In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Mustafa is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Zaliha. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Zaliha binti Mustafa (Jawi: زاليحا بنت مصطفى; born 28 June 1964) is a Malaysian politician and physician who has served as the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Federal Territories since December 2023 in the MADANI Government administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. She is the first woman to hold this portfolio. She previously made history as Malaysia’s first female Minister of Health, serving from December 2022 to December 2023 before the cabinet reshuffle.

She has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekijang since November 2022. A member of the People’s Justice Party (PKR), a component of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, she has held various key positions within the party, including Chairperson of the PKR Election Committee (JPP), Member of the Central Leadership Council (MPP) (2018–2020), Principal of the Keadilan Academy (2009), Deputy Chief of PKR Women’s Wing (2007–2009), and PKR Johor State Chairperson (2005–2007).

Dr. Zaliha also previously served as Political Secretary to the Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development, Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, during the administration of the 7th Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. She is currently the only Cabinet Minister serving without a deputy.

Political career

Minister of Health (2022–2023)

On 2 December 2022, Zaliha was announced as the new Minister of Health by Prime Minister Anwar to serve in his cabinet. She created history by being the first woman appointed as the Minister of Health.[1] Her predecessor Khairy Jamaluddin openly congratulated her on her appointment to the position.[2] The following day on 3 December 2022, she officially took office after being sworn in.[3]

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) (since 2023)

In a cabinet reshuffle on 12 December 2023, Zaliha was retained as a cabinet minister but was moved from the Ministry of Health to the Prime Minister's Department. The Ministry of Federal Territories was initially converted into the Department of Federal Territories when Anwar Ibrahim became the Prime Minister and is placed under the Prime Minister's Department. The cabinet reshuffle saw the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) post abolished with the portfolios distributed among the Deputy Prime Ministers; the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) was placed under Ahmad Zahid Hamidi while the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs was placed under Fadillah Yusof. Thus, a vacant Minister in the Prime Minister's Department post was assigned the Federal Territories portfolio that was returned to the Cabinet.

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2008 P162 Gelang Patah Zaliha Mustafa (PKR) 24,779 42.42% Tan Ah Eng (MCA) 33,630 57.58% 58,407 8,851 77.19%
2022 P141 Sekijang Zaliha Mustafa (PKR) 18,941 39.27% Md Salleheen Mohamad (UMNO) 17,207 35.67% 48,237 1,734 75.39%
Uzzair Ismail (BERSATU) 11,612 24.07%
Mohd Zohar Ahmad (WARISAN) 339 0.70%
Mohd Saiful Faizal Abdul Halim (PEJUANG) 138 0.29%

Honours

References

  1. ^ "Dr. Zaliha jadi Menteri Kesihatan". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 2 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Khairy congratulates newly-appointed successor, hopes she will uphold excellent public health system". The Star. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Health Minister to oversee public health issues, healthcare services and facilities". The Star. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Hari Wilayah 2025: Dr Zaliha, Fahmi Antara 32 Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang Dan Pingat" (in Malay). Bernama. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaliha_Mustafa
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