Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan

Summary

Muhammad Fawwaz bin Mohamad Jan (PAS/PN) has served as the MP for Permatang Pauh (P044), Pulau Pinang, since November 2022, when he defeated incumbent Nurul Izzah Anwar with a majority of 5,272 votes. He is Penang PAS Information Chief and a member of the PAS Ulama Committee, and has been active in Parliament on issues of Islamic morality, B40 student welfare, and economic policy including proposals to nationalise essential goods industries.

Biography

Muhammad Fawwaz bin Mohamad Jan is a Malaysian politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Permatang Pauh (P044), Pulau Pinang, since November 2022 [1]. He is a member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a component of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, and holds the position of Penang State Information Chief of PAS [2]. He is also recorded as a member of the PAS Ulama Committee [3]. At the 15th General Election (GE15) held on 19 November 2022, Fawwaz defeated incumbent PKR MP Nurul Izzah Anwar — daughter of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim — with a majority of 5,272 votes, ending the Anwar family's approximately 40-year association with the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat [4]. Prior to winning the seat, he had served as Penang PAS Youth Chief [5]. His educational background is recorded on Wikidata as including studies at Al-Azhar University, though this has not been independently confirmed by a Malaysian news source. In Parliament, Fawwaz has raised issues relating to morality, cost of living, and education funding, including questions about financial assistance for B40 students during the Budget 2024 debates [4]. At the PAS 71st Muktamar in September 2025, he proposed nationalising the production of basic necessities such as cooking oil and rice as an alternative to expanding taxation [4]. He continues to serve as Penang PAS Information Chief and is listed as an active member of the party's Ulama Committee [3].

Known for

Muhammad Fawwaz is best known for his GE15 victory over Nurul Izzah Anwar in Permatang Pauh, a seat long associated with the Anwar Ibrahim family, in what The Star described as a shock result. He has attracted public attention through parliamentary speeches on social morality issues and for his advocacy of Islamic-aligned economic policies, including proposals for state ownership of essential goods. He serves as Penang PAS Information Chief and is a voice for the party's positions at both the state and national levels.

Political positions

Fawwaz has expressed positions consistent with PAS's Islamist platform. On the economy and cost of living, he has proposed that the government nationalise the cooking oil and rice industries and bring rare earth minerals under federal control, citing the Petronas model, arguing that this would reduce reliance on taxation and lower prices for consumers [6]. He has raised concerns about the growing representation of non-Muslim and secular legislators, arguing that lawmakers with Islamic understanding are necessary to prevent laws that conflict with Islamic principles [7]. He objected to the open sale of alcohol at a mall in his constituency and raised the practice with mall management [8]. In Parliament, he raised questions about B40 student welfare and alleged involvement in sugar dating, calling on the government to investigate and provide more educational assistance for lower-income students [4]. He has also raised objections to what he described as 'sexy' grid girl practices at MotoGP events, on the grounds that they conflict with Islamic teachings and the Rukun Negara [9]. On Penang LRT, he proposed deferring the project in favour of road upgrades [3]. He has defended PN coalition unity in Penang, including welcoming Gerakan's proposal to contest under its own logo [3].

Education

1. UnknownRecorded as educated at Al-Azhar University, per Wikidata (linked to parlimen.gov.my profile). This has not been independently confirmed by a Malaysian news source.⛓

Political career

1. Pre-2022Served as Penang PAS Youth Chief prior to his election to Parliament.⛓
2. November 2022Won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat (P044) at GE15 under the Perikatan Nasional banner (PAS), defeating PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar with a majority of 5,272 votes.⛓
3. November 2022Assumed duties as MP for Permatang Pauh; called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to continue paying attention to the constituency's needs.⛓
4. January 2023Apologised for a Facebook post on his account condemning non-Muslims, attributing the post to his account administrator. The post had alleged that non-Muslims were working to bring down Islam.⛓
5. April 2023Gave a statement to police at the North-East district police headquarters regarding investigations into the January 2023 Facebook post, under Section 505(c) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. No finalised court outcome has been confirmed.⛓
6. October 2023Spoke at the 69th PAS Muktamar, raising concerns about the impact of non-Muslim and secular-leaning elected representatives on Islamic law-making.⛓
7. November 2023During Budget 2024 committee stage debates in the Dewan Rakyat, raised questions about B40 student welfare and alleged involvement in sugar dating, asking the government what research had been conducted and what assistance was available.⛓
8. November 2024Raised in the Dewan Rakyat that the practice of grid girls at MotoGP races was against Islamic teachings and the Rukun Negara, calling for it to stop.⛓
9. September 2025At the PAS 71st Muktamar, proposed nationalising the cooking oil and rice industries and bringing rare earth resources under federal control, as an alternative to widening the Sales and Services Tax (SST).⛓

Election history

• 2022Permatang Pauh (P044)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsMuhammad Fawwaz bin Mohamad Jan is listed as the sitting MP for Permatang Pauh (P044) under the PN coalition on the official Parliament of Malaysia member roll.⛓
• OppositionMalaysiakini reported that a DAP assemblyperson in Penang criticised Fawwaz for 'assuming the role of moral police' over his intervention regarding alcohol sales at a mall in his constituency, stating it was not the role of an elected representative to police activities he finds inappropriate.⛓
• GovernmentThe Edge Malaysia noted that Permatang Pauh, where Fawwaz defeated Nurul Izzah by 5,272 votes (a 6% margin), is a seat that PKR and PH consider strategically important to recapture, and that a PH-BN collaboration in GE16 would improve their chances there.⛓
• PublicFawwaz stated after his GE15 win that Permatang Pauh voters wanted an MP who was more frequently present on the ground, saying: 'Ada juga yang mahukan perubahan' (Some also wanted change).⛓