Reezal Merican Naina Merican

Summary

Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (born 29 July 1972) is an UMNO politician and former banker who currently serves as the Penang State Assemblyman for Bertam and as the 9th Chairman of MATRADE. He previously served as a two-term MP for Kepala Batas (2013–2022), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Youth and Sports, and Minister of Housing and Local Government across three successive federal administrations. After losing the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat in GE15 (2022), he won the Bertam state seat in the August 2023 Penang state election.

Biography

Datuk Seri Reezal Merican bin Naina Merican (born 29 July 1972 in Kepala Batas, Penang) is a Malaysian politician and former banker who currently serves as the Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Bertam, a seat he has held since August 2023 [1]. He is an ethnic Malay of mixed Indian descent and a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), serving on its Supreme Council and as division chief for Kepala Batas [1]. He also serves concurrently as the 9th Chairman of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), appointed in May 2023 [1]. Before entering politics, Reezal worked in the banking sector [1]. He succeeded former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the UMNO Kepala Batas division head and BN parliamentary candidate, winning the Kepala Batas seat in GE13 (2013) with a majority of 4,176 votes [1]. He retained Kepala Batas in GE14 (2018) with a majority of 4,736 votes [2]. He served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from July 2015 under then-Prime Minister Najib Razak, as Minister of Youth and Sports under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from March 2020, and as Minister of Housing and Local Government under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from August 2021 until BN's electoral defeat in November 2022 [1]. He lost the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat in GE15 (November 2022) to Perikatan Nasional's Siti Mastura Mohamad by 2,867 votes [3]. He subsequently contested and won the Bertam state seat in the August 2023 Penang state election, defeating incumbent Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq with a majority of 2,321 votes [3]. He has also served as Chief of the Elections Department of UMNO since March 2023 [1].

Known for

Reezal Merican is closely associated with the political legacy of former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose Kepala Batas parliamentary seat and division leadership he inherited in 2013 [1]. He held two successive federal ministerial portfolios — Youth and Sports, then Housing and Local Government — across two different administrations between 2020 and 2022 [1]. He is one of only two UMNO and BN elected representatives in the Penang state legislature, making him a key figure for BN's presence in a state long dominated by the Pakatan Harapan coalition [1].

Political positions

On trade and exports, Reezal has articulated a two-pronged strategy of market diversification and strengthening free trade agreement cooperation, particularly targeting non-conflict regions such as Central Asia and Africa, in his capacity as MATRADE chairman [4]. On the rule of law and judicial processes, he has publicly stated that court rulings should be respected as expressions of the rule of law underpinning a functioning democratic state, while acknowledging that legal avenues for appeal remain available [5]. On the Palestinian issue, he has stated that Malaysia should uphold a firm and consistent stance rejecting oppression against the Palestinian people while fully supporting their right to independence and sovereignty [4]. During his tenure as Housing and Local Government Minister, he initiated amendments to the Strata Titles Act 1985 to address dilapidated buildings and urban renewal, and promoted affordable housing initiatives including the 'Karnival Jom Beli Rumah' [4]. He has also called on the Penang state government to formulate a comprehensive green waste and e-waste master plan, framing e-waste recycling as a major economic opportunity for the state [3]. He has publicly described practising a 'colour blind' principle of non-discrimination in discharging his duties, a value he attributed to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi [4].

Education

1. Pre-2013Educated at the International Islamic University Malaysia, per Wikidata records citing Malay Wikipedia.⛓

Before politics

1. Pre-2013Before entering Parliament, Reezal worked in the banking sector.⛓

Political career

1. May 2013Elected as Member of Parliament for Kepala Batas (GE13), succeeding former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as UMNO division head and BN candidate. Won by a majority of 4,176 votes over a PAS candidate.⛓
2. October 2013Elected to the UMNO Supreme Council, the party's highest governing body.⛓
3. 28 July 2015Appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs by Prime Minister Najib Razak in a cabinet reshuffle.⛓
4. May 2018Retained the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat in GE14 with 22,459 votes and a majority of 4,736 votes in a three-cornered contest, but lost his cabinet post following BN's defeat at the federal level.⛓
5. March 2020Appointed Minister of Youth and Sports in the Perikatan Nasional administration under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.⛓
6. August 2021Appointed Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Barisan Nasional administration under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.⛓
7. November 2022Lost the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat in GE15 to Perikatan Nasional's Siti Mastura Mohamad by a margin of 2,867 votes — the first time BN had lost the seat since 1974.⛓
8. May 2023Appointed as the 9th Chairman of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).⛓
9. March 2023Appointed Chief of the Elections Department of UMNO.⛓
10. 12 August 2023Won the Bertam state seat in the Penang state election with 10,453 votes, defeating incumbent Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (PN) by a majority of 2,321 votes in a straight fight.⛓

Election history

• 2023Bertam (N02), PenangWon⛓
• 2022Kepala Batas (P041)Lost⛓
• 2018Kepala Batas (P041)Won⛓
• 2013Kepala Batas (P041)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentFormer Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob described Reezal as 'hardworking' and 'not only excellent as a MP but also as Minister of Housing and Local Government,' pledging to retain him in cabinet if he successfully defended Kepala Batas in GE15 (Source: sinardaily.my).⛓
• OppositionIn the 2023 Bertam state election, Perikatan Nasional fielded former incumbent Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq against Reezal in a straight fight. PN lost, with Khaliq receiving 8,132 votes to Reezal's 10,453 (Source: malaymail.com).⛓
• PublicFormer Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, speaking at Reezal's Hari Raya open house in April 2026, publicly endorsed Reezal as the rightful successor to former PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Kepala Batas legacy and expressed support for him to reclaim the parliamentary seat in GE16 (Source: freemalaysiatoday.com).⛓
• VerifiedFactsReezal Merican is one of only two UMNO/BN elected representatives in the Penang State Legislative Assembly following the 2023 state election, in which the PH-BN Unity Government won 29 of 40 seats (Source: bernama.com).⛓