Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman

Ahmad Razif bin Abdul Rahman (born 7 November 1965) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 14th Menteri Besar of Terengganu from May 2014 to May 2018, Member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) in the Barisan Nasional (BN) state administration under former Menteri Besars Ahmad Said and himself from April 2008 to July 2016, State Leader of the Opposition of Terengganu from July 2018 to his resignation in February 2019 as well as Member of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Seberang Takir from March 2008 to August 2023. He is a member and the Division Chief of Kuala Nerus of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the BN coalition.

Profile

Ahmad Razif, the son of a religious teacher, was raised in Terengganu. He graduated from Universiti Putra Malaysia with a Masters in Science and rose through the ranks of his local UMNO division.

Political career

In 2008, he was elected to the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly for the seat of Seberang Takir, defeating a People's Justice Party (PKR) candidate. The State's incoming Chief Minister Ahmad Said appointed him to the State's Executive Council—akin to a cabinet—with responsibility for education, higher education, science, technology and human resources.

Ahmad Razif retained his assembly seat at the 2013 election. However, the Barisan Nasional state government almost lost its majority in the assembly, clinging to power with a slim 17–15 majority. In response, the coalition's national leader, and the Prime Minister, Najib Razak, pressured Ahmad Said to resign within a year. On 12 May 2013, Ahmad Said stood down and Ahmad Razif was appointed as his successor. He was sworn into office by Mizan Zainal Abidin, the Sultan of Terengganu, on 13 May.

Ahmad Razif's first task as Chief Minister was to navigate a political crisis when Ahmad Said and two other UMNO assemblymen resigned from UMNO immediately after his appointment, potentially plunging his government into minority status. Ahmad Said stated that he was dissatisfied that he had not been allowed to remain as Chief Minister until after the wedding of his daughter in May 2014. The three assemblymen returned to the party within days, after the intervention of Najib and other senior Barisan Nasional leaders. On 22 April 2016, his 'Datuk Seri' title had been revoked by the Sultan. On 9 December 2016, the Sultan has consented to restore 'Datuk Seri' title to him. He lost his Menteri Besar of Terengganu position after the defeat of Barisan Nasional in the 2018 Terengganu state election and became the opposition leader before resigning in March 2019.In 2023 Terengganu state election,he lost his Seberang Takir (state constituency) with the majority of 2797 votes after holding the seat for three terms.

Election results

Honours

* :
** Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu (SSMZ) – Dato' Seri (2014) (revoked 22 April 2016 and reinstated 8 December 2016)
** (2012, revoked 22 April 2016)
** Companion of the Order of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu (SMZ) (2011)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman
1965 births
Living people
Malaysian politicians of Malay descent
Malaysian Muslims
Chief ministers of Terengganu
United Malays National Organisation politicians
Members of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly
Terengganu state executive councillors
Leaders of the opposition in the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly
University of Putra Malaysia alumni