Suhaizan Kayat since 9 September 2023

Summary

Suhaizan bin Kayat (born 13 April 1973) is the AMANAH Member of Parliament for Pulai, Johor, having won the seat in a by-election on 9 September 2023 — his seventh attempt at elected office — following the death of the incumbent Salahuddin Ayub. He previously served as Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly from 2018 to 2022, notably retaining the position even after PH lost control of the state government. In Parliament, he chairs the Health Parliamentary Special Select Committee, engaging on healthcare costs, legislation, and workforce issues.

Biography

Suhaizan bin Kayat (born 13 April 1973) is a Malaysian politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pulai, Johor, since September 2023 [1]. He is a member of Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, and holds the positions of AMANAH Johor State Vice Chairman and Pulai Division Chief [1]. Suhaizan received his early education in Muar, attending Sekolah Kebangsaan Parit Nawi and Sekolah Agama Seri Menanti, before completing secondary schooling at Sekolah Menengah Seri Menanti and Sekolah Agama Parit Nawi. He subsequently earned a bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Computer Science from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) [1]. He began his political career with PAS, holding positions including Johor PAS Youth Council Chief and Central PAS Youth Council Information Chief, before joining AMANAH [1]. He was appointed Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly in June 2018 by then-Menteri Besar Osman Sapian, a position he retained even under BN's Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad following the collapse of the PH state government in February 2020 — making him the only Speaker from the opposition in Malaysia at that time [1]. He served as Political Secretary to the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, under both Salahuddin Ayub and Armizan Mohd Ali, from January to December 2023 [1]. Suhaizan won the Pulai parliamentary by-election on 9 September 2023 — his seventh electoral attempt and first victory — after the seat was vacated by the death of Salahuddin Ayub on 23 July 2023 [2]. He was sworn in as MP on 19 September 2023 [3]. He currently chairs the Health Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) [4]. As of June 2026, he has also been named as PH's candidate for the Larkin state seat in the 16th Johor state election, polling day 11 July 2026 [3].

Known for

Suhaizan is known as the first MP elected under the PH-BN Unity Government alliance, having won the Pulai by-election in September 2023 with a majority of 18,641 votes on his seventh electoral attempt [2]. He is also noted for having served as Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly from 2018 to 2022 — uniquely retaining the speakership even after PH lost the state government in 2020, becoming the only opposition Speaker in Malaysia at the time [1]. In Parliament, he chairs the Health Parliamentary Special Select Committee, overseeing scrutiny of health legislation and issues such as medical insurance premium hikes, infectious disease laws, and healthcare workforce conditions [4].

Political positions

On healthcare, Suhaizan has raised concerns about the burden of proposed penalties under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) amendment bill, questioning whether fines of up to RM8,000 were too onerous for low-income earners and whether Health Director-General powers were too broad [4]. He has advocated for improved conditions for nurses, highlighting that irregular shift work makes childcare access difficult and arguing against proposals to increase nurses' working hours to 45 hours per week [4]. Through the Health PSSC, he has initiated an inquiry into rising medical insurance premiums, summoning insurance industry bodies, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Ministry of Health [4]. He has also questioned the government on sugar subsidy policy and its link to non-communicable disease costs [4]. On electoral reform, he has urged the Election Commission to correct voter distribution imbalances, calling for a principle that the largest constituency should not have more than twice the voters of the smallest, ahead of the upcoming redelineation exercise [3]. On constituency matters, he has pursued funding to address infrastructure issues including water pipe damage affecting residents in Pulai [5].

Education

1. Early yearsAttended Sekolah Kebangsaan Parit Nawi and Sekolah Agama Seri Menanti (primary), then Sekolah Menengah Seri Menanti and Sekolah Agama Parit Nawi (secondary), all in Muar.⛓
2. University (post-secondary)Awarded a bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Computer Science from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai.⛓

Before politics

1. Pre-2008Active in PAS, holding positions including Johor PAS Youth Council Chief, Central PAS Youth Council Information Chief, Gelang Patah PAS Youth Council Chief, Pulai PAS Committee Member, and Pos Malaysia Voting Committee Chairman.⛓

Political career

1. 2004Contested the Parit Sulong parliamentary seat under PAS; lost. This was his first electoral attempt.⛓
2. 2008Contested the Kempas state seat under PAS; lost.⛓
3. 2013Contested the Kempas state seat and the Simpang Renggam parliamentary seat under PAS; both unsuccessful.⛓
4. 2018Contested the Kukup state seat under AMANAH; lost. In the same year, appointed Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly on 28 June 2018 by then-Menteri Besar Osman Sapian.⛓
5. February 2020Following the collapse of the PH state government in Johor, Suhaizan was retained as Speaker by incoming BN Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad, becoming the only Speaker from the opposition in Malaysia.⛓
6. January 2022Ceased to serve as Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly after BN won the 2022 Johor state election and did not reappoint him to the role.⛓
7. 2022Contested the Pulai Sebatang state seat under AMANAH in the 2022 Johor state election; lost.⛓
8. January–December 2023Served as Political Secretary to the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, first under Salahuddin Ayub and then under Armizan Mohd Ali.⛓
9. 9 September 2023Won the Pulai parliamentary by-election on his seventh attempt, polling 48,283 votes with a majority of 18,641 over PN's Zulkifli Jaafar (29,642 votes). The by-election was called following the death of incumbent Salahuddin Ayub.⛓
10. 19 September 2023Sworn in as Member of Parliament for Pulai before Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul.⛓
11. 2024Appointed chairman of the Health Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC), leading inquiries on medical insurance premiums, the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act amendment, Medical Act reform, and healthcare workforce conditions.⛓
12. 22 June 2026Named as PH's candidate for the Larkin (N.44) state seat in the 16th Johor state election, with polling day set for 11 July 2026.⛓

Election history

• 2026Larkin N.44 (State)Pending⛓
• 2023Pulai (Parliament — by-election)Won62%⛓
• 2022Pulai Sebatang (State)Lost⛓
• 2018Kukup (State)Lost⛓
• 2013Kempas (State)Lost⛓
• 2013Simpang Renggam (Parliament)Lost⛓
• 2008Kempas (State)Lost⛓
• 2004Parit Sulong (Parliament)Lost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentSuhaizan sits as a government backbencher from AMANAH under the Pakatan Harapan-led Unity Government. Bernama reported that his 2023 victory made him the first MP elected under the PH-BN alliance, and he described it as proof of acceptance of the Unity Government's cooperation in Johor.⛓
• OppositionDuring the 2023 Pulai by-election campaign, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin stated it was 'haram' to vote for Suhaizan, framing a PH win as giving the Unity Government a two-thirds majority to make constitutional amendments including electoral redelineation. The Star reported Muhyiddin made the remark during a ceramah in Kempas.⛓
• OppositionThe Star reported that a Johor Umno leader alleged Suhaizan had been 'missing' from his constituency after winning the by-election in September 2023, and called on him to fulfil his promises to Pulai voters. Suhaizan denied this, stating his office had remained open and that he was in Pulai except when Parliament was in session.⛓
• VerifiedFactsThe Pulai constituency has 166,653 registered voters, with an ethnic composition of approximately 44.5% Malay, 40.2% Chinese, 12.2% Indian, and 3.1% other ethnicities, per the 2023 Pulai by-election Wikipedia article citing Election Commission data.⛓
• IndustryCodeBlue reported that the Health PSSC, chaired by Suhaizan, summoned three insurance and takaful associations, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Ministry of Health in December 2024 for an inquiry into rising health insurance premiums — a matter of direct concern to Malaysians with private medical coverage.⛓