Muhamad Radhi Mat Din

Summary

Muhamad Radhi Mat Din (born 1965) is a PAS politician and Kedah football legend who has served as ADUN for Alor Mengkudu and as a Kedah state EXCO member since August 2023. He chairs the state committee overseeing consumer affairs, cost of living, youth, and sports. He first entered politics in GE14 (2018) and won his first elected office at the 2023 Kedah state election, defeating veteran politician Datuk Mahfuz Omar by over 10,000 votes.

Biography

Muhamad Radhi bin Mat Din (born 17 July 1965) is a Malaysian politician, retired professional footballer, and football coach. He has served as the Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Alor Mengkudu since August 2023, representing PAS under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition [1]. He was simultaneously appointed to the Kedah State Executive Council (EXCO), chairing the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Cost of Living, and Youth and Sports [2]. In the 2023 Kedah state election, he defeated incumbent Datuk Mahfuz Omar of Amanah (Pakatan Harapan) with 18,936 votes against Mahfuz's 8,832 — a majority of 10,104 votes [3]. He had previously contested GE14 in 2018 as a PAS candidate for the federal seat of Pokok Sena, where he garnered 23,401 votes but lost to Mahfuz Omar by a majority of 5,558 votes [1]. Before entering politics, Radhi spent his entire playing career as a midfielder for Kedah FA from 1986 to 2000, serving as the club's longest-serving captain from 1991 to 2000 [1]. He represented the Malaysia national team from approximately 1989 to 1993, including at the 1989 SEA Games where Malaysia won gold [1]. After retiring as a player in 2000, he transitioned into football management and coaching, helping Kedah win back-to-back M-League double treble titles in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons [1]. He was elected to the PAS Kedah State Liaison Committee for the 2019–2021 term and later elected Vice-President of the Kedah Football Association (KFA) in 2020 [4].

Known for

Muhamad Radhi Mat Din is widely recognised as one of Kedah's most celebrated footballers, having captained Kedah FA for nearly a decade and earned the nickname 'Captain Marvel' among supporters [1]. In politics, he is notable as a PAS assemblyman who unseated veteran opposition figure Datuk Mahfuz Omar at the 2023 Kedah state election by a commanding majority of over 10,000 votes [3]. He holds the Kedah EXCO portfolio covering consumer and cost-of-living affairs as well as youth and sports, making him the state's principal official on both consumer price oversight and sports development [2].

Political positions

Muhamad Radhi Mat Din is a PAS member and contests under the Perikatan Nasional banner. In his role as Kedah EXCO for Consumer Affairs and Cost of Living, he has addressed issues around the KDA FC football club's financial difficulties, clarifying that state government responsibility is limited given the club's privatised status, while noting the state government — through KFA — has continued to assist the club [5]. He has stated that despite the Kedah state government being under a different political coalition from the federal government, he intends to maintain constructive relations with Putrajaya for the benefit of the rakyat, notably remarking that sports and consumer prices are universal matters that transcend party lines [3]. No published parliamentary or state assembly voting records or statements on national policy issues beyond his portfolio have been identified in credible sources at the time of this profile.

Before politics

1. 1986Made his debut as a professional footballer for Kedah FA, where he would spend his entire playing career as a midfielder.⛓
2. 1989Represented the Malaysia national football team at the 1989 SEA Games, winning a gold medal. Began a national team career lasting until 1993.⛓
3. 1991Appointed captain of Kedah FA, becoming the club's longest-serving captain, a role he held until 2000.⛓
4. 1993Won the Malaysian Best Player award after Kedah claimed the League and FA Cup double. Also collected Malaysia Cup winners' medals in 1990 and 1993 and a Division 1 title in 1993.⛓
5. 2000Retired from professional football after a 14-year playing career with Kedah FA.⛓
6. 2006–2008Served as assistant coach at Kedah FA, helping the club win back-to-back M-League double treble titles in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons.⛓

Political career

1. July 2019Elected as a committee member (AJK) of the PAS Kedah State Liaison Body for the 2019–2021 term.⛓
2. July 2020Elected as Vice-President of the Kedah Football Association (KFA) at an extraordinary general meeting.⛓
3. 14 April 2018Announced as the PAS candidate for the federal seat of Pokok Sena in the 14th General Election (GE14).⛓
4. 9 May 2018Contested Pokok Sena (GE14) under PAS, obtaining 23,401 votes but losing to incumbent Mahfuz Omar (Amanah/PH) by a majority of 5,558 votes.⛓
5. 12 August 2023Contested Alor Mengkudu state seat (PRN Kedah 2023) under PAS/PN. Won with 18,936 votes against Mahfuz Omar's 8,832 votes, a majority of 10,104 votes.⛓
6. 21 August 2023Sworn in as a member of the Kedah State Executive Council (EXCO), chairing the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Cost of Living, and Youth and Sports.⛓

Election history

• 2023Alor Mengkudu (N.14) — Kedah StateWon⛓
• 2018Pokok Sena (P.016) — FederalLost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentBernama reported that Muhamad Radhi Mat Din and fellow ex-footballer Baddrol Bakhtiar both won their respective Kedah state seats on a PN ticket at the 2023 state election, with PN retaining power in Kedah by winning 33 of 36 seats.⛓
• VerifiedFactsSPR records confirm Muhamad Radhi bin Mat Din and Mahfuz bin Omar as candidates for N.14 Alor Mengkudu in the 2023 Kedah state election, with nomination dates of 26–27 September 2023 listed.⛓
• ExpertNaib Presiden KFA Datuk Mohd Salleh Saidin was quoted by Sinar Harian as saying Radhi is the only former Kedah footballer to hold a state EXCO post, and that his sports portfolio is well-suited to his background.⛓
• IndustryUtusan Malaysia (September 2024) reported that Radhi clarified his KDA FC shareholding was held in a representative capacity for KFA at the club's founding and was not funded with personal funds, with the actual owner being Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Daud Bakar.⛓
• PublicUtusan Malaysia reported in August 2023 that Radhi described his election win as not a personal victory but a product of the PN wave, including growing awareness among young voters.⛓

Business interests (publicly reported)

Muhamad Radhi Mat Din held shares in Kedah Darul Aman FC (KDA FC) at its founding, acting in a representative capacity for the Kedah Football Association (KFA). According to Utusan Malaysia (September 2024), he clarified that the shareholding was documentary in nature and not funded with personal capital, and that the actual beneficial owner is Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Daud Bakar. Sinar Harian (November 2024) reported that he agreed to relinquish his 21% shareholding as part of a proposed acquisition of KDA FC by DSAT Group.