Zahidi Zainul Abidin

Malaysian politician

1999–2003Deputy Chairman of the Education2003–2006Chairman of the Investment, Trade, Science, Technology, Consumerism and Agro-based IndustryFaction represented in Dewan Rakyat2013–2022Barisan NasionalFaction represented in Perlis State Legislative Assembly1999–2008Barisan Nasional Personal detailsBorn

Zahidi bin Zainul Abidin

(1961-01-09) 9 January 1961 (age 63)CitizenshipMalaysianPolitical partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
(–2022)
Independent
(2022–2023)
National Trust Party (AMANAH)
(since 2023)Other political
affiliationsBarisan Nasional (BN)
(–2022)
Muafakat Nasional
(2019–2022)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(since 2023)OccupationPoliticianZahidi 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

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

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

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

**Perlis State Legislative Assembly**^[12]
Year	Constituency		Votes	Pct		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	N02 Beseri	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		Votes	Pct		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%
2018		Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO)	15,032	41.18%	Mokhtar Senik (PAS)	7,874	21.57%	37,432	1,438	81.20%
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

Honours of Malaysia

Perlis :
- Companion of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SMP) (2003)^[16]
Malacca:
- Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (2003)^[17]

References

^ Directory."Institut Kerjasama Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (IKIAM", IKIAM, 25 April 2013.
^ "BIODATA". SUARA TV. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ MUHAMAD, ASYRAF (4 February 2023). "Tak jadi masuk PKR, Zahidi pilih sertai Amanah". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
^ "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.
^ "Minister apologises to 'tree girl' Veveonah for inaccurate remark". New Straits Times. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
^ "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.
^ "Veveonah was having her exams at time of video, confirms UMS". The Star. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
^ "Zahidi's academic credentials under spotlight after Veveonah jibe". MalaysiaKini. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
^ "Pitas rep pushing for fast-tracking of 13 new telco towers in district". The Star. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
^ "Controversial Deputy Communications Minister Is Covid-19 Positive". The Rakyat Post. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
^ 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.
^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 14 April 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
^ "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2018. Results only available from the 2004 election.
^ "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE – 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
^ "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
^ "Raja of Perlis Honours List". The Star. 19 May 2003.
^ "The Malacca Yang Di-Pertua Negri's Birthday Honours List". The Star. 12 October 2003. Retrieved 24 September 2018.