Mohamad Nizar Mohammad Najib

Summary

Mohamad Nizar bin Mohamad Najib (born 1978) is a first-term UMNO assemblyman for Peramu Jaya, Pahang, elected in November 2022 with a majority of 7,823 votes. A chartered accountant and former Deloitte executive director, he serves as chairman of Pahang's Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation EXCO committee. He is the eldest son of former Prime Minister Najib Razak and has publicly affirmed loyalty to UMNO and the BN-PH coalition state government in Pahang.

Biography

Datuk Mohamad Nizar bin Mohamad Najib (born 11 May 1978) is a Malaysian politician and UMNO member who has served as Member of the Pahang State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Peramu Jaya since November 2022 [1]. He is also a member of the Pahang State Executive Council (EXCO), appointed to the portfolio of Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation in December 2022 under Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail [2]. Nizar is the eldest son of former Prime Minister Najib Razak and his first wife, Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar [1]. He was educated at St. John's Institution and then Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), before completing his A-Levels at the Oundle School in Peterborough, United Kingdom, and a degree in industrial economics at the University of Nottingham [1]. He is a chartered accountant under the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) [1]. Prior to entering elected politics, he worked as an analyst at Accenture and subsequently at Deloitte for 14 years, where his final corporate role was Executive Director specialising in financial advisory services [1]. He began his party involvement as UMNO Youth Chief of the Jalan Daud Branch in Kampung Baru, Titiwangsa division, and in 2018 became UMNO Youth Chief of Pekan [1]. He contested Peramu Jaya in the 2022 general election, winning with a majority of 7,823 votes [1]. He is married to Nur Sharmila Shaheen, with five children [1].

Known for

Mohamad Nizar is the eldest son of jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak and made his electoral debut at the Peramu Jaya state seat in the 2022 general election, winning his first contest [3][4]. As a state EXCO member, he chairs the Pahang Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, overseeing the state's investment attraction and industrial development agenda [2]. He has publicly maintained loyalty to UMNO and the Pahang state government under Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, including issuing a public denial in July 2024 of allegations that he was conspiring with opposition parties to topple the state government [5][3].

Political positions

Mohamad Nizar has positioned himself as an advocate for economic diversification and investment in Pahang, with a focus on attracting high-value, high-tech industries such as electric vehicle (EV) technology, space technology, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing [6]. He has stated that the state government's priorities include spreading economic development equitably across Pahang's 14 districts, rather than concentrating growth solely in Kuantan [6]. He has also emphasised ease of doing business and efficient investment facilitation as key to attracting investors, stating that 'facilitation is everything' [6]. On party matters, he has publicly affirmed loyalty to UMNO and BN, and has stated that his late father Najib Razak never directed UMNO members to oppose the unity government [3]. He has described himself as committed to the BN-PH coalition government in Pahang [5].

Education

1. Secondary school (year unspecified)Completed his Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) at St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur, before transferring to the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK).⛓
2. A-Levels (year unspecified)Completed A-Levels at Oundle School in Peterborough, United Kingdom.⛓
3. Degree (year unspecified)Completed a degree in industrial economics at the University of Nottingham, UK. He is also a chartered accountant under the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).⛓

Before politics

1. Early career (year unspecified)Began his career as an analyst at Accenture.⛓
2. Approximately 14 years before 2022Worked at Deloitte for 14 years, rising to Executive Director specialising in financial advisory services (FAS).⛓

Political career

1. Pre-2018Served as UMNO Youth Chief of the Jalan Daud Branch, Kampung Baru, within the Titiwangsa division.⛓
2. 2018Became UMNO Youth Chief of Pekan division, a division long associated with his grandfather Abdul Razak Hussein and his father Najib Razak.⛓
3. 19 November 2022Won the Peramu Jaya state seat in the 2022 Pahang state election (concurrent with GE15) under BN/UMNO, defeating three other candidates with a majority of 7,823 votes.⛓
4. 2 December 2022Sworn in as a member of the Pahang State Executive Council (EXCO) before the Pahang Regent at Istana Abu Bakar, Pekan.⛓
5. 14 December 2022Assigned the EXCO portfolio of Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation by Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.⛓

Election history

• 2022Peramu Jaya (Pahang State)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentMohamad Nizar was appointed to the Pahang EXCO by Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and chairs the state Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, reflecting confidence from the BN-PH coalition state administration.⛓
• VerifiedFactsPahang recorded committed foreign direct investments totalling RM22.67 billion between 2022 and mid-2024, during Mohamad Nizar's tenure as Investment EXCO chair, according to a statement he made in December 2024.⛓
• OppositionSocial media allegations in July 2024 claimed Mohamad Nizar had met Perikatan Nasional representatives to plan a change in the Pahang government; he denied these allegations, and no corroborating evidence was published by credible news outlets.⛓

Notable legal history

The Shah Alam High Court issued a summary judgment on 25 September 2020 ordering Mohamad Nizar to pay RM13.16 million in unpaid taxes for the assessment years 2011 to 2017 to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB/LHDN), after the court found no triable issues in his defence (Source: theedgemalaysia.com; malaymail.com). Mohamad Nizar filed an appeal against the High Court decision at the Court of Appeal. The matter was subsequently resolved: Mohamad Nizar and the Special Commissioners of Income Tax (SCIT) recorded a consent order, under which he agreed to pay a negotiated amount described as 'significantly less' than the original RM13.16 million claimed (Source: theedgemalaysia.com). His lawyer confirmed the consent order was recorded on 26 August (year reported by The Edge), and that Mohamad Nizar would withdraw his Court of Appeal appeal following the settlement (Source: theedgemalaysia.com). A separate report from Free Malaysia Today and Malay Mail confirmed the settlement agreement was reached in 2021 (Source: freemalaysiatoday.com; malaymail.com).