Mohd Hairi Mad Shah

Summary

Mohd Hairi bin Mad Shah (born 6 May 1984) is the UMNO assemblyman for N44 Larkin, Johor, having first won the seat in the March 2022 state election with a majority of 6,178 votes [1]. He serves as a Johor State EXCO member overseeing Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, and holds the UMNO Youth Vice Chief post at the national party level [2]. He is contesting the Larkin seat again in the 16th Johor state election scheduled for 11 July 2026 [3].

Biography

Mohd Hairi bin Mad Shah (born 6 May 1984 in Johor Bahru) is a Malaysian politician serving as Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the N44 Larkin constituency since March 2022 [2]. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition [2]. Within the BN state administration under Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, he has served as a Member of the Johor State Executive Council (EXCO), holding the portfolio of Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives [3]. At the UMNO party level, he was elected UMNO Youth Vice Chief in March 2023, winning with 87 votes against challenger Ikmal Hazlan Ikmal Hisham [4]. He also holds a position on the UMNO Supreme Council [5]. In his EXCO role, Hairi has overseen policy areas including sports facility development, small and medium enterprise support, cooperative sector growth, and youth empowerment programmes across Johor [6]. He was nominated by BN as the candidate for the N44 Larkin seat in the 16th Johor state election, scheduled for 11 July 2026 [3]. Wikidata records his place of birth as Johor Bahru [7].

Known for

Mohd Hairi is identified primarily as the Johor State EXCO member responsible for Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives under the BN state government [5]. At the national party level, he is recognised as UMNO Youth Vice Chief, a post he secured in March 2023 [3]. He is also associated with promoting Johor's economic growth agenda, particularly entrepreneur development linked to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and the Agenda Maju Johor 2030 framework [5].

Political positions

On entrepreneurship and economic development, Mohd Hairi has consistently advocated for local small and medium entrepreneurs to capitalise on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), stating that the zone is "not just about attracting big players and foreign investors" but also a platform for smaller businesses to access global markets [5]. He has proposed expanding the Bantuan Kasih Johor (BKJ) welfare scheme to include traders and entrepreneurs [5]. On cooperatives, he has stated that cooperatives play a key role in inclusive community development, including for B40 communities, women, and youth, and should actively engage with the JS-SEZ [5]. On sports integrity, he has stated that the state government will take firm action against bullying in sports regardless of the offender's background, and has called for Parliament to enact a dedicated anti-bullying law [5]. On the Royal Institution and constitutional matters, he filed a police report in June 2026 against statements he said had the potential to incite public sentiment against the Royal Institution, citing the 3R sensitivities [5]. On intra-party competition, he acknowledged his 2023 loss in the Johor Baru UMNO division chief election, stating he would continue service through his other roles [5].

Political career

1. March 2022Elected as Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly for N44 Larkin under the BN-UMNO banner, winning with 16,053 votes and a majority of 6,178 in a six-cornered contest.⛓
2. March 2022Appointed as Member of the Johor State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, holding the Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Human Resources portfolio.⛓
3. February 2023Announced his candidacy for the Johor Baru UMNO division chief post, following incumbent Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad's retirement from the position he had held since the 1980s.⛓
4. March 2023Elected UMNO Youth Vice Chief (national level) with 87 votes, beating challenger Ikmal Hazlan Ikmal Hisham by a margin of three votes.⛓
5. May 2023Lost the Johor Baru UMNO division chief election to Datuk Yahya Jaafar, receiving 260 votes against Yahya's 296 out of 556 delegates.⛓
6. May 2023Appointed to lead the UMNO Youth election machinery for the six-state elections by UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.⛓
7. June 2026Confirmed by BN as candidate for N44 Larkin in the 16th Johor state election, with polling day set for 11 July 2026.⛓

Election history

• 2026N44 Larkin, JohorPending⛓
• 2022N44 Larkin, JohorWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsMohd Hairi won the N44 Larkin seat in the 2022 Johor state election with 16,053 votes and a majority of 6,178 in a six-cornered contest. The constituency was created in 2018 and was previously held by Bersatu's Izhar Ahmad before UMNO wrested it in 2022.⛓
• OppositionPKR/PH's Pulai MP Suhaizan Kaiat, contesting Larkin in 2026, argued that with PN split between Bersatu and PAS, there is room for PH to win over former Bersatu voters in Larkin, citing PN's combined 14,348 votes in the 2022 federal election covering the same area.⛓
• ExpertUTM Associate Prof Dr Mazlan Ali identified Larkin as a seat urban voters will be watching in the 16th Johor state election, noting it as part of the BN incumbent landscape that could be tested by opposition challengers.⛓
• GovernmentAs Johor EXCO chairman, Mohd Hairi has stated that the state government is committed to ensuring cooperatives are established in every district and that the JS-SEZ creates inclusive economic opportunities for B40 communities, women, youth and cooperative members.⛓