Mohd. Amar Abdullah

Summary

Mohd Amar bin Abdullah (born 29 July 1959) is a PAS politician and Islamic scholar who has represented the Panchor state seat in Kelantan since 2004 and currently serves as Speaker of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, a position he took up in September 2023 following nearly two decades as Deputy Menteri Besar. He is Vice President of PAS and a member of the party's Majlis Syura Ulamak, placing him among the senior figures in PAS's national leadership structure. Before entering politics, he spent ten years as a lecturer at the International Islamic University Malaysia and holds an MPhil from the United Kingdom.

Biography

Mohd Amar bin Abdullah (born 29 July 1959) is a Malaysian politician and Islamic scholar affiliated with Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS). He has served as the Member of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Panchor continuously since March 2004, making him one of the longest-serving state assemblymen in Kelantan [1]. He served as Deputy Menteri Besar of Kelantan and Member of the Kelantan State Executive Council (EXCO) across the Pakatan Rakyat, Gagasan Sejahtera, and Perikatan Nasional state administrations, under both Menteris Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Ahmad Yakob, from 2004 to August 2023 [1]. On 5 September 2023, he was appointed Speaker of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly following the formation of the new state government [2]. At the party level, he holds the position of Vice President of PAS and is a member of the Majlis Syura Ulamak [3]. Before entering politics, Amar was a lecturer in the Department of Revelation at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) for ten years from 1985 to 1995, and briefly served as Superintendent of Customs (Sangkut) in Penang [1]. He holds a Bachelor of Islamic Studies from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (1979–1983) and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) from the United Kingdom [1]. He was born and raised in Kampung Panchor, the same constituency he now represents, and his mother was a great-granddaughter of Sultan Muhammad III of Kelantan [1].

Known for

Mohd Amar is known as a senior PAS leader who served as Deputy Menteri Besar of Kelantan for nearly two decades, becoming one of the most prominent figures in the PAS-led Kelantan state government [1]. Since September 2023, he has served as Speaker of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, a role in which he made a significant institutional decision in June 2024 when he declared the Nenggiri state seat vacant, triggering a by-election [1]. At the national party level, he is PAS Vice President and has been a frequent spokesperson on coalition politics and PAS's electoral strategy [4].

Political positions

Mohd Amar consistently articulates an Islamic governance framework as the central basis for PAS's administration of Kelantan, arguing that Islam is compatible with modern state management and economic development [5]. On coalition politics within Perikatan Nasional, he has stated that Bersatu would need to leave PN before it could contest against PAS, signalling PAS's assertiveness within the coalition following the PAS-Bersatu split in mid-2026 [4]. On electoral strategy, he has stated PAS is targeting 80 parliamentary seats in GE16 and aims to retain its four state governments — Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis [4]. On Kelantan governance, he has publicly defended the state government's record on anti-corruption and has addressed the state's long-running water supply challenges [6].

Education

1. 1965–1971Attended Sekolah Melayu Majlis (primary school) in Panchor, simultaneously receiving religious education at Sekolah Menengah Ugama Tarbiah Mardhiah, Panchor.⛓
2. 1972–1977Completed secondary school (Lower 6) at SMU (A) Tarbiah Mardhiah, Panchor.⛓
3. 1978–1979Completed Upper 6 at Maahad Muhammadi Men secondary school.⛓
4. 1979–1983Obtained a Bachelor of Islamic Studies from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).⛓
5. Post-1983Obtained a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) from a university in the United Kingdom. Note: the Sinar Harian PRN profile refers to a doctorate-level qualification; the Wikipedia article specifies MPhil. Both sources are from the allowlist; the Wikipedia source is more detailed and is used here.⛓

Before politics

1. Early 1980sServed as Superintendent of Customs (Sangkut) for one year in Penang before entering academia.⛓
2. 1985–1995Served as a lecturer in the Department of Revelation at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Petaling Jaya, Selangor, for ten years.⛓

Political career

1. March 2004First elected as Member of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly for Panchor in the 2004 general election. Also appointed to the Kelantan State Executive Council (EXCO).⛓
2. May 2013Appointed Deputy Menteri Besar of Kelantan, a position he held until August 2023 under Menteris Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and subsequently Ahmad Yakob.⛓
3. 12 August 2023Re-elected to Panchor for a fifth consecutive term in the 2023 Kelantan State Election, winning with 18,700 votes and a majority of 10,686 over the Pakatan Harapan challenger.⛓
4. 5 September 2023Appointed Speaker of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, stepping down from his Deputy Menteri Besar and EXCO roles.⛓
5. 19 June 2024As Speaker, declared the Nenggiri state seat vacant after assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim was terminated as a Bersatu member due to his switch of political allegiance, triggering the 2024 Nenggiri by-election.⛓

Election history

• 2023Panchor, KelantanWon⛓
• 2018Panchor, KelantanWon⛓
• 2013Panchor, KelantanWon⛓
• 2008Panchor, KelantanWon⛓
• 2004Panchor, KelantanWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentMohd Amar served as a senior executive of the Kelantan state government for nearly two decades and now presides over the state assembly as its Speaker. PAS, which leads the Kelantan government, nominated him to the Speaker role following the 2023 state election.⛓
• OppositionPakatan Harapan's Panchor candidate in the 2023 state election stated during the campaign that he sensed growing voter dissatisfaction with Mohd Amar among constituents. PH nonetheless lost the seat by a majority of 10,686 votes.⛓
• VerifiedFactsBernama reported that Mohd Amar won the Panchor seat for the fifth consecutive time in the 12 August 2023 Kelantan State Election, obtaining 18,700 votes against the PH challenger's 8,014 votes — a majority of 10,686.⛓