List of Malaysians: Difference between revisions

This is a list of Malaysians, people who are identified with Malaysia through residential, legal, historical or cultural means, grouped by their area of notability.

• Afifi al-Akiti (born 1976), Islamic studies scholar
• Chin Liew Ten (born 1939), philosopher
• Danny Quah (born 1958), economist
• Jomo Kwame Sundaram (born 1952), economist
• Khoo Kay Kim (1937-2019), historian and academic
• Khasnor Johan (born 1968), author and historian
• Lee Poh Ping (1942-2016), political scientist
• Ungku Abdul Aziz (1922-2020), economist and Royal Professor
• Wang Gungwu (born 1930), historian, sinologist, and writer
• Wu Teh Yao (1915-1994), political scientist

• Armin Baniaz Pahamin (born 1974)
• Ananda Krishnan (born 1938), founder of Astro and Maxis
• Azman Hashim (born 1938), former chairman of the AmBank Group
• Chung Keng Quee (1827–1901), leader of the Hai San Secret Society in British Malaya
• Cheah Cheang Lim (1875–1948)
• Choong Chin Liang (1920–1998)
• Daim Zainuddin (born 1938), former Malaysian Minister of Finance
• Foo Choo Choon (1860–1921), Hakka tin miner and businessman
• Francis Yeoh (born 1954), executive chairman of YTL Corporation
• Halim Saad (born 1953)
• Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling (born 1945), founder and chairman of the Sunway Group
• Kong Hon Kong (born 1954), founder of Nirvana Asia Group
• Loh Boon Siew (1915–1995), first distributor of Honda motorcycles in Malaysia
• Lim Goh Tong (1918–2007), founder of the Genting Group
• Lillian Too (born 1946)
• Lim Kok Thay (born 1951), chairman of the Genting Group
• Quek Leng Chan (born 1941), co-founder of the Hong Leong Group
• Robert Kuok (born 1923), founder and chairman of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, known as the ‘Sugar King of Asia’, and is the richest man in Malaysia as of 2024^[1]
• Ramly bin Mokni, founder of the Ramly Group
• Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary (born 1951), founder of the Albukhary Foundation
• Shoba Purushothaman (born 1962)
• Saleh Sulong, former chairman of the DRB-HICOM Group
• Tan Hiok Nee (1827–1902), second leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor
• Tan Chay Yan (1870–1916), the first rubber planter in Malaya
• Teh Hong Piow (1930–2022), founder of Public Bank Berhad
• Tony Fernandes (born 1964), group CEO of AirAsia
• Vincent Tan Chee Yioun (born 1952), founder of Berjaya Corporation Berhad
• William Cheng (born 1943), chairman and CEO of the Lion Group
• Yeoh Tiong Lay (1929–2017), founder of YTL Corporation

• Aziz Sattar (1925–2014), Malaysian actor, singer, comedian, and director
• Aziz M. Osman (born 1962), Malaysian actor, director, screenwriter, and producer
• Aznil Nawawi (born 1962), Malaysian TV host, actor, and singer
• Ahmad Azhar (born 1968), Malaysian singer, musician, and actor
• Amy Mastura (born 1971), Malaysian singer and actress
• Ah Niu (born 1976), Malaysian singer
• Angelica Lee (born 1976), Malaysian film actress and pop singer
• Alvin Anthons (born 1976), Malaysian entertainer, actor, and singer
• Azmyl Yunor (born 1977), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Awal Ashaari (born 1981), Malaysian actor, model, and TV host
• Asmawi bin Ani (born 1981), Malaysian actor, singer, director, and radio presenter
• Amar Asyraf (born 1986), Malaysian actor
• Aiman Hakim Ridza (born 1989), Malaysian actor and singer
• Aizat Amdan (born 1989), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Alif Satar (born 1990), Malaysian actor, singer, and TV host
• Adira Suhaimi (born 1991), Malaysian singer
• Aedy Ashraf (born 1993), Malaysian actor
• Beto Kusyairy (born 1980), Malaysian actor
• Chef Wan (born 1958), Malaysian chef and TV personality
• Chen Hanwei (born 1969), Malaysian actor and TV host
• Christopher Lee (born 1971), Malaysian actor, TV host, and businessman
• David Arumugam (born 1950), founding member of the Alleycats, Malaysian musician and singer
• Din Beramboi (1966–2010), Malaysian comedian, actor, and radio DJ
• Dayang Nurfaizah (born 1981), Malaysian singer and actress
• Daniel Lee Chee Hun (born 1983), Malaysian singer
• Ella (born 1966), Malaysian musician, singer, actress, model, and entrepreneur
• Erra Fazira (born 1974), Malaysian actress and singer
• Elyana (born 1987), Malaysian singer and actress
• Emma Maembong (born 1992), Malaysian actress and model
• Francissca Peter (born 1961), Malaysian actress and singer-songwriter
• Fauziah Latiff (born 1970), Malaysian singer and actress
• Faizal Tahir (born 1978), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Fish Leong (born 1978), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Fazura (born 1983), Malaysian actress, singer, and TV host
• Fasha Sandha (born 1984), Malaysian actress
• Fadlan Hazim (born 1992), Malaysian actor, singer, and model
• Gary Chaw (born 1979), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Hani Mohsin (1965–2006), Malaysian actor, host, and producer
• Hannah Tan (born 1981), Malaysian singer and television personality
• Hairul Azreen (born 1988), Malaysian actor and film director
• Hafiz Suip (born 1990), Malaysian singer
• Hafidz Roshdi (born 1994), Malaysian actor and model
• Imee Ooi (born 1964), Malaysian composer and singer
• Iqram Dinzly (born 1981), Malaysian actor and TV host
• Izzue Islam (born 1990), Malaysian actor, singer, and TV host
• Jamal Abdillah (born 1959), Malaysian actor and pop singer
• Jaclyn Victor (born 1978), Malaysian singer, actress, and businesswoman
• Johan As’ari (born 1986), Malaysian actor
• Jasmine Suraya Chin (born 1989), Malaysian TV host and actress
• Juzzthin (born 1990), Malaysian actor and rapper
• Janna Nick (born 1995), Malaysian actress and singer
• Joyce Chu (born 1997), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Kasma Booty (1932-2007), Malaysian actress
• Loganathan Arumugam (1953–2007), Malaysian musician and singer
• Lisa Surihani (born 1986), Malaysian actress, model, and TV host
• Lawrence Wong (born 1988), Malaysian actor
• Michelle Yeoh (born 1962), Malaysian actress
• Meor Yusof Aziddin (1967-2021), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Michael Wong (born 1970), Malaysian singer and composer
• Mohd Taufik Nordin (born 1979), Malaysian composer and singer
• Norman Abdul Halim (born 1972), member of KRU (1992-2018)
• Ning Baizura (born 1975), Malaysian actress and singer
• Nicholas Teo (born 1981), Malaysian singer
• Nabil Ahmad (born 1983), Malaysian actor, comedian, and entertainer
• Namewee (born 1983), Malaysian artist, composer, filmmaker, and actor
• Noh Salleh (born 1985), Malaysian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer
• Neelofa (born 1989), Malaysian actress, TV host, model, and entrepreneur
• Nigel Ng (born 1991), Malaysian comedian of “Uncle Roger” fame
• Nina Nadira (born 1992), Malaysian singer and TV host
• P. Ramlee (1929–1973), Malaysian singer-songwriter, actor, film director, musician, and composer
• Pete Teo (born 1972), Malaysian singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and actor
• Penny Tai (born 1978), Malaysian singer-songwriter, producer, and director
• Remy Ishak (born 1982), Malaysian actor
• Ronny Chieng (born 1985), Malaysian actor and comedian
• Ramona Zamzam (born 1990), Malaysian actress
• Sudirman Arshad (1954–1992), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Sheila Majid (born 1965), Malaysian singer
• Sean Ghazi (born 1969), Malaysian actor, singer, and dancer
• Shanon Shah (born 1978), Malaysian singer-songwriter, playwright, and journalist
• Shaun Chen (born 1978), Malaysian actor, TV host, and former national badminton player
• Siti Nurhaliza (born 1979), Malaysian singer-songwriter, actress, and businesswoman
• Scha Al-yahya (born 1983), Malaysian model, actress, and TV host
• Syamsul Yusof (born 1984), Malaysian actor, film director, producer, writer, and singer
• Shuk Sahar (born 1986), Malaysian actor, comedian, and TV host
• Syazwan Zulkifly (born 1987), Malaysian actor
• Shukri Yahaya (born 1988), Malaysian actor and director
• Saharul Ridzwan (born 1989), Malaysian actor and model
• Shila Amzah (born 1990), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Stacy Angie (born 1990), Malaysian singer
• Syafiq Yusof (born 1992), Malaysian film director
• Sufian Suhaimi (born 1992), Malaysian singer
• Sharifah Aryana (born 1995), Malaysian actress
• Sweet Qismina (born 1997), Malaysian actress
• Shock System (2000-2008), Malaysian rock band
• Tomok (born 1984), Malaysian singer
• Victor Wong (born 1972), Malaysian singer
• Yasmin Ahmad (1958–2009), Malaysian film director
• Yusry Abdul Halim (born 1973), member of KRU (1992-2018)
• Yuna (born 1986), Malaysian singer-songwriter
• Ziana Zain (born 1968), Malaysian singer and actress
• Zhang Yaodong (born 1977), Malaysian actor and businessman
• Zamil Idris (born 1978), Malaysian singer, TV host, and actor
• Zen Chong (born 1978), Malaysian actor
• Zizan Razak (born 1984), Malaysian singer, comedian, and actor
• Zee Avi (born 1985), Malaysian singer-songwriter and musician
• Zalif Sidek (born 1985), Malaysian actor and comedian
• Ezly Syazwan (born 1999), Malaysian singer
• Araff (born 2006), Malaysian singer
• Afiq Sky (born 2006), Malaysian singer
• Ray-D (born 2005), Malaysian singer
• Ariel Fesol (born 1998), Malaysian singer and actor
• Daniel Sher (born 1990), Malaysian singer and actor
• Apich Lo (born 1992), Malaysian actor and singer

• Abdul Hadi Abdul Khattab (born 1952 or 1953), former armed forces General
• Albert Kwok Fen Nam (1921–1944), warrior and leader of the “Kinabalu Guerrillas” against the Japanese occupation in Borneo
• Antanum, Murut warrior from North Borneo
• Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong, warrior from Telemong, Terengganu
• Leftenan Adnan bin Saidi (1915–1942), warrior from Malaya, who fought the Japanese at the Battle of Pasir Panjang in Singapore
• Mat Salleh, warrior from Sabah, Borneo
• Monsopiad, Kadazan-Dusun warrior from Sabah, Borneo
• Rentap, Iban warrior from Sarawak
• Rosli Dhobi, warrior from Sibu, Sarawak
• Syarif Masahor, warrior from Sarikei, Sarawak
• Tan Kee Soon (1803–1857), warrior and leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi who ordered 4,000 members of its brotherhood to relocate to Johor

• Anwar Ibrahim (born 1947), tenth Prime Minister of Malaysia
• Colonel Tun Sir Henry Lee Hau Shik (1900-1988), first Finance Minister of the Federation of Malaya and co-founded the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)
• Dato’ Sri Utama Karpal Singh (1940-2014), politician and lawyer
• Lim Guan Eng (born 1960), politician and member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly
• Najib Tun Razak (born 1953), sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia
• Parameswara of Malacca (1344-1414), founder of the Malacca Sultanate
• Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin (born 1953), former Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Well-being
• Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock (1883-1960), founder and the first president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA)
• Tun Leong Yew Koh (1888-1963), first Governor of Malacca, is the only Chinese ever appointed as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri in Malaysia, is the co-founder and first Secretary-General of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj (1903-1990), first Prime Minister of Malaya and Malaysia and is known as the country’s “Father of Independence”
• Tun Tan Siew Sin (1916-1988), Malaysia’s first Minister of Commerce and Industry and was Malaysia’s Minister of Finance for 15 years
• Tun V. T. Sambanthan (1919-1979), is one of Malaysia’s founding fathers alongside Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tan Cheng Lock
• Tun Dato’ Seri Lim Chong Eu (1919-2010), Chief Minister of Penang from 1969 to 1990, was termed as the “Architect of Modern Penang”
• Tun Abdul Razak Hussein (1922-1976), second Prime Minister of Malaysia and is known as Malaysia’s “Father of Development”
• Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (born 1925), fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia and is known as Malaysia’s “Father of Modernisation”
• Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (1931-2015), former Chief Minister of Kelantan
• Tan Sri Dato’ Lee San Choon (1935-2023), held various ministerial posts in the cabinet from 1969 to 1983, such as Labour and Manpower Minister, Works and Public Utilities Minister, as well as Transport Minister
• Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (born 1937), longest serving member of parliament in Malaysia
• Tun Haji Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (born 1939), fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia
• Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik (1939-2012), former Minister of Energy, Water, and Communications, was one of the longest-serving ministers in the country, and was the third president of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
• Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang (born 1941), longest serving leader of the opposition and second longest serving member of parliament in Malaysia
• Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (born 1947), eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia
• Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon (born 1949), Chief Minister of Penang from 1990 to 2008
• Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting (born 1956), former Housing and Local Government Minister from 1999 to 2008 and Acting Transport Minister from May to June 2003
• Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (born 1952), 12th Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development
• Wan Hisham (born 1956), was a member of the Terengganu State Executive Council

• Ven. Dr. Kirinde Sri Dhammananda Nāyaka Thero, Buddhist monk and scholar, often regarded as Chief High Priest of Malaysia and Singapore
• Ven. Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana, Buddhist monk and instrumental in setting up Ti-Ratana Welfare Society
• Ven. K. L. Dhammajoti, Buddhist monk, one of the leading scholars on ‘Sarvastivada Abhidharma’ and is well known in the world of Buddhist scholarship
• Ven. Sujiva, well-known teacher of Vipassana in the Theravāda Buddhist Tradition
• Ven. Chi Chern, well-known Buddhist monk and principal of the Malaysian Buddhist Institute.
• Antony Selvanayagam, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Penang
• Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, and Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Penang
• Gregory Yong (1925–2008), Second Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore
• Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam, Metropolitan archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei; and publisher of the Catholic weekly newspaper, The Herald
• Ng Moon Hing, fourth and current Anglican Bishop of West Malaysia

• Lee Zii Jia, men’s singles
• Ng Tze Yong, men’s singles
• Cheam June Wei, men’s singles
• Yeoh Seng Zoe, men’s singles
• Lim Chi Wing, men’s singles
• Soong Joo Ven, men’s singles
• Lim Chong King, men’s singles
• Aidil Sholeh, men’s singles
• Lee Shun Yang, men’s singles
• Justin Hoh, men’s singles
• Kok Jing Hong, men’s singles
• Goh Jin Wei, women’s singles
• Myisha Mohd Khairul, women’s singles
• Siti Nurshuhaini, women’s singles
• Eoon Qi Xuan, women’s singles
• Aaron Chia, men’s doubles
• Soh Wooi Yik, men’s doubles
• Man Wei Chong, men’s doubles
• Tee Kai Wun, men’s doubles
• Lim Khim Wah, men’s doubles
• Nur Izzuddin, men’s doubles
• Junaidi Arif, men’s doubles
• Muhammad Haikal, men’s doubles
• Tan Kian Meng, men’s doubles
• Tan Wee Kiong, men’s doubles
• Goh Sze Fei, men’s doubles
• Goh V Shem, men’s doubles
• Boon Xin Yuan, men’s doubles
• Wong Tien Ci, men’s doubles
• Ong Yew Sin, men’s doubles
• Teo Ee Yi, men’s doubles
• Yap Roy King, men’s doubles
• Low Hang Yee, men’s doubles
• Teoh Mei Xing, women’s doubles
• Pearly Tan, women’s doubles
• Thinaah Muralitharan, women’s doubles
• Vivian Hoo, women’s doubles
• Lim Chiew Sien, women’s doubles
• Yap Rui Chen, women’s doubles
• Low Yeen Yuan, women’s doubles
• Valeree Siow, women’s doubles
• Chan Peng Soon, mixed doubles
• Cheah Yee See, mixed doubles
• Goh Soon Huat, mixed doubles
• Shevon Lai, mixed doubles
• Hoo Pang Ron, mixed doubles
• Lai Pei Jing, mixed doubles

• Samransak Kram, Perlis FA and former Malaysian player
• Manopsak Kram, Pos Malaysia FC
• Brendan Gan, Sydney FC, Sabah, Kelantan, Selangor
• Hattaphon Bun An, M3 League club, Langkawi Glory United.
• Matthew Davies, Perth Glory, Sri Pahang FC, Johor Darul Ta’zim
• Shaun Maloney, Wigan Athletic
• Akmal Rizal, Perak F.C., Kedah Darul Aman F.C., RC Strasbourg, FCSR Haguenau
• Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Perak, Negeri Sembilan,Kelantan, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Armed Forces F.C., Terengganu, FELDA United, Sri Pahang, BG Pathum United, Sarawak United, Melaka F.C., Harini
• Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Kelantan F.C.
• Mohd Safiq Rahim, Selangor, Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C.
• Mohd Fadzli Saari, Selangor FA, PBDKT T-Team FC, SV Wehen
• Rudie Ramli, Selangor FA, PKNS F.C., SV Wehen
• Mohd Safee Mohd Sali, Sarawak FA, Selangor F.C., Pelita Jaya, Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C.
• Baddrol Bakhtiar, Kedah FA
• Mohd Khyril Muhymeen Zambri, Kedah Darul Aman F.C.
• Mohd Azmi Muslim, Kedah FA
• Mohd Fadhli Mohd Shas, Harimau Muda A, FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce, Johor Darul Ta’zim
• Mohd Irfan Fazail, Harimau Muda A, FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Sabah
• Wan Zack Haikal Wan Noor, Harimau Muda A, FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce, F.C. Ryūkyū, Kelantan, FELDA United, Selangor, Perak
• Nazirul Naim Che Hashim, Harimau Muda A, F.C. Ryūkyū, Perak, Sabah
• Khairul Izuan Rosli, Sarawak United, Persibo Bojonegoro, PDRM
• Stanley Bernard Stephen Samuel, Sabah, Sporting Clube de Goa
• Nazmi Faiz, Harimau Muda A, SC Beira Mar, PKNS F.C., Selangor, Johor Darul Ta’zim
• Ahmad Fakri Saarani, Perlis United, Atlético S.C., Kelantan, Kedah Darul Aman
• Zafuan Azeman, Kedah Darul Aman, Perlis United, Angthong, Kelantan United, Penang, Uthai Thani
• Richard Chin, Charlton Athletic
• Wan Kuzain, Saint Louis FC, Sporting Kansas City II, Sporting Kansas City, Rio Grande Valley FC, St. Louis City 2
• Quentin Cheng, North Shore Mariners, Central Coast Mariners, Sutherland Sharks, Penang, Selangor
• Luqman Hakim Shamsudin, Selangor II, K.V. Kortrijk, Njardvik, YSCC Yokohama
• Arif Aiman Hanapi, Johor Darul Ta’zim, FC Seoul
• Fergus Tierney, Johor Darul Ta’zim
• Annil Vigneswaran, AFC Ajax, SGV Freiberg, SV Sandhausen, Freiburger FC
• Safawi Rasid, Terengganu II, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Portimonense S.C., Ratchaburi, Persib Bandung
• Nooa Laine, JJK Jyväskylä, Klubi 04, SJK Akatemia, SJK
• Wan Kuzri, Saint Louis, Akron Zips, St. Charles FC, FC Ambush, Akron City FC
• Michael Wong, Auckland United
• Zachary Chung, Birkenhead United AFC
• Muhammad Ariq Darius, Al-Rayyan Academy

• Anwar Fazal, consumer, environmental activist, health advocate
• Irene Fernandez, prominent Malaysian human rights activist
• Lat, famous cartoonist
• Norman Musa (born 1974), chef/restaurateur
• Yong Mun Sen (1896–1962), pioneer artist, father of Malaysian paintings
• Ling Tan (born 1974), international fashion model
• Noor Hisham Abdullah, director general of health