Khairul Firdaus Bin Akbar Khan

• Member of Parliament (MP) for Batu Sapi since November 2022, winning with ~44.95% of the vote and majority of 4,821

• Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture (Malaysia) under PM Anwar Ibrahim and Minister Tiong King Sing since December 2022

• Affiliated with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition since joining in 2020; has held membership formerly in Sabah BERSATU and previously UMNO

• Youth Leadership: served as Information Chief for BERSATU Sabah/Menteri Penerangan GRS Sabah; known for online outreach and modernizing party communication

• Advocated for Sabah-centric leadership, emphasizing local issues over Semenanjung-centric politics

• Called for empowering young and new leaders in Sabah, rejecting long-serving incumbency and calling for fresh ideas

Delayed Salary Payments as Sabah FC Co-owner (2021)
As CEO and co-owner of Sabah FC, he acknowledged delays in player salary payments—not exceeding one month—but denied rumors of a three-month backlog and any related training boycotts.
Sabah Postsabahkini2.com

Proposal to Change “Chief Minister” to “Premier” (2022)
As Bersatu Sabah’s Information Chief, he advocated for Sabah to follow Sarawak’s lead in renaming the “Chief Minister” role to “Premier,” sparking debate over autonomy and constitutional symbolism.
Astro AwaniSabah Media

Commentary on Sulu Sultanate Sovereignty Debate (2022)
Spoke out on the need for Sabah representatives to lead discussions on the Sulu heir’s territorial claims—urging cross-party unity to protect state sovereignty.
The Vibes

Caution Against Political Entrenchment (2022)
Called for term limits on the Prime Minister’s position—and supported similar limits for state chief ministers—to prevent power consolidation.
Borneo Post Online

Call for Political Renewal (2025)
At a Gagasan Rakyat Sabah conference, he urged veteran politicians to step aside for the emergence of new leaders committed to genuine reform and service.
The Star

Muslim-Focused Tourism for Langkawi Label Draws Apology (2024)
In Parliament, Khairul suggested positioning Langkawi as a Muslim-friendly tourism destination. The proposal was criticized as exclusionary, prompting official clarification and apology from his superior, the Minister.
Wikipedia

Educational & Youth Engagement
Emphasized political literacy by encouraging young voters to understand democracy through real-world engagement—not just online discourse or rhetoric.
Sabah Media

Sabah FC Founding Co-owner
As a founding member and first co-owner of Sabah Football Club Sdn Bhd, he helped transition Sabah’s football into a private company model aiming for professionalism and sustainability.
Wikipedia

Sulu Sovereignty Advocacy
Proactively urged leaders to confront and educate citizens on complex sovereignty claims by the Sulu heirs, asserting the importance of parliamentary oversight.
The Vibes