# Zahidi Zainul Abidin

Zahidi bin Zainul Abidin (Jawi: زاهدي بن زين العابدين; born 9 January 1961) is a Malaysian politician who served as the Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia for the second term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Minister Annuar Musa from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022 and the first term in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Minister Saifuddin Abdullah from March 2020 to the collapse of the PN administration in August 2021, Chairman of the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) from September 2015 to December 2018, Member of the Perlis State Executive Council (EXCO) in the BN state administration under former Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim from 1999 to 2006, Member of Parliament (MP) for Padang Besar from May 2013 to November 2022 and Member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Beseri from November 1999 to March 2008. He is a member of the People's Justice Party (Malaysia) (PKR), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the BN coalition. He is also the Chairman of the Malaysian International Institute of Islamic Cooperation (IKIAM).
Zahidi received his Diploma in Public Administration from Institut Teknologi MARA (Universiti Teknologi MARA). Zahidi joined AMANAH by submitting his membership application form to the party on 4 February 2023 although he had revealed on 30 January 2023 that he planned to join the People's Justice Party (PKR), another PH component party.

## Political offices

Zahidi has held various positions in politics and UMNO:
| Year | Designation |
| 1991–1993 | Islamic Education Chief for UMNO Youth Malaysia |
| 1993 | Deputy Chief of UMNO Youth Kangar Division |
| 1998 | Members of The Training and Student Council UMNO Youth Malaysia. |
| 1998 | International UMNO Youth Council Member |
| 1998 | UMNO International Bureau |
| 1991–1998 | UMNO Malaysia Youth Education Bureau |
| 1994–1998 | Perlis Deputy UMNO Youth Chief |
| 1994–2001 | UMNO Padang Besar Youth Chief |
| 1998–2001 | UMNO Perlis Youth Chief |
| 2001–2004 | UMNO Malaysia Youth Exco |
| 2008–2022 | UMNO Padang Besar Divisional Chief |
| 2020–2022 | Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia |

## Controversies

In September 2020, Zahidi caused a nationwide outrage when he falsely accused a Sabahan foundation student named Veveonah Mosibin from Universiti Malaysia Sabah of trying to popularise her YouTube channel when she posted a video of her in a hut on top of a tree struggling to take an exam. Veveonah at the time had to stay home due to Malaysia's Movement Control Order (MCO) to stop the COVID-19 outbreak in the country and had to go on top of tree to get signal for internet connection. Zahidi was later made to apologise for his inaccurate remark in Dewan Negara and informed that it was Abdul Rahim Bakri of Kudat MP who told him that Veveonah did not have exams on the day she uploaded the video, of which, later clarified otherwise by the university's chairman, Masidi Manjun.
The aftermath of the incident had brought Zahidi's academic credentials under spotlight for purportedly dubious academic qualification while Veveonah's hometown district got 13 new telecommunication towers expeditiously installed with 4G connection under the JENDELA program.

## Personal life

In January 2021, Zahidi was tested positive for COVID-19 and sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital for treatment. He was discharged after 11 days.

## Election results

Perlis State Legislative Assembly :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 1999 | N02 Beseri | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO) | 2,774 | 58.66% | Abd. Rahman Rejab (PAS) | 1,955 | 41.34% | 5,069 | 819 | 73.77% |
| 2004 | N02 Beseri | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO) | 3,492 | 68.30% | Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir (PAS) | 1,621 | 31.70% | 5,222 | 1,871 | 78.59% |
| 2022 | N01 Titi Tinggi | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) | 425 | 4.43% | Izizam Ibrahim (BERSATU) | 5,601 | 58.42% | 9,748 | 3,785 | 72.70% |
| 2022 | N01 Titi Tinggi | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) | 425 | 4.43% | Teh Chai Aan (MCA) | 1,816 | 18.94% | 9,748 | 3,785 | 72.70% |
| 2022 | N01 Titi Tinggi | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) | 425 | 4.43% | Teh Seng Chuan (DAP) | 1,512 | 15.77% | 9,748 | 3,785 | 72.70% |
| 2022 | N01 Titi Tinggi | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) | 425 | 4.43% | Mohd Shahril Md Sarif (PEJUANG) | 152 | 1.59% | 9,748 | 3,785 | 72.70% |
| 2022 | N01 Titi Tinggi | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) | 425 | 4.43% | Khaw Hock Kong (WARISAN) | 81 | 0.84% | 9,748 | 3,785 | 72.70% |
Parliament of Malaysia :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 2013 | P001 Padang Besar | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO) | 21,473 | 60.45% | Azamhari Mohamood (PAS) | 14,047 | 39.55% | 36,142 | 7,426 | 86.11% |
| 2018 | P001 Padang Besar | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO) | 15,032 | 41.18% | Izizam Ibrahim (BERSATU) | 13,594 | 37.24% | 37,432 | 1,438 | 81.20% |
| 2018 | P001 Padang Besar | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (UMNO) | 15,032 | 41.18% | Mokhtar Senik (PAS) | 7,874 | 21.57% | 37,432 | 1,438 | 81.20% |
| 2022 | P001 Padang Besar | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) | 1,939 | 1.56% | Rushdan Rusmi (PAS) | 24,267 | 53.58% | 45,288 | 12,514 | 75.24% |
| 2022 | P001 Padang Besar | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) | 1,939 | 1.56% | Zahida Zarik Khan (UMNO) | 11,753 | 25.95% | 45,288 | 12,514 | 75.24% |
| 2022 | P001 Padang Besar | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) | 1,939 | 1.56% | Mohd Saat @ Yahya (AMANAH) | 7,085 | 15.64% | 45,288 | 12,514 | 75.24% |
| 2022 | P001 Padang Besar | Zahidi Zainul Abidin (IND) | 1,939 | 1.56% | Ko Chu Liang (WARISAN) | 244 | 0.54% | 45,288 | 12,514 | 75.24% |

## Honours
### Honours of Malaysia

* Perlis :
** Companion of the Order of the Crown of Perlis (SMP) (2003)
* Malacca:
** Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (2003)