Abdullah Md Zin

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

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato' Seri Abdullah Md Zin PSM SPMP DPMT
عبدﷲ مد زين‎
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Islamic Affairs
In office 27 March 2004 – 18 March 2008
Monarchs	Sirajuddin Mizan Zainal Abidin
Prime Minister	Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Preceded by	Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin
Succeeded by	Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Constituency	Besut
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Besut, Terengganu
In office 21 March 2004 – 5 May 2013
Preceded by	Nasharudin Mat Isa
Succeeded by	Idris Jusoh
Majority	8,500 (2004) 10,590 (2008)
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Islamic Affairs
In office 3 April 2009 – 2017
Monarchs	Mizan Zainal Abidin Abdul Halim Muhammad V
Prime Minister	Najib Razak
Preceded by	position established
Succeeded by	position abolished
Personal details
Born	Abdullah bin Md Zin (1946-08-02) 2 August 1946 Alor Selinsing, Jerteh, Besut, Terengganu, Malayan Union (now Malaysia)
Political party	United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political affiliations	Barisan Nasional (BN) Perikatan Nasional (PN) Muafakat Nasional (MN)
Spouse	Wan Naimah Wan Latif
Alma mater	Islamic University of Madinah University of Kent Al-Azhar University
Occupation	Politician, Advisor of Islamic affairs
Profession	Lecturer

Abdullah bin Md Zin (Jawi: عبدﷲ بن مد زين; born 2 August 1946) is a former Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Besut constituency in Terengganu from 2004 to 2013, sitting as a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Early life and career

Abdullah was born on 2 August 1946 in Alor Selinsing, Jerteh, Besut, Terengganu. He studied at the Islamic University of Madinah, graduating in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies.

In 1973, he obtained a master's degree in Syariah from Al-Azhar University, Egypt, before receiving a Diploma in Education from Ain Shams University. He was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy from Kent University, England, in 1986.

Abdullah became a lecturer in 1976, firstly at Kolej Islam Klang and then at the National University of Malaysia (UKM). In 1998, he was appointed the dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies and in 1999 he became a professor. In 2000, he was appointed Deputy Rector (Academic and Research) at Kolej Universiti Islam Malaysia (KUIM) in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.

Politics

Abdullah resigned from his lecturing position KUIM (but took early optional compulsory retirement from civil service at 58) in order to be the Barisan Nasional candidate for the federal parliamentary seat of Besut, Terengganu in the 2004 election. The seat had been held by the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). Abdullah won the seat, defeating PAS's Nasharudin Mat Isa.

Later, Abdullah became a member of UMNO's Supreme Council and a Minister in the Department of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. After the 2008 election, he was dropped from the cabinet and in the 2009 UMNO party elections, he failed to retain a position on the party's Supreme Council.

When Najib Tun Razak became Prime Minister in 2009, Abdullah became his Islamic religious affairs adviser. However, Abdullah did not recontest his parliamentary seat in the 2013 election, although he remained as Najib's religious adviser.

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
2004	P033 Besut		Abdullah Md Zin (UMNO)	26,087	59.73%		Nasharuddin Mat Isa (PAS)	17,587	40.27%	44,357	8,500	86.49%
2008			Abdullah Md Zin (UMNO)	29,376	60.99%		Husain Awang (PAS)	18,786	39.01%	49,303	10,590	84.49%

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaysia :
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2013)
• Terengganu :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Terengganu (DPMT) – Dato' (1996)
• Perlis :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2010)