Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli

Summary

Wan Hassan bin Mohd Ramli (PAS) has represented the Dungun parliamentary constituency in Terengganu since May 2013, having previously served as a state assemblyman for Sura (1999–2004, 2008–2013) and as a member of the Terengganu State Executive Council. He also served as Chairman of the National Water Service Commission (SPAN). In GE15 (2022), he retained his seat under the Perikatan Nasional banner with a majority of 34,105 votes.

Biography

Wan Hassan bin Mohd Ramli is a Malaysian politician from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dungun, Terengganu, since May 2013 [1]. Prior to his federal parliamentary career, he served as a Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Sura state seat from November 1999 to March 2004, and again from March 2008 to May 2013 [1]. During the PAS-led Terengganu state government under Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang (1999–2004), Wan Hassan also served as a member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) and as Chairman of the Sports, Culture and Tourism Committee [1]. He subsequently served as Chairman of the National Water Service Commission (SPAN), a federal regulatory body overseeing the water services industry [2]. In GE14 (2018), he retained the Dungun parliamentary seat with a majority of 13,119 votes [3]. In GE15 (2022), he defended the seat under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner, securing 59,720 votes and a majority of 34,105 votes over his nearest rival [4]. Dungun is described as a PAS stronghold in Terengganu [5]. In Parliament, Wan Hassan has raised constituency and national issues including the delay in operationalising the new Dungun Hospital, overcrowding in public hospitals, and regulation of online streaming content [6].

Known for

Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli is a long-serving PAS legislator who has held the Dungun parliamentary seat continuously since 2013, making him one of the party's established figures in Terengganu. He has used his position to advocate for improved public healthcare infrastructure in his constituency, notably pressing the Ministry of Health on the delayed opening of Dungun Hospital and systemic hospital overcrowding [7]. He also previously served as Chairman of SPAN, giving him experience in the federal water services regulatory framework [8].

Political positions

Wan Hassan has raised concerns in Parliament about the quality and capacity of Malaysia's public healthcare system, questioning the Ministry of Health on both short-term and long-term solutions to hospital overcrowding and understaffing [7]. He also questioned the prolonged delay in making Dungun Hospital operational despite it being reported as 98.2 per cent complete as of November 2021 [7]. Consistent with PAS party positions, Wan Hassan has also called on the government to regulate LGBTQ-themed content on streaming platforms such as Netflix [8]. His tenure as SPAN Chairman placed him in a regulatory role on water services enforcement, including overseeing investigations into water pollution incidents [8].

Political career

1. November 1999Elected as Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Sura state seat, following PAS's victory in Terengganu. Also served as a member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) and Chairman of the Sports, Culture and Tourism Committee under Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang.⛓
2. March 2004Term as Sura MLA and State EXCO member ended following the 2004 general election.⛓
3. March 2008Re-elected as MLA for Sura in the 2008 general election, returning to the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly.⛓
4. May 2013Elected as Member of Parliament for Dungun (P039) in GE13, vacating the Sura state seat. Has held the Dungun federal seat continuously since this date.⛓
5. April 2020Appointed Chairman of the National Water Service Commission (SPAN), replacing Charles Santiago following a change of federal government.⛓
6. September 2020As SPAN Chairman, announced that an investigation paper on the Sungai Gong water pollution incident affecting nearly five million consumers in Selangor was near completion, and warned of enforcement action under the Water Services Industry Act 2006.⛓
7. November 2021Raised in Parliament a call for the government to regulate LGBTQ-themed content on the Netflix streaming platform; the Communications and Multimedia Minister responded that streaming services from abroad are difficult to regulate.⛓
8. 9 May 2018Re-elected as MP for Dungun in GE14 under the Gagasan Sejahtera (PAS) banner with a majority of 13,119 votes.⛓
9. 19 November 2022Re-elected as MP for Dungun in GE15 under the Perikatan Nasional (PAS) banner, securing 59,720 votes and a majority of 34,105 votes over his nearest rival.⛓
10. February 2023Raised in the 15th Parliament questions on the Ministry of Health's plans to address public hospital overcrowding, and questioned the continued delay in operationalising the new Dungun Hospital, which had been reported as 98.2 per cent complete as of November 2021.⛓

Election history

• 2022Dungun (P039)Won⛓
• 2018Dungun (P039)Won⛓
• 2013Dungun (P039)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsWan Hassan has been MP for Dungun continuously since May 2013, winning in GE13, GE14 (majority 13,119 votes), and GE15 (majority 34,105 votes). He previously served as MLA for Sura (1999–2004, 2008–2013), as Terengganu State EXCO member, and as SPAN Chairman from April 2020.⛓
• GovernmentDuring Wan Hassan's tenure as SPAN Chairman, the commission stated it was preparing an investigation paper on the Sungai Gong water pollution incident and warned of enforcement action, including fines of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment under the Water Services Industry Act 2006.⛓
• OppositionIn GE15, when Wan Hassan stood as the incumbent PN-PAS candidate, a Pejuang candidate acknowledged he would be the biggest challenge to beat, and Dungun had five candidates contesting the seat — from PN-PAS, BN, PH-PKR, Pejuang, and an independent.⛓
• AffectedResidents of Dungun district have waited for the opening of a new district hospital. Wan Hassan raised in Parliament in February 2023 that the facility was reported as 98.2 per cent complete in November 2021 but remained non-operational as of February 2023, with no clear explanation from authorities.⛓