Mansor Zakaria

Summary

Major (Retired) Mansor bin Zakaria is a PAS politician who has represented the N32 Kuala Ketil state constituency in Kedah since May 2018, winning elections in both 2018 and 2023 under the Perikatan Nasional banner [1]. He serves as chairman of the Kedah State Housing, Local Government and Health Committee under Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's PN administration [2]. In November 2025, he drew national attention after remarks he made during a Kedah state assembly sitting about Sabahans went viral; he subsequently issued a public apology and retracted the statement [3].

Biography

Major (Retired) Mansor bin Zakaria is a Malaysian politician and member of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), a component party of Perikatan Nasional (PN). He has served as the Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for N32 Kuala Ketil since May 2018 [1]. He was first elected under the PAS banner in the 14th General Election (GE14) on 9 May 2018, winning the seat with 37.2% of votes (12,574 votes) against candidates from BN-UMNO and PH-PKR, with a majority of 1,581 votes [4]. He successfully defended the seat at the 2023 Kedah State Election on 12 August 2023, again contesting under the PN-PAS ticket [3][2]. Following PN's landslide victory in Kedah in 2023, he was appointed to the Kedah State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and sworn in before Sultan Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah [2]. He chairs the Kedah State Housing, Local Government and Health Committee [5]. Before his political career, he served in the Malaysian military and holds the rank of Major (Retired), commonly referred to in official contexts as Mejar (B) [6]. No further biographical details — such as date of birth, educational background, or pre-military career — were available from sourced allowlist publications at the time of drafting.

Known for

Mansor Zakaria is known as the Kedah state assemblyman for Kuala Ketil and the chairman of the Kedah State Housing, Local Government and Health Committee under the PN state government [2]. He is also known for a public controversy in November 2025 when remarks he made during a Kedah state assembly sitting about Sabahans drew widespread criticism, prompting him to issue a public apology and retract his words [7]. He is a retired military officer who has held the Kuala Ketil seat across two consecutive state elections.

Political positions

As chairman of the Kedah State Housing, Local Government and Health Committee, Mansor Zakaria has articulated positions on several state-level policy matters. On healthcare infrastructure, he stated that the Kedah government is open to private entities — domestic or foreign — investing in an international specialist hospital in Langkawi [5]. On public health, he directed responses to disease outbreaks, including chikungunya cases in Jitra, emphasising community clean-up and inter-agency coordination [3]. On solid waste management, he reported to the state assembly that total solid waste collection costs in Kedah exceeded RM235 million in 2023, with a significant portion borne by the federal government [7]. On the Langkawi incinerator, he informed the state assembly that the plant was under repair and expected to resume operations in mid-2025 [2]. He also stated that no new licences would be issued to massage parlours in Langkawi [5]. No publicly documented positions on federal-level policy issues were sourced.

Before politics

1. Pre-2018Served in the Malaysian military, attaining the rank of Major (Mejar) before retirement. He is consistently referred to in official and media contexts as Mejar (B) Mansor Zakaria.⛓

Political career

1. May 2018First elected as ADUN for N32 Kuala Ketil on a PAS ticket in GE14, winning with 37.2% of votes (12,574 votes) and a majority of 1,581 votes over BN-UMNO and PH-PKR candidates.⛓
2. August 2023Re-elected as ADUN for N32 Kuala Ketil under the Perikatan Nasional (PAS) ticket at the 2023 Kedah State Election, in which PN won 33 of 36 state seats.⛓
3. September 2023Sworn in as a member of the Kedah State Executive Council (EXCO) before Sultan Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, and appointed chairman of the Housing, Local Government and Health Committee under Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.⛓

Election history

• 2023N32 Kuala KetilWon⛓
• 2018N32 Kuala KetilWon37.2%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• OppositionRonald Kiandee, Perikatan Nasional chief for Sabah, criticised Mansor Zakaria's remarks about Sabahan voters, saying his actions as ADUN Kuala Ketil were unacceptable.⛓
• GovernmentPAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden praised Mansor for apologising, saying that only a bigger person is willing to admit and correct their errors.⛓
• VerifiedFactsMansor Zakaria has served as ADUN for N32 Kuala Ketil since May 2018 and was appointed Kedah EXCO chairman for Housing, Local Government and Health following the 2023 Kedah state election, confirmed by Bernama and SPR gazette.⛓