YBhg. Dato’ Zakaria bin Shaaban currently serves as the Director General of Immigration Malaysia, a position he assumed in September 2024. With close to 30 years of experience in public administration, Dato’ Zakaria is recognised for his extensive contributions to the Malaysian civil service across various ministries and strategic portfolios. His career reflects a consistent commitment to good governance, institutional reform, and efficient public service delivery.
He began his journey in the civil service in 1996 and has since held a number of senior positions, including Deputy Secretary-General at the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living, Deputy Director General (Management) of the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Deputy Director General at the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), and Deputy Secretary-General (Management) at the Prime Minister’s Office. He also served in key roles within the Public Service Department, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, and Ministry of Domestic Trade. These roles have provided him with deep experience in areas ranging from disaster response and human resource development to tourism, education policy, and immigration reform.
Dato’ Zakaria holds a Master of Business Administration (Finance) and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). He also obtained a PostgraduateDiploma in Public Administration from the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN). His academic background complements his professional achievements, contributing to a leadership style grounded in strategic planning, policy execution, and people-centric service.
In recognition of his service, he has been awarded several national honours, including the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) from Pulau Pinang in 2021, Johan Mangku Negara (JMN) also in 2021, Setia Diraja Kedah (Kehormat) in 2017, and Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) in 2015.
Dato’ Zakaria’s leadership continues to shape the national immigration framework, ensuring secure, transparent, and citizen friendly systems that align with Malaysia’s aspirations for administrative excellence and international engagement.