Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar

Mohamad Asfia bin Awang Nassar (born 8 October 1947) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Speaker of Sarawak State Legislative Assembly since 15 January 2000 and previously was the Deputy Speaker from 1995 to 2000. He holds the record for being the longest serving Speaker in the Commonwealth. He had served as the Acting Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from 1 December 2019 to 11 January 2020 and again from 16 August 2023 to 17 September 2023. He was also the Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Serdeng and Semop between 1991 and 2011 and the MLA for Kuala Rajang between 1979 and 1983.

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Awang Nassar is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Mohamad Asfia. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Yang Berhormat Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar PSM DA PNBS SIMP DSAP DIMP PBK PPC
محمد أصفية أواڠ نصّار‎
Mohamad Asfia in 2023
Acting Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak
In office 16 August 2023 – 17 September 2023
Premier	Abang Johari Openg
In office 1 December 2019 – 11 January 2020
Chief Minister	Abang Johari Openg
In office 28 November 2018 – 6 January 2019
Chief Minister	Abang Johari Openg
In office 1 December 2016 – 4 January 2017
Chief Minister	Adenan Satem
In office 11 December 2014 – 9 January 2015
Chief Minister	Adenan Satem
In office 29 December 2011 – 10 February 2012
Chief Minister	Abdul Taib Mahmud
Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 January 2000
Governor	See list Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abdul Taib Mahmud Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
Deputy	Gerawat Gala (2006–2022) Idris Buang (since 2022)
Premier	Abang Johari Openg
Chief Minister	Abdul Taib Mahmud Adenan Satem Abang Johari Openg
Preceded by	Song Swee Guan
Deputy Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
In office 1995–2000
Governor	Ahmad Zaidi Adruce
Chief Minister	Abdul Taib Mahmud
Chairperson of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu
Incumbent
Assumed office 2002
President	Abang Johari Openg
Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Semop
In office 20 May 2006 – 16 April 2011
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Abdullah Saidol
Majority	3,226 (2006)
Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Serdeng
In office 1991–2006
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Kuala Rajang
In office 1979–1983
Preceded by	Abdul Rahman Ya'kub
Succeeded by	Saidi Olia
Personal details
Born	(1947-10-08) 8 October 1947 (age 78)
Political party	Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu
Other political affiliations	Barisan Nasional (until 2018) Gabungan Parti Sarawak (from 2018)
Spouse	Fatimah Mohamad Iskandar
Alma mater	University of Leeds
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Lawyer

In August 2023, Mohamad Asfia was appointed as Acting Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak following the absence of Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud who was in the process of recovering his health abroad.^[1] Taib was previously in Turkiye for a holiday before facing health problems and undergoing a surgical procedure. He taken his oath in The Astana, Petra Jaya. Among present to witness the ceremony was the Premier of Sarawak, Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and the Kuching High Court Judge, Justice Dato Dr. Alwi Abdul Wahab.

Election results

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly^[2][3]

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1979	N23 Kuala Rajang		Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar (PBB)		76.29%		(PAJAR)		10.92%
							(IND)
							(IND)
1991	N29 Serdeng		Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar (PBB)	3,079	56.67%		Awg. Ahmad (PERMAS)	1,569	28.88%	5,527	1,510	75.46%
							Abu Seman Mat (IND)	690	12.70%
							Yosof Basri (DAP)	58	1.07%
							Ali Hassan Tajol (NEGARA)	37	0.68%
1996	N31 Serdeng		Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar (PBB)	4,075	73.45%		Zaiton Nor Mohamed (IND)	1,328	23.94%	5,660	2,747	71.44%
							Ibrahim Taha (IND)	145	2.61%
2001			Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar (PBB)	4,255	76.10%		Abdul Kadir Madahan (IND)	1,336	23.90%	5,715	2,919	70.46%
2006	N36 Semop		Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar (PBB)	4,479	78.14%		Noh @ Sa'bi (KeADILan)	1,253	21.86%	5,854	3,226	63.89%

Honours

• Malaysia :
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2021)^[4]
• Sarawak :
  • Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – Dato Sri (2003)
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) – Datuk Amar (2011)
• Pahang :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (2004)