Mohd Zaidy Abdul Kadir

Summary

Datuk Mohd Zaidy Abdul Kadir is the UMNO assemblyman for Jeram Padang, Negeri Sembilan, elected in the August 2023 state election — the first non-Indian and first UMNO representative ever to hold that seat. A former UMNO Negeri Sembilan State Youth Chief, he is known for his public alignment with the party's central leadership and his stated focus on disability-friendly public infrastructure in his constituency. He rose to wider prominence in April 2026 when he was among the 14 UMNO Negeri Sembilan assemblymen who withdrew support from Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun amid a state royal crisis, before UMNO's central leadership directed the bloc to continue supporting the unity government.

Biography

Datuk Mohd Zaidy bin Abdul Kadir is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Member of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Jeram Padang since August 2023 [1]. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition [1]. Mohd Zaidy is historically notable as the first non-Indian and first UMNO assemblyman ever to represent the Jeram Padang seat, which had previously been held by a member of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) [1]. Prior to his election to the state assembly, he served as the State Youth Chief of UMNO Negeri Sembilan and as the Division Youth Chief of UMNO Jempol [1]. He is addressed with the honorific Datuk. In the August 2023 Negeri Sembilan state election, he stood as the BN candidate for Jeram Padang (N07), defeating Perikatan Nasional candidate Surash Sreenivasan [2]. During the campaign period, he sustained a broken left leg in a road accident along the Jalan Pasir Besar-Palong stretch, yet continued campaigning, pledging to prioritise public infrastructure for persons with disabilities if elected [3]. In April 2026, Mohd Zaidy was among all 14 UMNO assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan who withdrew support for Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, citing a loss of confidence linked to the state royal crisis [4]. Following instructions from UMNO's central leadership, he publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to the party and commitment to abiding by the top leadership's decisions [5].

Known for

Mohd Zaidy Abdul Kadir is known as the first non-Indian and first UMNO assemblyman to hold the historically MIC-held Jeram Padang seat in Negeri Sembilan [1]. He was a prominent UMNO Negeri Sembilan youth leader before his election to the state assembly, having served as State Youth Chief and Division Youth Chief of UMNO Jempol [1]. He attracted attention during the 2026 Negeri Sembilan political crisis when he joined all 14 UMNO state assemblymen in withdrawing support from Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun over the handling of the state royal dispute [4].

Political positions

Mohd Zaidy has consistently expressed loyalty to UMNO's party leadership and its decisions, publicly affirming that he abides by directives from the party president [5]. He has positioned himself as a proponent of party discipline, describing the sacking of a fellow UMNO supreme council member in December 2023 as a necessary lesson to leaders that the party will not tolerate divisive conduct [3]. On local governance, he has stated an interest in improving public infrastructure for persons with disabilities, including wheelchair ramps and walkways, as a priority for Jeram Padang [3]. During the April 2026 Negeri Sembilan political crisis, he called for a new Menteri Besar to be appointed to replace Aminuddin Harun, who he stated had lost the confidence of the majority, while maintaining that the final candidate would be decided by the BN-PH Political Bureau [2]. He has also publicly denied speculation that UMNO-BN in Negeri Sembilan was internally divided, emphasising focus on state government stability and the welfare of residents [5].

Political career

1. Before 2021Served as Division Youth Chief of UMNO Jempol.⛓
2. By November 2021Was serving as State Youth Chief of UMNO Negeri Sembilan, as confirmed in media reports from November 2021.⛓
3. July 28, 2023Named as BN's candidate for the Jeram Padang (N07) seat in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election, facing Perikatan Nasional's Surash Sreenivasan.⛓
4. August 12, 2023Won the Jeram Padang (N07) seat in the 15th Negeri Sembilan state election, becoming the first non-Indian and first UMNO assemblyman to hold the seat.⛓
5. December 7, 2023Publicly commented on the sacking of UMNO supreme council member Isham Jalil, calling it a lesson on party discipline and reaffirming loyalty to UMNO's leadership.⛓
6. April 27, 2026Joined all 14 UMNO Negeri Sembilan assemblymen in withdrawing support for Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, citing loss of confidence linked to the state royal crisis involving the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.⛓
7. April 29–30, 2026Denied speculation that he would break ranks and support Aminuddin's government, reaffirming loyalty to UMNO's central leadership while calling for a new Menteri Besar to be determined by BN-PH party leadership.⛓

Election history

• 2023Jeram Padang (N07), Negeri SembilanWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentNegeri Sembilan UMNO chief Jalaluddin Alias stated that all 14 UMNO assemblymen, including Mohd Zaidy, made their decision to withdraw support for Aminuddin Harun en bloc, and dismissed talk that any of them would reverse course.⛓
• OppositionBersatu's associate leader R Sri Sanjeevan demanded that Mohd Zaidy apologise for resharing a Facebook live video that Sanjeevan alleged was defamatory in nature, and warned him against producing what he described as low-quality content.⛓
• VerifiedFactsMohd Zaidy is confirmed as the first non-Indian and first UMNO assemblyman to represent the Jeram Padang state seat, which had previously been held by MIC's Manickam Letchuman from 2013 to 2023.⛓