Shahrul Zaman Yahya

Summary

Datuk Seri Shahrul Zaman bin Yahya (UMNO) has represented the Rungkup state constituency in Perak's legislative assembly since May 2013, winning three consecutive elections. He served as a member of the Perak State Executive Council across multiple administrations between 2013 and 2022, heading the industry, investment and corridor development portfolio. He has also held national sports leadership roles as president of the Malaysian Rugby Union and Chef de Mission for Malaysia's 2022 Commonwealth Games contingent.

Biography

Datuk Seri Shahrul Zaman bin Yahya is a Malaysian politician and member of UMNO serving as the State Assemblyman (ADUN) for Rungkup, a constituency in Perak falling under the Bagan Datuk parliamentary area [1]. He has held the Rungkup seat continuously since May 2013 [1]. Within the Perak State Legislative Assembly, he served as a member of the Perak State Executive Council (EXCO) under the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration of Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir from May 2013 to May 2018, then again under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration of Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu from March 2020 to December 2020, and subsequently under the BN-led state administration from December 2020 until November 2022 [1]. During his EXCO tenures he chaired the State Corridor Development, Industry and Investment Committee [2]. He is the Vice Division Chief of the Bagan Datuk UMNO division [1]. Beyond politics, he has held senior roles in Malaysian sports administration, serving as president of the Malaysian Rugby Union and as Chef de Mission for the Malaysian contingent at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham [2]. He also served as Deputy President of the Perak Football Association (PAFA) and was appointed team manager for Perak's Liga Malaysia squad in 2015 [3]. In the 2018 state election, he retained the Rungkup seat with 40.6% of the vote, and again in 2022 with 35.7% [4].

Known for

Shahrul Zaman is known for his multi-term role as a Perak State EXCO member spanning both BN and PN-led state administrations, with responsibility for industry, investment, and corridor development. He gained wider public attention in December 2020 when his name was cited as a potential candidate for Perak Menteri Besar before BN unanimously nominated Saarani Mohamad. He is also recognised for his leadership of Malaysian sports bodies, including the Malaysian Rugby Union and the national Commonwealth Games contingent.

Political positions

Shahrul Zaman has consistently aligned with UMNO and BN positions. While serving as state opposition assemblyman (2018–2020), he raised concerns about a Pakatan Harapan-run state training module that he alleged questioned the sovereignty of the Malay rulers and contravened the Federal Constitution, calling it 'absolutely shocking and a serious matter' [5]. As EXCO member overseeing industry and investment, he advocated for value-added downstream processing of Perak's mineral resources rather than allowing raw extraction without local economic benefit, and promoted Industry 4.0 technology adoption in the state's manufacturing sector [2]. His public statements reflect an emphasis on constitutional monarchy, Malay institutional values, and economic development through attracting industrial investment to Perak.

Political career

1. May 2013First elected as Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly for Rungkup under Barisan Nasional (UMNO). Appointed to the Perak State Executive Council under Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir.⛓
2. May 2013 – May 2018Served as Perak State EXCO member under the BN administration led by Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, holding the industry, investment and corridor development portfolio.⛓
3. May 2018Retained the Rungkup seat at the 14th General Election (GE14) with 40.6% of votes (6,529 votes), transitioning to state opposition following BN's defeat nationally. EXCO role ended with the collapse of the BN state government.⛓
4. March 2020Re-appointed to the Perak State EXCO following formation of the Perikatan Nasional-led state government under Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu, alongside other UMNO and BN members.⛓
5. December 2020Following Ahmad Faizal Azumu's loss of a vote of confidence, Shahrul Zaman publicly confirmed that all 25 BN assemblymen had consensually nominated Saarani Mohamad as candidate for the new Menteri Besar, rejecting media speculation that he was himself a candidate.⛓
6. December 2020 – November 2022Continued as Perak State EXCO member under the subsequent BN-led state administration through to November 2022.⛓
7. November 2022Retained the Rungkup seat at the 15th General Election (GE15) with 35.7% of the vote (7,023 votes) and a majority of 3,409, though BN won only 9 seats overall in Perak, placing the party in state opposition.⛓

Election history

• 2022Rungkup (N.53), Perak State AssemblyWon35.7%⛓
• 2018Rungkup (N.53), Perak State AssemblyWon40.6%⛓
• 2013Rungkup (N.53), Perak State AssemblyWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsShahrul Zaman has won the Rungkup state seat at three consecutive elections (2013, 2018, 2022) under the UMNO/BN banner and served as Perak State EXCO member across three separate administrations spanning 2013–2022. He is Vice Division Chief of the Bagan Datuk UMNO division.⛓
• GovernmentAs state EXCO chairman for industry, investment and corridor development, Shahrul Zaman promoted attracting industrial investment to Perak and called for value-added downstream processing of the state's mineral resources to generate local employment.⛓
• OppositionWhile in state opposition (2018–2020), Shahrul Zaman raised institutional concerns, accusing the Pakatan Harapan-run Perak state government of running a training module that he alleged contravened the Federal Constitution by questioning the legitimacy of royal titles and constitutional monarchy.⛓