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).

Fadillah Yusof
فضيلة يوسف
Fadillah in 2021
14th Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
Assumed office
3 December 2022
Serving with Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
MonarchsAbdullah
Ibrahim Iskandar
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
Preceded byIsmail Sabri Yaakob[a]
Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation
Assumed office
7 February 2024
MonarchIbrahim Iskandar
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
DeputyAkmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir
Preceded byHimself
(Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utilities)
ConstituencyPetra Jaya
Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utilities
In office
12 December 2023 – 7 February 2024
MonarchsAbdullah
(2022–2024)
Ibrahim Iskandar
(2024)
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
DeputyAkmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir
Preceded byNik Nazmi
(Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability)
Succeeded byHimself
(Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation)
ConstituencyPetra Jaya
Minister of Plantation and Commodities
In office
3 December 2022 – 12 December 2023
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
DeputySiti Aminah Aching
Preceded byZuraida Kamaruddin
Succeeded byJohari Abdul Ghani
Senior Minister of Works
In office
30 August 2021 – 24 November 2022
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterIsmail Sabri Yaakob
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Senior Minister of Infrastructure Development
In office
10 March 2020 – 16 August 2021
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterMuhyiddin Yassin
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byHimself
Minister of Works
In office
30 August 2021 – 24 November 2022
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterIsmail Sabri Yaakob
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byAlexander Nanta Linggi
In office
10 March 2020 – 16 August 2021
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterMuhyiddin Yassin
Preceded byBaru Bian
Succeeded byHimself
In office
16 May 2013 – 10 May 2018
MonarchsAbdul Halim
(2013–2016)
Muhammad V
(2016–2018)
Prime MinisterNajib Razak
Preceded byShaziman Abu Mansor
Succeeded byBaru Bian
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
In office
19 March 2008 – 15 May 2013
MonarchsMizan Zainal Abidin
(2008–2011)
Abdul Halim
(2011–2013)
Prime MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi
(2008–2009)
Najib Razak
(2009–2013)
Preceded byKong Cho Ha
Succeeded byAbu Bakar Mohamad Diah
Senior Vice President of the
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu
Assumed office
2017
PresidentAbang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg
Youth Chief of the
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu
In office
2007–2017
PresidentAbdul Taib Mahmud
(2007–2014)
Adenan Satem
(2014–2017)
Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg
(2017)
Succeeded byGerald Rentap Jabu
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Petra Jaya
Assumed office
21 March 2004
Preceded bySulaiman Daud
(BNPBB)
Majority12,816 (2004)
14,397 (2008)
21,443 (2013)
15,017 (2018)
41,363 (2022)
Personal details
Born
Fadillah bin Yusof

(1962-04-17) 17 April 1962 (age 62)
Sibu, Crown Colony of Sarawak (now Malaysia)
Political partyParti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB)
(since 1989)
Other political
affiliations
Barisan Nasional (BN)
(1989–2018)
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)
(since 2018)
SpouseRuziah Mohd Tahir
Children5
Alma materUniversity of Malaya (LLB)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer
Fadillah Yusof on Parliament of Malaysia

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.

Early life and education

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Fadillah was born on 17 April 1962 at Kampung Hilir in Sibu to Yusof Merais (1927–2018) and Dayang Rosnah Abang Madeli (1932–2023). He is the ninth child of 14 siblings. Fadillah's father, Yusof Merais, was a community activist during the era of the anti-cession of Sarawak to the British colonials in 1946. He was imprisoned twice, including when he was implicated in the assassination of British Governor Duncan Stewart in Sibu in 1949. He was a friend of Rosli Dhobi, who assassinated Stewart. Yusof had participated in the Malay Youth Movement, which opposed the handover of Sarawak to the British, and he was also involved in the Black Crow group that opposed the colonial presence and demanded Sarawakian independence. After the movement was banned following the assassination of Stewart, he continued the struggle with the Sarawakian Youth Front, led by Ahmad Zaidi Adruce. The second time he was imprisoned was during the confrontation over the formation of Malaysia in 1962. Yusof died at the age of 91 in 2018.

Fadillah attended St. Mary's Primary School in Sibu and Panglima Bukit Gantang Secondary School in Parit Buntar for his secondary education. In 1986, he pursued a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in Civil and Sharia at University of Malaya.

Early career

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Fadillah became a lawyer after obtaining a LLB. In 1989, he joined politics as a member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which at that time was a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Political career

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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

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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

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Fadillah is married to Ruziah Mohd Tahir. The couple has five children.

Election results

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Parliament of Malaysia[7]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2004 P194 Petra Jaya Fadillah Yusof (PBB) 18,236 77.09% Wan Zainal Abidin Wan Senusi (PKR) 5,420 22.91% 24,195 12,816 61.46%
2008 Fadillah Yusof (PBB) 19,515 79.22% Mohamad Jolhi (PKR) 5,118 20.78% 25,027 14,397 61.74%
2013 Fadillah Yusof (PBB) 29,559 78.46% Ahmad Nazib Johari (PKR) 8,116 21.54% 38,170 21,443 76.70%
2018 Fadillah Yusof (PBB) 28,306 65.91% Nor Irwan Ahmat Nor (PKR) 13,289 30.94% 43,513 15,017 75.12%
Hamdan Sani (PAS) 1,350 3.14%
2022 Fadillah Yusof (PBB) 54,745 79.15% Sopian Julaihi (PKR) 13,382 19.35% 69,163 41,363 62.98%
Othman Abdillah (SEDAR) 1,036 1.50%

Honours

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Honours of Malaysia

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Notes

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  1. ^ Office vacant between August 2021 and December 2022.

References

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  1. ^ "Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Y.B. Tuan Haji" (in Malay). Parliament of Malaysia. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  2. ^ "Deputy Minister: YB Tuan Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof". Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Four new select committees formed, one headed by opposition". Malaysiakini. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  4. ^ Abdullah, Maria Chin (4 December 2019). "Maria Chin Abdullah". facebook.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Works Minister Fadillah Yusof tests positive for Covid-19, undergoing home quarantine".
  6. ^ "Plight of 13-year-old draws Fadillah into politics". Utusan. 18 March 2004. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  8. ^ "PBB Had Hoped For More Ministers in Federal Cabinet, Says Abang Johari". Bernama. 31 March 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  9. ^ "Yusof's promotion to Works Minister is icing on the cake". ABN News. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Hishammuddin dahului 781 penerima darjah kebesaran Negeri Melaka" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  11. ^ a b "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  12. ^ Mohd Roji Kawi (8 October 2022). "PM dahului senarai penerima darjah kebesaran Sarawak". Harian Metro (in Malay). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Award comes with greater responsibility – Fadillah". The Borneo Post. 17 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
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Parliament of Malaysia
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Petra Jaya

2004–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
2008–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Works
2013–2018
Succeeded by