Abdul Ghafar bin Atan ( Jawi: عبدالغفار بن أتن; ‎13 July 1956 – 17 November 2021) was a Malaysian

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. He served as Member of the Melaka State Executive Council (EXCO) from March 2008 to May 2018 and again from March 2020 to his death in November 2021, as well as Member of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Asahan from May 2013 to his death in November 2021 and Gadek from March 2004 to May 2013. He was a member of the

United Malays National Organisation The United Malays National Organisation (Abbreviation, abbrev: UMNO; , PEKEMBAR) is a Conservatism, conservative, Nationalism, Malay nationalist political party in Malaysia. As the oldest national political party in the country (since its ince ...

(UMNO), a component party of the

Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional (BN; ) is a political coalition of Malaysia that was founded in 1974 as a coalition of centre-right and right-wing political parties to succeed the Alliance Party. It is the third largest political coalition with 30 seats in ...

(BN) coalition and also the Alor Gajah UMNO chief.

Politics

Abdul Ghafar first contested as a BN candidate in the 11th general election in the Gadek state constituency in 2004 and went on to defend the seat in the 12th general election in 2008. In the 13th general election in 2013, he contested the Asahan seat and defended it in the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018.

Death

On 4 November 2021, it was announced Abdul Ghafar would not be picked by UMNO as the BN candidate on nomination day on 8 November to give way to younger face to defend the Asahan seat, considered the hottest constituency in the Malacca state election on 20 November. After being dropped as the election candidate, he was screened and tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

at a private hospital on 7 November and when his health deteriorated into critical condition later, he was put under an induced coma in the intensive care unit of Malacca General Hospital on the night of 9 November. Abdul Ghafar subsequently died from the complications at age 65 in the hospital at 1.04pm on 17 November leaving behind his wife, Rabiah Hassan. He was buried according to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

standard operating procedure (SOP) at the Kampung Asahan Muslim Cemetery in Malacca.

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : **

Officer of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace of God-Defender of the Realm). The o ...

(KMN) (2006) * : ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (2004) ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Knight Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DCSM) – Datuk Wira (2011) ** MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca

Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2016)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Abdul Ghafar Atan 1956 births 2021 deaths Officers of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Malaysian politicians of Malay descent Malaysian Muslims United Malays National Organisation politicians Members of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly Malacca state executive councillors Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia 21st-century Malaysian politicians