Wan Saifulruddin bin Wan Jan (Jawi: وان سيفولرودّين بن وان جان; born 20 June 1975), better known as Wan Saiful Wan Jan, is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tasek Gelugor since November 2022. He served as Chairman of the Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) from June 2018[1] to June 2022[2] and Special Advisor to the Minister of Education Maszlee Malik from May to November 2018. He is a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) and formerly Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions and was a member of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom and the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a component party of formerly the Gagasan Rakyat (GS) coalition. He joined BERSATU in February 2018. He also served as the Deputy Chairman of the Strategy and Policy Bureau of BERSATU from March 2018 to August 2020 and the 3rd Information Chief of BERSATU from August 2020 to his resignation in February 2023.
Wan Saiful Wan Jan | |
|---|---|
| وان سيف الوان جان | |
 | |
| Chairman of the Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional | |
| In office 18 June 2018 – 17 June 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Shamsul Anuar Nasarah |
| Succeeded by | Apli Yusoff |
| 3rd Information Chief of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party | |
| In office 8 September 2020 – 22 February 2023 | |
| President | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Preceded by | Radzi Jidin |
| Succeeded by | Razali Idris |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Tasek Gelugor | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Shabudin Yahaya (BN–UMNO) |
| Majority | 12,252 (2022) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wan Saifulruddin bin Wan Jan 20 June 1975 Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia |
| Political party | Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) (1992) Conservative Party of the United Kingdom (2005–2007) Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) (since 2018) |
| Other political affiliations | Pakatan Harapan (PH) (2018–2020) Perikatan Nasional (PN) (since 2020) |
| Spouse | Alena Omar (died 2024) |
| Occupation | Politician |
Corporate career
editBefore joining politics, Wan Saiful was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) co-founded by YAM Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, the son of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir.[3]
Political career
editMalaysia
editWan Saiful ran for election in the 2018 Malaysian general election, contesting the Pendang[4] parliamentary seat for the Pakatan Harapan coalition (appearing on the ballot under the People's Justice Party symbol). Wan Saiful's opponents were Awang Hashim of the Idea of Peace (PAS), Othman Abdul of the Barisan Nasional (UMNO) and Abdul Malik. Manaf, an Independent candidate. In the four-cornered contest, Wan Saiful only got 14,901 votes, the third highest after Awang Hashim and Othman Abdul. Wan Saiful then won the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary seat in the 2022 Malaysian general election, winning 46% of the vote in a five-cornered fight.
United Kingdom
editPrior with being active in Malaysian politics, Wan Saiful had a short political stint during his time living in the UK from 1993 to 2009. He was a former member of the UK Conservative Party back in 2005 and participated in the election of the Luton City Council member as a candidate of the Conservative Party in 2007.[5] Wan Saiful and Howard Lee are the only two notable Malaysian politicians who had contested in the UK local elections, with Howard Lee contesting in Norwich. Both are currently members of parliament in the Dewan Rakyat, with Howard Lee representing the Ipoh Timor constituency.
Controversies
editOn 21 February 2023, Wan Saiful was charged with corruption related to the Jana Wibawa programme.[6] The next day, he resigned as the BERSATU Information Chief and it was accepted by BERSATU President Muhyiddin Yassin. He appealed to the public not to link him with the "court cluster" (referring to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and others who were facing court charges) in the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
On 28 February 2024, Wan Saiful, as the Tasek Gelugor MP, alleged that he was offered RM 1.7 million to declare support for Prime Minister Anwar and his government during a debate and speech in Parliament. Government backbenchers Kampar MP Chong Zhemin, Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee Chuan How, Sungai Petani MP Mohammed Taufiq Johari, Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan among others challenged Wan Saiful to lodge reports to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if he was brave enough to do so. He also alleged that the person who was corrupt and abused his power would have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before the Cabinet meeting every week. It was believed that he was referring to Prime Minister Anwar who was practising the convention of having a weekly audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong prior to the Cabinet meeting without naming him. Wan Saiful then retracted his remarks after being ordered by Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Johari Abdul and requested by the government backbenchers to do so. On 29 January 2024, Chief Commissioner of MACC Azam Baki rubbished the allegations. On 4 March 2024, he further warned Wan Saiful to report the bribe attempts to the MACC by 10 March 2024 or appropriate actions would be taken against him.[7] On 5 March 2024, Wan Saiful admitted that he was referring to Prime Minister Anwar, made an apology to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim and Anwar for making the allegations during his debate in Parliament and once again retracted his remarks. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid then withdrew a parliamentary motion to suspend Wan Saiful as an MP for six months following his allegations and remarks. On 9 March 2024, Leader of the Opposition and Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin added that the MACC had no rights to dictate anyone on the timing to lodge a report in response to the warning of Azam and defence of Wan Saiful.[8]
Election results
edit| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | P011 Pendang | Wan Saiful Wan Jan (BERSATU) | 14,901 | 23.94% | Awang Hashim (PAS) | 26,536 | 42.63% | 63,371 | 5,808 | 84.64% | ||
| Othman Abdul (UMNO) | 20,728 | 33.30% | ||||||||||
| Abdul Malik Manaf (IND) | 81 | 0.13% | ||||||||||
| 2022 | P042 Tasek Gelugor | Wan Saiful Wan Jan (BERSATU) | 31,116 | 46.36% | Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (UMNO) | 18,864 | 28.11% | 67,112 | 12,252 | 82.99% | ||
| Razak Ridzuan (AMANAH) | 16,547 | 24.66% | ||||||||||
| Abdul Halim Sirjung (PEJUANG) | 406 | 0.60% | ||||||||||
| Mohd Akmal Azhar (WARISAN) | 179 | 0.27% | ||||||||||
Honours
edit
Negeri Sembilan:
Companion of the Order of Loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz (DTM) (2015)[11]
Federal Territory (Malaysia):
Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (PMW) – Datuk (2021)[12][13]
References
edit- ^ "Wan Saiful is new PTPTN chairman".
- ^ "Wan Saiful: Last day as PTPTN head was in June". The Star. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ^ IDEAS management
- ^ GE 14 results for Kedah
- ^ "Wan Saiful Wan Jan". Boao Forum for Asia. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
- ^ "Wan Saiful and businessman to face graft charges related to Jana Wibawa scheme". The Star. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ "MACC chief urges Wan Saiful to report bribe attempt by March 10". The Star. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "MACC has no right to dictate when to lodge a report, says Hamzah". The Star. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE – 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 14 December 2020. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 14 December 2020. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ "812 terima darjah kebesaran, bintang, pingat Negeri Sembilan". www.bharian.com.my. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ Ibrahim, Mohd Iskandar; Sulaiman, Noor Atiqah (1 February 2021). "Seramai 335 terima darjah kebesaran sempena Hari Wilayah". Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ Hadir, Shawaliah (1 February 2021). "Tengku Zafrul antara 6 penerima Darjah Kebesaran Pangkat Pertama sempena Hari WP". MalaysiaGazette (in Malay). Retrieved 1 February 2021.