Ramli Mohd Nor (Deputy Speaker)

Summary

Datuk Ramli bin Mohd Nor (born 1 October 1958) is the UMNO Member of Parliament for Cameron Highlands, Pahang, and Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat since December 2022 — the first person of Orang Asli descent to hold either position in Malaysian parliamentary history. A retired Royal Malaysia Police Assistant Commissioner of Police with 34 years of service, he entered politics by winning the 2019 Cameron Highlands by-election and was re-elected in GE15 in November 2022. His legislative work has focused on healthcare, land rights, education, and economic development for Malaysia's Orang Asli community.

Biography

Datuk Ramli bin Mohd Nor (born 1 October 1958) is a Malaysian politician and former senior police officer serving as Member of Parliament for Cameron Highlands, Pahang, since January 2019 and as Deputy Speaker (Timbalan Yang Dipertua) of the Dewan Rakyat since December 2022 [1]. He is a member of UMNO, a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition [1]. Born at the Batu 12 Orang Asli Settlement, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, Selangor, his father is from the Semai tribe of Cameron Highlands, Pahang, and his mother is from the Temiar tribe of Gua Musang, Kelantan [1]. He holds a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, a Diploma in Public Administration from Universiti Teknologi MARA, and a Diploma in Police Science [1]. His public service career spanned 38 years, beginning in 1980 at Johor Port Authority and then in the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) from 1984, retiring with the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) after 34 years [1]. He is the first Orang Asli to be elected to the Dewan Rakyat, winning the 2019 Cameron Highlands by-election under the BN banner with a majority of 3,238 votes [1]. He was re-elected in the 2022 general election (GE15) under BN [2]. On 19 December 2022, he was elected Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, receiving 148 votes [3]. He is also the first Orang Asli to be appointed a member of the UMNO Supreme Council, an appointment made in October 2024 [4].

Known for

Ramli Mohd Nor is defined politically as Malaysia's first and, to date, only Orang Asli Member of Parliament, having entered the Dewan Rakyat via the 2019 Cameron Highlands by-election. He holds the historically significant role of Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat — a position he is the first person of Orang Asli descent to occupy — under Speaker Johari Abdul since December 2022. He is a consistent advocate in Parliament for the rights, healthcare, land, education, and economic development of the Orang Asli community nationally.

Political positions

Ramli has consistently called for the government to provide fully free healthcare — covering all consultation, treatment, and admission charges — for the Orang Asli community at all public health facilities [5][6]. On education, he has called for unconditional government assistance for Orang Asli students from preschool to tertiary levels, including scholarships, transport, and school supplies, citing a Suhakam report that found Orang Asli children in certain areas did not attend school at all [5][6]. On land rights, he has stressed the need for amendments to the National Land Code 1965 and the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954, and called for an Orang Asli Land Enactment at the state level [5][6]. On institutional reform, he has called for the establishment of a MARA-like statutory body for the Orang Asli, arguing that the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) is ineffective due to limited authority at the district level [7][8]. On infrastructure, he has publicly flagged shoddy roadworks in Orang Asli rural communities, stating that many road projects do not follow specifications, and directed follow-up with Jakoa [4][9]. He has also been appointed Chairman of the Orang Asli Economic Development Secretariat, with Jakoa serving as secretariat [7][10].

Education

1. Dates not fully confirmedObtained a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, a Diploma in Public Administration from Universiti Teknologi MARA, and a Diploma in Police Science.⛓

Before politics

1. 1980Began his public service career as a port traffic officer at Johor Port Authority.⛓
2. 1984Joined the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP). Served for 34 years, heading the Commercial Crime Investigation Department in Negeri Sembilan and Penang, and retired with the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).⛓

Political career

1. 26 January 2019Won the Cameron Highlands by-election as a BN direct member, defeating DAP's M. Manogaran and two independents with a majority of 3,238 votes, becoming the first Orang Asli MP in Malaysian history. He swore in wearing a tempok and began his maiden speech in the Semai language.⛓
2. 15 May 2020Appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Amanah Raya Berhad (ARB), replacing Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali.⛓
3. 1 March 2022Tasked to chair the Dewan Rakyat sitting as temporary Deputy Speaker, becoming the first Orang Asli to preside over the Dewan Rakyat, though not yet formally appointed to the position.⛓
4. 19 November 2022Re-elected as MP for Cameron Highlands under BN in the 15th General Election (GE15).⛓
5. 19 December 2022Formally elected as Deputy Speaker (Timbalan Yang Dipertua) of the Dewan Rakyat, receiving 148 votes, nominated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and seconded by DPM Fadillah Yusof.⛓
6. February 2023Appointed Chairman of the Orang Asli Economic Development Secretariat, with Jakoa serving as secretariat, to oversee Orang Asli economic development policy.⛓
7. October 2024Appointed as a member of the UMNO Supreme Council (Majlis Kerja Tertinggi), becoming the first Orang Asli to hold this position within the party.⛓

Election history

• 2022Cameron HighlandsWon⛓
• 2019Cameron Highlands (By-election)Won56.18%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim nominated Ramli as Deputy Speaker in December 2022, and he was seconded by Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof, signalling bipartisan government-bench support for his appointment to the role.⛓
• OppositionPerikatan Nasional fielded its own candidate, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, against Ramli in the December 2022 Deputy Speaker vote; she received 74 votes compared to Ramli's 148, indicating PN's preference for its own nominee over him.⛓
• AffectedA group of 15 Orang Asli-based organisations rejected proposed amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 in January 2026, stating that the government's engagement session did not comply with the principles of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) — a matter directly relevant to Ramli's advocacy portfolio on Orang Asli land and legal rights.⛓
• ExpertThe Securities Commission noted in March 2021 that persons holding executive political roles should not serve on boards of listed companies, in a context where Ramli's concurrent roles as MP and Amanah Raya Berhad chairman were cited among multiple such cases; however, ARB is not a listed company.⛓
• VerifiedFactsRamli Mohd Nor is the first Orang Asli to be elected to the Dewan Rakyat, the first to preside over it as Deputy Speaker, and the first to be appointed to the UMNO Supreme Council — all independently confirmed by multiple allowlist sources.⛓

Business interests (publicly reported)

Ramli Mohd Nor was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Amanah Raya Berhad (ARB), a government-linked trust company, effective 15 May 2020 (Source: thestar.com.my, May 2020). His concurrent role as an MP and ARB chairman was noted in a March 2021 Malay Mail report citing the Securities Commission's view that persons with executive political roles should not serve on boards of listed companies, though ARB is not a listed entity (Source: malaymail.com, March 2021).