Zahari Abd Khalil

Summary

Zahari Abd Khalil is a Malaysian UMNO politician who has represented the Durian Tunggal state seat in the Malacca State Legislative Assembly since winning the November 2021 Melaka state election for Barisan Nasional with a majority of 559 votes. In April 2023, he was appointed Deputy EXCO Member for Works, Infrastructure, Public Facilities and Transport under Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh. His public profile is primarily associated with constituency-level flood management concerns in the Durian Tunggal area.

Biography

Zahari bin Abd Khalil is a Malaysian politician representing the Barisan Nasional (BN) component party UMNO. He has served as Member of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Durian Tunggal state seat since November 2021, making his electoral debut in that year's Melaka state election [1]. He is a native of Kampung Beringin in the Durian Tunggal constituency and was 48 years old at the time of the 2021 election [2]. In the four-cornered contest of the 2021 Melaka state election, he won the seat with 3,663 votes and a majority of 559, defeating candidates from Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, and an independent [1]. On 6 April 2023, he was appointed Deputy Member of the Malacca State Executive Council (EXCO) in charge of Works, Infrastructure, Public Facilities and Transport, deputising for EXCO Member Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer under Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh [3]. In this role, Zahari has been publicly engaged with recurring flood incidents in his constituency, visiting displaced residents at temporary relief centres and calling on the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) to address drainage issues identified as contributing to flash floods [4]. Prior to his 2021 electoral debut, Zahari's pre-political background has not been documented in publicly available allowlist sources. No further biographical details — such as his educational qualifications or prior career — have been confirmed through allowlist sources at the time of this profile.

Known for

Zahari Abd Khalil is defined politically by his 2021 electoral win in Durian Tunggal under the BN banner, marking BN's recapture of that seat [1]. He is known within the Melaka state administration for his role overseeing Works, Infrastructure, Public Facilities and Transport as a Deputy EXCO member from April 2023 [3]. His constituency-level engagement has centred on the chronic flooding affecting low-lying settlements in Durian Tunggal [4].

Political positions

Based on publicly available allowlist sources, Zahari Abd Khalil has publicly prioritised flood mitigation and drainage infrastructure improvement in the Durian Tunggal constituency. During his 2021 election campaign, he pledged to address the perennial flood problem through flood mitigation projects, drainage upgrades, and rehabilitation of rivers identified as flood causes [2]. As Deputy EXCO for Works, Infrastructure, Public Facilities and Transport, his stated focus aligns with physical infrastructure delivery and public facilities at the state level [3]. No documented positions on federal policy issues such as cost of living, education, or healthcare have been sourced from the allowlist.

Political career

1. November 2021Made electoral debut as the BN candidate for Durian Tunggal in the 2021 Melaka state election. Won the seat with 3,663 votes and a majority of 559 in a four-cornered contest.⛓
2. November 2021Pledged during the campaign to prioritise flood mitigation, drainage projects, and river rehabilitation in Durian Tunggal, describing flash floods as an annual burden on residents.⛓
3. 6 April 2023Appointed Deputy Member of the Malacca State Executive Council (EXCO) in charge of Works, Infrastructure, Public Facilities and Transport, deputising for EXCO Member Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer under Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh.⛓
4. April 2024Visited flood victims at temporary relief centres in Durian Tunggal following repeated flooding affecting areas including Bukit Tambun, Pantai Belimbing, and Bukit Balai, and called on JPS to address drainage maintenance.⛓

Election history

• 2021Durian Tunggal (Melaka State Seat)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsZahari won the Durian Tunggal seat in the 2021 Melaka state election with 3,663 votes and a majority of 559, contested against PH, PN, and an independent candidate.⛓
• GovernmentBernama reported that Zahari was appointed by Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh as Melaka's Deputy EXCO for Infrastructure, Public Facilities and Transport in April 2023 as part of a 10-member deputy EXCO lineup.⛓
• AffectedSinar Harian reported that repeated flash flooding has displaced residents in multiple Durian Tunggal villages including Bukit Balai and Bukit Tambun, with over 110 flood victims recorded in Alor Gajah district during the April 2024 event.⛓