List of Malaysians

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.

By ethnicity or place of origin

By Malaysian state

Johor
Kedah
Kelantan
Kuala Lumpur
Malacca
Negeri Sembilan
Pahang
Penang
Perak
Perlis
Sabah
Sarawak
Selangor
Terengganu
Foreign-born Malaysians

Academicians

Afifi al-Akiti, Islamic studies scholar
Chin Liew Ten, philosopher
Danny Quah, economist
Jomo Kwame Sundaram, economist
Khoo Kay Kim, historian and academic
Khasnor Johan, author and historian
Lee Poh Ping, political scientist
Ungku Abdul Aziz, economist and Royal Professor
Wang Gungwu, historian, sinologist, and writer
Wu Teh Yao, political scientist

Business People

Armin Baniaz Pahamin
Ananda Krishnan, founder of Astro and Maxis
Azman Hashim, former chairman of the AmBank Group
Chung Keng Quee, leader of the Hai San Secret Society in British Malaya
Cheah Cheang Lim
Choong Chin Liang
Daim Zainuddin, former Malaysian Minister of Finance
Foo Choo Choon, Hakka tin miner and businessman
Francis Yeoh, executive chairman of YTL Corporation
Halim Saad
Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling, founder and chairman of the Sunway Group
Kong Hon Kong, founder of Nirvana Asia Group
Loh Boon Siew, first distributor of Honda motorcycles in Malaysia
Lim Goh Tong, founder of the Genting Group
Lillian Too
Lim Kok Thay, chairman of the Genting Group
Quek Leng Chan, co-founder of the Hong Leong Group
Robert Kuok, 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
Ramly bin Mokni, founder of the Ramly Group
Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary, founder of the Albukhary Foundation
Shoba Purushothaman
Saleh Sulong, former chairman of the DRB-HICOM Group
Tan Hiok Nee, second leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor
Tan Chay Yan, the first rubber planter in Malaya
Teh Hong Piow, founder of Public Bank Berhad
Tony Fernandes, group CEO of AirAsia
Vincent Tan Chee Yioun, founder of Berjaya Corporation Berhad
William Cheng, chairman and CEO of the Lion Group
Yeoh Tiong Lay, founder of YTL Corporation

Designers

Bernard Chandran, fashion designer
Jimmy Choo, shoe designer, best known for co-founding Jimmy Choo Ltd, which became known for its handmade women's shoes

Inventors

Yi Ren Ng, founder and CEO of Lytro

Entertainers

Aziz Sattar, Malaysian actor, singer, comedian, and director
Aziz M. Osman, Malaysian actor, director, screenwriter, and producer
Aznil Nawawi, Malaysian TV host, actor, and singer
Ahmad Azhar, Malaysian singer, musician, and actor
Amy Mastura, Malaysian singer and actress
Ah Niu, Malaysian singer
Angelica Lee, Malaysian film actress and pop singer
Alvin Anthons, Malaysian entertainer, actor, and singer
Azmyl Yunor, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Awal Ashaari, Malaysian actor, model, and TV host
Asmawi bin Ani, Malaysian actor, singer, director, and radio presenter
Amar Asyraf, Malaysian actor
Aiman Hakim Ridza, Malaysian actor and singer
Aizat Amdan, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Alif Satar, Malaysian actor, singer, and TV host
Adira Suhaimi, Malaysian singer
Aedy Ashraf, Malaysian actor
Beto Kusyairy, Malaysian actor
Chef Wan, Malaysian chef and TV personality
Chen Hanwei, Malaysian actor and TV host
Christopher Lee, Malaysian actor, TV host, and businessman
David Arumugam, founding member of the Alleycats, Malaysian musician and singer
Din Beramboi, Malaysian comedian, actor, and radio DJ
Dayang Nurfaizah, Malaysian singer and actress
Daniel Lee Chee Hun, Malaysian singer
Ella, Malaysian musician, singer, actress, model, and entrepreneur
Erra Fazira, Malaysian actress and singer
Elyana, Malaysian singer and actress
Emma Maembong, Malaysian actress and model
Francissca Peter, Malaysian actress and singer-songwriter
Fauziah Latiff, Malaysian singer and actress
Faizal Tahir, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Fish Leong, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Fazura, Malaysian actress, singer, and TV host
Fasha Sandha, Malaysian actress
Fadlan Hazim, Malaysian actor, singer, and model
Gary Chaw, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Hani Mohsin, Malaysian actor, host, and producer
Hannah Tan, Malaysian singer and television personality
Hairul Azreen, Malaysian actor and film director
Hafiz Suip, Malaysian singer
Hafidz Roshdi, Malaysian actor and model
Imee Ooi, Malaysian composer and singer
Iqram Dinzly, Malaysian actor and TV host
Izzue Islam, Malaysian actor, singer, and TV host
Jamal Abdillah, Malaysian actor and pop singer
Jaclyn Victor, Malaysian singer, actress, and businesswoman
Johan As'ari, Malaysian actor
Jasmine Suraya Chin, Malaysian TV host and actress
Juzzthin, Malaysian actor and rapper
Janna Nick, Malaysian actress and singer
Joyce Chu, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Kasma Booty, Malaysian actress
Loganathan Arumugam, Malaysian musician and singer
Lisa Surihani, Malaysian actress, model, and TV host
Lawrence Wong, Malaysian actor
Michelle Yeoh, Malaysian actress
Meor Yusof Aziddin, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Michael Wong, Malaysian singer and composer
Mohd Taufik Nordin, Malaysian composer and singer
Norman Abdul Halim, member of KRU
Ning Baizura, Malaysian actress and singer
Nicholas Teo, Malaysian singer
Nabil Ahmad, Malaysian actor, comedian, and entertainer
Namewee, Malaysian artist, composer, filmmaker, and actor
Noh Salleh, Malaysian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer
Neelofa, Malaysian actress, TV host, model, and entrepreneur
Nigel Ng, Malaysian comedian of "Uncle Roger" fame
Nina Nadira, Malaysian singer and TV host
P. Ramlee, Malaysian singer-songwriter, actor, film director, musician, and composer
Pete Teo, Malaysian singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and actor
Penny Tai, Malaysian singer-songwriter, producer, and director
Remy Ishak, Malaysian actor
Ronny Chieng, Malaysian actor and comedian
Ramona Zamzam, Malaysian actress
Sudirman Arshad, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Sheila Majid, Malaysian singer
Sean Ghazi, Malaysian actor, singer, and dancer
Shanon Shah, Malaysian singer-songwriter, playwright, and journalist
Shaun Chen, Malaysian actor, TV host, and former national badminton player
Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian singer-songwriter, actress, and businesswoman
Scha Al-yahya, Malaysian model, actress, and TV host
Syamsul Yusof, Malaysian actor, film director, producer, writer, and singer
Shuk Sahar, Malaysian actor, comedian, and TV host
Syazwan Zulkifly, Malaysian actor
Shukri Yahaya, Malaysian actor and director
Saharul Ridzwan, Malaysian actor and model
Shila Amzah, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Stacy Angie, Malaysian singer
Syafiq Yusof, Malaysian film director
Sufian Suhaimi, Malaysian singer
Sharifah Aryana, Malaysian actress
Sweet Qismina, Malaysian actress
Shock System, Malaysian rock band
Tomok, Malaysian singer
Victor Wong, Malaysian singer
Yasmin Ahmad, Malaysian film director
Yusry Abdul Halim, member of KRU
Yuna, Malaysian singer-songwriter
Ziana Zain, Malaysian singer and actress
Zhang Yaodong, Malaysian actor and businessman
Zamil Idris, Malaysian singer, TV host, and actor
Zen Chong, Malaysian actor
Zizan Razak, Malaysian singer, comedian, and actor
Zee Avi, Malaysian singer-songwriter and musician
Zalif Sidek, Malaysian actor and comedian

Military

Abdul Hadi Abdul Khattab, former armed forces General
Albert Kwok Fen Nam, 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, 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, warrior and leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi who ordered 4,000 members of its brotherhood to relocate to Johor

Sciences

Cheah Ming Tatt, biologist specializing in immunology and genetics and a recipient of Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Future Scientists Fellowship for his work on RNA splicing
I-Min Lee, Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; leading researcher in the role of physical activity in promoting health and preventing chronic disease
Lim Boon Keng, first Malayan to receive a Queen's Scholarship, gained admission to the University of Edinburgh, and graduated in 1892 with a first class honours degree in medicine
Shu Jie Lam, research chemist who specializes in biomolecular engineering at the University of Melbourne
Siti Aisyah Alias, marine polar researcher and educator
Wu Lien-teh, a Malaysian physician renowned for his work in public health and the first Malayan nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1935

Politicians

Anwar Ibrahim, tenth Prime Minister of Malaysia
Colonel Tun Sir Henry Lee Hau Shik, first Finance Minister of the Federation of Malaya and co-founded the Malaysian Chinese Association
Dato' Sri Utama Karpal Singh, politician and lawyer
Lim Guan Eng, politician and member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly
Najib Tun Razak, sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia
Parameswara of Malacca, founder of the Malacca Sultanate
Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, former Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Well-being
Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock, founder and the first president of the Malayan Chinese Association
Tun Leong Yew Koh, 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
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, first Prime Minister of Malaya and Malaysia and is known as the country's "Father of Independence"
Tun Tan Siew Sin, Malaysia's first Minister of Commerce and Industry and was Malaysia's Minister of Finance for 15 years
Tun V. T. Sambanthan, is one of Malaysia's founding fathers alongside Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tan Cheng Lock
Tun Dato' Seri Lim Chong Eu, Chief Minister of Penang from 1969 to 1990, was termed as the "Architect of Modern Penang"
Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, second Prime Minister of Malaysia and is known as Malaysia's "Father of Development"
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia and is known as Malaysia's "Father of Modernisation"
Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, former Chief Minister of Kelantan
Tan Sri Dato' Lee San Choon, 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, longest serving member of parliament in Malaysia
Tun Haji Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia
Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik, 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, longest serving leader of the opposition and second longest serving member of parliament in Malaysia
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia
Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, Chief Minister of Penang from 1990 to 2008
Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting, former Housing and Local Government Minister from 1999 to 2008 and Acting Transport Minister from May to June 2003
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, 12th Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development
Wan Hisham, was a member of the Terengganu State Executive Council

Religious

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, 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

Sportspeople

Squash

Badminton

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

Retired

Football (soccer)

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 SC
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
Michael Wong, Auckland United

Retired

Serbegeth Singh, owner/founder of MyTeam, Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Mokhtar Dahari, former Selangor FA and Malaysian player
Lim Teong Kim, former Hertha BSC player
Matlan Marjan, former Sabah FA and Malaysian player
Soh Chin Aun, former Selangor FA and Malaysian player
Khairul Azman Mohamed, former Pahang FA, Sabah FA and Malaysian player

Racing

Chess

Mas Hafizulhelmi, International Master, 2-time National Champion
Lim Zhuo Ren, FIDE Master, 2-time National Champion
Puteri Munajjah Az-Zahraa Azhar, Woman International Master, 2-time Women's National Champion
Yeoh Li Tian, International Master, Malaysian No.1, 2-time National Champion

Others

Lee Lee Lan – ballet dancer and choreographer
Pandelela Rinong, platform diving
Jupha Somnet,, track cyclist
Shah Firdaus Sahrom, track cyclist
M. Magendran, mountain climber, first Malaysian to conquer the summit of Mount Everest
Azizulhasni Awang, track cyclist

Miscellaneous

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