// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Abdul Ghani Haroon? A haroon to be around.
Abdul Ghani Haroon is a Malaysian politician and civil society activist. He was a prominent figure in the early Reformasi movement led by Anwar Ibrahim, and was one of the political detainees arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) during the 2001 government crackdown.[1] His subsequent legal challenge resulted in a landmark habeas corpus ruling by the Shah Alam High Court that ordered his immediate release.[2]
A founding member of the National Justice Party (KeADILan) and the succeeding People's Justice Party (PKR), Abdul Ghani contested the 1999 and 2004 elections under the opposition banner, but was unsuccessful in both attempts.[3] Following internal disagreements, he left the party in May 2008 to rejoin the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).[4] In his later career, he actively opposed Anwar Ibrahim and his former party leadership.[5]
Political career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Following the dismissal and arrest of Anwar Ibrahim in 1998, Abdul Ghani joined the newly formed National Justice Party (KeADILan) during the height of the Reformasi movement. He was appointed to the Penang executive committee (Exco) of the party's youth wing, Pemuda Keadilan.[6]
In the 1999 Malaysian general election, he made his electoral debut by contesting the Pinang Tunggal state seat in Penang under the KeADILan ticket. He faced the incumbent, Yahaya Abdul Hamid of Barisan Nasional (BN). Abdul Ghani lost the election by 4,376 votes, securing 2,848 votes against Yahaya's 7,224 votes.[3]
ISA detention
[edit]On 11 April 2001, Abdul Ghani was arrested by police officers at the Kuching International Airport in Sarawak as he prepared to board a flight back to Kuala Lumpur.[7] Prior to his arrest, he had advised his wife, Roslijah S. Syed, to remain resilient and care for their children, anticipating state action following the detentions of several fellow youth wing activists under the Internal Security Act (ISA).[8]
The arrest was part of a broader government crackdown aimed at preventing the planned "Black 14" mass demonstration on 14 April 2001.[9][10] Other prominent individuals detained during this period included Free Anwar Campaign (FAC) director Raja Petra Kamarudin, KeADILan Vice President Tian Chua, Youth Chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, Youth Secretary Gobalakrishnan Nagapan, rally organising chairman Saari Sungib, and political activist and columnist Hishamuddin Rais.[1] Following his detention, Abdul Ghani was held in incommunicado custody for several weeks, prompting human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to designate him as a prisoner of conscience.[11]
Abdul Ghani and Gobalakrishnan subsequently challenged their detentions by filing habeas corpus applications.[2] On 30 May 2001, Shah Alam High Court Judge Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Md Yunus delivered a landmark ruling ordering the immediate release of both men, declaring their 50-day police detention unlawful and executed in bad faith.[2][12][13] The judge also issued an unprecedented order barring the police from re-arresting the two activists for at least 24 hours following their release, marking a rare judicial intervention against ISA detention orders.[2] The move was said to directly catalyse the formation of the "Abolish ISA Movement" (GMI) by local human rights coalitions.[14]
Post-detention activity
[edit]Following the merger of KeADILan and the Malaysian People's Party (PRM) to form the People's Justice Party (PKR) in 2003, Abdul Ghani continued his service within the party's reorganised youth wing, Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK).
During the 2004 general election, Abdul Ghani moved his candidacy to Selangor, contesting the Dusun Tua state constituency. Running under the PKR banner, he challenged Barisan Nasional's Rahmad Musa. Abdul Ghani lost the election, capturing 5,802 votes compared to Rahmad's 14,845 votes, resulting in a majority of 9,043 for Barisan Nasional.[3]
Despite electoral setbacks, Abdul Ghani remained active in the opposition coalition. In March 2007, he served as a representative for Democracy and Anti-Corruption Movement (Gerak), working alongside other opposition leaders, including Salahuddin Ayub, Tian Chua, and Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin to present a joint memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong regarding allegations of corruption and abuse of power.[15]
Departure from PKR
[edit]On 29 May 2008, Abdul Ghani officially resigned from the People's Justice Party alongside six former youth leaders, following former Youth Chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor in rejoining the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).[16] Among the group who left alongside him were AMK leaders Anuar Shaari and Khairul Anuar Ramli.[4]
Following his departure, Abdul Ghani transitioned into active opposition against his former party leadership. In April 2012, he became heavily involved in campaigns opposing Anwar Ibrahim, culminating in the launch of the Tolak Individu Bernama Anwar Ibrahim (TIBAI) club.[5] It was an organisation composed largely of former PKR members and Reformasi activists dedicated to publicly campaigning against Anwar Ibrahim's political ambitions.[5]
Abdul Ghani later aligned himself with the New Generation Party, a political party formed in 2013.[17] In March 2017, during a party restructuring, he was officially appointed as the party's Information Chief. During his tenure, the party underwent internal structural shifts and was subsequently rebranded as the Corruption-Free Party (PBR).[17]
By January 2018, Abdul Ghani transitioned into civic advocacy, assuming the role of Secretary for the Hisbah Centre for Reform, an anti-corruption non-governmental organisation led by Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor.[18] In June, he garnered national media attention when he personally lodged a formal report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).[19] He submitted a comprehensive dossier exceeding 600 pages that contained financial statements and reports alleging corruption and abuse of power involving a prominent former finance minister.[19]
After a long hiatus from electoral politics, Abdul Ghani contested in the 2023 Penang state election. He stood as a candidate for the Sungai Pinang state constituency under the Malaysian People's Party (PRM) ticket.[20] He faced a four-cornered fight against the incumbent Lim Siew Khim from the Democratic Action Party (DAP).[21] Abdul Ghani secured only 623 votes and subsequently lost his electoral deposit.[3]
Election results
[edit]| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | N03 Pinang Tunggal | Abdul Ghani Haroon (KeADILan) | 2,848 | 28.3% | Yahaya Abdul Hamid (UMNO) | 7,224 | 71.7% | 10,416 | 4,376 | 80.8% | ||
| 2023 | N30 Sungai Pinang | Abdul Ghani Haroon (PRM) | 623 | 2.5% | Lim Siew Khim (DAP) | 16,026 | 65.1% | 24,846 | 8,288 | 72.2% | ||
| Ng Fook On (GERAKAN) | 7,738 | 31.4% | ||||||||||
| Andrew Rajah Bellimin Rajah (IND) | 221 | 0.9% | ||||||||||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | N23 Dusun Tua | Abdul Ghani Haroon (PKR) | 5,802 | 28.1% | Rahmad Musa (UMNO) | 14,845 | 71.9% | 21,377 | 9,043 | 76.4% | ||
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Malaysia: Release Political Detainees". Human Rights Watch. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
Those arrested are: Tian Chua, 37, Keadilian vice-president; Saari Sungib, 43, a member of the Keadilian's policy making council; Ezam Mohamad Noor, 34, Keadilian youth leader; N. Gobalakrishnan, 41, Keadilan youth secretary; activists Abdul Ghani Harun, 36, and Hishamuddin Rais, 50; and Raja Petra Kamarudin, 49, director of the Free Anwar campaign.
- 1 2 3 4 "Judge orders release of ISA duo, rules detention 'unlawful'". Malaysiakini. 30 May 2001. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 ElectionData.MY. "Abdul Ghani bin Haroon". ElectionData.MY. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Lagi bekas SU Anwar sertai Umno". Malaysiakini (in Malay). 29 May 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Dendam kepada Anwar tidak pernah padam". Free Malaysia Today (in Malay). 25 April 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- ↑ Lim, Kit Siang (4 May 2001). "Call on Police to allow all ten ISA detainees to be allowed immediate family access in the next 24 hours without any psychological game of playing one detainee against another". limkitsiang.com. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- ↑ "Arrested reformasi in Sarawak". Malaysiakini. 26 April 2001. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
When Abdul Ghani Haroon was arrested in Kuching while on his way to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur, Keadilan supporters were frantically calling up all friends to check if any local Keadilan members were arrested.
- ↑ Syed, Roslijah S (2001). "Our Prayers Have Been Answered". Aliran. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
He told me to look after the children well, to be resilient and patient in facing these trials. He was ready to face all risks, including the risk of detention under the harsh ISA.
- ↑ "Malaysia: Release Political Detainees". Human Rights Watch. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
The seven were arrested just days before the second anniversary of the sentencing of imprisoned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. On April 14, 1999, Anwar was sentenced to six years in prison, and, each year since then, supporters have planned rallies to mark the anniversary, known in Malaysia as 'Black 14.'
- ↑ "Anwar supporters turn out in Malaysia protest". CNN. 14 April 2001. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
Thousands turned out on the streets of Malaysia's capital to mark 'Black 14', the anniversary of the conviction of former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim. ... Some placards were waved, bearing slogans like 'Free all political prisoners' and 'No to ISA'.
- ↑ "To: Health professionals From: Medical office / Asia Program". Amnesty International. 21 May 2001. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
Amnesty International regards all 10 detainees as prisoners of conscience and is calling for their immediate release. ... Abdul Ghani Harun, PKN Youth Central Committee member.
- ↑ "Salute to Judge and Judgment". Aliran. 30 May 2001. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia: Further information on Fear of torture or ill-treatment / incommunicado detention / prisoners of conscience". Amnesty International. 31 May 2001. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
N. Gobalakrishnan and Abdul Ghani Harun were released on 30 May after a High Court judge ruled that their detention was unlawful. ... Amnesty International remains concerned for the safety of the other eight detainees, who are still held incommunicado.
- ↑ Malik, Maszlee (2014). "Islamic movement and human rights: Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia's involvement in the "Abolish Internal Security Act Movement," 2000-2012" (PDF). Intellectual Discourse. 22 (2). IIUM Press: 139–165. ISSN 0128-4878. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- ↑ Mohd Noor, Muda (6 March 2007). "Pemuda BA mahu hantar memo pada Yang di-Pertuan Agong" (PDF). Malaysiakini (in Malay). Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- ↑ Raja Petra, Kamardin (30 May 2008). "'BACK TO UMNO' EXODUS?: Six PKR Youth leaders to follow Ezam". Malaysia Today. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- 1 2 "NewGen Party is now Parti Bebas Rasuah". The Star. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- ↑ "Ezam confirms contesting in Shah Alam, Khalid asks why". Free Malaysia Today. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Hisbah lodges MACC report on former finance minister's power abuse case". Malay Mail. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- ↑ "State polls: PRM announces five candidates for Penang". The Star. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- ↑ "In Penang, 11 seats see multi-cornered fights with Independents joining the fray". Malay Mail. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
In Sungai Pinang, incumbent Lim Siew Khim (DAP/PH) is defending her seat against Ng Fook On (Gerakan/PN), Abdul Ghani Haroon (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Independent Andrew Rajah.