Razali Idris

Summary

Datuk Razali bin Idris (born 15 July 1966) is the BERSATU assemblyman for Kijal, Terengganu, and serves as a member of the Terengganu state EXCO and chairman of the state's Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee. He is the Terengganu BERSATU State Chairman and the first BERSATU representative to hold an EXCO post in the state. In 2026, his sedition conviction — resulting in a RM2,000 fine for remarks made during the 2023 Kemaman by-election campaign — became final after he withdrew his appeal, though the conviction did not affect his eligibility as a state assemblyman.

Biography

Datuk Razali bin Idris (born 15 July 1966) is a Malaysian politician serving as Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kijal since August 2023 [1]. He is simultaneously a member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, and chairs the state's Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee [2]. He is a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) and holds the posts of State Chairman of Terengganu BERSATU and Division Chief of Marang [1]. He previously served as Senator from August 2018 to August 2024, and as the 4th Information Chief of BERSATU from March 2023 to November 2024 [1]. Before joining BERSATU, Razali was a member of UMNO [1]. In the 2023 Terengganu state election, Razali won the Kijal seat by defeating former Menteri Besar Ahmad Said of UMNO-BN, securing 11,934 votes to Ahmad Said's 8,640 — a majority of 3,294 votes [3]. He was subsequently appointed to the state EXCO, becoming the first BERSATU representative to hold the post in Terengganu [4]. As of June 2026, despite PAS ending its political cooperation with BERSATU, the Terengganu government retained Razali in the state EXCO [4]. In January 2026, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court convicted Razali of making seditious remarks at a November 2023 by-election campaign event, fining him RM2,000; he paid the fine and subsequently withdrew his appeal in May 2026, making the conviction final [5].

Known for

Razali Idris is the sole BERSATU representative in the Terengganu state EXCO and serves as State Chairman of Terengganu BERSATU, making him a key figure in the party's presence in the east coast state [4]. He gained public attention in 2023 when he defeated long-serving assemblyman and former Menteri Besar Ahmad Said to capture the Kijal seat, and again in 2026 when his sedition conviction — and the subsequent debate over whether he would retain his seat — became a matter of constitutional and public interest [6].

Political positions

No detailed policy positions have been publicly reported by allowlist sources beyond Razali's stated commitment to continuing cooperation with the PAS-led Terengganu state government following the PAS-BERSATU split in June 2026 [4]. In his capacity as chairman of the state Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee, he has addressed issues relating to the licensing and registration of tourist accommodation premises in Terengganu, noting the absence of local authority operating licences as a primary obstacle to MOTAC registration [4]. Within BERSATU, Razali has publicly defended party decisions including the sacking of former deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, asserting that the party's disciplinary process was conducted in accordance with the party constitution [4].

Political career

1. Pre-2018Razali Idris was a member of UMNO before joining BERSATU.⛓
2. August 2018Appointed as a Senator, a post he held until August 2024.⛓
3. March 2023Appointed as the 4th Information Chief of BERSATU, a post he held until November 2024.⛓
4. August 2023Elected as Kijal state assemblyman in the 2023 Terengganu state election, defeating former Menteri Besar Ahmad Said of UMNO-BN. Subsequently appointed to the Terengganu state EXCO as the first BERSATU representative to hold the post.⛓
5. 10 November 2023Made remarks at the Kemaman by-election campaign machinery launch at Padang Astaka Chukai, Kemaman, Terengganu, which formed the basis of a subsequent sedition charge.⛓
6. 24 November 2023Charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court; claimed trial.⛓
7. 5 January 2026Convicted by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court of making seditious remarks; fined RM2,000. Paid the fine.⛓
8. 15 May 2026Withdrew his appeal against the sedition conviction and RM2,000 fine at the High Court, making the conviction final. The Terengganu State Assembly Speaker confirmed his Kijal seat was unaffected.⛓
9. 10 June 2026Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri confirmed Razali would be retained in the state EXCO despite PAS ending political cooperation with BERSATU nationally.⛓

Election history

• 2023Kijal (N30), TerengganuWon58%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentThe Terengganu state government, led by Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, retained Razali in the EXCO despite the PAS-BERSATU split, signalling continued practical cooperation at the state level.⛓
• VerifiedFactsThe Terengganu State Assembly Speaker confirmed that Razali's RM2,000 fine does not meet the constitutional threshold for disqualification as an assemblyman, which requires a fine exceeding RM2,000 or a prison sentence of more than 12 months.⛓
• VerifiedFactsIn the 2023 Terengganu state election, Perikatan Nasional made a clean sweep of all 32 seats, with BERSATU winning five seats including Kijal, leaving the state without any opposition for the first time.⛓

Notable legal history

In January 2026, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court found Razali Idris guilty of making seditious remarks under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, imposing a fine of RM2,000 (in default three months' imprisonment) for statements made at the Kemaman by-election campaign machinery launch on 10 November 2023, in which he allegedly claimed that a court decision was controlled by the government (Source: theedgemalaysia.com; thestar.com.my; malaysiakini.com; freemalaysiatoday.com). Razali paid the fine. He filed an appeal in January 2026 but withdrew it on 15 May 2026, making the conviction final (Source: thestar.com.my; malaymail.com; freemalaysiatoday.com). The Terengganu State Assembly Speaker confirmed that the RM2,000 fine did not trigger disqualification under the constitutional threshold, as disqualification requires a fine exceeding RM2,000 or imprisonment of more than 12 months (Source: freemalaysiatoday.com; malaymail.com). Razali's position as Kijal assemblyman was confirmed to be unaffected (Source: freemalaysiatoday.com).