Madius bin Tangau, commonly known as Wilfred Madius Tangau (born 13 March 1958) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tuaran from November 1999 to March 2008 and again since May 2013, and concurrently serves as a Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly for Tamparuli since November 2025. He served as the Deputy Chief Minister I and State Minister of Trade and Industry of Sabah in the Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) state administration under Chief Minister Shafie Apdal from May 2018 to the collapse of the WARISAN state administration in September 2020 from May 2018 to the collapse of the WARISAN administration in September 2020.[1] Previously, he served as the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation under Prime Minister Najib Razak from July 2015 to May 2018. He is a member of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO), formerly a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions. He has served as the Honorary President of UPKO since January 2023, second President of UPKO from March 2014 to January 2023, when he served in the official capacity from September 2018 to January 2023 and acting capacity from March 2014 following the resignation of Bernard Giluk Dompok to his official assumption of UPKO presidency in September 2018.[2]
Wilfred Madius Tangau | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah I | |
| In office 16 May 2018 – 29 September 2020 Serving with
| |
| Governor | Juhar Mahiruddin |
| Shafie Apdal | |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey Kitingan |
| Succeeded by | Bung Moktar Radin |
| Constituency | Nominated MLA (UPKO) |
| Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation | |
| In office 29 July 2015 – 9 May 2018 | |
| Monarchs | Abdul Halim (2015–2016) Muhammad V (2016–2018) |
| Prime Minister | Najib Razak |
| Deputy | Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah |
| Preceded by | Ewon Ebin |
| Succeeded by | Yeo Bee Yin (Minister of Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment) |
| Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly for Tamparuli | |
| Assumed office 29 November 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Jahid Jahim (GRS–PBS) |
| Majority | 2,556 (2025) |
| Nominated Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 20 September 2018 – 30 July 2020 Serving with
| |
Chief Minister | Shafie Apdal |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Tuaran | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Wilfred Bumburing (BN–UPKO) |
| Majority | 5,190 (2013) 7,624 (2018) 233 (2022) |
| In office 29 December 1999 – 8 March 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Yunof Edward Maringking (BN–PBS) |
| Succeeded by | Wilfred Bumburing (BN–UPKO) |
| Majority | 2,813 (1999) 8,499 (2004) |
| 2nd Honorary President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation | |
| Assumed office 15 January 2023 | |
| President | Ewon Benedick |
| Preceded by | Bernard Giluk Dompok |
| 2nd President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation | |
| In office 9 April 2014 – 17 November 2022 (Acting: 22 March 2014 – 24 September 2019) | |
| Deputy | Donald Peter Mojuntin |
| Preceded by | Bernard Giluk Dompok |
| Succeeded by | Ewon Benedick |
| Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat | |
| 1999–2008 | Barisan Nasional |
| 2013–2018 | Barisan Nasional |
| 2018–2019 | United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation |
| 2019–2021, Since 2025 | United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation |
| 2021–2025 | Pakatan Harapan |
| Faction represented in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly | |
| 2018–2019 | United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation |
| 2019–2020, Since 2025 | United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Madius bin Tangau 13 March 1958 |
| Citizenship |  Malaysia |
| Party | United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) |
Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN) (1999–2018) Pakatan Harapan (PH) (2021–2025) |
| Spouse | Jaina Sintian |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | SMS Selangor Setapak High School |
| University Pertanian Malaysia Asian Institute of Management | |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Forester |
| Website | madiustangau |
| Wilfred Madius Tangau on Facebook Wilfred Madius Tangau on Parliament of Malaysia | |
Early life
editTangau was born in 1958 in Kampung Lokos, Kiulu, Tuaran, Sabah, into a Kadazan-Dusun family of peasants cum agrarian pastoralists whereby his parents, Peter Yanggau Gokis (born 26 March 1924) and Anna Bolugu Panod (11 August 1932–19 January 2025) were cultivators of hill paddy. He is the fourth child of 14 siblings (two deceased). Upon completing his primary school education at SRK Lokos, Kiulu in 1970, he was determined to continue his education despite initial objections from his parents due to financial constraints.
With his own savings, he enrolled in SMK Kiulu (now known as SMK Tun Fuad Stephens) and attended from Bridge Class to Form Two. To support himself in school, he took up a manual job as a rubber tapper on weekends. He was also employed by a Chinese “towkay”, a term for business owners in Kiulu town, which at that time only had a row of shops. He then could save on his pocket money for food as well as lodging, since the school has a hostel for students from remote areas as well as those from the larger town of Tamparuli and far away areas such as Telipok, Inanam and Manggatal townships on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, Kota Belud as well as Kundasang/Bundu Tuhan, Ranau.
He often speaks of his childhood fondly:
At the age of just 13, students from my village Lokos would walk to our secondary school in Kiulu every two weeks or so. We would depart at 6am from my village and arrive at our school at 6pm, carrying food supplies, mainly rice. As a young undergraduate from UPM, I would walk for four hours from Pekan Nabalu township in neighbouring Kota Belud to my village, Kampung Lokos. Generally the people from my village are from poor families without a regular source of income as they survived on subsistence farming.
At the end of Form Two he was awarded a Boarding Scholarship from the Sabah State Government to further his studies in SMK Ranau (now known as SMK Mat Salleh) in Form Three in 1974. With the good results he obtained in the Lower Certificate of Education (LCE), he was granted a Sabah State Government Scholarship to pursue his upper secondary education at Setapak High School, Kuala Lumpur.
Inspired by fellow schoolmates in this school, he initiated a student society in his village called KEPALOS, which formed student study groups and fundraised to finance their programmes. In 1976, Tangau passed his Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) with Grade One. With this he earned the same scholarship to continue his Form Six at Sekolah Menengah Sains Selangor (SMSS) Cheras, a governmental fully residential school. Whilst schooling there, he was an active student leader and a debater for his school. Prior to his tertiary education while waiting for the results of his Higher School Certificate, he served as a temporary teacher at SMK Tamparuli, Tuaran, Sabah, for five months. He taught Integrated Science or Sains Paduan to Form One students.
In 1979, having successfully completed his Higher School Certificate, Tangau was accepted into University Pertanian Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, to do his bachelor's degree in Forestry Science. He was an active student leader at university. He was the President of the Catholic Student Society for two terms from 1981 to 1982. He was also a keen observer of the political development of his birth state Sabah, and nationwide. He graduated in 1983 and soon after, he secured a job at the Sabah Forestry Development Authority (SAFODA) as a research officer on silviculture. In 1985 he was accepted as an individual participant to study forest management in various institutions in Japan under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for four months. He had the opportunity to travel and stay in Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido and Tsukuba. Subsequently, in 1990 he obtained a master's degree in Development Management from Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in the Philippines.
He is married to Dr. Jaina Sintian, a medical doctor from Bundu Tuhan village, Ranau, who is the founding Vice Chief of the UPKO Women Movement Chief (Wanita UPKO), later becoming its Chief in 2008 and only retired from the position in 2018 when her husband was elected officially as the President of UPKO and served in this position until 2023. Together they have five children; four daughters and a son.
Prior to politics
editShortly after graduating from UPM, Tangau was sent to Japan for a four-month training stint in various research institutions. Upon returning to Sabah in 1985 he assisted Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) as a backroom boy to form the new Sabah government. He joined the newly set up Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah as a research associate, and served for nine years until 1994.
When BN toppled PBS in 1994, Tangau assisted leaders who left the party to form Parti Demokratik Sabah (PDS). For the next five years Tangau served as the chief executive officer at the Institute for Indigenous Economic Progress (INDEP) Sabah, a think-tank set established by PDS. The objective of INDEP was to engage Pasokmomogun community groups in Sabah in policymaking and assist UPKO leaders in decision-makings.
Tangau also served as Chairman of several federal agencies and state linked companies such as the Sabah Cultural Board (LKNS), Forest Plantation Development Sdn. Bhd., Malaysian Timber Industrial Board (MTIB) and Asian Supply Base Sdn Bhd (ASB). In addition, Tangau once also sat on the boards of Suria Capital Berhad and Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn. Bhd.
Political career
editDuring the 1999 Sabah state election , 10 of the 12 PDS candidates who contested were defeated. Due to this devastating defeat Tangau was requested by the party leadership to contest in the 1999 parliamentary general election, effectively thrusting him from backroom boy to mainstream politics.
Tangau has been involved in UPKO since the party's early days. Shortly after he was first elected as an MP he became the Information Chief. He was then appointed as the Secretary-General in 2002.
Tangau was elected as the Member of Parliament for Tuaran for the first time in 1999 general election and again in 2004. He did not contest in the 2008 general election, to make way for then-UPKO Deputy President Wilfred Bumburing to contest.
In 2012, Wilfred Bumburing quit UPKO to join the Opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition, thus the Deputy President post fell vacant. Tangau was elected as the new Deputy President in October 2013, defeating Dr. Ewon Ebin, then-UPKO Vice President, with a slim majority.
In the 2013 general election, he once again was elected as the Member of Parliament for Tuaran and won by a majority of over 5,000 votes.
In March 2014, the founding president Bernard Dompok stepped down, nearly 10 months after he lost the Penampang parliamentary seat in the 2018 general election. Since then, Tangau served as the Acting President of UPKO until he won the president post uncontested in the party's triennial general meeting on 24 September 2018.[3]
Ministerial career
editPrime Minister Najib Razak announced a new cabinet line-up on 28 July 2015, involving the appointment of seven new ministers and nine deputy ministers. Tangau was appointed as the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. He was sworn in before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 4 August 2015.[4]
Tangau's vision for the Ministry has been for science, technology and innovation to be drivers of the “new economy”, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He actively promoted innovation as a way of life. Practical problems in life, especially those economic challenges should be properly identified and then innovate to resolved them using science and technologies. Innovators should be encouraged to secure Intellectual Property (IP) for their innovation and then the government should incentivised them to commercialised such that it will generate wealth and create jobs for the people. He started the National Innovation and Creative Economy (NICE) Expo in 2017. He blogs regularly and writes a weekly column every Sunday in the Daily Express, the largest daily newspaper in Sabah, expressing his thoughts about the advancement of science, technology and innovation in the country during his ministerial term.
Later career
editIn the aftermath of 2018 general election, UPKO under his leadership decided to quit Barisan Nasional and joined the Pakatan Harapan-Warisan government bloc both federally and at the state, citing the popular aspiration for change.[5] Tangau was appointed as nominated assemblyman to serve as Deputy Chief Minister I of Sabah (Kadazandusun Murut/Non-Muslim Bumiputera quota) in the Shafie Apdal cabinet and remained so until the coalition lost snap election in 2020.[6]
Election results
edit| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | P149 Tuaran | Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO) | 13,083 | 55.58% | Yunof Edward Maringking (PBS) | 10,270 | 43.63% | 23,745 | 2,813 | 65.88% | ||
| Rubiah F. Ayid (IND) | 185 | 0.79% | ||||||||||
| 2004 | P170 Tuaran | Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO) | 17,354 | 66.21% | Ansari Abdullah (PKR) | 8,855 | 33.79% | 27,190 | 8,499 | 69.14% | ||
| 2013 | Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO) | 20,685 | 51.77% | Wilfred Bumburing (PKR) | 15,495 | 38.78% | 40,760 | 5,190 | 84.62% | |||
| Erveana Ansari (IND) | 2,264 | 5.67% | ||||||||||
| Samin @ Jasmin Dulin (STAR) | 1,509 | 3.78% | ||||||||||
| 2018 | Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO) | 22,494 | 51.54% | Chrisnadia Sinam (PKR) | 14,870 | 34.07% | 44,601 | 7,624 | 82.42% | |||
| Kalakau Untol (PCS) | 2,611 | 5.98% | ||||||||||
| Syra Peter @ P Gom (PHRS) | 2,311 | 5.30% | ||||||||||
| Paumin @ Mohd Aminuddin Aling (PAS) | 1,357 | 3.78% | ||||||||||
| 2022 | Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO) | 24,943 | 42.84% | Joniston Bangkuai (PBS) | 24,710 | 42.44% | 58,227 | 233 | 69.80% | |||
| Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas (WARISAN) | 5,728 | 9.84% | ||||||||||
| Noortaip Suhaili @ Sualee (IND) | 2,008 | 3.45% | ||||||||||
| Muminin Kalingkong @ Norbinsha (PEJUANG) | 445 | 0.76% | ||||||||||
| Boby Lewat (IND) | 393 | 0.67% | ||||||||||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | N15 Kiulu | Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO) | 2,786 | 36.11% | Joniston Bangkuai (PBS) | 4,007 | 51.93% | 7,716 | 1,221 | 70.87% | ||
| Andau Yasun @ Bruno (PCS) | 363 | 4.70% | ||||||||||
| Rozylyn @ Rosalyn Gelunu (LDP) | 274 | 3.55% | ||||||||||
| Dominic Yasun (IND) | 266 | 3.45% | ||||||||||
| Jolianis Lampog (IND) | 20 | 0.26% | ||||||||||
| 2025 | N14 Tamparuli | Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO) | 8,247 | 44.86% | Bonaventure Boniface (PBS) | 5,691 | 30.96% | 18,383 | 2,556 | 68.68% | ||
| Jinitoh Sontori (STAR) | 1,399 | 7.61% | ||||||||||
| Joseph Lee Han Kyun (WARISAN) | 1,082 | 5.89% | ||||||||||
| Gaim @ James Lunkapis (KDM) | 697 | 3.79% | ||||||||||
| Vun Yun Fook (IND) | 377 | 2.05% | ||||||||||
| Johan Jahid (IND) | 258 | 1.40% | ||||||||||
| Julia Ongkili (IMPIAN) | 238 | 1.29% | ||||||||||
| Raymond Alfred (IND) | 229 | 1.25% | ||||||||||
| Aliusus Sipil @ Abdul Aziz (RUMPUN) | 88 | 0.48% | ||||||||||
| Arthur Erik Lee (ANAK NEGERI) | 33 | 0.18% | ||||||||||
| Andrew Mali (IND) | 30 | 0.18% | ||||||||||
| Razali Koroh (IND) | 14 | 0.08% | ||||||||||
Honours
editHonours of Malaysia
edit
Malaysia
Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (JSM) (2000)
Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2024)
Sabah
Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2016)
Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk (2004)
Member of the Order of Kinabalu (ADK) (2002)- Justice of the Peace (JP) (1998)[11]
See also
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- ↑ Jenne Lajiun (17 May 2018). "Shafie unveils his State Cabinet with four new ministries". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ↑ "Ewon to lead UPKO, Madius appointed honorary president". Bernama. 28 September 2022.
- ↑ Chris Maskilone (24 September 2018). "MADIUS TANGAU WON UPKO PRESIDENT POST UNCONTESTED". Sabah News Today. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ↑ "Tangau sworn in as minister". The Borneo Post. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2018 – via PressReader.
- ↑ ASMIN, ASYIKIN (31 July 2022). "UPKO tidak 'lompat parti', hanya tinggalkan gabungan BN: Madius". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ↑ "Shafie names Cabinet | Daily Express Online - Sabah's Leading News Portal". www.dailyexpress.com.my. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ↑ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout (including votes for candidates not listed).
- ↑ "Sabah [Parliament Results]". The Star. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ↑ "N11 Kiulu". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ↑ "The winners of the 17th Sabah state election". Free Malaysia Today. 30 November 2025.
- ↑ Hassan Alban heads Sabah honours list. New Straits Times. 16 September 1998.
