Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak

Summary

Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak is a BERSATU politician representing Tambun Tulang in the Perlis State Legislative Assembly since November 2022, having won the seat by a majority of 2,485 votes in GE15. He has served as Perlis State EXCO Member twice — from November 2023 to November 2024 with portfolios covering youth, sports, and entrepreneurship, and again from January 2026 overseeing youth, sports, communications, transport, and innovation under the new Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah. He was among five BERSATU assemblymen reported to have submitted statutory declarations withdrawing support for former Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli in December 2025, a move that contributed to a change of state government leadership in Perlis.

Biography

Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak is a Malaysian politician serving as Member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Tambun Tulang (N.12) since November 2022 [1]. He is a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) and serves as Youth Information Chief of BERSATU Perlis [1]. He contested the Tambun Tulang seat under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner in GE15, defeating the incumbent Barisan Nasional assemblyman Ismail Kassim by a majority of 2,485 votes [2]. On 16 November 2023, he was appointed as Perlis State EXCO Member, taking charge of portfolios covering Youth and Sports, Hawker and Small Traders, Entrepreneur Development, Small and Medium Industries, Development of New Growth Centre, and Creative Economy [1]. He was dropped from the EXCO in a reshuffle on 25 November 2024 [3]. In December 2025, he was among five BERSATU assemblymen reported to have submitted statutory declarations to the Raja of Perlis withdrawing support for then-Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, contributing to the 2025 Perlis political crisis [4][5]. Following the change in Perlis leadership, Wan Zikri was re-appointed as Perlis State EXCO Member in January 2026, taking an oath before the Raja of Perlis and assuming oversight of the committees on youth and sports, communications and digital, transport, and science, technology and innovation [5]. Note: One Bernama GE15 results article (pru15.bernama.com) listed Wan Zikri under PAS state seat winners; however, all other sources — including a separate Bernama candidate list, Wikipedia, Malaysiakini, FMT, and The Star — consistently identify him as a BERSATU member. The Bernama results article appears to contain an error.

Known for

Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak is known as one of the five BERSATU assemblymen in Perlis who held state EXCO positions during the PN state administration, and as a central figure in the December 2025 Perlis political crisis after reportedly submitting a statutory declaration withdrawing support for then-Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli [6]. He has served twice as a Perlis State EXCO Member — first from November 2023 to November 2024, and again from January 2026 — with portfolios focused on youth, sports, and entrepreneurship development [1]. He is also the Youth Information Chief of BERSATU Perlis, reflecting his role in the party's state-level youth affairs [1].

Political positions

No formal policy position statements by Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak on major national issues have been sourced from the allowlist. In his EXCO role, he championed grassroots football and sports development in Perlis, stating publicly that the Perlis Super League had grown positively and expressing commitment to youth talent development [3]. On the question of his removal from the EXCO in November 2024, he publicly stated his intent to continue serving constituents and representing their voice in the state assembly [5]. No sourced positions on federal-level issues such as cost of living, housing policy, or education policy were found.

Political career

1. November 2022Contested and won the Tambun Tulang (N.12) state seat under the Perikatan Nasional banner in GE15, defeating incumbent BN assemblyman Ismail Kassim by a majority of 2,485 votes.⛓
2. 16 November 2023Appointed as Perlis State EXCO Member in a cabinet reshuffle under Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, taking charge of Youth and Sports, Hawker and Small Traders, Entrepreneur Development, Small and Medium Industries, Development of New Growth Centre, and Creative Economy.⛓
3. 25 November 2024Dropped from the Perlis State EXCO in a second reshuffle by Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli. Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin stated the removal was due to party hierarchy considerations, not performance.⛓
4. 22 December 2025Reported to be among five BERSATU assemblymen who submitted statutory declarations to the Raja of Perlis withdrawing support for Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, triggering the 2025 Perlis political crisis.⛓
5. 8 January 2026Sworn in as Perlis State EXCO Member for the second time before the Raja of Perlis under new Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah, heading the committees on youth and sports, communications and digital, transport, and science, technology and innovation.⛓

Election history

• 2022Tambun Tulang (N.12), PerlisWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentBersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin stated that Wan Zikri Afthar's removal from the Perlis EXCO in November 2024 was due to party hierarchy considerations and not a reflection of his performance.⛓
• OppositionPAS leaders, including deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, called on BERSATU to take stern action against Wan Zikri Afthar and the four other BERSATU assemblymen who allegedly withdrew support for then-Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, stating their actions harmed the PN coalition.⛓
• VerifiedFactsOne Bernama GE15 results article (pru15.bernama.com) listed Wan Zikri Afthar under PAS state seat winners for Tambun Tulang. However, a separate Bernama candidate list, Wikipedia, Malaysiakini, FMT, and The Star all consistently identify him as a BERSATU member. The preponderance of more authoritative and specific sources supports his BERSATU membership.⛓