Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah was the main player that enabled Umno and BN to wrest back Kedah from the opposition pact in the last general election.

A low-profile leader, Bashah, 66, was the Kedah Umno liaison committee chairperson, as well as Kedah BN chairperson, who managed to unite the state Umno and BN leaders, which led to the coalition winning 21 of the 36 state seats in 2013.

He is one of the senior state Umno leaders, having served as Bakar Bata (previously known as Alor Merah) assemblyperson for five terms since 1995.

After the 13th general election, Bashah proved his loyalty to Umno by giving way to his then deputy, Mukhriz Mahathir, to helm the state government.

In the announcement on the federal government's cabinet line-up after GE13, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak appointed Bashah as a senator and appointed him as deputy minister for domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism.

Two months after GE13, Bashah once again proved his loyalty to Umno when he gave way to Mukhriz to lead the party in Kedah, while he took Mukhriz's place as deputy.

Born on Oct 10, 1950, Bashah has held various posts, having been in politics for more than 40 years - including as Alor Setar Umno Youth leader, Kedah Umno Youth vice-chief, Alor Setar Umno division leader, Kedah Umno treasurer and Kedah BN treasurer.

After BN's defeat in the 12th general election in 2008, Kedah Umno was revamped and he was appointed as Kedah Umno deputy liaison chief - effective April 24, 2009 - to assist Mohd Shafie Apdal who was then the chairperson.

On Jan 1, 2011, Bashah was appointed chairperson of the Kedah Umno liaison committee and also Kedah BN, with Mukhriz as his deputy.

Besides his vast experience in politics, Bashah is also an experienced administrator, being a state executive council member in charge of housing and local government for two terms since 1999.

Following the political tsunami in 2008, which led to the fall of Kedah to the opposition again, Bashah, however, was still able to retain the Bakar Bata state seat when he defeated PKR’s Rohani Bakar with a majority of 358 votes.

In the last general election, Bashah proved that he still maintained the people's support by winning a majority of 895 votes in a three-cornered fight against PKR candidate Mohd Eekmal Ahmad and Parti Bersatu Sasa (Bersama) candidate, Jawahae Raja Abdul Wahid.

Bashah is married to Hizam Awang Ahmad and the couple has four daughters.

Bashah came into the limelight again since last Jan 20 when he led a majority of the Umno divisional leaders, assemblypersons and parliamentary members in Kedah to voice their lack of confidence in Mukhriz's leadership as menteri besar and the state Umno liaison committee chairperson.

- Bernama