Political Secretary (Malay: Setiausaha Politik) is a constitutional office in Malaysia. As a member of the Federal Government, a Political Secretary is appointed by the Prime Minister either on his own choice or on the advice of a Minister.
Duties and responsibilities There has been no clear description of duties and responsibilities of a Political Secretary. In general, however, a Political Secretary is tasked to assist political duties of a Minister and provide the latter with appropriate advice on political situations in such constituency, such state or Malaysia at large. Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Abdullah Saidol explained that a Political Secretary is expected to heed, support and inform to the people, development policies and programmes planned by the Government.
Political secretaries to the Anwar Ibrahim cabinet , the following individuals have been appointed as political secretaries to the Anwar Ibrahim cabinet. They have served since December 2022. Presently, there have been 38 political secretaries serving the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers. PortfolioOfficeholdersTook officesLeft officesSenior Political Advisor to Prime MinisterTengku Zafrul Aziz4 March 2026IncumbentPolitical Secretary to Prime MinisterChan Ming Kai1 December 2022Ahmad Farhan Fauzi23 December 2022Azman Abidin6 January 2023Political Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister 1Jamal Norubit NerubiMegat Zulkarnain OmardinDecember 2022/January 2023Political Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister 2 Irwan Zulkarnain HasbieMikai MandauPolitical Secretary to Minister of Rural and Regional DevelopmentMohd Razlan Muhamad Rafi6 January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Plantation and Commodities Nora'shekin Yusof21 January 2026Political Secretary to Minister of Energy Transition and Water TransformationHamzah Brahim27 January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of FinanceMuhammad Kamil Abdul MunimPolitical Secretary to Minister of WorksAlvin Runggah6 February 2026Political Secretary to Minister of EducationRozana Zainal Abidin10 July 2025Political Secretary to Minister of TransportHo Weng WahSeptember 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Foreign AffairsTon Zalani Mat Darus27 January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Human ResourcesAizuddin Abd Gaffal21 January 2025Political Secretary to Minister of Consumer Affairs and Domestic Trade Mohammad Ghazali Hajiji6 January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Food SecurityYuhaizad Abdullah27 January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Willy Rafiqi21 January 2025Political Secretary to Minister of Home AffairsOmar Mokhtar22 September 2025Political Secretary to Minister of International Trade and Industry Zainuri Zainal21 January 2025Political Secretary to Minister of DefenceMohammad Khairi A. Malik6 January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Higher EducationAhmad Zharif Ahmad Kamal27 January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Women, Family and Community DevelopmentMohammed Kamaluddin EffendieDecember 2022/January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of CommunicationAbdullah Izhar YusofPolitical Secretary to Minister of Housing and Local Government Chaw Kam FoonFebruary 2024Political Secretary to Minister of Digital Michelle Ng6 June 2025Political Secretary to Minister of HealthFaisal IsmailFebruary 2024Political Secretary to Minister of Federal Territories Yap Yee Vonne21 January 2025Political Secretary to Minister of National UnityStephen William27 January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Science, Technology and InnovationOoi Tze MinDecember 2022/January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Economy Mohd Hafiz Mohamad21 January 2025Political Secretary to Minister of Foreign AffairsAkmal Zharif Ahmad Kamal 27 January 2023Political Secretary to Minister of Law and Institutional ReformsShahril Zaman Abdul Wahab26 August 2026Political Secretary to Minister of Tourism, Arts and CultureSue Chee TongUnknownPolitical Secretary to Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and CooperativeKelvin Yii21 January 2025Political Secretary to Minister of Youth and SportsMohammad Afiq Hazwan SamsudinPolitical Secretary to Minister of Religious AffairsMohd Kamarul Arifin Mohd WafaPolitical Secretary to Minister of Sabah and Sarawak AffairsAhmad Nazib Johari
Political secretaries to the Ismail Sabri cabinet The following individuals were appointed as political secretaries to the Ismail Sabri cabinet. They served from September or November 2021 to the dissolution of the cabinet in November 2022. There were 32 political secretaries serving the Prime Minister, Senior Ministers and Ministers. PortfolioOffice holderTook officesLeft officesPrime Minister's Political SecretarySyed Mohd Fahmi Sayid Mohammad27 September 2021 / November 202124 November 2022Mohammad Anuar Mohd YunusKhairulnizam bin Mohamad ZuldinPolitical Secretary to Senior Minister, Ministry of International Trade and IndustryMuhammad Hilman Idham Political Secretary to Senior Minister, Ministry of DefenceAbd Halim bin Abd JalilPolitical Secretary to Minister of FinanceHaji Rizam bin Haji IsmailPolitical Secretary to Senior Minister, Ministry of WorksHamzah BrahimPolitical Secretary to Senior Minister, Ministry of EducationFadli Hafiz Mohd YusoffPolitical Secretary to Minister of TransportLing Tian SoonPolitical Secretary to Minister of Human ResourcesKhamarulazlan Mohamad HanafiahPolitical Secretary to Minister of Sabah and Sarawak AffairsJonnybone J. KurumPolitical Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Food IndustriesZulkifli bin Mohd AlwiPolitical Secretary to Minister of Environment and WaterDr. Mohd. Zuhdi MarsukiPolitical Secretary to Minister of Home AffairsMohamed Farid bin Mohamed ZawawiPolitical Secretary to Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs -Political Secretary to Minister of Energy and Natural ResourcesMohd Syahir bin Che SulaimanPolitical Secretary to Minister of Higher EducationShah Headan Ayoob Hussain ShahPolitical Secretary to Minister of Women, Family and Community DevelopmentMohd Ariffin bin Mohd RazidPolitical Secretary to Minister of Communications and MultimediaBudiman Mohd ZohdiPolitical Secretary to Minister of Housing and Local GovernmentAhmad DarusPolitical Secretary to Minister of HealthMegat Firdouz Megat JunidPolitical Secretary to Minister of National UnityHaliza AbdullahPolitical Secretary to Minister of Science, Technology and InnovationNorshida IbrahimPolitical Secretary to Minister for the EconomyZahari KechikPolitical Secretary to Minister of Foreign AffairsMuhammad Mujahidin ZulkifliPolitical Secretary to Minister of Plantation Industries and CommoditiesNor Hizwan AhmadPolitical Secretary to Minister for Special FunctionsMuhammad Islahuddin bin AbasPolitical Secretary to Minister for Parliament and LawSyed Hamzah Syed PaiePolitical Secretary to Minister of Tourism, Arts and CultureMohammed Kamaluddin Hj. Mohd EffendiePolitical Secretary to Minister of Rural DevelopmentMuhamad Nur Aizat bin Noor AzamPolitical Secretary to Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and CooperativeKamaruzzaman bin JohariPolitical Secretary to Minister of Federal Territories -Political Secretary to Minister of Youth and SportsMohd Hafez Mubin bin Mohd SallehPolitical Secretary to Minister for Religious AffairsWan Rohimi Wan Daud
State level State governments have appointed Political Secretaries as well. Appointment of state political secretaries, however, determined by the state through enactments and decisions of state executive council or cabinet. Roles and responsibilities of a state political secretary is similar to those of a federal political secretary.
Peninsular Malaysia In states of Peninsular Malaysia, a Political Secretary is appointed by the head of respective State Government and serves political affairs of the latter only.
Sabah In Sabah, each Minister is provided with a Political Secretary appointed by the Chief Minister on the advice of such Minister. Only Chief Minister can appoint up to four Political Secretaries for himself.
Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg has 32 political secretaries all over Sarawak.
References