Cover Photo: Instagram @fadillahyusof_
Photo: Instagram @fadillahyusof_
1 / 1
Get to know Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Malaysia’s first deputy prime minister from East Malaysia
It’s the dawn of a new era as Malaysia’s new unity government Cabinet officially commenced their duties today, nearly three weeks after the 15th general election (GE15). A unity government is formed when no single bloc gained a sufficient majority to form a government thus resulting in a hung parliament. In a unity government, the formation comprises different coalitions and parties, including those from opposing sides.
At the helm is Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister (also the finance minister), supported by 27 cabinet ministers—some familiar faces as well as newcomers—who have all been appointed their portfolios.
Read more: GE15: 5 Things That Will Make Malaysia’s 2022 Elections Different
Not only is the formation of a unity government the first in the history of Malaysia, but it also marks the first time an East Malaysian is appointed deputy prime minister, the second-highest political post, which is a nod to representation for the Borneo states in the federal government and inclusivity.
Here's everything you need to know about Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
All in the family
The ninth of 14 siblings (seven boys and seven girls), Fadillah was born on April 17, 1962, to Yusof Merais and Dayang Rosnah Abang Madeli, in Sarawak.
The late Yusof once participated in Pergerakan Pemuda Melayu (PPM) which opposed the handing over of Sarawak to the British. Hailed as a freedom fighter, he fought side by side with the late Rosli Dhoby, a nationalist, in resisting Sarawak's surrender to the British colonials in 1946.
See also: 5 Rapid-Fire Questions with Malaysian Activist Tharma Pillai
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 at the University of Malaya. After graduating, Fadillah entered politics as a means for the advancement of Malaysia and Sarawak.
An impressive political career
In his first foray into politics in 1989, he joined as a youth wing member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which at that time was a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. Fadillah first ran for parliament in the 11th Malaysian general election (GE11) in 2004 and won the Petra Jaya seat comfortably, securing 14,397 votes.
Upon being re-elected in the 12th Malaysian general election (GE12), he was appointed Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation.
Don't miss: Asia's Most Influential: Tatler Interviews Syed Saddiq, Malaysia's Agent of Change
After the 13th Malaysian general election (GE13), following his success in retaining his Petra Jaya seat, Fadillah was promoted to Minister of Works. As Minister of Works, he led the school reconstruction development project which saw the rebuilding and refurbishing of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
After the defeat of BN in the 14th Malaysian general election (GE14) in 2020, Fadillah was made the chief whip of the opposition Sarawak Parties Alliance (GPS) in the House of Representatives of Malaysia. Despite being dropped from the federal Cabinet, he continued to take the lead in completing the Pan Borneo Highway project, a sophisticated infrastructure system connecting the Borneo states to tackle the issue of the lack of intercity highway networks on the island.
Dual role post-GE15
In GE15, what he considered the most challenging election in his career, Fadillah managed to retain his seat, this time with an even larger majority, at 41,363 votes. Following the formation of the unity government, he was appointed deputy prime minister as well as the Minister of Plantation and Commodities.
Read more: GE15: 5 Thought-Leading Malaysians on Why Voting Still Matters
As Minister of Plantation and Commodities, he is tasked to oversee the development of agri-commodity plantations and industries ranging from production, midstream processing and manufacturing to marketing.
The agri-commodity sub-sector—palm oil, rubber, timber, furniture, cocoa, pepper, kenaf, and tobacco—has been one of the main drivers of the national economy, contributing significantly to export earnings, creating jobs as well as providing income, particularly to the smallholders.
Topics
Lainey was the Digital Director of Tatler Malaysia. When not whiling away the hours watching documentaries, the latest K-drama, or reruns of Friends, she can be found indulging her wanderlust by stalking travel platforms or feeding her obsession with music. She loves animals, running, all things social media, a good conversation over coffee or soju or wine (often rambling on if nobody pulls the brakes on her), and is an avid fan of bursting-at-the-seams laughter.
