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Malaysian badminton player Lee Zii Jia has gold medals in the Asian Championships, the Asia Team Championships, and the Southeast Asian Games. He began his training in badminton at age 6 and later joined the Bukit Jalil Sports School. He made headlines when he was banned by the Badminton Association of Malaysia temporarily.
The quintessential action heroine of the 1990s Hong Kong action films, Chinese-Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh gained international recognition after playing an important role in the 1997 James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies. In 2008, she was named the greatest action heroine of all time by Rotten Tomatoes. She is the only Asian named in People's 35 All-Time Screen Beauties list.
Mahathir Mohamad is a Malaysian statesman, doctor, and author. He twice served as the prime minister of Malaysia and is widely regarded as one of the most popular Malaysian prime ministers of all time. Under his premiership, Malaysia underwent a period of rapid economic growth and modernization. Mahathir Mohamad is also credited with establishing strong foreign relations with many countries.
James Wan is an Australian screenwriter, film director, comic book writer, and producer. He is credited with creating or co-creating the popular Insidious, Saw, and The Conjuring Universe franchises. An exponent of the horror genre, James Wan established the Atomic Monster Productions, which produces television and film projects. He is also one of the most successful filmmakers of his generation.
Anwar Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition twice. Interested in politics from an early age, he joined the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) as a young man. He rose through the ranks to become the finance minister and the deputy prime minister. He is a controversial figure and has been jailed for sodomy.
Tony Fernandes is a Malaysian entrepreneur best known as the founder of a popular air transport provider called Tune Air. He is credited with introducing the first low-cost airline, AirAsia, to Malaysians. Tony Fernandes is also credited with turning AirAsia into a highly successful public-listed company.
Vincent Tan is a Malaysian Chinese investor and businessman. He is credited with founding Berjaya Corporation Berhad, a Malaysia-based corporation that operates a wide range of businesses. In 2010, Tan was named in the Forbes' billionaire list. Also known for his philanthropic efforts, Vincent Tan founded the Better Malaysia Foundation, which grants scholarships and interest-free loans to students in need.
Poh Ling Yeow is a Malaysian-born Australian television presenter, cook, author, actress, and artist who lives and works in Adelaide. A popular figure, Yeow has appeared in several films and popular TV shows like MasterChef Australia. Also known for her humanitarian efforts, Poh Ling Yeow donated her artwork to benefit Flinders Medical Centre in 2003.
Former Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had initially served the civil services. He focused on removing corruption and poverty from his country during his tenure as the PM. He is also a talented poet, and following his retirement, he now serves as the chancellor of the Universiti Teknologi Petronas.
Former finance minister of Malaysia Lim Guan Eng was no stranger to politics as a child, being the son of politician Lim Kit Siang. Educated in Malaysia and Australia, Eng had initially begun his career as a banker. He has faced a number of legal issues, including charges of corruption.
Born to an English judge in British India, James Brooke was educated in England and then served the Bengal Army. He later established the Brooke Raj, or the State of Sarawak, in Borneo and reigned as its first White Rajah. He was knighted and later handed over his Raj to his nephew.
Abdul Razak Hussein was a Malaysian politician best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Malaysia from 22 September 1970 until his death on 14 January 1976. An influential politician, Abdul Razak Hussein held several other prominent offices, including the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Home Affairs.
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor went from being an orthopaedic surgeon to becoming the first Malaysian man to fly into space. Chosen out of 11,000 applicants to join the Malaysian-Russian collaborative space initiative Angkasawan, he became a national hero. He also conducted various medical research experiments while in space.
Former Malaysian prime minister Hussein Onn is remembered as the Father of Unity. Son of Malaysian freedom fighter Onn Jaafar, Hussein had been educated in Singapore and then been part of the Indian Army during World War II. He later stepped into politics with the UMNO.
Hishammuddin Hussein is a Malaysian politician who has held various ministerial roles including the Deputy Minister of Primary Industries, Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Education, Minister of Home Affairs, and Minister of Defence. Hishammuddin Hussein has also been an important member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) since 1989.
Nurul Izzah Anwar is a Malaysian politician who served as the People's Justice Party's Vice-President from 2010 to 2018. The daughter of Dato' Seri Haji Anwar bin Ibrahim, Nurul Izzah is an ardent advocate of civil and human rights.
Two-time Olympic medalist Pandelela Rinong was scouted for state diving at the age of 7. Born into a modest family of a contractor, she initially dreamed of becoming an air stewardess and of traveling the world. She scripted history as the first Malaysian female to win an Olympic medal.
Lawrence Wong is a Malaysian-born Singaporean actor whose portrayal of Hai Lan Cha in the Chinese historical series Story of Yanxi Palace earned him a place in the most influential artistes in China list. His role in the series also earned him a Golden Angel Award under the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category.
Yeo Bee Yin is a Malaysian politician who served as the Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change from 2 July 2018 to 24 February 2020. Her work as the Minister of Energy and Climate Change earned her several honors including a place in The Ecologist's list of 25 female climate leaders shaping 2019.
Blamed for undermining the British Imperial prestige by surrendering to the Japanese Army during the Battle of Singapore, Arthur Percival was actually a distinguished military officer, known for his successful campaigns in interwar period. Plagued with underequipped garrison from the beginning, he was forced to surrender in order to save the lives of his 100,000 men and became the scapegoat.
Malaysian track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, also known as The Pocket Rocketman, has both an Olympic bronze and silver in his kitty. Adopted as a child, he took up cycling at age 10. While studying sports science in Australia, he became the first non-Australian to get a Blue Award from Victoria University.
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is a Malaysian politician who played an important role in establishing key policies and foundations in Malaysia's economy. For his immense contribution to Malaysia's economy, Razaleigh is often referred to as the Father of Malaysian Economic Development. Razaleigh, who held various ministerial positions in the past, is currently serving as a member of parliament (MP).
Lim Kit Siang is a Malaysian politician best known for his service as the Leader of the Opposition. Lim Kit Siang served in this position on three occasions for almost 30 years, making him the longest-serving Malaysian leader of the opposition.
