Zahidi Zainul Abidin

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Zainul Abidin is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Zahidi. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berbahagia Datuk
Zahidi Zainul Abidin
DMSM SMP
زاهدي زين العابدين‎
Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia
In office
30 August 2021 – 24 November 2022
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterIsmail Sabri Yaakob
MinisterAnnuar Musa
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byTeo Nie Ching
(Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital)
ConstituencyPadang Besar
In office
10 March 2020 – 16 August 2021
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterMuhyiddin Yassin
MinisterSaifuddin Abdullah
Preceded byEddin Syazlee Shith
Succeeded byHimself
ConstituencyPadang Besar
Chairman of the
Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority
In office
1 September 2015 – 27 December 2018
MinisterIsmail Sabri Yaakob
(2015–2018)
Rina Harun
(2018)
Director GeneralMohd Najib A. Samad
(2015–2017)
Wan Ahmad Shabri Zainuddin Wan Mohamad
(2017–2018)
Preceded byAbdul Rahim Thamby Chik
Succeeded byRosely Kusip
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Padang Besar
In office
5 May 2013 – 19 November 2022
Preceded byAzmi Khalid
(BN–UMNO)
Succeeded byRushdan Rusmi
(PN–PAS)
Majority7,426 (2013)
1,438 (2018)
Member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly
for Beseri
In office
29 November 1999 – 8 March 2008
Preceded byNordin Abdullah
(BN–UMNO)
Succeeded byMat Rawi Kassim
(BN–UMNO)
Majority819 (1999)
1,871 (2004)
Exco roles (Perlis)
1999–2003Deputy Chairman of the Education
2003–2006Chairman of the Investment, Trade, Science, Technology, Consumerism and Agro-based Industry
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
2013–2022Barisan Nasional
Faction represented in Perlis State Legislative Assembly
1999–2008Barisan Nasional
Personal details
Born
Zahidi bin Zainul Abidin

(1961-01-09) 9 January 1961 (age 63)
CitizenshipMalaysian
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
(–2022)
Independent
(2022–2023)
National Trust Party (AMANAH)
(since 2023)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (BN)
(–2022)
Muafakat Nasional
(2019–2022)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(since 2023)
OccupationPolitician
Zahidi Zainul Abidin on Facebook
Zahidi Zainul Abidin on Parliament of Malaysia

Datuk Zahidi bin Zainul Abidin (Jawi: زاهدي بن زين العابدين; born 9 January 1961) is a Malaysian politician who served as the Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia for the second term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Minister Annuar Musa from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022 and the first term in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Minister Saifuddin Abdullah from March 2020 to the collapse of the PN administration in August 2021, Chairman of the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) from September 2015 to December 2018, Member of the Perlis State Executive Council (EXCO) in the BN state administration under former Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim from 1999 to 2006, Member of Parliament (MP) for Padang Besar from May 2013 to November 2022 and Member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Beseri from November 1999 to March 2008. He is a member of the National Trust Party (AMANAH), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the BN coalition. He is also the Chairman of the Malaysian International Institute of Islamic Cooperation (IKIAM).[1]

Zahidi received his Diploma in Public Administration from Institut Teknologi MARA (Universiti Teknologi MARA).[2] Zahidi joined AMANAH by submitting his membership application form to the party on 4 February 2023 although he had revealed on 30 January 2023 that he planned to join the People's Justice Party (PKR), another PH component party.[3]

Political offices

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Zahidi has held various positions in politics and UMNO:

Year Designation
1991–1993 Islamic Education Chief for UMNO Youth Malaysia
1993 Deputy Chief of UMNO Youth Kangar Division
1998 Members of The Training and Student Council UMNO Youth Malaysia.
1998 International UMNO Youth Council Member
1998 UMNO International Bureau
1991–1998 UMNO Malaysia Youth Education Bureau
1994–1998 Perlis Deputy UMNO Youth Chief
1994–2001 UMNO Padang Besar Youth Chief
1998–2001 UMNO Perlis Youth Chief
2001–2004 UMNO Malaysia Youth Exco
2008–2022 UMNO Padang Besar Divisional Chief
2020–2022 Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia

Controversies

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In September 2020, Zahidi caused a nationwide outrage when he falsely accused a Sabahan foundation student named Veveonah Mosibin from Universiti Malaysia Sabah of trying to popularise her YouTube channel when she posted a video of her in a hut on top of a tree struggling to take an exam. Veveonah at the time had to stay home due to Malaysia's Movement Control Order (MCO) to stop the COVID-19 outbreak in the country and had to go on top of tree to get signal for internet connection.[4] Zahidi was later made to apologise for his inaccurate remark in Dewan Negara and informed that it was Abdul Rahim Bakri of Kudat MP who told him that Veveonah did not have exams on the day she uploaded the video, of which, later clarified otherwise by the university's chairman, Masidi Manjun.[5][6][7]

The aftermath of the incident had brought Zahidi's academic credentials under spotlight for purportedly dubious academic qualification while Veveonah's hometown district got 13 new telecommunication towers expeditiously installed with 4G connection under the JENDELA program.[8][9]

Personal life

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In January 2021, Zahidi was tested positive for COVID-19 and sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital for treatment.[10] He was discharged after 11 days.[11]

Election results

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Perlis State Legislative Assembly[12]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1999 N02 Beseri Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO) 2,774 58.66% Abd. Rahman Rejab (PAS) 1,955 41.34% 5,069 819 73.77%
2004 Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO) 3,492 68.30% Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir (PAS) 1,621 31.70% 5,222 1,871 78.59%
2022 N01 Titi Tinggi Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) 425 4.43% Izizam Ibrahim (BERSATU) 5,601 58.42% 9,748 3,785 72.70%
Teh Chai Aan (MCA) 1,816 18.94%
Teh Seng Chuan (DAP) 1,512 15.77%
Mohd Shahril Md Sarif (PEJUANG) 152 1.59%
Khaw Hock Kong (WARISAN) 81 0.84%
Parliament of Malaysia[13][14][15]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2013 P001 Padang Besar, Perlis Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO) 21,473 60.45% Azamhari Mohamood (PAS) 14,047 39.55% 36,142 7,426 86.11%
2018 Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO) 15,032 41.18% Izizam Ibrahim (BERSATU) 13,594 37.24% 37,432 1,438 81.20%
Mokhtar Senik (PAS) 7,874 21.57%
2022 Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) 1,939 1.56% Rushdan Rusmi (PAS) 24,267 53.58% 45,288 12,514 75.24%
Zahida Zarik Khan (UMNO) 11,753 25.95%
Mohd Saat @ Yahya (AMANAH) 7,085 15.64%
Ko Chu Liang (WARISAN) 244 0.54%

Honours

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Honours of Malaysia

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Directory."Institut Kerjasama Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (IKIAM", IKIAM, 25 April 2013.
  2. ^ "BIODATA". SUARA TV. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. ^ MUHAMAD, ASYRAF (4 February 2023). "Tak jadi masuk PKR, Zahidi pilih sertai Amanah". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Veveonah Quits Social Media After False Accusations From Minister: The minister accused her of lying about her examinations for fame". The Rakyat Post. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Minister apologises to 'tree girl' Veveonah for inaccurate remark". New Straits Times. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Zahidi says Kudat MP told him Veveonah did not have exams on day she uploaded video". The Star. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Veveonah was having her exams at time of video, confirms UMS". The Star. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Zahidi's academic credentials under spotlight after Veveonah jibe". MalaysiaKini. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Pitas rep pushing for fast-tracking of 13 new telco towers in district". The Star. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Controversial Deputy Communications Minister Is Covid-19 Positive". The Rakyat Post. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  11. ^ Ida Lim (27 January 2021). "Here's the full list of Malaysia's ministers, lawmakers who tested Covid-19 positive in January". Malay Mail. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 14 April 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  13. ^ "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2018. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  14. ^ "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE – 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  15. ^ "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  16. ^ "Raja of Perlis Honours List". The Star. 19 May 2003.
  17. ^ "The Malacca Yang Di-Pertua Negri's Birthday Honours List". The Star. 12 October 2003. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
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