Mohd Taufik Yaacob

Summary

Mohd Taufik bin Yaacob is a BERSATU politician serving as ADUN for Bayu (N.30) in Kedah since August 2023, having won the seat with 57.3% of votes in the 2023 state election. He heads the Bersatu Baling Division, chairs PERGETAH Baling, and has a background in rubber plantation management through his company Bayu Rimba Enterprise. His legislative focus centres on rural economic development, rubber smallholder welfare, and border trade opportunities in the Baling district.

Biography

Mohd Taufik bin Yaacob is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Bayu since August 2023 [1]. He is a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition [1]. At the grassroots level, he serves as Head of the Bersatu Baling Division [1]. He was appointed as a member of RISDA on 15 May 2020 and chairs PERGETAH Baling, the Kedah Rubber Growers and Tappers Association [1]. Prior to his election as ADUN, Taufik served as Parliamentary Coordinator for Baling and was an advocate for small rubber smallholders, calling for the continuation of the Monsoon Season Aid (Bantuan Musim Tengkujuh) scheme and lobbying for expanded Lembaga Getah Malaysia (LGM) service counters in every district [2][3]. He first entered federal electoral politics in GE14 (2018) when he contested the Baling parliamentary seat under the Pakatan Harapan (PPBM) banner, obtaining 13.5% (14,472 votes), but was unsuccessful [4]. He subsequently stood for the N.30 Bayu state seat in the 2023 Kedah state election under PN-BERSATU, winning with 57.3% of votes (27,287) against BN-UMNO's Dato' Ishak Mat, with a majority of 17,582 votes [4]. He also operates Bayu Rimba Enterprise, which has managed a rubber plantation on Orang Asli land in Baling since 2010 [5].

Known for

Mohd Taufik Yaacob is known as the elected ADUN for Bayu, a rural Baling district constituency bordering Thailand, where he advocates for rubber smallholder welfare and local economic development. He chairs PERGETAH Baling, a rubber growers and tappers association, positioning himself as a representative of the agricultural community. He drew public attention in 2024 when a carnival in his constituency was shut down following his criticism of entertainment activities held during Ramadan [6][7].

Political positions

Taufik has publicly advocated for rural economic development along the Malaysia-Thailand border, proposing the opening of a new border crossing point in Baling to stimulate local trade and tourism tied to the Visit Kedah 2025 campaign [2]. He has consistently championed rubber smallholders, calling for the continuation of government financial assistance schemes during the monsoon season and for LGM service counters to be expanded to every district [2][3]. Within the Kedah State Assembly, he has raised questions on federal tourism allocations to the state [2]. His public conduct reflects alignment with Perikatan Nasional's socially conservative values, as evidenced by his criticism of entertainment activities during Ramadan at the Fiesta Raya Baling 2024 carnival [6][7].

Before politics

1. 2010Took over management of an abandoned rubber plantation on Orang Asli land in Baling, investing RM1.7 million of personal capital to develop the land through Bayu Rimba Enterprise.⛓
2. 15 May 2020Appointed as a member of RISDA (Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority).⛓

Political career

1. Before 2019Served as Parliamentary Coordinator (Penyelaras Parlimen) for Baling and as Chairman of PERGETAH Baling, advocating for rubber smallholder welfare and LGM service expansion.⛓
2. 9 May 2018Contested the Baling parliamentary seat (P015) under Pakatan Harapan (PPBM) in GE14, receiving 13.5% (14,472 votes). Was not elected.⛓
3. 12 August 2023Won the N.30 Bayu state seat in the Kedah state election under PN-BERSATU with 57.3% of votes (27,287 votes), defeating BN-UMNO's Dato' Ishak Mat by a majority of 17,582.⛓
4. November 2023Raised a proposal in the Kedah State Assembly budget debate to open a new border crossing point in Baling district to boost local tourism and trade, citing the constituency's proximity to the Thai border.⛓
5. March 2024Criticised the organiser of Fiesta Raya Baling 2024 over entertainment activities held during Ramadan; the organiser subsequently closed the carnival and publicly accepted Taufik's criticism.⛓

Election history

• 2023Bayu (N.30)Won57.3%⛓
• 2018Baling (P015)Lost13.5%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsMohd Taufik Yaacob won the N.30 Bayu seat in the 2023 Kedah state election with 57.3% of votes (27,287 votes) and a majority of 17,582 over BN-UMNO's Dato' Ishak Mat. He is an elected member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly under PN-BERSATU.⛓
• GovernmentAs an ADUN within the PN-governed Kedah state assembly, Taufik has used the state budget debate to advocate for federal approval of a new border entry point in Baling, framing it as a tourism and economic development initiative aligned with the Visit Kedah 2025 campaign.⛓
• AffectedAccording to Malay Mail, 43 Orang Asli from the Kensui tribe demanded dividend arrears from Bayu Rimba Enterprise, whose management Taufik leads, alleging that monthly dividend payments of RM300 including RM150 in groceries under their agreement had been stopped for over a year.⛓
• IndustryAs Chairman of PERGETAH Baling, Taufik called on the government to continue the Monsoon Season Aid scheme for rubber smallholders and proposed the establishment of LGM mini-counters in every district, citing that only 30% of eligible smallholders in Kedah were claiming available rubber production incentives.⛓

Business interests (publicly reported)

According to Bernama and Malay Mail, Mohd Taufik Yaacob is the Director of Bayu Rimba Enterprise, a company that took over management of a rubber plantation on Orang Asli land in Baling from 2010, with Taufik stating he invested RM1.7 million of his own capital to develop the land across two phases (Source: bernama.com, malaymail.com). The Sinarharian candidate profile also identifies him as Director of Bayu Rimba Enterprise (Source: pru.sinarharian.com.my).