TopicsPolitician AnalysisMohd Zawawi Ismail
Mohd Zawawi Ismail
- Party
- BERSATU · Malaysian United Indigenous Party
- Coalition
- PN
- Constituency
- Telemung
- State
- Terengganu
Why this matters to you
As the MLA for Telemung — a rural seat in the interior Hulu Terengganu district — Zawawi is the primary point of contact for residents on state government services including rural development, infrastructure, and local amenities. As a Deputy EXCO member in the Terengganu state government, he participates in state-level executive decisions that affect areas such as land administration, local infrastructure, and welfare services across the state. His role in raising questions on tourism development around Kenyir Geopark signals a focus on economic opportunities that could affect livelihoods in the broader Hulu Terengganu region.
Summary
Mohd Zawawi bin Ismail (born 30 November 1959) is a BERSATU politician and former teacher who has represented the Telemung state seat in Terengganu since August 2023, also serving as Deputy EXCO member in the Perikatan Nasional state administration. He previously served as MLA for Kuala Berang (2008–2013) under UMNO before later joining BERSATU. His 2023 victory at Telemung ended BN's hold on that seat spanning approximately six decades.
Biography
Mohd Zawawi bin Ismail (born 30 November 1959) is a Malaysian politician and former teacher who currently serves as Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Telemung and as Deputy Member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) state administration under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar [1]. He is a member of BERSATU, a component party of the PN coalition, and was previously a member of UMNO [1]. Zawawi is popularly known by the nickname 'Cikgu Awi', reflecting his background as a teacher [2]. Prior to Telemung, he served as MLA for Kuala Berang from March 2008 to May 2013, representing that seat under UMNO [1]. Before entering state politics, he worked as an Assistant Education Officer in the Hulu Terengganu district and holds a diploma from Raja Melewar Education College [1]. In the 2023 Terengganu state election held on 12 August 2023, Zawawi won the Telemung seat for PN-BERSATU, defeating four-term incumbent Datuk Rozi Mamat of BN-UMNO by a majority of 295 votes — 8,380 votes (39.0%) to 8,085 votes (37.6%) — ending BN's approximately 60-year hold on the seat [3]. Following the PN sweep of all 32 Terengganu state seats, Zawawi was appointed Deputy EXCO member in the state administration [1]. As an assemblyman, he has raised questions in the DUN on issues including tourism development around the Kenyir Geopark area [4].
Known for
Zawawi is known for ending BN's decades-long dominance in the Telemung state seat, defeating a four-term incumbent by a narrow margin of 295 votes in the 2023 state election [5]. He holds the position of Deputy EXCO member in the Terengganu PN state government, making him one of only a small number of BERSATU representatives with executive responsibility in Terengganu [1]. He is also recognised in the constituency by his nickname 'Cikgu Awi', reflecting his background as an educator [2].
Political positions
No detailed policy positions by Mohd Zawawi Ismail could be sourced from the allowlist. Based on available reporting, he has engaged on local development and tourism issues, including raising questions in the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly regarding the development of the Kenyir Geopark area and the status of the Pulau Poh government hotel project [4]. As a BERSATU member operating within the PN coalition alongside PAS in Terengganu, his political positioning aligns broadly with the PN coalition's state governance framework. No further statements on specific policy positions were found on allowlist sources.
References
Education
- Pre-1990sObtained a diploma from Raja Melewar Education College.⛓
Before politics
- Pre-2004Served as an Assistant Education Officer in the Hulu Terengganu district.⛓
Political career
- March 2008Elected as Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly for Kuala Berang, representing UMNO under the Barisan Nasional coalition.⛓
- May 2013Lost the Kuala Berang state seat, ending his first term as MLA. He served as Kuala Berang MLA from March 2008 to May 2013.⛓
- August 2023Won the Telemung state seat for PN-BERSATU in the 2023 Terengganu state election, defeating four-term BN incumbent Datuk Rozi Mamat by 295 votes (8,380 to 8,085), ending BN's approximately 60-year hold on the seat.⛓
- August 2023Sworn in as Deputy Member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) in the PN state administration under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.⛓
Election history
Stance evolution
Public statements grouped chronologically. The party tag shows which party the politician was contesting under at that point.
- 2023BERSATU
Saya akui pertandingan agak sengit kerana sedia maklum Telemung kubu kuat BN.
Perspectives on key issues
- VerifiedFactsMohd Zawawi Ismail won the Telemung seat in the 2023 Terengganu state election with 8,380 votes (39.0%), defeating four-term BN incumbent Datuk Rozi Mamat (8,085 votes, 37.6%) by a majority of 295 votes.⛓
- VerifiedFactsTelemung had been held by BN for approximately 60 years before Zawawi's 2023 victory. Sinar Daily noted 'BN's loss in defending the party's stronghold in the Telemung state seat that they held for 60 years.'⛓
- GovernmentWithin the Terengganu PN administration, BERSATU holds five seats in the 32-seat assembly; Zawawi is among the BERSATU representatives serving in the state executive as a Deputy EXCO member.⛓
- OppositionDefeated incumbent Datuk Rozi Mamat acknowledged the loss, stating it 'gives us an opportunity to reflect and view what has happened as a lesson', noting the seat was a recognised BN stronghold.⛓
Sources
Every URL the AI used to draft this profile, for editor and reader verification.