Muhamad Akmal Saleh

Summary

Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh (born 2 July 1988) is the ADUN for N.28 Merlimau, Melaka, elected under Barisan Nasional in November 2021, and has served as a Melaka State EXCO member for health and subsequently for rural development and agriculture. He is also the 15th UMNO Youth Chief, elected in March 2023, and has been a prominent voice on Malay-Muslim rights, education policy, and intra-coalition governance. His January 2026 announcement of his EXCO resignation to protest UMNO's partnership with DAP drew national attention, though the Melaka Chief Minister subsequently rejected that resignation.

Biography

Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal bin Saleh (born 2 July 1988, Merlimau, Melaka) is a Malaysian politician and medical doctor serving as Member of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for N.28 Merlimau since November 2021 [1]. He is a member of UMNO, a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He received his secondary education at SMK Dato' Abdul Rahman Ya'akob in Merlimau and Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Ipoh, Perak, before attending Melaka Matriculation College and completing a medical degree at Russian State Medical University [1]. During his studies in Russia, he served as Head of the UMNO Overseas Club (Russia) from 2010 to 2012. He was appointed Head of the Medical Team of the UMNO Welfare Bureau in 2017 and, following BN's defeat at GE14, won unopposed as UMNO Youth Division Chief for Jasin in 2018 [1]. In the 2021 Malacca state election, he won the Merlimau seat with a majority of 3,248 votes, the highest majority in the state at that election [1]. He was appointed to the Melaka State EXCO under two consecutive Chief Ministers: overseeing Health and Anti-Drugs under Sulaiman Md Ali from November 2021, and Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security under Ab Rauf Yusoh from April 2023 [1]. He was elected the 15th UMNO Youth Chief on 11 March 2023 [2]. In January 2026, he announced his resignation from the state EXCO citing opposition to UMNO's cooperation with DAP in the unity government; Melaka Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh subsequently rejected the resignation letter and confirmed Akmal remains in post as of April 2026 [2].

Known for

Muhamad Akmal Saleh is known nationally as the 15th UMNO Youth Chief, elected in March 2023, and for his vocal stance on Malay-Muslim rights issues, including his prominent role in the KK Super Mart halal-labelling controversy in 2024 [1]. At the state level, he chairs the Melaka Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee [3]. He drew national attention in January 2026 when he announced his resignation from the Melaka EXCO to protest UMNO's continued participation in the federal unity government alongside DAP, a resignation that was subsequently rejected by the Chief Minister [2].

Political positions

Akmal Saleh has consistently positioned himself as a defender of Malay-Muslim interests within UMNO's coalition politics. He was a vocal critic of KK Super Mart during the 2024 halal sock controversy, urging the chain to display apology banners across all its 881 branches [1]. He opposed recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), arguing that any certification not aligned with national education policy need not be considered [4]. On education, he urged the government to address declining teacher morale before prioritising technology such as AI in schools, arguing excessive bureaucracy and KPI targets have demotivated educators [4]. On student loans, he supported the proposal to re-impose overseas travel restrictions on PTPTN defaulters, framing repayment as a generational responsibility [3]. He has expressed opposition to UMNO's continued cabinet-level partnership with DAP in the federal unity government, a position that led to his EXCO resignation announcement in January 2026 [5]. He has publicly stated his disagreements with DAP are policy-based and not directed at the Chinese community [3].

Education

1. Secondary school yearsReceived secondary education at SMK Dato' Abdul Rahman Ya'akob, Merlimau, and Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh, Perak.⛓
2. Pre-university and undergraduateCompleted one year at Melaka Matriculation College before pursuing a medical degree at Russian State Medical University.⛓

Before politics

1. 2010–2012Served as Head of the UMNO Overseas Club (Russia) while studying medicine at Russian State Medical University.⛓

Political career

1. 2017Appointed Head of the Medical Team of the UMNO Welfare Bureau.⛓
2. 2018Appointed UMNO Youth Branch Chief of Merlimau Tengah; following BN's defeat at GE14, won unopposed as UMNO Youth Division Chief for Jasin.⛓
3. 20 November 2021Elected ADUN for N.28 Merlimau in the 2021 Malacca state election under BN, winning with a majority of 3,248 votes — the highest majority statewide.⛓
4. 26 November 2021Appointed Member of the Melaka State EXCO in charge of Health and Anti-Drugs by Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.⛓
5. 11 March 2023Elected 15th UMNO Youth Chief for the 2023–2026 term, receiving 102 division votes out of 191. Concurrently became UMNO Jasin Division Chief.⛓
6. 5 April 2023Reappointed as Melaka State EXCO member as chairman of the Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee under Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh.⛓
7. 15 January 2026Announced resignation from the Melaka State EXCO at the UMNO Youth Assembly, citing inability to continue serving alongside DAP in the state government. Stated he would remain UMNO Youth Chief.⛓
8. April 2026Melaka Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh confirmed he had rejected Akmal's EXCO resignation letter; Akmal remains EXCO member for Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security.⛓

Election history

• 2021N.28 Merlimau (Melaka State)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentMelaka Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh rejected Akmal's EXCO resignation in April 2026, confirming he remains in post, stating the prerogative to accept or reject a resignation lies solely with the Chief Minister. Ab Rauf had earlier described Akmal's resignation announcement as 'the way of the youth'.⛓
• OppositionAccording to Malaysiakini, DAP Youth had called on Akmal to step down from his roles over his sustained criticism of the unity government's cooperation with DAP.⛓
• VerifiedFactsThe Melaka Sessions Court in December 2023 ordered Akmal to pay RM45,000 in damages to his elder brother Dr Solehin Saleh after finding him liable for defamation over a Facebook post made on 26 August 2022. This is a finalised civil judgment confirmed by at least two credible Malaysian outlets.⛓
• PublicThe Star reported that Akmal described himself as the only non-Chinese assemblyman in Melaka to organise a Lunar New Year open house since his election, and stated his disagreements with DAP are political in nature and not directed at the Chinese community.⛓
• ExpertAccording to CodeBlue, Akmal (in his then-role as Melaka state health and anti-drugs executive councillor) urged the federal government to resolve the 2024 nationwide insulin shortage and suggested the use of vouchers to fund diabetes patients obtaining medication from alternative facilities, arguing that patients should not be burdened with co-payments during a supply crisis.⛓

Notable legal history

In December 2023, the Melaka Sessions Court ordered Dr Akmal Saleh to pay RM45,000 in damages to his elder brother Dr Solehin Saleh after finding him liable for defamation. The suit arose from a Facebook post dated 26 August 2022 in which Akmal described his brother as an individual in debt and alleged he had posted negative comments about Akmal using a fake account. Trial judge Sabri Ismail held that Solehin had proven his case on a balance of probabilities. This is a finalised civil judgment confirmed by at least two credible Malaysian outlets (Source: freemalaysiatoday.com; en.wikipedia.org).