TopicsPolitician AnalysisSulaiman Sulong

Sulaiman Sulong

Party
PAS · Malaysian Islamic Party
Coalition
PN
Constituency
Pengkalan Berangan
State
Terengganu
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Why this matters to you

As Deputy EXCO for Tourism, Culture and Information Technology in Terengganu's state government, Sulaiman Sulong has a direct role in decisions affecting local internet connectivity, tourism investment, and digital infrastructure in the Marang district — matters that affect rural residents' access to online services and the livelihoods of small traders and tourism operators (Source: utusan.com.my; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulaiman_Sulong). His advocacy for modernising Terengganu's agricultural sector and expanding food production is relevant to constituents whose primary income derives from farming, as he has called for state agencies to train youth and provide new agricultural sites (Source: malaymail.com). Residents and businesses in Pengkalan Berangan also stand to be affected by his support for ECRL-linked economic opportunities, including small-scale trade at station kiosks along the rail corridor (Source: sinarharian.com.my).

Summary

Sulaiman bin Sulong is a PAS politician and former teacher who has served as the Terengganu State Assemblyman for Pengkalan Berangan since May 2018 and as the state's Deputy EXCO for Tourism, Culture and Information Technology across two consecutive terms. He won re-election in the August 2023 Terengganu state polls with 50.9% of the vote, retaining a seat he first claimed in PAS's landmark 2018 Terengganu state victory. His legislative record centres on agricultural modernisation, rural digital infrastructure, and tourism development in Marang district.

Biography

Sulaiman bin Sulong is a Malaysian politician and former teacher who has served as the Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Pengkalan Berangan since May 2018 [1]. He is a member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition and formerly the Gagasan Sejahtera (GS) coalition [1]. Prior to entering politics, he served as a teacher at Maahad Darul Quran (MDQ) Rusila in Marang, Terengganu [2]. Sulaiman made his electoral debut in the 2018 Terengganu state election, when he was nominated by PAS to contest the Pengkalan Berangan seat and won, being elected as the constituency's MLA for the first term [1]. Following PAS's takeover of the Terengganu state government in May 2018, he was appointed as Deputy Member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) in charge of Tourism, Culture and Information Technology, deputising for EXCO Member Ariffin Deraman under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar [1]. He retained both his assembly seat and his Deputy EXCO portfolio in the 2023 Terengganu state election, where he secured 50.9% of the vote with a majority of 8,276 votes over BN-UMNO's Nik Dir Nik Wan Ku [3]. In his second term, he continues to serve as Deputy EXCO for Tourism, Culture and IT, now deputising for EXCO Member Razali Idris [1]. He was conferred a state honour (darjah kebesaran) by Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu in June 2023 [4].

Known for

Sulaiman Sulong is known as the PAS assemblyman for Pengkalan Berangan and a two-term Deputy EXCO for Tourism, Culture and Information Technology in the Terengganu state government [1]. He has been a consistent voice at the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly on agricultural development and digital infrastructure, urging the state to modernise farming and expand internet connectivity in rural areas [5]. His constituency, which is located along the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) corridor, has placed him at the intersection of tourism promotion and economic development discussions in Terengganu [6].

Political positions

On agriculture, Sulaiman has publicly called for the Terengganu state government to provide more competitive agricultural infrastructure, arguing that the state's agricultural target should not merely aim at self-sufficiency but should position Terengganu as a national food supply hub [7]. He has urged state agencies to train youth for the agricultural sector and to act as facilitators for agricultural entrepreneurs [7]. On digital infrastructure, in 2021 he announced plans for nine new telecommunications towers in Pengkalan Berangan under the national Jendela initiative, with the stated aim of addressing longstanding internet access problems particularly affecting students undergoing home-based learning [8]. On tourism and the ECRL, he has welcomed the East Coast Rail Link corridor passing through his constituency, viewing it as an economic opportunity for local traders [6]. He has also been active in community engagement, including promoting local recreational sites such as Bukit Temiang as part of Terengganu's tourism initiatives [6].

References

  1. [1]en.wikipedia.org
  2. [2]pru.sinarharian.com.my
  3. [3]election.thestar.com.my
  4. [4]wikidata.org
  5. [5]malaymail.com; utusan.com.my
  6. [6]sinarharian.com.my
  7. [7]malaymail.com
  8. [8]utusan.com.my

Before politics

  1. Before 2018Served as a teacher at Maahad Darul Quran (MDQ) Rusila, a private Islamic secondary school in Marang, Terengganu, run under PAS auspices.⛓

Political career

  1. May 2018Made his electoral debut in the 2018 Terengganu state election, contesting and winning the Pengkalan Berangan seat under PAS/Gagasan Sejahtera, becoming a first-term MLA.⛓
  2. 16 May 2018Appointed Deputy Member of the Terengganu State EXCO in charge of Tourism, Culture and Information Technology, deputising for EXCO Member Ariffin Deraman under Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.⛓
  3. February 2021Announced that nine telecommunications towers would be built in DUN Pengkalan Berangan under the Jendela national digital initiative, to address longstanding internet access problems in rural areas including Jerung and Temiang.⛓
  4. November 2022During the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly 2023 Supply Bill debate, called on the state government to provide more competitive agricultural infrastructure and to train youth for the farming sector.⛓
  5. June 2023Received a state honour (darjah kebesaran) conferred by Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.⛓
  6. 12 August 2023Successfully defended the Pengkalan Berangan seat in the 2023 Terengganu state election under the PN banner, winning with 50.9% of the vote (17,946 votes) and a majority of 8,276 over BN-UMNO's Nik Dir Nik Wan Ku.⛓
  7. August 2023Reappointed as Deputy EXCO for Tourism, Culture and Information Technology in the second Samsuri administration, now deputising for EXCO Member Razali Idris.⛓

Election history

  • 2023Pengkalan BeranganWon50.9%⛓
  • 2018Pengkalan BeranganWon⛓

Stance evolution

Public statements grouped chronologically. The party tag shows which party the politician was contesting under at that point.

  1. 2022PAS
    • The construction of appropriate and competitive infrastructure needs to be implemented such as the provision of new agricultural sites that are more sophisticated in accordance with the current technological development considering that agriculture is the main source of livelihood for most Terengganu people.

      Said during the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly debate on the 2023 Supply Bill at Wisma Darul Iman, Kuala Terengganu. · Source

    • Train our youth who are interested to be involved in this industry, and the state government as well as agencies involved need to act as facilitators for agricultural entrepreneurs to encourage the development of this sector in Terengganu.

      Said during the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly debate on the 2023 Supply Bill at Wisma Darul Iman, Kuala Terengganu. · Source

Perspectives on key issues

  • VerifiedFactsSulaiman Sulong has served as MLA for Pengkalan Berangan for two consecutive terms (2018–present) and has held the Deputy EXCO portfolio for Tourism, Culture and IT throughout both terms under the PN Terengganu state government. He won re-election in August 2023 with 50.9% of the vote.⛓
  • GovernmentAs part of the PN-led Terengganu state government, Sulaiman has articulated the administration's positions on agricultural development and digital infrastructure. He announced nine new telecommunications towers for Pengkalan Berangan under the federal Jendela initiative in 2021, framing it as a long-term solution to rural connectivity gaps.⛓
  • PublicThe Star's pre-election analysis in July 2023 identified Pengkalan Berangan as among the seats expected to face a close fight, listing Sulaiman Sulong as an incumbent facing competitive pressure from BN. He ultimately retained the seat by a wider-than-expected margin.⛓

Sources

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