Famous Malaysian Leaders

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.

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. 
 

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.

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.

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.

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.
 

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.

Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is a Malaysian politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia as well as the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development from 21 May 2018 to 24 February 2020. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is the first female to hold the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Khairy Jamaluddin is a Malaysian politician known for his service as the Youth Chief of United Malays National Organisation from 2009 to 2018. He has also been serving as the Minister of Health since 2021. Jamaluddin also had a successful career as a polo player. In 2017, he helped his team win the gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games.
 

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.  

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.

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).

Rina Harun is a Malaysian politician who served as the Minister of Rural Development from 2018 to 2020. She has also been serving as the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development since 2020.

Vijay Eswaran is a Malaysian businessman best known for his association with the QI Group. He is credited with co-founding a direct selling company in 1998, which went on to become the popular e-commerce based conglomerate, The QI Group. 

Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan reigned as the first Paramount Ruler of the Federation of Malaya from 31 August 1957 to 1 April 1960. He also served as the second Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and eighth Yamtuan of Seri Menanti. Since 1967, his portrait has been featuring on Malaysian Ringgit banknotes and several places are named after him.       
 

Zuraida Kamaruddin is a Malaysian politician and the current Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities. From 2018 to 2021, she also served as the Minister of Housing and Local Government. An important and influential politician, Zuraida Kamaruddin served as the Women's Chief of the People's Justice Party from 2007 to 2018.

Chua Soi Lek is a Chinese Malaysian politician who served as the ninth president of a major component party called the Malaysian Chinese Association. From 2004 to 2008, he served as the Minister of Health in Malaysia. Chua Soi Lek announced his resignation from all posts in 2008 after a sex video featuring him and a young woman went viral.

Azalina Othman Said is a Malaysian politician who has held several ministerial roles, such as the Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Tourism, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. From 2001 to 2004, Azalina Othman Said was the first person to hold the office of the Women's Youth Chief of United Malays National Organisation.

Lee Bee Wah is a Malaysian-born Singaporean former engineer and politician. Lee was a member of the popular People's Action Party (PAP), which has governed the country since its independence from Britain in 1963. Prior to her political career, Lee Bee Wah had established an engineering firm called LBW Consultants LLP, which was acquired by the Meinhardt Group in 2014.  

Sirajuddin of Perlis reigned as the Paramount Ruler of Malaysia from 2001 to 2006. Since 2000, he has been reigning as the Raja of Perlis. Sirajuddin frequently interacts with his people and heads several social organizations. He also takes great care to ensure that the students of Perlis get educated locally and abroad.

Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is a Malaysian politician best known for his service as the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs from 2018 to 2020. Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is currently serving as the Secretary-General of the Pakatan Harapan, which is now a part of the Alliance of Hope.  

Teresa Kok is a Malaysian politician best known for her service as the Minister of Primary Industries from 2 July 2018 until the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration on 24 February 2020. Teresa Kok is currently serving as an important member of the Democratic Action Party. 
 

Malaysian MP Maria Chin Abdullah is also a prominent human rights and women’s rights activist. She also leads the anti-corruption movement Bersih, which promotes free and fair elections. She was once sentenced to 7 days in prison for criticizing the syariah system and how it discriminated against women.

Legendary Malaysian peasant rebellion leader Muhammad Hasan was known as Tok Janggut because of his long white beard. He led a strong anti-colonial movement of about 2,000 farmers against the British and also led a tax boycott. He eventually died in an attack and became a martyr of the struggle.

Yap Ah Loy was an important leader of early Kuala Lumpur. He is credited with developing the city as a mining and commercial centre, serving as Kuala Lumpur's third Kapitan China. Kuala Lumpur eventually became the capital city of Malaysia and it houses a street in the heart of Chinatown, which is named after Yap Ah Loy.

Malaysian politician Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who served as the Secretary-General of the United Malays National Organization and is now the Treasurer-General of the organization. He has previously been the tourism minister and the deputy minister in the PM’s department. He once made headlines for calling female bloggers “liars.”

Malaysian senior minister Azmin Ali was born in Singapore, to a British Army clerk. He met his future wife while studying at the University of Minnesota. In 2019, he became a victim of a sex scandal when a viral video showed him being intimate with a man.

Teo Nie Ching is a Malaysian politician best known for her service as the Deputy Minister of Education from 2 July 2018 until the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration on 24 February 2020. Teo Nie Ching is currently serving as a Member of the Malaysian Parliament from the Kulai constituency.
 

Malaysian politician and United Malays National Organisation member Noraini Ahmad is now the Deputy President (Women Chief) of the party. She has previously been her country’s higher education minister but resigned in August 2021, complying with her party’s decision. She has also chaired the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation.

Ismail Abdul Rahman was a Malaysian politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1970 to 1973. He also held other ministerial offices, such as the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs. His actions while serving as the Minister of Home Affairs in 1969, earned him the title the man who saved Malaysia.

Nancy Shukri is a Malaysian politician best known for serving as the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. She served her first term from 2020 to 2021 in the Perikatan Nasional administration and is currently serving her second term in the Barisan Nasional administration. From 2013 to 2018, Nancy Shukri served as the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

Former United Malays National Organisation Women Chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has held several major posts, including the ministry of women affairs. A qualified lawyer, she has also been a magistrate for a few years. Initially suspected of being involved in a loan misuse case, she was later cleared of all charges.

Malaysian bendahara of the Sultanate of Malacca, Tun Perak was first raised to the position by Sultan Muzaffar Shah. He was known for his successful resistance of the Siamese attacks and for his efforts in colonizing areas such as Pahang, Johor, Bengkalis, Inderagiri, and Karimon.

Christina Liew is a Malaysian politician best known for serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah from 16 May 2018 to 29 September 2020. She is currently serving as a Member of the Malaysian Parliament from the Tawau constituency.

Malaysian politician Mastura Mohd Yazid is also a qualified lawyer and specializes in shariah law. Starting her career in her father’s law firm, she became the MP of Kuala Kangsar after her husband, MP Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad’s death. She was also involved in charity work with her husband.

Jins Shamsuddin was a Malaysian actor, director, writer, producer, and politician. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Jefri Zain in a series of action movies bankrolled by Malay Film Production. In 2004, Jins Shamsuddin was honored at the Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH) with the prestigious Veteran Artist Award.

Halimah Mohamed Sadique is a Malaysian politician who served as the Deputy Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing, and Local Government from 2013 to 2018. She is also known for serving her first term as Minister of National Unity in the Perikatan Nasional administration from 2020 to 2021. She is currently serving her second term in the Barisan Nasional administration.
 

Mohd Effendi Norwawi is a Malaysian politician, administrator, and businessman. He is best known for his service as the Minister of Agriculture from 1999 to 2004. He is also renowned for his association with Encorp Berhad, which he founded in 1995.