Awang Hashim

Datuk Haji Awang bin Hashim is a Malaysian politician serving as the Member of Parliament for Pendang in Kedah since the 2018 general election, affiliated with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.^[1][2] He holds a degree in management science and finance from Universiti Sains Malaysia and previously worked as a financial and banking executive.^[2] Elected with a 100% win rate in contested general elections, including a 65% margin in 2022, Hashim has demonstrated strong parliamentary attendance, participating in 145 of 162 sessions.^[2] During the PN administration from 2020 to 2021, he served as Deputy Minister of Human Resources, focusing on labor and employment policies.^[2] His political career emphasizes advocacy for Malay and Islamic interests, aligned with PAS's platform.^[2] Hashim has gained attention for confrontational rhetoric in parliament, including a 2025 reference to the 1969 May 13 racial riots as a cautionary "friendly reminder" against perceived threats to Malay rights—a historical event incorporated into Form Five curriculum—which drew criticism but was defended by him as factual discourse.^[3] In the same year, he was suspended for 10 days from the Dewan Rakyat after challenging government MPs to a physical confrontation amid heated debates, reflecting his unyielding style in defending opposition positions.^[4][5]

Early life and background

Birth and family origins

Awang Solahuddin bin Hashim was born in 1964 in Kedah, Malaysia, a northern state with a predominantly Malay-Muslim population and longstanding ties to Islamist political movements.^[6][2] His patronymic "bin Hashim" follows traditional Malay naming conventions, denoting descent from his father, Hashim, though specific details on parental occupations or familial community involvement remain undocumented in accessible public records. Kedah's rural heartland, including areas like Pendang, provided the cultural milieu for his early life, emphasizing Islamic education and ethnic Malay customs amid regional agricultural and religious influences.^[1]

Education and early career

Awang Hashim completed his secondary education at SMK Pendang in Kedah.^[2] He subsequently obtained a degree in Management Science, specializing in Finance, from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).^[2] Before his involvement in politics, Awang held positions as a financial officer and banking executive officer, focusing on financial management and banking operations.^[2] These professional roles were based in Malaysia, contributing to his pre-political experience in economic and administrative functions within the region.^[2]

Political career

Entry into politics and party affiliation

Awang Hashim affiliated with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), an Islamist political party established to promote sharia-influenced governance and safeguard Malay-Muslim socioeconomic privileges amid Malaysia's pluralistic framework.^[7] His entry into formal politics occurred through active participation in PAS's organizational structure in Kedah state, a northern Malaysian region with longstanding Islamist leanings, where he engaged in grassroots mobilization prior to the 2018 general election. This involvement reflected PAS's core commitment to countering federal policies perceived as undermining Islamic orthodoxy and ethnic Malay primacy, including resistance to liberalization trends under preceding coalitions.^[8] Regional dynamics in Kedah, characterized by rural Malay-majority demographics and historical grievances over economic marginalization and cultural dilution by urban-centric federal administrations, propelled Hashim's alignment with PAS as a vehicle for localized advocacy. PAS's youth and local divisions in areas like Pendang served as incubators for such figures, fostering networks dedicated to enforcing hudud laws and prioritizing Bumiputera economic protections over multicultural concessions.^[9] By aligning with PAS, Hashim positioned himself within a framework emphasizing causal linkages between governance failures and the erosion of faith-based societal norms, prioritizing empirical adherence to Islamic jurisprudence over secular pluralism.^[10]

Parliamentary tenure for Pendang

Awang Hashim was elected as the Member of Parliament for Pendang, a rural constituency in Kedah, in the May 2018 general election, securing the seat for the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) under the opposition banner. He continued his tenure following re-election in the November 2022 general election, where PAS maintained strong support in northern Malaysia's rural heartlands, including Kedah districts reliant on agriculture and small-scale enterprises.^[11] During his parliamentary service, Hashim has contributed to legislative oversight through membership in the Parliamentary Caucus on Finance and Economy (JKPK Kewangan dan Ekonomi), focusing on economic policies relevant to rural constituencies.^[12] He has also participated in the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG), where efforts included prioritizing SDG implementation at the local level, such as forming development committees to assess and address Pendang's specific needs like economic diversification and community resilience.^[13] In his constituency role, Hashim has emphasized transforming Pendang into an entrepreneurial district by urging government agencies to innovate in service delivery and project execution, aiming to tackle rural challenges including poverty reduction and sustainable local growth. These initiatives involved stakeholder prioritization sessions, such as one held on 26 August, to align national SDGs with grassroots priorities in agriculture-dependent areas.^[14] His opposition position has enabled scrutiny of federal policies impacting Kedah's rural economy, though measurable outcomes like project completions remain tied to ongoing SDG localization efforts rather than standalone parliamentary bills.^[14]

Role as Deputy Minister of Human Resources

Awang Hashim was appointed as Deputy Minister of Human Resources on 9 March 2020 in the cabinet formed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin following the 2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis, serving under Minister M. Saravanan.^[15][16] His tenure focused on labor market reforms amid economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to enhance workforce skills and protect local employment opportunities. He highlighted challenges such as Malaysian graduates' selectivity in job locations and deficiencies in soft skills as barriers to employment, advocating for better alignment between education and market needs to reduce youth unemployment, which stood at approximately 13.5% in early 2020.^[17][18] Key initiatives under his oversight included reviewing minimum wage implementation methods to balance employer and worker interests, with proposals tabled for stakeholder consultation in 2022.^[19] The ministry also advanced plans to regulate the gig economy through new legislation, addressing protections for platform workers amid growing participation estimated at over 300,000 by 2021.^[20] To prioritize Malaysian hires, policies restricted foreign worker recruitment to essential sectors like plantations, construction, and services, aiming to shift other industries toward local labor and reduce dependency on migrants, which comprised about 15% of the workforce pre-pandemic.^[21] Additionally, the ministry committed to eradicating forced labor by 2030 in alignment with international standards, involving inspections and compliance drives that inspected over 5,000 workplaces annually during this period.^[22] Hashim's role continued under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from August 2021 until 24 November 2022, when the Perikatan Nasional-Baru Nasional coalition lost power following the general election and subsequent formation of Anwar Ibrahim's unity government.^[23] This transition ended his ministerial position amid broader political realignments, with employment recovery metrics showing a drop in national unemployment to 3.8% by mid-2022, partly attributed to post-pandemic stimulus and sector-specific hiring drives.^[23]

Political positions and ideology

Advocacy for Malay language and cultural preservation

Datuk Awang Hashim has positioned the mandatory use of Bahasa Malaysia as essential for demonstrating national loyalty and preserving Malay cultural identity amid perceived threats from linguistic pluralism. In a November 17, 2021, statement, he asserted that "Bahasa Malaysia is the national language and should be known by all patriotic Malaysians," linking proficiency and consistent usage to true allegiance to the country.^[24] This view frames the language not merely as a communication tool but as a constitutional imperative under Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, which designates Bahasa Melayu as the sole national language, rooted in post-independence efforts to consolidate unity following the 1957 Merdeka agreement.^[25] Awang Hashim's advocacy emphasizes enforcement in official and professional domains to counter the encroachment of English, which he implicitly critiques as undermining national cohesion. On the same date, he urged employers across all sectors to conduct job interviews exclusively in Bahasa Malaysia, arguing that deviation erodes the language's status and, by extension, the cultural fabric tied to Malay heritage as the foundational identity of the federation.^[26] He has demonstrated this stance in practice, such as during a November 2021 parliamentary press interaction where he rebuked a journalist for questioning in English, demanding Bahasa Malaysia and questioning her Malaysian credentials, thereby highlighting language as a litmus test for cultural fidelity.^[27] By advocating Bahasa Malaysia as a unifying force, Awang Hashim argues against multicultural dilutions that prioritize vernacular or international languages, positing that widespread adoption reinforces historical precedents like the 1963/1967 National Language Act, which aimed to standardize Malay for administrative and educational primacy to foster a singular national ethos over ethnic fragmentation.^[25] This position aligns with empirical concerns over language policy efficacy, including reports of fluctuating proficiency levels among youth—such as a 2019 Education Ministry survey indicating only 70% of secondary students achieving adequate Bahasa Malaysia competency—underscoring the need for stricter preservation measures to avert cultural erosion.^[24]

Defense of Bumiputera rights and economic policies

Awang Hashim has consistently advocated for policies prioritizing Bumiputera economic empowerment, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address ongoing socioeconomic disparities. In August 2025, during parliamentary debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), tabled earlier that month, he criticized the plan for omitting specific development blueprints for the Bumiputera community while allocating resources for Chinese new villages, arguing that such imbalances risk exacerbating wealth gaps where Bumiputera average incomes remain lower than those of Chinese and Indian households.^[28][29][30] He highlighted intra-Bumiputera inequality as particularly stark, with the rich-poor divide within the community wider than inter-ethnic gaps, underscoring the rationale for continued affirmative action despite criticisms labeling it outdated.^[31] Drawing on historical precedents, Hashim's positions align with the New Economic Policy (NEP) of 1971, which successfully reduced national poverty from 49% to under 6% by 2019 and raised Bumiputera corporate equity participation from 2.4% in 1970 to approximately 23% by the 1990s, though it fell short of the 30% target due to implementation flaws like uneven distribution and reliance on politically connected entities.^[32][33] He has argued against diluting such frameworks under subsequent policies, pointing to persistent data where Bumiputera households constitute the majority yet hold lower shares of national wealth, necessitating renewed focus on equitable restructuring to prevent economic marginalization.^[34][35] In defending Bumiputera land rights, Hashim has opposed perceived encroachments on Malay reserve land, as evidenced by his 2023 parliamentary intervention accusing a minister of misrepresenting protections under the National Land Code, which reserves such lands exclusively for Malay ownership to safeguard agrarian interests amid urbanization pressures.^[36] This stance reflects broader calls for federal budgeting to counter urban biases that disadvantage rural Bumiputera communities, where poverty rates remain elevated compared to urban non-Bumiputera areas, advocating instead for subsidies and allocations calibrated to indigenous economic vulnerabilities rather than blanket measures.^[37][38]

Islamist governance and opposition to secular trends

Awang Hashim has advocated for expanded Sharia jurisdiction as a means to enforce stricter moral governance, consistent with PAS's platform under President Abdul Hadi Awang. In parliamentary proceedings on 25 May 2023, he directly questioned the government on its commitment to tabling RUU355, the proposed amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, which seeks to elevate Sharia courts' maximum penalties to 30 years' imprisonment, fines of RM100,000, and 100 strokes of the cane, thereby enabling implementation of hudud and qisas elements previously constrained by federal limits.^[39][40] This position underscores his endorsement of PAS's state-level models in Terengganu and Kelantan, where the party has pursued Sharia criminal codes emphasizing anti-vice measures, such as prohibitions on alcohol, khalwat (close proximity between unmarried couples), and other moral offenses, as alternatives to perceived federal leniency. In Terengganu, PAS enacted the Syariah Criminal Offences (Hudud and Qisas) Bill in 2002 following its 1999 electoral victory, attempting to operationalize Islamic penal laws despite federal constitutional hurdles.^[41] Hashim's alignment with Hadi Awang's central committee directives reinforces PAS's prioritization of these frameworks to address social issues like rising illicit activities, which party rhetoric links to secular influences undermining family and community structures. Hashim's interventions critique the dominance of secular federal policies, positioning Islamist governance as a bulwark against cultural erosion, though PAS's efforts have faced judicial blocks, as seen in the Federal Court's 2017 invalidation of aspects of Kelantan's hudud enactment on jurisdictional grounds.^[42] His support for special committees to harmonize and strengthen Syariah laws further illustrates this opposition, advocating for unified Islamic legal reforms over fragmented secular oversight.^[43]

Controversies and public incidents

Parliamentary suspensions and disciplinary actions

Datuk Awang Solahuddin Hashim, the Member of Parliament for Pendang, has faced multiple suspensions from the Dewan Rakyat, often in the context of heated exchanges during debates on government policies favoring opposition critiques of the Anwar Ibrahim administration.^[28][44] These actions, enforced under Standing Orders such as 44(2), followed interjections and remarks challenging ruling coalition members, prompting accusations from Awang of selective enforcement against Perikatan Nasional lawmakers.^[45][46] In November 2023, Awang publicly accused Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul of bias after a ruling on procedural matters, claiming differential treatment compared to Pakatan Harapan MPs like Mohd Sany Hamzan of Hulu Langat. Johari denied the allegations, asserting that his decisions adhered strictly to parliamentary procedures without favoritism toward any side.^[46][47] This incident highlighted tensions over perceived inconsistencies in disciplinary applications amid Awang's frequent challenges to government positions on issues like Bumiputera interests.^[48] On July 15, 2024, Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr. Ramli Mohd Nor suspended Awang for three days after he refused to retract a remark labeling Jelutong MP RSN Rayer as "anti-Islam" during an interjection in a policy debate. The comment arose amid Awang's opposition to perceived secular influences in governance, leading to Rayer's demand for withdrawal and subsequent ejection under standing orders for unparliamentary language.^[49][50][51] Awang received another 10-day suspension on August 18, 2025, ordered by Speaker Johari for conduct deemed disruptive, including challenging MPs to a physical confrontation outside the chamber following exchanges of insults during discussions on national plans. Johari cited direct observation of the behavior as unbecoming of parliamentary standards, though Awang later denied intent to provoke violence, framing it as rhetorical emphasis in defense of Malay-Muslim priorities against government proposals.^[52][45][53] This pattern of penalties, concentrated on opposition figures vocal against Anwar's policies, has fueled claims of institutional tilt toward the ruling coalition, with Awang demanding evidence-based justifications for rulings.^[4][54]

Statements on historical events like May 13

During a Dewan Rakyat debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) on August 4, 2025, Awang Hashim interjected to criticize the plan's emphasis on initiatives like New Villages for non-Bumiputera communities without equivalent targeted development for Bumiputera economic advancement, warning that such perceived imbalances could precipitate unrest akin to the May 13, 1969 racial riots, which stemmed from post-election ethnic tensions exacerbated by longstanding socioeconomic disparities between Malays and Chinese.^[28][55][56] The remark triggered immediate uproar, with government backbenchers accusing him of inflammatory rhetoric and demanding retraction, while Awang maintained it highlighted a factual risk of policy-induced discord rooted in historical precedents of marginalization.^[29][57] Awang subsequently defended the reference on August 13, 2025, framing it as a "friendly reminder" rather than provocation, emphasizing that discussing the 1969 events serves an educational purpose to prevent recurrence, as the riots are already covered in the Form Five history syllabus to analyze causal factors like ethnic economic inequities and foster national stability.^[3] He argued that suppressing such discourse ignores lessons from the past, where unaddressed grievances led to violence, and positioned his intervention as aligned with responsible governance rather than incitement.^[3] The statement drew sharp rebukes from critics, who viewed it as exploiting tragedy for political leverage; Senator Dr. R.A. Lingeshwaran, for instance, labeled it a betrayal of riot victims and questioned why Perikatan Nasional's (PN) non-Malay component parties, such as those representing Indian and Chinese interests, remained silent, implying tacit endorsement of race-based threats.^[58][59] This led to further actions, including a motion by Jelutong MP RSN Rayer to refer Awang to Parliament's Rights and Privileges Committee for potential breach of decorum. PN allies offered limited public defense, focusing instead on the substantive critique of the 13MP's allocation disparities, while avoiding direct endorsement of the May 13 analogy.^[58]

Criticisms of government officials and policies

In February 2023, Awang Hashim criticized Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for filing defamation lawsuits against political critics, suggesting that Anwar would be remembered as the "father of lawsuits" (bapa saman negara) for weaponizing legal actions rather than addressing substantive allegations through institutional probes like those by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).^[60][61] This remark followed Anwar's demands for retractions and apologies from Awang over prior statements comparing Anwar unfavorably to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in terms of vindictiveness toward opposition figures.^[62] In November 2024, Awang alleged during Dewan Rakyat proceedings that the MACC had uncovered RM94 million in cash at the residence of a former minister—implied to be from the Democratic Action Party (DAP)—as evidence of unchecked corruption under the ruling coalition, urging accountability through MACC investigations instead of personal legal reprisals.^[63][64] The MACC immediately denied any such discovery or related statement, prompting Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to demand Awang substantiate the claim with evidence or apologize to the House, a directive Awang resisted amid motions to refer him to the Rights and Privileges Committee for potential breach of parliamentary decorum.^[65][66] Awang has advocated prioritizing anti-corruption probes over defamation suits in holding officials accountable, framing such lawsuits as distractions from governance failures. In July 2025, he joined the "Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence" organized by the Malaysian Bar in Putrajaya, protesting prolonged vacancies in senior judicial positions—over 30 at the time—and alleged politicization of appointments by the executive, including delays in confirming recommendations from the Judicial Appointments Commission.^[67][68] The demonstration, attended by over 400 lawyers and opposition figures, demanded transparency and an end to perceived interference, echoing Awang's broader calls for institutional integrity over partisan control.^[69]

Electoral history

General Election 2018

Awang Hashim contested the Pendang parliamentary constituency (P.016) as the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) candidate under the Gagasan Sejahtera coalition in the 14th Malaysian general election on 9 May 2018. He secured the seat with 26,536 votes, equivalent to 42.63% of valid votes cast, defeating Barisan Nasional's Othman Abdul, who received 20,728 votes, by a majority of 5,808 votes.^[70][71] The win represented a breakthrough for Awang Hashim and PAS in Pendang, a rural Malay-majority seat in Kedah, where the party's grassroots mobilization proved effective in turning out voters despite national anti-incumbent sentiment against Barisan Nasional driven by the 1MDB scandal. PAS's emphasis on Islamist governance resonated in the northern region's conservative heartlands, enabling the party to claim three federal seats in Kedah amid Pakatan Harapan's statewide gains. This outcome bolstered PAS's position as a key opposition force, retaining parliamentary influence outside the new federal government.^[70]

General Election 2022

In the 15th Malaysian general election on 19 November 2022, Awang Hashim, contesting for Perikatan Nasional (PN) under the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) banner, retained the Pendang parliamentary seat with 49,008 votes, achieving a 64.83% vote share out of 75,594 valid votes cast.^[72] His nearest rival, Barisan Nasional's (BN) Suraya Yaacob, received 17,719 votes (23.44%), yielding a majority of 31,289 votes for Awang over the BN challenger, while Pakatan Harapan's (PH) Zulkifly Mohamad placed third.^[72] This result reflected sustained voter preference in the rural Kedah constituency for PN's platform, despite national dynamics leading to a hung parliament where PN secured 74 seats but failed to form the federal government, prompting PH to establish a unity administration with BN and regional parties.^[73] Campaign efforts emphasized continuity in parliamentary oversight of federal policies, addressing local economic pressures such as fluctuating rubber prices—where small margins like 70 sen per kilogram could sway rural voters reliant on smallholder farming—and recurring flooding risks in Pendang's low-lying areas.^[71] Awang positioned himself as a steadfast local advocate, leveraging his prior tenure to promise enhanced scrutiny of resource allocation for infrastructure and agriculture amid broader PN pledges for Malay-Bumiputera economic safeguards, which resonated in a seat historically dominated by Islamist-conservative sentiments.^[71] The outcome underscored localized loyalty overriding PN's federal setback, with turnout at approximately 80% of registered voters in Pendang, higher than the national average of 74.2%.^[72]

Honours and recognition

Malaysian federal honours

Awang Hashim was conferred the Darjah Kebesaran Pangkat Ketiga Panglima Mahkota Wilayah (PMW) by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Federal Territory Day, 1 February 2021.^[74] This federal territory honour, awarded to nine deputy ministers including Hashim, carries the title of Datuk and recognizes public service contributions.^[74] The PMW is the third class of the Order of the Crown of the Federal Territory, instituted for meritorious service within Malaysia's federal territories.^[74]

State-level awards

In 2021, Awang Hashim received the Knight Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (Darjah Mahkota Wilayah, abbreviated PMW), an honour conferred by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for distinguished service in advancing the welfare and development of Malaysia's Federal Territories. This award, which entitles the recipient to the appellation "Dato'", underscores recognition of grassroots-level contributions, including community and constituency engagement, though primarily associated with Federal Territories administration rather than specific state rulers like Kedah's Sultan. No honours directly from the Kedah state honours system, such as the Darjah Kebesaran Kedah, have been documented for Awang Hashim as of 2025.