List of Malaysians
Appearance
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
- Wang Gungwu
- Khoo Kay Kim
- Wu Teh Yao
- Afifi al-Akiti
- Khasnor Johan, historian
- Chin Liew Ten
- Jomo Kwame Sundaram
- Danny Quah
- Ungku Abdul Aziz
- Lee Poh Ping
Architects
Artists
Businesspeople
- Tan Hiok Nee (1827–1902)
- Chung Keng Quee (1827–1901)
- Foo Choo Choon (1860–1921)
- Tan Chay Yan (1870–1916)
- Cheah Cheang Lim (1875–1948)
- Loh Boon Siew (1915–1995)
- Lim Goh Tong (1918–2007)
- Choong Chin Liang (1920–1998)
- Robert Kuok (born 1923)
- Teh Hong Piow (1930–2022)
- Ananda Krishnan (born 1938)
- Azman Hashim (born 1938)
- Quek Leng Chan (born 1941)
- Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling
- Vincent Tan Chee Yioun (born 1952)
- Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary (born 1956)
- Lim Kok Thay (born 1951)
- Tony Fernandes (born 1964)
- William Cheng
- Shoba Purushothaman
- Shah Hakim Zain
- Halim Saad
- Saleh Sulong
- Lillian Too (born 1946)
- Yeoh Tiong Lay (1929–2017)
- Francis Yeoh
- Daim Zainuddin (born 1938)
- Kong Hon Kong
- Armin Baniaz Pahamin
- Ramly bin Mokni
Designers
- Zang Toi (born 1961), fashion designer, won the Mouton-Cadet Young Designers Award in 1991, was awarded the title of Datuk by the King of Malaysia in 2013
- Jimmy Choo (born 1961), shoe designer, best known for co-founding Jimmy Choo Ltd, which became known for its handmade women's shoes
- Melinda Looi, fashion designer
- Bernard Chandran, fashion designer
Inventors
- Yi Ren Ng, inventor of the Lytro
Entertainers
- Michelle Yeoh, (born 1962) Malaysian actress
- Ah Niu (born 1976), Malaysian singer
- Angelica Lee (born 1976), Malaysian film actress and pop singer
- Imee Ooi
- Shila Amzah (born 1990), Malaysian singer-songwriter
- Gary Chaw (born 1979), Malaysian singer-songwriter
- Joyce Chu (born 1997), Malaysian singer-songwriter
- Yasmin Ahmad (1958–2009), film director
- Stacy Angie (born 1990)
- Francissca Peter (born 1961)
- Jamal Abdillah (born 1959)
- Sudirman Arshad (1954–1992)
- Loganathan Arumugam (1953–2007)
- David Arumugam, founding member of the Alleycats
- Awal Ashaari (born 1981)
- Alvin Anthons (born 1976)
- Asmawi bin Ani (born 1981)
- Ahmad Azhar (born 1968)
- Ning Baizura (born 1975)
- Kasma Booty (died 2007)
- Ella (born 1966)
- Erra Fazira (born 1974)
- Sean Ghazi (born 1969)
- Fauziah Latiff (born 1970)
- Daniel Lee Chee Hun (born 1983)
- Sheila Majid (born 1965)
- Amy Mastura (born 1971)
- Meor Aziddin Yusof (born 1967)
- Dayang Nurfaizah (born 1981)
- Shanon Shah (born 1978)
- Mohd Taufik Nordin (born 1979)
- Siti Nurhaliza (born 1979)
- Hani Mohsin (1965–2006)
- Aziz M. Osman (born 1962)
- Azmyl Yunor (born 1977)
- P. Ramlee (1929–1973)
- Aziz Sattar (1925–2014)
- Fasha Sandha (born 1984)
- Aznil Nawawi (born 1962) Malaysian TV host
- Din Beramboi (1966–2010)
- Nicholas Teo (born 1981)
- Pete Teo (born 1972)
- Penny Tai (born 1978)
- Hannah Tan (born 1981)
- Ho Yuhang (born 1971)
- Jaclyn Victor (born 1978) Malaysian singer
- Scha Alyahya (born 1983)
- Shock System
- Fazura (born 1983)
- Lisa Surihani (born 1986)
- Chef Wan (born 1958)
- Adira Suhaimi (born 1991)
- Michael Wong (born 1970)
- Victor Wong (born 1972)
- Ziana Zain (born 1968)
- Zee Avi (born 1985)
- Yuna (born 1986)
- Zamil Idris (born 1978)
- Neelofa (born 1989)
- Namewee (born 1983)
- Fish Leong (born 1978)
- Iqram Dinzly (born 1981)
- Aedy Ashraf (born 1993)
- Emma Maembong (born 1992)
- Sharifah Aryana (born 1995)
- Juzzthin (born 1990)
- Hairul Azreen (born 1988)
- Amar Asyraf (born 1986)
- Fadlan Hazim (born 1992)
- Alif Satar (born 1990)
- Hafidz Roshdi (born 1994)
- Shukri Yahaya (born 1988)
- Johan As'ari (born 1986)
- Beto Kusyairy (born 1980)
- Tomok (born 1984)
- Syafiq Yusof (born 1992) Malaysian actor
- Syamsul Yusof (born 1984)
- Syazwan Zulkifly (born 1987)
- Zhang Yaodong (born 1977)
- Chen Hanwei (born 1969)
- Shaun Chen (born 1978)
- Christopher Lee (born 1971)
- Lawrence Wong (born 1988)
- Zen Chong (born 1978)
- Ronny Chieng (born 1985)
- Janna Nick (born 1995) Malaysian singer
- Faizal Tahir (born 1978) Malaysian singer and actor
- Nina Nadira (born 1992) Malaysian singer
- Izzue Islam (born 1990) Malaysian actor
- Sweet Qismina (born 1997) Malaysian singer
- Zalif Sidek (born 1985) Malaysian actor
- Shuk Sahar (born 1986) Malaysian TV host
- Nabil Ahmad (born 1983)
- Zizan Razak (born 1984) Malaysian singer
- Sufian Suhaimi (born 1992)
- Ramona Zamzam (born 1990)
- Hafiz Suip (born 1990)
- Saharul Ridzwan (born 1989)
- Aiman Hakim Ridza (born 1989)
- Aizat Amdan (born 1989)
- Jasmine Suraya Chin (born 1989)
- Noh Salleh (born 1985)
- Remy Ishak (born 1982) Malaysian actor
- Edry Abdul Halim (born 1976)
- Yusry Abdul Halim (born 1973)
- Norman Abdul Halim (born 1972)
Military
- Tan Kee Soon (1803–1857), warrior and leader of Ngee Heng Kongsi, ordered the 4,000 members of its brotherhood to relocate in Johor
- Albert Kwok Fen Nam (1921–1944), warrior and leader of the "Kinabalu Guerrillas" against Japanese occupation
- Leftenan Adnan (1915–1942), warrior from Malaya, who fought the Japanese at the Battle of Pasir Panjang in Singapore
- Antanum, warrior from Sabah, Borneo
- Rentap, warrior from Sarawak
- Syarif Masahor, warrior from Sarawak
- Monsopiad, warrior from Sabah, Borneo
- Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong, warrior from Telemong, Terengganu
- Mat Salleh, warrior from Sabah, Borneo
- Rosli Dhobi, warrior from Sarawak
Sciences
- Lim Boon Keng (1868–1957), 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
- Wu Lien-teh (1879–1960), 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
- Cheah Ming Tatt (born 1983), biologist specializing in immunology and genetics, a recipient of Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Future Scientists Fellowship for his work on RNA splicing
- Shu Jie Lam, research chemist at University of Melbourne
- Siti Aisyah Alias (born 1966), marine polar researcher and educator
- Dr. I-Min Lee (born 1960) Epidemiologist, Harvard School of Public Health, leading researcher into the role of physical activity in promoting health and preventing chronic disease
Politicians
- Parameswara, founder of Sultanate of Malacca
- Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, first Prime Minister of Malaya and Malaysia
- Tun Leong Yew Koh, first Malacca Governor, only Chinese ever appointed as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri in Malaysia, co-founder and first Secretary-General of MCA
- Colonel Tun Sir Henry Lee Hau Shik, first Finance Minister of the Federation of Malaya and co-founded the Malaysian Chinese Association and Alliance Party
- Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock, founder and the first president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA)
- Tun V. T. Sambanthan, founding fathers of Malaysia along with Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tan Cheng Lock
- Tun Abdul Razak, second Prime Minister
- Tun Hussein Onn, third Prime Minister
- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, fourth and seventh Prime Minister, father of Modernisation
- Tun Haji Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, fifth Prime Minister
- Najib Tun Razak, sixth Prime Minister
- Muhyiddin Yassin, eighth prime minister
- Tun Tan Siew Sin, first Minister of Commerce and Industry, Finance Minister for 15 years
- Tun Dato' Seri Lim Chong Eu, Chief Minister of Penang from 1969 to 1990, was termed as the "Architect of Modern Penang"
- Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik, one of the longest-serving ministers in the country and a highly revered statesman by the public
- 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 Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting, former Housing and Local Government Minister from 1999 to 2008 and Acting Transport Minister from May to June 2003
- Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, Chief Minister of Penang from 1990 to 2008
- Anwar Ibrahim
- Wan Hisham
- Nik Aziz Nik Mat
- Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, Federal Territory and Urban Well-being Minister 2010
- Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, 12th Deputy Prime Minister
- Karpal Singh
- Lim Kit Siang
- Lim Guan Eng
- Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
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 (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
Sportspeople
Squash
- Nicol Ann David
- Ong Beng Hee
- Azlan Iskandar
- Low Wee Wern
- Chan Yiwen
- Aifa Azman
- Rachel Arnold
- Wen Li Lai
- Yee Xin Ying
- Mohd Syafiq Kamal
- Ivan Yuen
- Ng Eain Yow
- Addeen Idrakie
- Ong Sai Hung
- Darren Rahul Pragasam
- Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan
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
- Chong Wei Feng
- Chin Eei Hui
- Chew Choon Eng
- Chan Chong Ming
- Muhammad Hafiz Hashim
- Koo Kien Keat
- Roslin Hashim
- Wong Choong Hann
- Lee Chong Wei
- Tan Aik Huang
- Eddy Choong
- Punch Gunalan
- Yap Kim Hock
- Foo Kok Keong
- Jalani Sidek
- Misbun Sidek
- Rashid Sidek
- Razif Sidek
- Cheah Soon Kit
- Lee Wan Wah
- Goh Liu Ying
- Wong Pei Tty
- Choong Tan Fook
- Tan Boon Heong
- Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif
- Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari
- Hoon Thien How
- Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin
Football (soccer)
- Samransak Kram, Perlis FA and former Malaysian player
- Manopsak Kram, Pos Malaysia FC
- Brendan Gan, Sydney FC, Sabah FA, Kelantan FA
- 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 FA, Kedah FA, 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 FA, Pelita Jaya, Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.
- Chun Keng Hong, Penang FA, Chanthaburi F.C.
- Baddrol Bakhtiar, Kedah FA
- Mohd Khyril Muhymeen Zambri, Kedah FA
- Mohd Azmi Muslim, Kedah FA
- Mohd Fadhli Mohd Shas, Harimau Muda A, FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce, Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.
- 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
- Ahmad Fakri Saarani, Perlis United, Atlético S.C., Kelantan, Kedah Darul Aman
- 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
- Kobe Jae Chong, West Bromwich Albion, Cagliari Calcio, Peterborough United, Telford United, Nuneaton Borough
- Luqman Hakim Shamsudin, Selangor II, K.V. Kortrijk, Njardvik
- Arif Aiman Hanapi, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Kashiwa Reysol
- Fergus Tierney, Johor Darul Ta'zim
- Annil Vigneswaran, AFC Ajax, SGV Freiberg, SV Sandhausen, Freiburger
- Safawi Rasid, Terengganu II, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Portimonense S.C., Ratchaburi, Persib Bandung
Retired
- Serbegeth Singh, owner/founder of MyTeam, Blackburn Rovers F.C. (global advisor)
- 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
- Nazim Azman
- Nabil Jeffri
- Weiron Tan
- Aaron Lim
- Tengku Djan Ley
- Mohamed Fairuz Fauzy
- Fariqe Hairuman
- Nandakumar Puspanathan
- Karamjit Singh
- Alex Yoong, ex-Formula One and A1 Grand Prix
- Shahrol Yuzy
- Zulfahmi Khairuddin
- Hafizh Syahrin
- Jazeman Jaafar
- Adam Norrodin
- Khairul Idham Pawi
- Zaqhwan Zaidi
- Kasma Daniel
- Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman
- Syarifuddin Azman
Others
- Pandelela Rinong (born 1993), platform diving
- Jupha Somnet, (born 1993), track cyclist
- Shah Firdaus Sahrom (born 1995), track cyclist
- M. Magendran (born 1963), mountain climber, first Malaysian to conquer the summit of Mount Everest (1997)
- Azizulhasni Awang (born 1988), track cyclist
Writers
Miscellaneous
- 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