Aliakbar Gulasan (Jawi: ‏علي أكبر بن ۢولاسن‎‎; born 8 February 1971) is a Malaysian politician of mixed

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

- Murut-

Dusun Dusun may refer to: * Dusun language, language of Dusun people of Borneo * Dusun people Dusun is the collective name of an indigenous ethnic group to the Malaysian state of Sabah of North Borneo. Collectively, they form the largest ethnic ...

descent from

Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...

East Malaysia East Malaysia (), or the Borneo States, also known as Malaysian Borneo, is the part of Malaysia on and near the island of Borneo, the world's third-largest island. East Malaysia comprises the states of Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory ...

. He is an official member cum Sabah state liaison chairman of the

Malaysian Islamic Party The Malaysian Islamic Party, also known as the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Malay language, Malay: ''Parti Islam Se-Malaysia''; Abbreviation, abbrev: PAS), is an Islamist political party in Malaysia. Ideologically focused on Islamic fundamen ...

(PAS). At the party level, he is a member of the PAS Central Working Committee representing the state of Sabah. He was previously a senior lecturer of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage,

Universiti Malaysia Sabah Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS; English: University of Malaysia Sabah) is a public university in Malaysia. It was officially established on 24 November 1994 as the ninth public university in the country. The university is located on a 999-acre ...

(UMS). In 2020, he was recognised by Sabahans as the first ever Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) member who become a nominated assemblyman for the

Sabah State Legislative Assembly The Sabah State Legislative Assembly ( Kadazandusun: ''Langga' Tinukuan Pogun Sabah'', ) is a part of the legislature of Sabah, Malaysia, the other being the governor of Sabah. The assembly meets at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly Buildin ...

(ADUN), which irked the ire of most Sabahans especially those who did not vote nor support the said party.

Background

Early life

He is of mixed

- Murut bloodline and is currently residing with his family in

Keningau Keningau () is the capital of the Keningau District in the Interior Division of Sabah, Malaysia. It is the fifth-largest town in Sabah, as well one of the oldest. Keningau is between Tambunan and Tenom. The town had an estimated population ...

which is his birthplace cum paternal hometown, whilst also maintaining residences in his maternal hometown of

Tenom Tenom (, ) is the capital of the Tenom District in the Interior Division of Sabah, Malaysia. It is located about 176 kilometres south of Kota Kinabalu and 128 kilometres north of Long Pasia, which is one of the famous attractions in Sabah. Ten ...

and the state capital city of

Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu (; formerly known as Jesselton), colloquially referred to as KK, is the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia. It is also the capital of the Kota Kinabalu District as well as the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the ...

, owing to his political and academic career. Aliakbar was born in Kampung Kota Ayangan, Keningau and he is the fourth child out of eight children. His father, Gulasan bin Mushall Khan who is of mixed Pakistani-

descent is a native of the said village in the said district since the predominant ethnicity or tribe are mostly native Dusuns, initially worked as a personal driver who was hired by several Sabah state government departments and agencies using a Land Rover car along the Tenom-Keningau highway who was last posted to the Public Works Department (JKR) in Tenom prior to retirement. His mother, Ruhujah binti Musturullah Khan who is of mixed Pakistani- Murut ancestry from Tenom was a full-time housewife.

Education

He received his early education at St Anthony's Primary School, Tenom from 1977 to 1982 before continuing his secondary education in St Anthony's Secondary School, Tenom from 1 to 5 (1983–1989). Then he continued schooling in sixth form at SMK Gunsanad, Keningau (1989–1991). He then continued his studies at the University of Malaya in the field of Geography in 1993. After that, he continued his studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) until he graduated with a master's degree in environmental management in 1995 and then continued his studies at the PhD level in the field of Urban Geography in 2009.

Academic and early political career

After successfully completing his studies at UKM in 1995, he became a lecturer at

(UMS) since November 1996. He was appointed as chairman of the Malaysian Cocoa Board on 1 July 2020 and served in this position until September 2021.

Involvement in politics

After the

leadership election, he was elected as a member of the PAS Central Working Committee representing Sabah as well as East Malaysia.

Awards and honours

*: **

MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - ASDK-ADK-BSK-BK

Companion of the

Order of Kinabalu The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu (Malay: ''Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Kinabalu'') is the only order conferred by the Governor of Sabah, Malaysia. Background The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu is established by virtue of Section 3(a) of State Honou ...

(ASDK) (2022) ** MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - PGDK

Commander of the

(PGDK) – Datuk (2024)

References

{{Reflist Members of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly People from Keningau District 1971 births Living people Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu Kadazan-Dusun people Malaysian people of Pakistani descent Murut people