Mohd. Nurkhuzaini Ab. Rahman

Summary

Mohd Nurkhuzaini bin Ab Rahman (born 16 September 1971) is a PAS politician who has served as ADUN for Kota Putera, Terengganu since 2018 and as a member of the Terengganu State Executive Council across two consecutive terms under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar. He currently holds the EXCO portfolio for Digital Economy, New Revenue, Trade, Industry and Green Technology. His public record is concentrated on state economic development, job creation, renewable energy planning and state constitutional rights relating to Terengganu's maritime resources.

Biography

Mohd Nurkhuzaini bin Ab Rahman (born 16 September 1971) is a Malaysian politician and member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) who has served as the Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Kota Putera since May 2018 [1]. He is also a member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) state administration [1]. In the 2018 Terengganu state election, he contested and won the Kota Putera seat for the first time, defeating the incumbent BN assemblyman Mohd Mahdi Musa and a Pakatan Harapan candidate by a majority of 1,181 votes [1]. He was subsequently appointed to the Terengganu EXCO, initially holding the Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Micro Industry and Consumer Affairs portfolio [2]. He retained the Kota Putera seat in the 2023 state election, in which PN swept all 32 state seats in Terengganu [3]. Following the 2023 election, he was reappointed to the EXCO with a revised portfolio covering Digital Economy, New Revenue, Trade, Industry and Green Technology [4]. In this capacity he has been a state-level voice on economic diversification issues including the ECRL's projected economic impact on Terengganu and the development of renewable energy projects at Tasik Kenyir [5]. His pre-political career background is not documented in available public sources.

Known for

Mohd Nurkhuzaini is identified principally as the Terengganu EXCO member responsible for the state's economic development agenda, spanning entrepreneurship, digital economy, trade, industry and green technology portfolios across two consecutive terms. He tabled the state assembly motion in April 2024 to formally reject the Territorial Sea Act 2012, a move the Terengganu government framed as defending the state's constitutional rights over its maritime resources [4]. He has also spoken publicly on issues including Lynas Malaysia's rare earth operations and Terengganu's strategic interest in responsible rare earth element development [4].

Political positions

On economic policy, Mohd Nurkhuzaini has consistently advocated for job creation and human resource development in Terengganu, reporting in 2021 that the state government had provided 21,977 employment opportunities since 2018, surpassing the PAS manifesto target of 20,000 [6]. On energy and environment, he has championed development of Terengganu's rare earth element resources under ESG principles and has supported plans for a hybrid floating solar and green hydrogen project at Tasik Kenyir, positioning Terengganu as a potential leader in the renewable energy value chain [5]. On federalism and state rights, he tabled the DUN Terengganu motion rejecting the Territorial Sea Act 2012, arguing it was inconsistent with Articles 2(b) and 38(4) of the Federal Constitution which require state consent for boundary changes [4]. On trade and strategic assets, he called for parliamentary debate on the Lynas Malaysia rare earth supply agreement with the US Department of Defense, citing Malaysia's non-alignment foreign policy principles [4]. In 2018, as Entrepreneurship Committee chairman, he proposed that traders in Terengganu observe a 15-minute prayer break during prayer times, subject to the availability of prayer facilities [3].

Political career

1. 9 May 2018First elected as ADUN for Kota Putera (N2), Terengganu, under PAS, defeating incumbent BN assemblyman Mohd Mahdi Musa by a majority of 1,181 votes.⛓
2. 10 May 2018Appointed as member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, holding the Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Micro Industry and Consumer Affairs portfolio.⛓
3. 12 August 2023Re-elected as ADUN for Kota Putera (N2) under PN/PAS in the 2023 Terengganu state election, in which PN won all 32 state seats.⛓
4. August 2023Re-appointed to the Terengganu EXCO for a second term, with a revised portfolio covering Digital Economy, New Revenue, Trade, Industry and Green Technology.⛓
5. 25 April 2024Tabled the motion at the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (DUN) to unanimously reject the Territorial Sea Act 2012, arguing it was inconsistent with the Federal Constitution and denied Terengganu's rights over its sea resources.⛓

Election history

• 2023Kota Putera (N2), TerengganuWon⛓
• 2018Kota Putera (N2), TerengganuWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsMohd Nurkhuzaini has served as Kota Putera ADUN since May 2018 and has been an EXCO member under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar across two terms, confirmed by Malaysiakini, Sinar Harian, Bernama and Free Malaysia Today.⛓
• OppositionAmanah Terengganu characterised the state government's April 2024 motion rejecting the Territorial Sea Act 2012 — tabled by Mohd Nurkhuzaini — as 'late and odd', questioning why no action was taken during the 33 months when PN administered the federal government, and querying what concrete legal steps the state would take beyond the declaration.⛓
• GovernmentAs EXCO chairman, Mohd Nurkhuzaini reported in December 2021 that the Terengganu government had exceeded its manifesto target by providing 21,977 jobs since 2018, and highlighted ongoing active vacancies available to Terengganu residents.⛓