Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Fadillah Yusof
Malaysian politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Fadillah bin Yusof (Jawi: فضيلة بن يوسف; born 17 April 1962) is a Malaysian politician and lawyer who has served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia since 2022, Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation since 2023 and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Petra Jaya since March 2004. He is the first DPM from Sarawak, one of the Borneo states in Malaysia and the second DPM not from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) after Wan Azizah Wan Ismail from the People's Justice Party (PKR).
Previously, he served as the Minister of Plantation and Commodities from December 2022 to December 2023, Senior Minister in charge of Works and Minister of Works for the third term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022 and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Petra Jaya since March 2004. He served as the Senior Minister in charge of Infrastructure Development and Minister of Works for the second term in the PN administration under former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin from March 2020 to August 2021 and for the first term in Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former prime minister Najib Razak from May 2013 to May 2018,[1][2] Chair of the Science, Innovation and Environment Select Committee, one of only two select committees led by an opposition MP from December 2019 to his reappointment as a Minister in March 2020.[3][4]
Fadillah is a member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a component party of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.[5] He is also the Parliamentary Whip of GPS and has served as Senior Vice President of PBB since 2017. He was the Youth Chief of PBB from 2007 to 2017.
Remove ads
Early life and education
Summarize
Perspective
Fadillah bin Yusof was born on 17 April 1962 in Kampung Hilir, Sibu, Sarawak, and is the ninth of 14 siblings. His father, Yusof Merais, was involved in the anti-cession movement in Sarawak, opposing British colonial rule after 1946. Yusof was active in the Malay youth movement and later the Sarawakian youth front, and was imprisoned twice — first in connection with the 1949 assassination of British Governor Duncan Stewart, and again during the 1962 confrontation over the formation of Malaysia. During his imprisonment, Fadillah's mother, Dayang Rosnah Abang Madeli, worked as a domestic helper and seamstress to support the family.
Fadillah and his siblings helped contribute to the family's income by collecting and selling farm produce. He began his education at St. Mary's Primary School in Sibu before continuing at Panglima Bukit Gantang Secondary School in Parit Buntar, Perak. This move was made possible through a scholarship from Yayasan Sarawak, which also included a student exchange programme.
In 1986, Fadillah completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in both Civil and Sharia law at the University of Malaya. During his time there, he often helped new Sarawakian students settle into university life, sometimes prioritising their needs even when it affected his own schedule.
Remove ads
Early career
After graduation, Fadillah practiced law briefly in Kuala Lumpur before returning to Sarawak. His work there gradually involved advising elected representatives and those involved in politics, which eventually led him to serve as an independent legal advisor for Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB). In 1989, he joined politics as a member of PBB, which at that time was a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
Remove ads
Political career
Summarize
Perspective
Fadillah first ran for parliament in the 11th Malaysian general election, having previously been an official in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and a lawyer.[6] He won the election for the seat of Petra Jaya.[7]
After being re-elected in the 12th Malaysian general election, Fadillah was appointed Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.[8]
After the 13th Malaysian general election, Fadillah was promoted to full minister as Minister of Works under the new Cabinet line-up of Prime Minister Najib Razak.[9]
Following the defeat of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th Malaysian general election, Fadillah was made chief whip of the opposition Sarawak Parties Alliance (GPS) in the House of Representatives of Malaysia.
Deputy Prime Minister
In the 2022 general election, Fadillah managed to retain his seat, this time with a significantly larger majority. Following the elections, no single party secured a majority to form the federal government. Consequently, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah proposed the formation of a unity government, with Anwar Ibrahim eventually appointed as its leader on 24 November 2022.
In a cabinet announcement on 2 December 2022, Fadillah was appointed Deputy Prime Minister alongside Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Simultaneously, he was assigned the role of Minister of Plantation and Commodities. Fadillah's appointment is of historic significance as he is the first individual from Sarawak to hold the country's second-highest political office since the formation of Malaysia. Sarawak is one of the East Malaysian states.
Personal life
Fadillah is married to Ruziah Mohd Tahir. The couple has five children.
Election results
Remove ads
Honours
Honours of Malaysia
Malaysia :
Recipient of the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
Malacca :
Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2014)[10]
Pahang :
Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2013)[11]
Perlis:
Recipient of Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail Silver Jubilee Medal (2025)
Sarawak :
Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – Dato Sri (2022)[12]
Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (PGBK) – Datuk (2010)[11][13]- Member of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (ABS)
_-_3._Commander_(PGBK).svg){kind=small}
Remove ads
Notes
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads