List of Malaysians of Chinese descent

This is a list of notable Malaysians of Chinese origin, including original immigrants who obtained Malaysian citizenship and their Malaysian descendants. Entries on this list are demonstrably notable by having a linked current article or reliable sources as footnotes against the name to verify they are notable and define themselves either full or partial Chinese, whose ethnic origin lie in China.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

This list also includes emigrant Malaysians of Chinese origin and could be taken as a list of famous Malaysians of Chinese origin.

Entertainment

Film
  • Amber Chia (谢丽萍) – international model and actress
  • Angelica Lee Sin Je (李心洁) – award-winning actress
  • Angie Cheung – actress based in Hong Kong
  • Carmen Soo – international model and actress
  • Carrie Lee Sze Kei (李詩琪) – international actress and host; Miss Chinese Cosmos International 2004/05 Champion, Phoenix TV Hong Kong
  • Chen Han Wei (Tan Hung Wee) – award-winning television actor based in Singapore
  • Chris Tong (童冰玉) – actress
  • Christopher Lee (李銘順)– leading television actor in Singapore; has also acted in joint China-Taiwan-HK-Singapore productions
  • Hannah Tan – singer and actress from Sarawak
  • Isaac Hor (贺倾文) – online personality, post, and emcee
  • James Lee – film director
  • James Wan – film director. Wan was born in Kuching, Malaysia before migrating to Australia when he was seven years old.
  • Jesseca Liu (刘子绚) – actress from Langkawi, based in Singapore
  • Ling Tan (Tan Mang Ling) – international model
  • Koe Yeet – television and movie actress
  • Lyndel Soon – international actress
  • Melvin Sia – Sarawak, Malaysian/Taiwan actor, model, host, singer
  • Michelle Yeoh (杨紫琼) – international actress
  • Ng Tian Hann – director
  • Phyllis Quek – television actress and singer based in Singapore
  • Remy Hii - actor based in Australia
  • Ronny Chieng – stand up comedian
  • Shaun Chen (陈泓宇) – actor based in Singapore
  • Tan Chui Mui – film director, won an award in Pusan Film Festival 2006
  • Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮) – Taiwan-based award-winning director
  • Vivien Yeo (楊秀惠) – television actress who has acted in Hong Kong movies and serials

Fine arts
  • Yong Mun Sen (杨曼生; 1896–1962) –-Kuching born Penangite watercolorist and Malaysian artist; "father of Malaysian painting"; one of the founders of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts or NAFA, Singapore, Penang Art Society[1]
  • C. N. Liew (born 1975) – K.L.-born artist who took the traditional artform of calligraphy to a whole new dimension with his creation of Surrealligraphy
  • Chang Fee Ming (born 1959) – Terengganu-born watercolor painter
  • Red Hong Yi - Sabah-born artist and architectural designer[2]
  • Tang Tuck Kan (鄧德根; 1934-2012)- Pioneer Artist of Malaysian Modern Art Movement in the 60s and 70s.

Music

Fashion

Beauty pageant titleholders

Businesspeople
  • Major China Dato' Tan Hiok Nee – wealthiest and most influential Chinese in Johor during the 19th century
  • Tan Chay Yan - rubber plantation merchant and philanthropist, was noted in Malayan history as the first man to plant rubber on a commercial basis
  • Cheah Cheang Lim – a businessman and miner, also involved in the anti-opium movement and campaigned for Chinese status in the Malaya
  • Robert Kuok – richest man in Malaysia and southeast Asia as of 2011
  • Lim Goh Tong – billionaire businessman who developed Genting Highlands and owns Genting Group
  • Chen Lip Keong - businessman and casino owner of NagaWorld. Ranked #7 in Malaysia's 50 Richest in 2018
  • Lim Kang Hoo – 19th richest person in Malaysia, as of 2014
  • Cheong Yoke Choy – tin miner, philanthropist and benefactor of Chinese education during the British Malaya era
  • Choong Chin Liang – businessman and philanthropist, "Heart Man" of Ipoh
  • Chung Keng Quee – first Malaysian-Chinese capitalist; innovator in tin mining; owner of the largest mine of all in the country at that time, the Kong Loon Kongsi, in Kamunting, Perak; has business interests in Mergui, Peru, Hong Kong and China; founder of the Penang Chinese Town Hall
  • Chung Thye Phin – first Malaysian-Chinese miner to introduce the latest appliances on the mines, under the supervision of a European engineer; founder of the Toh Allang Chinese Tin Company in Perak, the first Chinese limited liability company, in 1925; member of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce
  • Eu Tong Sen – founder of Eu Yan Sang
  • Foo Choo Choon – Hakka tin miner, revenue farmer and businessman from Penang; in his time, was said to have been the richest Chinese person in the world
  • Francis Yeoh – runs YTL Group; son of Yeoh Tiong Lay
  • How Kok Choong - Businessman and philanthropist from Raub, Pahang. Now serves as the Group CEO of AGAPE Superior Living; founder and chairman of AGAPE ATP Corporation, an investment holding specializes in acquisition and merging of top companies in respective industries.
  • Lee Loy Seng – founder of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad
  • Lee Shin Cheng – Chairman/CEO of Malaysian conglomerate IOI Group; 2nd richest person in Malaysia as of 2011
  • Leong Sin Nam – Malaysian businessman
  • Loh Boon Siew – of Boon Siew Honda
  • Loke Yew – businessman and philanthropist during British Malaya
  • Mark Chang Mun Kee – founder of MOL AccessPortal and JobStreet.com, current CEO of JobStreet.com
  • Peter Pek – group managing director of the Malaysian operations of Mercatus+, spokesperson on branding
  • Quek Leng Chan – chairman and co-founder of Hong Leong Group; 5th richest person in Malaysia as of 2011
  • Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling – Sunway Group founder and chairman, the 19th richest person in Malaysia as of 2011
  • Lim Kok Thay – current CEO of Genting Group; 13th richest person in Malaysia as of 2011
  • William Cheng – Chairman of Lion Group, which also owns Parkson Group; 16th richest person in Malaysia as of 2011
  • Teh Hong Piow – Chairman and founder of Public Bank; 6th richest person in Malaysia as of 2011
  • Tiong Hiew King – media and timber tycoon, controls Chinese media, Ming Pao and Sin Chew Daily, managing director/CEO of Rimbunan Hijau Group; 10th richest person in Malaysia as of 2011
  • Vincent Tan Chee Yioun – businessman, owner of Berjaya Group; 9th richest person in Malaysia as of 2011
  • Yeap Chor Ee – Was once the richest man within Malaysia, but the family is still considered to be one of the richest
  • Yeoh Tiong Lay – founder of YTL Group; 7th richest person in Malaysia as of 2011
  • Zang Toi – 5th Avenue New York fashion designer
  • Lillian Too – feng shui master
  • Chan Tien Ghee – current chairman of Cardiff City Football Club, England

Medicine, science and technology
  • 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 (伍连德) (1879–1960) – renowned plague fighter and pioneer in the modernization of China's public health system; first medical student of Chinese descent to study at University of Cambridge in 1896, after winning the Queen's Scholarship held in Singapore; first Malaysian Chinese nominated to receive a Nobel Prize in Medicine, in 1935[6]
  • Gu Hongming - Penang-born scholar and famous professor in Peking University firstly established
  • Pua Khein-Seng (潘建成) – CEO of Phison Electronics Corporation, arguably one of the inventors of the USB flash drive[7]
  • Cheah Ming Tatt – 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

Politicians

Early history
  • Kapitan China Koh Lay Huan (甲必丹辜礼欢) – first Kapitan China of Penang, and also the Kapitan Cina of Kedah at Kuala Muda
  • Kapitan China Tan Kee Soon - first Kapitan China of Tebrau, Johor Bahru and also the first leader of Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor
  • Kapitan China Seah Tee Heng - third Kapitan China of Johor, was one of two Chinese members to the Council of State
  • Major China Dato' Tan Hiok Nee – wealthiest and most influential Chinese in Johor during the 19th century, Johor Kapitan China, the second leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor, one of the Kangchu Johor; Jalan Tan Hiok Nee in Johor Bahru is named after him
  • Kapitan China Lim Ah Siang - third leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor
  • Capitan China Chung Keng Quee – leader of the "Five Associations" or Go-Kuan and the Hai San, Kapitan China of Perak and Penang, member of the Commission for the Pacification of Larut, founding member of the Perak State Council
  • Kapitan China Yap Ah Loy – third Kapitan China of Kuala Lumpur, played an important role in developing the city as a commercial and mining centre during the 19th century
  • Kapitan China Yap Ah Shak – fourth Kapitan China of Kuala Lumpur, a wealthy merchant and a Hai San leader
  • Kapitan China Yap Kwan Seng - fifth and last Kapitan China of Kuala Lumpur
  • Kapitan Chung Thye Phin – last Kapitan China of Perak, member of Perak State Council
  • Kapitan China Ong Tiang Swee - Kapitan China of Sarawak and President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, an advisor on Chinese Affairs and confidant to Rajah Charles Brooke
  • Chung Kok Ming – member of Perak State Council, member of the Federal Council of the Federated Malay States
  • Wong Ah Fook S.M.J. – one of the most famous Kangchu Johor and Chinese Entrepreneur in Johor during the 19th century; Jalan Wong Ah Fook in Johor Bahru is named after him
  • 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
  • Hang Li Po – wife of Malacca's Sultan Mansur Shah (1456–1477); related to the Ming royal court

Malaysian Chinese Association
  • Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock, – founder and the first president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA)
  • Tun Tan Siew Sin – third president of MCA, first Minister of Commerce and Industry, Finance Minister for 15 years
  • Tan Sri Dato' Lee San Choon – fourth president of MCA, held various ministerial posts in the cabinet from 1969 to 1983
  • Tan Sri Dr. Tan Koon Swan – fifth president of MCA
  • Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik – sixth president of MCA, former Malaysian Minister for Transport
  • Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting – seventh president of MCA, former Housing and Local Government Minister from 1999 to 2008 and Acting Transport Minister from May to June 2003
  • Tan Sri Dato' Sri Ong Tee Keat – eighth president of MCA, Transport Minister from March 2008 to June 2010
  • Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek – ninth president of MCA, Minister of Health from 2004 to 2008
  • Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai – tenth president of MCA, Minister of Health from March 2008 to May 2013 and Minister of Transport from June 2014 to May 2018
  • Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong – current President of MCA and current Minister of Transport, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (2014–2018)
  • Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr. Fong Chan Onn – former vice-president of MCA, former Minister of Human Resources
  • Dato' Seri Ong Ka Chuan – secretary-general for MCA twice, Minister of Housing and Local Government from 2008 to 2009, Second Minister for International Trade and Industry from 2015 to 2018
  • Ng Yen Yen – Former Minister of Tourism Malaysia, former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Raub, Pahang, MCA Vice-President
  • Chua Tee Yong – son of Chua Soi Lek. Former Deputy Minister of Finance I, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries of Malaysia, former Johor MCA Youth Chief
  • Kong Cho Ha – former Minister of Transport Malaysia, former MCA Secretary-General, former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Lumut, Perak
  • Chor Chee Heung – former Minister of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia, former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Alor Setar, Kedah
  • Hou Kok Chung – former Deputy Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Kluang, Johor
  • Lee Chee Leong – former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Malaysia; former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Kampar, Perak
  • Lim Si Cheng - Former Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat, Former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Kulai, Johor

Democratic Action Party

Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia

People's Justice Party

Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party
  • Anuar Tan Abdullah @ Tan Teng Loon - current Kelantan state assemblyman for Kota Lama

National Trust Party
  • Hu Pang Chaw - AMANAH national central committee, former PAS supporter club founder
  • Tan Seng Toh - Perak AMANAH state vice-chairman

Sarawak United Peoples' Party

United Bumiputera Heritage Party

Progressive Democratic Party

Sabah Heritage Party

United Sabah Party
  • Mary Yap Kain Ching - former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Tawau, Sabah

Others
  • Tan Sri Datuk Chong Kah Kiat – 13th Chief Minister of Sabah, former president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
  • Ding Kuong Hiing – former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for the Sarikei, Sarawak (from 2008 to 2013)
  • Hee Yit Foong - former Perak state assemblywoman for Jelapang
  • Tan Tee Beng – former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Nibong Tebal, Penang
  • Wee Choo Keong – former Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur (from 2008 to 2013)
  • James Wong Kim Min – first Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak; president of the Sarawak National Party (SNAP)
  • Khaw Boon Wan – serving as the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister for Transport in Singapore since 2015
  • Lee Bee Wah – serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency in Singapore
  • Foo Mee Har – serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for West Coast Group Representation Constituency in Singapore
  • Chin Tet Yung –former Singaporean Member of Parliament (MP) for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency in Singapore
  • Jing Lee – South Australian politician

Sportspeople

Badminton
  • Lee Chong Wei – former world No.1 men's singles shuttler; record ten-time Malaysia Open winner; 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist; 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics silver medalist; World Championship silver and bronze medalist; Asian Games silver and bronze medalist; three-time All England Open champion; a total of 55 career titles won as of 2014
  • Eddy Choong – men's singles shuttler; brother of David E. L. Choong; four-time All-England Open champion
  • Wong Peng Soon – Malaysian-born men's singles shuttler who later represented Singapore; four-time All-England Open champion and record holder for the most Malaysia Open titles (8) won for over 60 years before being surpassed by Lee Chong Wei in 2013
  • David E. L. Choong – men's singles shuttler. Brother of Eddy Choong; All-England champion in 1951, 1952, and 1953
  • Ng Boon Bee – All-England Open men's doubles champion in 1965, 1966, and 1971; member of Malaysia's winning Thomas Cup team in 1967
  • Tan Yee Khan – All-England Open men's doubles champion with Ng Boon Bee in 1965 and 1966, and a member of Malaysia's winning Thomas Cup team in 1967
  • Tan Aik Huang – former All-England Open men's singles champion
  • Koo Kien Keat – former world No.1 men's doubles pair with Tan Boon Heong; Asian Games gold and silver medalist; World Championships silver and bronze medalist; All-England Open Champions; two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist in men's doubles and 2012 London Olympics semifinalists
  • Tan Boon Heong – former world No.1 men's doubles pair with Koo Kien Keat; Asian Games gold and silver medalist, World Championships silver and bronze medalist, All-England Open Champions, 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, 2012 London Olympics semifinalists and former World Junior Champion
  • Chan Chong Ming – men's doubles shuttler; 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medalist; World Championships and Asian Games bronze medalist; two-time World Junior Champion
  • Chan Peng Soon – former world No.3 mixed doubles pair with Goh Liu Ying
  • Goh Liu Ying – former world No.3 mixed doubles pair with Chan Peng Soon
  • Wong Mew Choo – former world No.7 women's singles shuttler; 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medalist; wife to Lee Chong Wei as of 2012
  • Cheah Soon Kit – former world no.1 men's doubles shuttler; 1996 Olympics silver medalist with Yap Kim Hock, member of Malaysia's 1992 winning Thomas cup team, World Cup and World Grand Prix gold medalist, Commonwealth Games gold and silver medalist, World Championships silver and bronze medalist and Asian Games silver medalist
  • Yap Kim Hock – men's doubles shuttler; 1996 Olympics silver medalist with Cheah Soon Kit; World Grand Prix gold medalist; Commonwealth Games gold and silver medalist; World Championship silver and bronze medalist; Asian Games bronze medalist
  • Wong Choong Hann – former world No.2 men's singles shuttler; 2003 World Championships silver medalist; Commonwealth Games gold, silver and bronze medalist
  • Ong Ewe Hock – former world No.2 men's singles shuttler; 1994 Commonwealth games silver medalist

Diving
  • Yeoh Ken Nee – won bronze medal in springboard diving at the 2002 and 2010 Asian Games
  • Ooi Tze Liang – won gold medal in springboard and silver medal in platform at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
  • Leong Mun Yee – won bronze medal in springboard diving at the 2006 Asian Games
  • Cheong Jun Hoong – won a silver medal in 10m synchronized diving at the 2016 Olympics with Pandelela Rinong. Won a gold medal in the 10m platform event at the 2017 FINA World Championship s.

Swimming
  • Alex Lim – won gold medal in backstroke at the 1998 Asian games, silver medal in backstroke at 2002 Commonwealth games
  • Welson Sim – competed in the men's 400 metre freestyle at the 2016 Olympics

Football
  • Soh Chin Aun – former captain of Malaysia's national football team
  • Lim Teong Kim – retired Malaysian football player; former assistant coach of Bayern Munich U-19 team
  • Ong Kim Swee – head coach of Malaysia national football team

Cycling
  • Josiah Ng – won silver medals in track cycling at the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Asian Games; won gold medal in track cycling at 2010 Commonwealth Games
  • Ng Joo Ngan – former Commonwealth Games cycling champion

Misc.
  • Chung Thye Yong – first Chinese rugby player in Malaysia; first racehorse owner in the country
  • Chung Kok Ming – one of the finest tennis players in the country during his time – first Asian committee member of Perak Turf Club
  • Alex Yoong – Formula One racer
  • Aaron Lim – racing driver

Writers
  • Gu Hongming 辜鸿铭 (1857–1928), famous Chinese scholar from Penang; in 1873 he began studying literature at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1877 with an M.A.
  • Tash Aw – author of The Harmony Silk Factory, which made the Man Booker Prize 2005 longlist and won the 2005 Whitbread First Novel award
  • Woon Swee Oan – author of wuxia novels
  • Tan Twan Eng – Penangite author of The Gift of Rain, which was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize award, and The Garden of Evening Mists, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the IMPAC Literary Prize, and won the Man Asian Literary Prize and the Sir Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction
  • Kevin Nyiau 杨建伟, Kedah author of Hope is at the Turning Point | 希望在转角
  • Ed Yong, Malaysian-born British science journalist, staff writer for the Atlantic.

Others

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/01/27/hong-yi-the-artist-who-paints-without-paintbrush/
  3. 'Memories of Penang' by Jimmy Fong, retrieved 1 November 2019
  4. Pills. ©, Andy: Pop Music Not (24 August 2018). ".: Jimmy Fong: Penang Boy In Australia: By Majorie Chiew". '. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  5. Jeremy Veno (2 September 2018). "Up close and personal with local beauties". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  6. Wu Lien-Teh, Plague Fighter: The Autobiography of a Modern Chinese Physician. Areca Books, 2014 (reprint). ISBN 9789675719141
  7. "Up close & personal with Pua Khein-Seng". Biz.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
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