Abdul Ghafar Atan
Abdul Ghafar bin Atan (Jawi: عبدالغفار بن أتن; 13 July 1956 – 17 November 2021) was a Malaysian politician. He served as Member of the Melaka State Executive Council (EXCO) from March 2008 to May 2018 and again from March 2020 to his death in November 2021, as well as Member of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Asahan from May 2013 to his death in November 2021 and Gadek from March 2004 to May 2013. He was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and also the Alor Gajah UMNO chief.[1]
Abdul Ghafar Atan | |
---|---|
عبدالغفار بن أتن | |
Exco roles (Malacca) | |
2008–2011 | Chairman of the Housing, Small Town Development and Project Restoration |
2011–2013 | Chairman of the Industry, Trade, Entrepreneur Development and Co-operatives |
2013–2014 | Chairman of the Public Works, Public Facilities, Transport and Project Restoration |
2014–2018 | Chairman of the Public Works and Public Facilities |
2020–2021 | Chairman of the Housing, Local Government and Environment |
Faction represented in Malacca State Legislative Assembly | |
2004–2021 | Barisan Nasional |
Personal details | |
Born | Malacca, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) | 13 July 1956
Died | 17 November 2021 65) Malacca City, Malaysia | (aged
Cause of death | COVID-19 complications |
Resting place | Kampung Asahan Muslim Cemetery |
Citizenship | Malaysian |
Political party | United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) |
Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN) Perikatan Nasional (PN) Muafakat Nasional (MN) |
Spouse | Rabiah Hassan |
Children | 3 |
Occupation | Politician |
Abdul Ghafar Atan on Facebook | |
Politics
Abdul Ghafar first contested as a BN candidate in the 11th general election in the Gadek state constituency in 2004 and went on to defend the seat in the 12th general election in 2008. In the 13th general election in 2013, he contested the Asahan seat and defended it in the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018.[2]
Death
On 4 November 2021, it was announced Abdul Ghafar would not be picked by UMNO as the BN candidate on nomination day on 8 November to give way to younger face to defend the Asahan seat,[3][4] considered the hottest constituency in the Malacca state election on 20 November.[5]
After being dropped as the election candidate, he was screened and tested positive for COVID-19 at a private hospital on 7 November[6] and when his health deteriorated into critical condition later, he was put under an induced coma in the intensive care unit of Malacca General Hospital on the night of 9 November.[7][8] Abdul Ghafar subsequently died from the complications at age 65 in the hospital at 1.04pm on 17 November leaving behind his wife, Rabiah Hassan.[9][10] He was buried according to the COVID-19 pandemic standard operating procedure (SOP) at the Kampung Asahan Muslim Cemetery in Malacca.[11][12]
Election results
Year | Constituency | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | N07 Gadek, P135 Alor Gajah |
Abdul Ghafar Atan (UMNO) | 5,871 | 77.99% | Yahaya Ja'alam (PAS) | 1,185 | 15.74% | 7,755 | 4,686 | 71.84% | ||
S. Sibapatham (keADILan) | 472 | 6.27% | ||||||||||
2008 | Abdul Ghafar Atan (UMNO) | 5,326 | 69.75% | S. Kanageswari (PKR) | 2,310 | 30.25% | 7,878 | 3,016 | 73.29% | |||
2013 | N09 Asahan, P135 Alor Gajah |
Abdul Ghafar Atan (UMNO) | 8,257 | 65.24% | Wong Chee Chew (PAS) | 4,400 | 34.76% | 12,898 | 3,857 | 86.30% | ||
2018 | Abdul Ghafar Atan (UMNO) | 5,942 | 45.80% | Zamzuri Arifin (BERSATU) | 5,667 | 43.68% | 13,239 | 275 | 82.69% | |||
Azlan Maddin (PAS) | 1,365 | 10.52% |
Honours
Honours of Malaysia
- Malaysia :
- Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (2006)[15]
- Malacca :
- Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (2004)[15]
- Knight Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DCSM) – Datuk Wira (2011)[15]
- Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2016)[15]
See also
- List of deaths due to COVID-19 - notable individual deaths
References
- "Abdul Ghafar Atan". PRU Di Sinar (in Malay). Sinar Harian. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "Former Malacca state exco Abdul Ghafar dies". Bernama. Malaysiakini. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- "PRN Melaka: Umno tampil 90% muka baharu" (in Malay). Free Malaysia Today. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "Melaka polls: Barisan unveils candidates list contesting all 28 state seats". The Star. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- Danial Dzulkifly (11 November 2021). "Five hot seats to watch in the Melaka state election". Malay Mail. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "COVID-19 : Ghafaar Atan stabil - Anak" (in Malay). Bernama. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- Amran Mulup (10 November 2021). "Penyandang DUN Asahan kritikal di Hospital Melaka". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- Amran Mulup (10 November 2021). "Bekas ADUN Asahan kritikal Covid-19" (in Malay). Kosmo. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "Former Asahan rep passes away". Bernama. The Star. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- "Ex-Asahan assemblyman Abdul Ghafar Atan dies". Free Malaysia Today. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- "Former Melaka rep Abdul Ghafar dies". Bernama. New Straits Times. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- Nor Farhana Yaacob (17 November 2021). "Bekas ADUN Asahan meninggal dunia" (in Malay). Sinar Harian. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat". Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa. Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia).