well-suited for the Public Health and Environment portfolio, despite being a first-time exco member.⛓
• VerifiedFactsAccording to Malay Mail, Jamaliah won the Bandar Utama seat in the 2023 Selangor state election with a majority of 35,446 votes, in a three-cornered contest.⛓
• ExpertCodeBlue reported that Jamaliah, as Public Health EXCO, oversees the Iltizam Selangor Sihat programme under which only 7% of the 98,142 registered ISS beneficiaries had utilised their benefits as of late 2023, raising questions about programme awareness and outreach effectiveness.⛓
• PublicAccording to Malay Mail, Bandar Utama residents ahead of the 2018 election expressed willingness to judge Jamaliah on her own merits and her record as a city councillor and legislative aide, rather than on her grandmother Shamsiah Fakeh's Communist Party of Malaya membership.⛓