Zulkifli Ismail

Summary

Zulkifli bin Ismail (born 1 January 1966) is the PAS Member of Parliament for Jasin (P139), Melaka, elected in the November 2022 GE15 general election with a majority of 322 votes, and serves concurrently as the Melaka PAS Commissioner. An Islamic educator and founder of Pondok Baitul Qurro' Wal Fuqoha' since 2000, he has focused his parliamentary work on Islamic legislative reform, including proposals relating to the Interpretation Acts and federal syariah law. In April 2026, he and PAS's Harakah formally apologised and paid costs of RM15,000 to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek following a settled defamation dispute originating in 2023.

Biography

Zulkifli bin Ismail (born 1 January 1966) is a Malaysian politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jasin (P139), Melaka, since November 2022 [1]. He is a member of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition [1]. He also serves concurrently as the Melaka PAS Commissioner [2]. Before entering federal parliament, Zulkifli was the founder and caretaker of Pondok Baitul Qurro' Wal Fuqoha' since the year 2000, and served as a teacher at the same institution [3]. He contested the GE14 (2018) general election at the Tangga Batu parliamentary seat in Melaka under the PAS banner but lost to candidates from Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional [3]. In the 15th General Election (GE15) in November 2022, Zulkifli stood for the Jasin parliamentary seat and won with a majority of 322 votes, receiving 27,893 votes against BN's Datuk Roslan Ahmad (27,571 votes), PH's Datuk Harun Mohamed (21,675 votes), and GTA's Datuk Mohd Daud Nasir (460 votes) [4]. His victory made him one of the first PAS representatives from Melaka to win a parliamentary seat on a PN ticket [4]. In parliament, Zulkifli has advocated for Islamic legislative reforms, including proposing amendments to the Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967 to define the use of the word 'Allah' and calling for a federal-level syariah law to empower JAKIM to investigate complaints regarding the propagation of non-Muslim religions to Muslims [5].

Known for

Zulkifli Ismail is known primarily as an Islamic educator and PAS party official who made history as one of the first PAS parliamentarians from Melaka. In parliament, he has consistently raised Islamic legislative and religious issues, including proposals to amend the Interpretation Acts on the use of the word 'Allah' and calls for a federal syariah law on religious propagation. He also serves simultaneously as the Melaka PAS Commissioner, making him a significant figure in PAS's organisational structure in the state.

Political positions

Zulkifli has taken public positions focused on Islamic law and religious governance in Malaysia. In June 2023, he proposed amending the Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967 to include a specific explanation on the usage and meaning of the word 'Allah' in Malaysia, arguing such an amendment was necessary to regulate its use and prevent misunderstanding [2]. He has also called for a federal-level syariah law that would empower JAKIM to investigate complaints about the alleged propagation of non-Muslim religions to Muslims [6]. In November 2022, he attributed PAS's election success in Melaka partly to the clean image projected by Perikatan Nasional under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin [4].

Before politics

1. 2000Founded and became caretaker and teacher of Pondok Baitul Qurro' Wal Fuqoha', an Islamic religious school.⛓

Political career

1. May 2018Contested the Tangga Batu parliamentary seat (P136) in Melaka under PAS in GE14 but lost to Pakatan Harapan candidate Rusnah Aluai and BN candidate Zali Mat Yasin.⛓
2. November 2022Won the Jasin parliamentary seat (P139) in GE15 under PAS/Perikatan Nasional with 27,893 votes and a majority of 322 votes, becoming one of the first PAS MPs from Melaka.⛓
3. June 2023Proposed in parliament an amendment to the Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967 to include a specific explanation on the usage and meaning of the word 'Allah' in Malaysia.⛓
4. November 2023Made statements alleging the Ministry of Education had banned Islamic 'takbir' and prayers during a Palestine Solidarity Week in schools, leading to a letter of demand and subsequent legal action by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.⛓
5. April 2026Formally apologised in Sessions Court to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek for the 2023 defamatory statements, with Zulkifli and Harakah agreeing to pay RM15,000 in costs and undertaking not to repeat such statements.⛓

Election history

• 2022Jasin (P139)Won35.9%⛓
• 2018Tangga Batu (P136)Lost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsZulkifli Ismail won the Jasin (P139) seat in GE15 with 27,893 votes and a majority of 322 votes, becoming one of the first PAS MPs from Melaka. He serves concurrently as Melaka PAS Commissioner.⛓
• OppositionAccording to Free Malaysia Today, Jasin Umno division chief Akmal Saleh stated in January 2026 that he was confident he could win the Jasin parliamentary seat — currently held by Zulkifli Ismail of PAS — if he opted to work with DAP, citing a combined BN and PH vote base.⛓
• AffectedAccording to Malay Mail, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said she was relieved that Zulkifli and Harakah decided to apologise for their comments in April 2026, adding that it was important for her to clear her name.⛓

Notable legal history

According to Free Malaysia Today and Malay Mail, Zulkifli Ismail and PAS's mouthpiece Harakah apologised in open court before Sessions Court Judge Hilmiah Yusof on 20 April 2026 to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek for defamatory statements made in November 2023. FMT reported that Zulkifli and Harakah agreed to pay RM15,000 in costs to Fadhlina, and both parties agreed not to repeat, republish, disseminate or comment on the said statements. The case arose from a November 2023 statement in which Zulkifli alleged that the Ministry of Education had banned the 'takbir' chant and Islamic prayers during a Palestine Solidarity Week in schools nationwide, which the ministry denied. The settlement and public apology were confirmed by multiple credible Malaysian news outlets including Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail, New Straits Times, and Malaysiakini.