Candidate · P56 Larut (2022)
Public-record research, not a finding of wrongdoing. Ratings are analytical opinions. Disclaimer · Request a correction
Current
Overall due diligence
High
Enhanced due diligence required
The records show sustained senior office (former Home Minister, current opposition leader and party president) plus unresolved party-registration litigation and a biography/litigation history resting largely on single-source and encyclopaedic reporting, so enhanced due diligence is warranted.
Electoral resilience
High
Won Larut in four consecutive general elections (2008, 2013, 2018, 2022), with the 2008 margin the narrowest at 1,911 votes and 2022 the widest at 11,598.
Political continuity
High change
Records show a move from UMNO/BN to Bersatu/PN, a sacking from Bersatu in February 2026, a new party (Wawasan) and a reported split of the opposition bloc into two camps.
Integrity signal
Review
No charge or conviction appears in the records; matters to examine are a 2004 Syariah settlement order later overturned on appeal in 2007, a 2008 defamation suit filed against him with no recorded outcome, and his allegations about the Registrar of Societies' handling of PN.
Financial / corporate
Partial
Single-source records list early corporate and GLC-type roles (a state development subsidiary, FELCRA chairmanship, board seats), but no company-registry, asset-declaration, credit or bankruptcy checks are covered.
How much due-diligence attention each area needs — not a finding of wrongdoing.
Records show Home Minister 2020-2022, long-serving minister and MP, party president and parliamentary opposition leader.
Records document leadership of a party and an opposition bloc, claims of support from a majority of Bersatu MPs, and direct dealings with the Speaker and PN chairperson.
Records only show commentary on budget allocations and strategic institutions; no procurement decisions, contracts or tender awards are covered.
Single-source records put him in a state development subsidiary and FELCRA's chair, but no registry, shareholding or declaration checks are covered.
A 2004 Syariah settlement order (appeal allowed 2007), a 2008 defamation suit against him, and current judicial-review litigation over PN's registration.
No charge, conviction or regulatory finding against him appears in the records, and no court-registry or MACC checks are covered.
No asset declarations, income disclosures or financial statements are included in the records.
Records show repeated coverage of party sackings, a factional split, seat disputes and contested statements about the Registrar of Societies.
Reported that in 2004 he was ordered to pay his first wife RM11.2 million in a settlement, in a matter tied to allegations about the divorce; in 2007 the Syariah Appeals Court reportedly allowed his appeal not to pay.N12N11
Status: Appeal reportedly allowed in 2007; no further proceedings appear in the records.
Reported that in August 2008 Anwar Ibrahim sought RM10 million in damages over allegations Hamzah made during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign concerning a 1998 incident.N13
Status: Filing reported only; outcome not covered by the records.
Records show PN's registration was cancelled ahead of the Melaka state election; he said the party rejected the decision and would use legal channels, and that the High Court's suspension of the notice allowed the PN logo to be used.N36N37N34N35N33
Status: High Court suspension reportedly granted; he described the matter as giving the coalition new hope, so proceedings appear ongoing.
The records show a long-serving Malaysian office-holder: four consecutive Larut election wins, ministerial posts including Home Affairs in 2020-2022, and the parliamentary opposition leadership from December 2022, alongside a 2026 move from Bersatu to a new party, Wawasan. Documented legal matters are a Syariah settlement dispute resolved on appeal in his favour per the records, a defamation suit filed against him with no recorded outcome, and party-registration litigation. No criminal charge or regulatory finding appears, but nothing in the records covers company-registry, asset or court-registry checks, and much of the biographical detail is encyclopaedic or single-source. Heightened attention is warranted by the senior offices and the unresolved litigation, not by any finding of wrongdoing.
Public-record review · allegations ≠ findings · a charge is not a conviction · every point links to its source record (E official results, R reviewed records, N collected reports). Prepared by AI from the records on this page; not an analyst finding, and it can be wrong.
Specific pledges this politician made, and what credible reporting since says happened. The status is assessed by AI from the linked reports — each quoted passage is checked against its source. “Unclear” means no credible report of the outcome was found yet, not that the promise was broken.
No specific promises found in credible reporting yet.
According to Wikidata, Hamzah bin Zainudin was born on 1957-03-12 in Perak.
“date of birth: 1957-03-12; place of birth: Perak”
According to Wikipedia, Hamzah Zainudin was a student at Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman and received a Diploma in Quantity Surveying from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1975.
“He was a student at Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (STAR). He received his Diploma in Quantity Surveying from University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) in 1975.”
According to Wikipedia, Hamzah Zainudin was General Manager of Maju Bangun Sdn Bhd, a Perak State Development Corporation subsidiary, from 1980 to 1987, sat on the boards of Ipoh City Council and Stadium Merdeka Corporation, and chaired FELCRA Berhad.
“He served as the General Manager with Maju Bangun Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary company of the Perak State Development Corporation from 1980 till 1987. He has also served as a member of the board of Ipoh City Council and Stadium Merdeka Corporation from 1987 to 1993 and 1991 to 1997 respectively.”
According to Wikidata, Hamzah bin Zainudin held the position of member of the Dewan Rakyat for Larut (Barisan Nasional), from 2008.
“position held: member of the Dewan Rakyat; electoral district: Larut; parliamentary group: Barisan Nasional; start: 2008-01-01”
According to Wikipedia, Hamzah Zainudin served as Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism and as a deputy minister in several ministries under the Barisan Nasional administration from March 2008 until the coalition's defeat in May 2018, and was then appointed Home Minister in Muhyiddin Yassin's cabinet in 2020, a post he retained in the Ismail Sabri cabinet.
“He served as the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former prime ministers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak from March 2008 to the defeat of BN in the 2018 general election in May 2018.”
According to Wikidata, Hamzah bin Zainudin held the position of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2013–2015.
“position held: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; start: 2013-05-16; end: 2015-07-29”
According to Wikidata, Hamzah bin Zainudin held the position of Minister of Domestic Trade and Living Costs, 2015–2018.
“position held: Minister of Domestic Trade and Living Costs; start: 2015-07-29; end: 2018-05-09”
According to Wikidata, Hamzah bin Zainudin held the position of Minister of Home Affairs, 2020–2021.
“position held: Minister of Home Affairs; start: 2020-03-10; end: 2021-08-16”
According to Wikidata, Hamzah bin Zainudin held the position of Secretary-General of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party, 2020–2024.
“position held: Secretary-General of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party; start: 2020-03-18; end: 2024-11-28”
According to Wikidata, Hamzah bin Zainudin held the position of Minister of Home Affairs, 2021–2022.
“position held: Minister of Home Affairs; start: 2021-08-30; end: 2022-12-03”
According to Wikidata, Hamzah bin Zainudin held the position of member of the Dewan Rakyat for Larut (Perikatan Nasional), from 2022.
“position held: member of the Dewan Rakyat; electoral district: Larut; parliamentary group: Perikatan Nasional; start: 2022-11-19”
According to Wikipedia, Hamzah Zainudin was a member and the 3rd Deputy President of BERSATU and one of the Perikatan Nasional coalition's Deputy Chairmen until he was removed from BERSATU in February 2026, and in June 2026 he launched a new party, Parti Wawasan Negara.
“In June 2026, Hamzah launched a new political party, Parti Wawasan Negara, and was re-appointed as Leader of the Opposition.”
According to Wikidata, Hamzah bin Zainudin was a member of United Malays National Organisation.
“member of political party: United Malays National Organisation”
Arrests, charges, convictions, sentences, acquittals and pardons as reported by credible sources. Each item is marked with its stage — a charge is not a conviction — and outcomes are listed where reported.
According to Wikipedia, in 2004 Hamzah was ordered to pay his first wife Nooraini Rashid RM11.2 million in a settlement, in a matter tied to allegations that he divorced her to marry a much younger woman.
“In 2004, he was asked to pay his first wife Nooraini Rashid RM11.2 million in settlements for allegedly divorcing her to marry a much younger woman.”
According to Wikipedia, in 2007 the Syariah Appeals Court allowed Hamzah's appeal not to pay the settlement to his ex-wife.
“In 2007 however, the Syariah Appeals Court allowed for his appeal to not pay his ex-wife.”
According to Wikipedia, in August 2008 Anwar Ibrahim filed a defamation suit seeking RM10 million in damages against Hamzah Zainudin over allegations that Hamzah had harassed Anwar's wife in 1998, made during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign.
“In August 2008, former best friend and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, filed a defamation suit against him seeking RM10 million in damages over Hamzah’s allegations that Anwar had harassed his wife in 1998.”
Sinar Harian reported that Hamzah Zainudin said Parti Wawasan Negara rejects the cancellation of PN's registration and will defend the people's rights and mandate through legal channels, starting in court on 22 October.
“Justeru ujarnya, Wawasan menolak keputusan tersebut dan akan mempertahankan hak serta mandat rakyat melalui saluran undang-undang, bermula di mahkamah pada 22 Oktober ini.”
Sinar Harian reported that Hamzah Zainudin said the court's decision was consistent with the 1979 judgment of the late Sultan Azlan Shah in the Sri Lempah Enterprise case, which held that every power has legal limits.
“keputusan mahkamah itu juga bertepatan dengan penghakiman Almarhum Sultan Azlan Shah dalam kes Pengarah Tanah dan Galian, Wilayah Persekutuan dan Sri Lempah Enterprise Sdn Bhd [1979] yang menegaskan setiap kuasa mempunyai batasan undang-undang.”
Allegations and investigations as reported by credible outlets. An allegation is not a finding; read each with its stage and source.
Sinar Harian reported that Hamzah Zainudin alleged the RoS applied Section 18C of the Societies Act 1966 differently depending on the party involved, and chose the harshest penalty without explanation, which he said showed clear bad faith in the decision.
“Hamzah mendakwa, rangkaian tindakan RoS yang mentafsir undang-undang secara berbeza mengikut pihak terlibat, serta memilih hukuman paling berat tanpa penjelasan menggambarkan keputusan itu mengandungi unsur berniat jahat yang jelas.”
Utusan Malaysia reported that Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) asked in Parliament why the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development were able to issue openly conflicting positions.
“Beliau menjawab soalan Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) mengenai mengapa Kementerian Kewangan (MOF) dan Kementerian Kemajuan Desa dan Wilayah (KKDW) boleh mengeluarkan pendirian yang bercanggah secara terbuka.”
Bernama reported that in November of the previous year Hamzah Zainudin said Muhyiddin Yassin would give up the Bersatu presidency when he was ready, amid a reported rift between their camps in the party.
“In November last year, Hamzah was reported as saying that Muhyiddin would relinquish the party presidency when he was ready.”
Bernama reported that Hamzah Zainudin held the Bersatu deputy president post for the 2024-2027 term after winning it unopposed in the party elections in October of the previous year, and that he is the Member of Parliament for Larut.
“Hamzah had won the deputy president post unopposed for the 2024–2027 term after no challenger emerged during the party elections in October last year.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin was sacked from Bersatu in February, and that Abu Bakar Hamzah is said to be aligned with him.
“He is said to be aligned with Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin, who was sacked from Bersatu in February.”
The Vibes reported that Bersatu expelled several MPs including Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin, and that the expelled lawmakers have since joined or supported Wawasan Negara (WAWASAN), a party led by Hamzah and launched in June.
“The party previously expelled several MPs, including Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, Gerik MP Fathul Huzir Ayob, Padang Rengas MP Azahari Hasan and Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan. The expelled lawmakers have since joined or supported Wawasan Negara (WAWASAN), a party led by Hamzah and launched in June.”
Sinar Harian reported that the opposition party split into two groups, one supporting Muhyiddin Yassin and one supporting Hamzah Zainudin.
“Sebagai contoh parti mereka berpecah kepada dua kumpulan, satu menyokong Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan satu lagi menyokong Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that Hamzah has so far not openly put himself forward as a candidate for prime minister.
“Menariknya, Hamzah sendiri setakat ini tidak meletakkan dirinya secara terbuka sebagai calon.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that Hadi Awang announced in June 2026 that Hamzah would return as opposition leader after Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar held the post for a short period, following a majority of opposition MPs shifting their support back to Hamzah.
“Jun lalu, Hadi mengumumkan Hamzah akan kembali menjadi ketua pembangkang selepas Samsuri memegang jawatan itu untuk tempoh singkat. Keputusan berkenaan dibuat selepas sokongan majoriti Ahli Parlimen pembangkang beralih semula kepada Hamzah.”
Sinar Harian reported that Hamzah Zainudin said the High Court's suspension of the RoS notice cancelling Perikatan Nasional's registration gave the coalition new hope to face the country's democratic system healthily and fairly, and would allow the PN logo to be used in the Melaka state election.
“Keputusan ini akan memberi harapan baru khususnya kepada PN untuk menghadapi sistem demokrasi dalam negara secara sihat dan adil kerana kami percaya, kuasa bukanlah lesen untuk bertindak secara sesuka hati, manakala undang-undang juga bukan alat untuk menekan pihak yang berbeza pandangan.”
Sinar Harian reported that Hamzah Zainudin, as Parti Wawasan Negara president, said the cancellation of Perikatan Nasional's registration ahead of the Melaka state election showed the government was unwilling to face the opposition through fair democratic competition, and that it contradicted the Registrar of Societies' position in a letter dated 6 October 2026.
“Pembatalan pendaftaran Perikatan Nasional (PN) menjelang Pilihan Raya Negeri (PRN) Melaka memperlihatkan kerajaan tidak berani berdepan pembangkang melalui persaingan demokrasi yang adil.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin said the party fully rejects the Registrar of Societies' decision to cancel PN's registration and that it, with allied parties, will defend its rights through legal channels.
“Presiden Hamzah Zainudin berkata Wawasan menolak keputusan JPPM sepenuhnya, dan bersama ‘parti-parti politik sahabat PN’ akan mempertahankan hak melalui saluran undang-undang.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin said the party intends to defend the Sungai Udang and Bemban state seats in the Melaka election on the principle of incumbency, and that any seat negotiation must account for the interests of all parties.
“Wawasan wants to defend the Sungai Udang and Bemban state seats in the Melaka election, just as Umno intends to defend the 21 seats it previously held, says its president, Hamzah Zainudin.”
Sinar Harian reported that Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin said the Negeri Sembilan throne dispute should be resolved through valid legal channels based on the Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan 1959, and that the royal institution and rule of law must be prioritised for the welfare of the state's people.
“"Pembangkang menjunjung titah Majlis Raja-Raja agar kemelut melibatkan institusi takhta Negeri Sembilan diserahkan kepada pihak berautoriti untuk diselesaikan melalui saluran undang-undang yang sah, berlandaskan peruntukan serta tatacara yang termaktub dalam Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan 1959," katanya dalam kenyataan pada Khamis.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that Hamzah Zainudin has been opposition leader since December 2022, but stepped back temporarily between April and June after being sacked from Bersatu.
“Hamzah dilantik ketua pembangkang sejak Disember 2022, walaupun beliau berundur seketika antara April hingga Jun lalu selepas dipecat Bersatu.”
Malaysiakini reported that opposition leader and Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin told the Dewan Rakyat that handouts or "sweets" under Budget 2027 will not determine how voters choose leaders at the next general election, and that the public will instead judge the government on the daily cost of living.
“InsyaAllah, I am confident that if we ask the people directly, no matter how much aid or sweeteners are given, they know which leaders to choose in the future.”
Malaysiakini reported that, according to ally Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, Hamzah Zainudin intends to rejoin Perikatan Nasional through a new party other than Bersatu and is supported by 18 current, sacked and suspended MPs.
“As for what we will do next, as explained by Hamzah, he will rejoin PN through a new party. Whether it will be an existing party such as PAS, Gerakan, or MIPP - not Bersatu - is still uncertain.”
Malaysiakini reported that Hamzah Zainudin, the Larut MP and former Bersatu deputy president, was sacked from Bersatu on 14 February 2026, after which he launched a "Reset" movement and referred to a "new home" he intends to keep aligned with the federal opposition.
“Since his sacking from Bersatu on Feb 14, Hamzah has launched his “Reset” movement but consistently remained coy about his political plans, beyond referencing a “new home” that he intends to keep aligned with the federal opposition.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that Hamzah Zainudin mockingly challenged Bersatu to sack his supporters and questioned why the party found it difficult to continue purging his faction.
“Hamzah meanwhile mockingly challenged Bersatu to sack his supporters, asking why the party found it so difficult to continue purging those in his faction.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that Hamzah Zainudin claims 13 of Bersatu's 19 MPs support him.
“However, Hamzah claims that 13 of Bersatu’s 19 MPs support him.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that the Registrar of Societies deregistered Perikatan Nasional in October 2026 and that the High Court subsequently granted a stay pending judicial review, allowing Hamzah bin Zainudin's coalition to continue operating and use its logo.
“The Registrar of Societies deregistered PN earlier this week, although the High Court subsequently granted a stay pending judicial review, allowing the coalition to continue operating and use its logo.”
Utusan Malaysia reported that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul said the question of the Opposition Leader's position need not be raised again because it had already been decided, and that the Larut MP is the Opposition Leader.
““Saya sudah jelaskan, semua dokumentasi saya perhati, perhalusi dan Larut adalah Ketua Pembangkang,””
Malaysiakini reported that Perikatan Nasional chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar confirmed Hamzah Zainudin's resignation as parliamentary opposition leader, with a formal notification to be submitted to the Dewan Rakyat and a replacement expected by the next sitting.
“On Sunday, PN chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who is also a PAS vice-president, confirmed Hamzah’s resignation as the parliamentary opposition leader, and that the coalition’s secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan will submit a formal notification to the Dewan Rakyat.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that Hamzah bin Zainudin is the president of Wawasan.
“Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin is an outstanding political operator, said former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.”
Sinar Harian reported that Hamzah Zainudin criticised Budget 2027 as risking burdening strategic national institutions such as Petronas, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and KWAP through government decisions.
“Cabaran itu susulan kritikan Hamzah terhadap Belanjawan 2027, yang menurutnya berisiko membebankan institusi strategik negara seperti Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) dan Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP) dengan keputusan kerajaan.”
Malaysiakini reported that Hamzah Zainudin questioned the lack of high-impact mega development projects under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration and raised concern that the RM83 billion development allocation in Budget 2027 falls below the government's commitment to provide at least RM90 billion annually for development spending.
“I worry that the next government taking over will be squeezed and burdened with numerous problems because there is no clear direction offering future relief or stability”
Contested 4 elections, won 4.
| Election | Seat | Ticket | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE15 (2022) | P56 Larut | BERSATU · PN | 28,350 54.7% | Won by 11,598 |
| GE14 (2018) | P56 Larut | UMNO · BN | 18,184 45.9% | Won by 4,486 |
| GE13 (2013) | P56 Larut | UMNO · BN | 22,184 56.4% | Won by 5,296 |
| GE12 (2008) | P56 Larut | UMNO · BN | 15,878 53.2% | Won by 1,911 |
Official gazetted results via the Malaysian Election Corpus (grade A record).
Collected automatically from credible outlets and Wikipedia, then cross-checked: Verified items match the official record, Confirmed items were reported by two or more different outlets, and single-source items are one outlet’s report. Partisan and anonymous claims are never shown.