Mohd Azam Abd Samat

Summary

Mohd Azam Abd Samat (PAS) has been the state assemblyman for Sungai Limau, Kedah, since winning a 2013 by-election, and he has retained the seat at every subsequent election. Since August 2023, he has served as a Kedah State EXCO member heading the Education, Religion, Communications and Information Committee under Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. He is a PAS member with ulama ties and represents a rural constituency that has been a consistent stronghold for the party.

Biography

Mohd Azam bin Abd Samat is a Malaysian politician and member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). He has served as the Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Sungai Limau (N20) since November 2013 [1]. He was born around 1976 and is described as a local son of the Sungai Limau area with ulama ties [2]. He first entered the state assembly when PAS nominated him as Jerai PAS Youth chief to contest the Sungai Limau by-election called after the death of the five-term incumbent and former Kedah Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak, in September 2013 [1]. He won that by-election on 4 November 2013, defeating Barisan Nasional's Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim with a majority of 1,084 votes [3]. He subsequently retained the seat and, following the 2023 Kedah state election, was sworn in as a Member of the Kedah State Executive Council (EXCO) on 21 August 2023, heading the Education, Religion, Communications and Information Committee in the Perikatan Nasional state administration under Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor [4]. In the 2023 state election, he secured a commanding 67.1% of the vote (23,000 votes) with a majority of 18,904 at Sungai Limau [5]. He also previously served as Kedah PAS Information Chief [6].

Known for

Mohd Azam Abd Samat is known as the long-serving PAS assemblyman for Sungai Limau, a constituency regarded as a PAS stronghold in Kedah. He serves as the Kedah EXCO member overseeing Education, Religion, Communications and Information — the state's principal portfolio for Islamic affairs and public schooling. He is identified as having ulama ties and represents the religious-conservative strand of PAS politics in the state.

Political positions

As EXCO chairman for Education, Religion, Communications and Information in the Kedah state government, Mohd Azam's portfolio encompasses Islamic education institutions, including Maktab Mahmud — a prominent Islamic college in Kedah — as well as state-level communications and religious policy. In his capacity as head of the Lembaga Maktab Mahmud, he has publicly defended the institution against what he characterised as unfounded allegations circulating on social media [6]. In his role as Kedah PAS Information Chief prior to the 2023 election, he articulated the PAS-led state government's position that coalition governance in Kedah represented a model of political consensus and equitable power-sharing [6]. During his earlier tenure as MLA before holding EXCO rank, he raised questions in the Kedah state assembly regarding the development status of the Kedah Integrated Fishery Terminal (KIFT) project, reflecting constituency-level advocacy for fishing communities in his area [4].

Before politics

1. Pre-2013Served as Jerai PAS Youth chief prior to entering the state assembly, described as a local person with ulama ties from the Sungai Limau area.⛓

Political career

1. 4 November 2013Won the Sungai Limau by-election on the PAS ticket under Pakatan Rakyat, defeating BN's Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim with a majority of 1,084 votes (12,069 votes to 10,985). The by-election was called after the death of five-term incumbent Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak.⛓
2. 9 May 2018Retained the Sungai Limau state seat (N20) in the 14th General Election under the Gagasan Sejahtera (PAS) banner.⛓
3. 12 August 2023Retained the Sungai Limau seat (N20) in the 2023 Kedah state election under the Perikatan Nasional (PAS) banner with 67.1% of votes (23,000 votes) and a majority of 18,904.⛓
4. 21 August 2023Sworn in as Member of the Kedah State Executive Council (EXCO), taking charge of the Education, Religion, Communications and Information Committee under Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.⛓

Election history

• 2023Sungai Limau (N20)Won67.1%⛓
• 2018Sungai Limau (N20)Won⛓
• 2013Sungai Limau (N20)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsMohd Azam Abd Samat has held the Sungai Limau state seat continuously since November 2013, winning three consecutive contests (2013 by-election, GE14 2018, and 2023 state election). His vote majority grew from 1,084 in 2013 to 18,904 in 2023.⛓
• GovernmentAs Kedah PAS Information Chief (pre-2023), Mohd Azam stated that the Kedah PN coalition's approach to power-sharing — including the equitable distribution of posts across component parties — demonstrated political stability and should serve as a model for other states.⛓
• OppositionBN's 2013 by-election candidate and campaign machinery argued that Sungai Limau had suffered from underdevelopment during more than two decades of PAS representation, and that electing a BN assemblyman would improve coordination with both the state and federal government for constituency development.⛓