In 2004 Malik was selected as the Labour candidate in Dewsbury and was elected as the Member of Parliament in May 2005, ahead of Conservative Sayeeda Warsi, now Conservative Chair Baroness Warsi.
In 2004 Malik was selected as the Labour candidate in Dewsbury at the 2005 general election. Despite a 4.2% swing to the Conservatives Malik was elected as the Member of Parliament with a majority of 4,615 ahead of Sayeeda Warsi, now Conservative Chair Baroness Warsi.