Zainol Fadzi Paharudin

Summary

Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin is a four-term Perak state assemblyman for Sungai Manik who has held executive office as a Perak EXCO member across multiple administrations and served as BERSATU Perak State Secretary from 2018 to 2024. In February 2026, he was sacked from BERSATU after publicly calling for party president Muhyiddin Yassin to step down, and by June 2026 had announced his membership in the newly formed Parti Wawasan Negara. He chairs the Perak Public Accounts Committee and previously served as President of the Perak Football Association.

Biography

Datuk Zainol Fadzi bin Paharudin (born 31 July 1966, Langkap, Perak) is a Malaysian politician who has represented the Sungai Manik state constituency in the Perak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) since March 2008 — a tenure spanning four consecutive terms [1]. He holds a Diploma in Business Studies (Marketing) from Universiti Teknologi MARA (1987) and a Diploma in Business Engineering Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (1992) [1]. He was formerly a member of UMNO, including serving as Perak UMNO Youth chief, before defecting to BERSATU after the 2018 general election [2]. He served as a Perak State Executive Council (EXCO) member under Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir and later Saarani Mohamad from February 2009 to May 2018, and again from December 2020 to November 2022 [1]. Between June 2018 and December 2020, he was appointed Special Adviser to Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu [3]. He also served as President of the Perak Football Association from May 2010 to October 2015 [1]. Within BERSATU, he was the founding Pasir Salak Division Chief and State Secretary of BERSATU Perak from 2018 to November 2024, later rising to Supreme Council (MPT) membership [4]. In February 2026, he was sacked from BERSATU following a disciplinary proceeding, after publicly calling for party president Muhyiddin Yassin to step down [5]. In June 2026, he announced he had joined Parti Wawasan Negara [6].

Known for

Zainol Fadzi is known as a four-term Sungai Manik assemblyman who has held executive power in Perak across two separate stints as EXCO member under different administrations [1]. He drew national attention in December 2025 by publicly calling for Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to step down, a move that led to his sacking from the party in February 2026 [7]. He subsequently co-founded the 'Reset' movement in Perak and joined the newly launched Parti Wawasan Negara in June 2026 [6].

Political positions

Based on sourced reporting, Zainol Fadzi has consistently positioned himself within the Malay-majority political mainstream, moving from UMNO to BERSATU after GE14. As a BERSATU Supreme Council member, he publicly advocated for internal party accountability, arguing in December 2025 that the party president's personal legal issues were damaging BERSATU and Perikatan Nasional's electoral prospects [6]. He has served as Opposition Chief Whip in the Perak DUN during the current state government term, indicating a role focused on legislative discipline and opposition coordination [8]. As Chairman of the Perak Public Accounts Committee since December 2022, his work centres on scrutiny of state government expenditure and public accountability [1]. No sourced positions on specific policy areas such as housing, healthcare, or education have been identified from the allowlist.

Education

1. 1987Obtained Diploma in Business Studies (Marketing) from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).⛓
2. 1992Obtained Diploma in Business Engineering Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).⛓

Before politics

1. Pre-2008Served as Perak UMNO Youth Chief (Ketua Pemuda UMNO Perak) prior to his first election victory.⛓

Political career

1. March 2008First elected as Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Sungai Manik under Barisan Nasional (UMNO) in the 12th General Election (GE12).⛓
2. February 2009Appointed as Member of the Perak State Executive Council (EXCO) under Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir in the BN state administration.⛓
3. May 2013Re-elected as ADUN Sungai Manik under BN (UMNO) in the 13th General Election (GE13), retaining the seat.⛓
4. May 2018Re-elected as ADUN Sungai Manik under BN (UMNO) in GE14, winning with a majority of 1,939 votes. Shortly after, he defected from BN to support the PH state government, leading to his joining BERSATU (PPBM).⛓
5. May 2018Pledged support for the PH Perak state government after GE14, enabling PH to reach a simple majority to form the state government.⛓
6. June 2018Appointed Special Adviser to Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu under the PH state administration.⛓
7. Late 2018Became founding Pasir Salak Division Chief of BERSATU and was appointed State Secretary of BERSATU Perak, a post he held until November 2024.⛓
8. December 2020Re-appointed as Perak EXCO member under Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad in the Perikatan Nasional state administration.⛓
9. November 2022Re-elected as ADUN Sungai Manik under PN (BERSATU) in GE15 with a majority of 3,950 votes (32.7% vote share). Contested Teluk Intan parliament seat concurrently but was unsuccessful.⛓
10. December 2022Appointed State Chairman of the Perak Public Accounts Committee.⛓
11. November 2024Resigned as State Secretary of BERSATU Perak after nearly six years, following his election to the BERSATU Supreme Council (MPT).⛓
12. December 2025Led a press conference of Perak BERSATU division chiefs calling for party president Muhyiddin Yassin to step down, citing damage to the party's image.⛓
13. February 2026Sacked from BERSATU by the party's Disciplinary Board for breaching the party constitution, along with several other leaders including Deputy President Hamzah Zainudin. He became an independent assemblyman.⛓
14. February 2026Initiated the 'Reset' movement in Perak as an informal platform for former BERSATU members and supporters affected by the party's disciplinary actions.⛓
15. June 2026Announced his membership in Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan), a new political party launched on 13 June 2026 in Tanah Merah, Kelantan. Also announced that Reset movement coordinators and activists in Perak would join the new party.⛓

Election history

• 2022Sungai Manik (State — N.49)Won32.7%⛓
• 2022Teluk Intan (Parliament — P.076)Lost20.6%⛓
• 2018Sungai Manik (State — N.49)Won35.2%⛓
• 2013Sungai Manik (State — N.49)Won⛓
• 2008Sungai Manik (State — N.49)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• OppositionPerak Bersatu chairman Ahmad Faizal Azumu and 14 other division leaders issued a joint statement saying Zainol Fadzi's December 2025 press conference did not represent the official position of Perak BERSATU leadership, and criticised him for taking internal party issues into the public domain, describing it as a breach of party discipline.⛓
• VerifiedFactsFree Malaysia Today reported that Zainol Fadzi was among BERSATU Supreme Council members sacked on 13 February 2026 for breaching the party constitution, along with Deputy President Hamzah Zainudin and other leaders.⛓
• PublicBersatu's Pasir Salak Division Secretary Noridayu Ismael publicly requested that the party's Appeals Board reconsider Zainol Fadzi's sacking, citing his track record and contributions to the party and constituency.⛓