Sabariah Saidan

Summary

Datuk Sabariah binti Saidan is a first-term UMNO politician serving as MLA for Guai, Pahang, since November 2022, having won the seat in GE15 with 38.6% of votes cast. She was appointed to the Pahang State Executive Council in December 2022, holding the Social Welfare, Women and Family Development portfolio. She also serves as Division Women Chief of Bera within UMNO and chairs UMNO Pahang's Women and Family Affairs Council.

Biography

Datuk Sabariah binti Saidan is a Malaysian politician serving as the Member of the Pahang State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Guai since November 2022 [1]. She is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, and holds the position of Division Women Chief of Bera within the party [1]. Sabariah was among the new faces fielded by BN in the 15th General Election (GE15), held on 19 November 2022, in which she contested the Guai state seat under the Bera parliamentary constituency [2]. She won the seat with 9,425 votes, representing 38.6% of the vote, with a majority of 2,678 over her nearest rival [3]. On 2 December 2022, she was sworn in as a member of the Pahang State Executive Council (Exco) before Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah at Istana Abu Bakar, Pekan [4]. She was subsequently assigned the portfolio of Social Welfare, Women and Family Development by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail [5]. Within UMNO Pahang's party structure, she was appointed as chairperson of the party's Women and Family Affairs Council [6]. In her Exco capacity, she has overseen programmes targeting women, single mothers, B40 households, senior citizens, and children in Pahang [5]. No prior political office before GE15 is recorded in available sources; she is identified in multiple reports as a first-term assemblyman [6].

Known for

Sabariah Saidan is known as a first-term Pahang assemblyman who was elevated directly to Exco upon the formation of the BN-PH state government after GE15. She holds the Social Welfare, Women and Family Development portfolio in the Pahang state government, overseeing welfare programmes for vulnerable groups including single mothers and B40 families. She also chairs UMNO Pahang's Women and Family Affairs Council, reflecting a dual role in both state administration and party organisation.

Political positions

Based on her public statements and Exco activities, Sabariah has focused her portfolio on improving the welfare and quality of life of women and children in Pahang. She has championed the Pahang Women's Policy and Action Plan, which directs annual state allocations toward women's economic empowerment, education, skills, healthcare, and social welfare. She has emphasised inclusivity, stating that state assistance is not limited to Pahang-born residents but extends to permanent residents. Her work includes programmes such as mass wedding initiatives for B40 couples and community care visits to families of workplace accident victims through agencies such as PERKESO. No publicly sourced positions on broader national policy issues such as fiscal policy or constitutional matters were identified from allowlist sources.

Political career

1. November 2022Elected as Member of the Pahang State Legislative Assembly for Guai in GE15, winning 9,425 votes (38.6%) with a majority of 2,678.⛓
2. 2 December 2022Sworn in as a member of the Pahang State Executive Council (Exco) before Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah at Istana Abu Bakar, Pekan.⛓
3. 14 December 2022Assigned the portfolio of Social Welfare, Women and Family Development (Pembangunan Masyarakat, Pembangunan Wanita dan Keluarga) by Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.⛓
4. April 2023Appointed as chairperson of the UMNO Pahang Women and Family Affairs Council (Pengerusi Majlis Hal Ehwal Wanita dan Keluarga UMNO Pahang).⛓

Election history

• 2022Guai (Pahang State)Won38.6%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentSabariah was confirmed by Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy as one of the new faces appointed to the Pahang Exco, selected on the basis of background and compatibility for her assigned portfolio.⛓
• VerifiedFactsElection data from The Star confirms Sabariah won Guai with 9,425 votes (38.6%) in a four-cornered contest, defeating the PN-Bersatu candidate by a majority of 2,678 on a voter turnout of 79.1%.⛓
• AffectedSinar Daily reported that Sabariah visited the family of a workplace accident victim through the PERKESO Caring Visit programme and announced monthly financial assistance of over RM3,000 to the affected family.⛓