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28 Famous Malaysians You Should Know

Celebrities, politicians, activists, models, millionaires and entrepreneurs; Malaysia has some famous people worth knowing. Here are 28 famous Malaysians you should know.

1. Dato’ Jimmy Choo, OBE Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat

Dato’ Jimmy Choo comes from a family of shoemakers in Penang. His name, Jimmy Choo, was actually misspelled on his birth certificate; Jimmy Choo was supposed to be Jimmy Chow! His company’s international recognition for its expensive and high-end handmade women’s shoes can be traced back to his father who taught Choo how to make his first shoe at the age of 11. Jimmy co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd in 1996 but has since sold his 50% stake in the company to his co-founder, Tamara Mellon. Based in London, Jimmy Choo is currently involved in a project to set up a shoemaking institute in Malaysia.

2. Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan

A prominent Malaysian lawyer and human rights advocate, Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan graduated, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law, from the University of Exeter in 1979, admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 1982, and is one of the eight recipients of the US International Women of Courage Award in 2009, which she received from Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. From 2007 to 2009, she served as the President of the Malaysian Bar Council.

Ambiga is also well-known for her involvement in  Bersih, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections looking to change the current electoral system in Malaysia. The United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton commended Ambiga on her “remarkable record of accomplishment in Malaysia” for being “a resolute advocate of women’s equality and their full political participation”.

See Also : 9 Inspiring Women to Know in Malaysia

3. Tan Sri Tony Fernandes

“Now everyone can fly,” is the famous tagline for AirAsia. And the man behind the successful low-cost airline is non other than the Malaysian-British entrepreneur, Tony Fernandes. Fernandes, the founder of Tune Air, is responsible for introducing Malaysia’s first low-cost airline, AirAsia, and has turned it from a failing government-linked commercial property into a highly lucrative public-listed airline company. Fernandes also lobbied the idea of open skies agreement with Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore to Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed in the mid-2003. He is also involved in a reality TV series: The Apprentice Asia, is the founder of the Caterham F1 Formula One and the Chairman of Queens Park Rangers. As of February 2014, Forbes Asia’s Malaysia’s Richest valued Fernandes’ net worth at $650 million, ranking him 28th on the list.

4. Abdul Samad Bin Muhammad Said

Better known by his pen name, A. Samad Said is a Malaysian poet and novelist who received the Southeast Asia Write Award in 1979, and the National Laureate title for his continuous writings and contributions to the nation’s literary heritage. A native of a small village called Belimbing Dalam in Malacca; he graduated from Singapore’s Victoria School in 1956 with a Senior Cambridge Certificate, started working as a clerk in a hospital and achieved his ambition of becoming a full-time writer in Utusan Melayu, Warta Tebrau and Berita Harian . A. Samad Said also aided Ambiga Sreenevasan and other activists in organizing the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9, 2011.

5. Bunkface

Bunkface is Malaysia’s Pop-Punk band from Klang, Malaysia. Formed in 2005, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Shamsul Anuar (Sam), bass guitarist and backup vocalist Farouk Jaafar (Youk) and lead guitarist Ahmad Farhan (Paan). The band’s name was inspired from one of Sum 41’s songs “Crazy Amanda Bunkface”. Besides Sum 41, they have cited Green Day, Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, The Offspring and Nofx as their main influences and style of music.

6. Jaclyn Victor

Jaclyn entered and won Malaysian Idol in 2004, after receiving immense encouragement from her mother to join the singing competition. Today, Jaclyn has a recording contract with Sony BMG Entertainment under her belt. She is also signed under KRU Music. Jaclyn’s amazing vocal prowess has made her well-known in Asia. Apart from singing, she has also starred in several films including Susuk and Appalam . Her appearance in Talentime (a Yasmin Ahmad production) won her the award for Best Promising Actress at the 22nd Malaysian Film Festival. Jaclyn Victor recently married American singer, songwriter and producer Shawn Rivera, from the RnB group Az Yet.

7. Amber Chia

Born December 14, 1981 in Ipoh, Perak, Amber Chia rose to fame as a model at the age of 17 after she moved to Kuala Lumpur. Securing her position as a finalist in the 2004 Guess Watches Timeless Beauty Contest, the pouty-lipped beauty has been in several advertisements by famous brands such as Sony, L’oreal and Mitsubishi. In fact, one could say that she has an omnipresent face! She has also ventured into the acting field in Chinese movies and series. Amber Chia also opened her own academy, the Amber Chia Academy, to train other up and coming models. In February 2014, she appeared as a guest judge in an episode of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 2.

8. Joel Neoh

Joel Neoh is the founder of Groupon Malaysia. He is listed as one of the top 10 youngest entrepreneurs in Asia. His first successful business venture was a student agency set-up which helped to match fresh graduates with employers. In 2007, he was the youngest among 10 contestants to win Malaysia’s first corporate reality television programme “The Firm”. Neoh then co-founded and expanded Youth Asia (a social technology company) into a group of award-winning internet companies. One such company is GroupsMore, which mirrored Groupon’s business model. Four months later, the company joined Groupon and re-branded itself to Groupon Malaysia with Neoh as the CEO.  Neoh has also been named as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) Class of 2013, out of 200 nominees, based on his professional achievements, leadership and commitment to society.

See Also : 6 Exceptional Entrepreneurs Innovating in Malaysia

9. Tan Sri Robert Kuok

Opulence is not an unknown word in Robert Kuok’s dictionary. According to Forbes, Kuok’s net worth is estimated to be at $14.7 billion (February 2012), making him the richest person in Malaysia. Having studied at Raffles Institution and English College Johor Bahru, Kuok was known as the Sugar King of Asia in the 70s’ for monopolizing five percent of the world’s sugar market. The Chinese Malaysian tycoon also made his money in palm oil, shipping and property. The Kuok Group boasts a huge network of companies under 3 main groups in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

See Also: Ten Richest People in Malaysia

10. Sazali Samad

Sazali Samad is Malaysia’s premier bodybuilder. Born in Batu Pahat, Johor, Samad is a father to  three boys and one girl, and loves to lift weights (obviously) at the Royal Malaysia Police PDRM bodybuilding training centre located in Bukit Aman, where he worked as a sub-inspector. Sazali Samad has represented Malaysia in the Asian Games in 2006 at Doha, Qatar. He has won numerous titles; Mr. Universe in Jeju, Korea (2007), 9-times winner of the World Bodybuilding & Physique Championship, 8-times winner of Mr. Asia, the Sports Man of the Year award (2006) by the Malaysian Sports Council and Anugerah Melayu Cemerlang by UMNO.

11. The late Yasmin Ahmad

Most Malaysians can still recall Yasmin’s heart-warming Petronas commercials during the festive seasons. These commercials were funny and depicted love and unity between all Malaysians. Her works have won multiple awards both within Malaysia and internationally. Born in Muar, Johor, Yasmin originally worked as a copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather before moving to Leo Burnett in 1993 as joint creative director with Ali Mohamed. She soon rose to the position of executive creative director, and became well-known for her inspirational movies such as Rabun, Mukhsin, Talentime and more. In 2009, Yasmin suffered a stroke during a meeting. She was rushed to the hospital where she underwent a neurosurgery procedure. A few days later, she suffered a brain haemorrhage and passed away.

Yuna is an independent Malaysian singer-songwriter. She began composing music at the age of 14 and went on to perform her own songs when she was 19. Since 2006, she has performed in numerous acoustic shows and events throughout Malaysia. US Indie-Pop record label and management company discovered her talent and actually flew to Malaysia to convince her to sign a contract with them. They also managed to get her a deal with FADER Label, which is based in New York. Yuna is currently signed with the Verve Music Group with Grammy-winning producer David Foster heading the creative operations. In 2012, her single “Live Your Life”, produced by Pharrell Williams debuted on iTunes and she was recognized with a National Youth Icon Award by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

13. Dato’ Lee Chong Wei

Dato’ Lee Chong Wei is a Malaysian Chinese professional badminton player. He was ranked first worldwide for 199 consecutive weeks from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012. He is the third Malaysian player to achieve such a ranking (since official rankings were first kept in the 1980s), and is the only Malaysian shuttler to hold the number one ranking for more than a year. Chong Wei is a silver medalist in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games, making him the sixth Malaysian to win an Olympic medal and the first Malaysian to reach the finals in the men’s singles event.

14. Datuk Nicol David

Datuk Nicol Ann David is currently ranked world number 1 in women’s squash. She is the first Asian woman to achieve this title. Nicol is a seven-time World Open Squash Championship record holder and a five-time British Open Squash Championship record holder. She has also won the World Junior Squash Championship title twice and is an eight-time Asian Squash Championship record holder. Nicol held an impressive 13-month, 51-match winning streak from March 2006 until April 2007. She lost in the finals of the 2007 Seoul Open Squash Championship. She was also – on seven occasions – the Women’s Squash Association Player of the year from 2005 – 2010 and 2012.

15. Dato’Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak

Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak is the sixth and current Prime Minister of Malaysia. He is the eldest son of Malaysia’s second Prime Minister, and the nephew of Malaysia’s third Prime Minister. Najib’s political career started in 1976 at the age of 23. Since then, he has held various posts in the Malaysian Cabinet including being Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Post, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Minister of Defense, Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister.  Najib took on the role of Prime Minister on the 3rd of April 2009.

16. Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad

Tun Mahathir was the fourth and longest-serving Prime Minister in Malaysia. He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2013, with a political career spanning almost 40 years. During his tenure as Prime Minister, Malaysia experienced a period of rapid modernization and economic growth. His government-initiated, bold infrastructure projects included the Petronas Twin Towers, the construction of the North-South Expressway, and the establishment of car manufacturer Proton. For his efforts to promote economic development of the country, Tun Mahathir was granted the soubriquet of “Father of Modernisation.”

17. Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh

A Malaysian actress best known for performing her own stunts in Hong Kong action films, Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh was chosen by People Magazine as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” in 1997. She is best known for her roles in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon where she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in 2000. In 2008, she was ranked the greatest action heroine of all time by the film critic website Rotten Tomatoes. She was listed by People Magazine (the only Asian actress to be listed) as one of the “35 All-Time Screen Beauties” in 2009.

18. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor

This orthopedic surgeon was the first Malaysian to travel into space. He was launched to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the Expedition 16 crew on 10 October 2007. Sheikh Muszaphar flew under an agreement with Russia through the Angkasawan program, and returned to Earth on 21 October 2007, aboard Soyuz TMA-10 with the Expedition 15 crew members.

Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid, more popularly known as Lat, is a Malaysian cartoonist. Lat is the winner of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize in 2002 and has published more than 20 volumes of cartoons since he was 13 years old. While in school, he supplemented his family’s income by contributing cartoon strips to newpapers and magazines. He was 13 years old when he published his first comic book, Tiga Sekawan Menangkap Pencuri ( Three Friends Catch A Thief) . Lat is best known for his work The Kampung Boy , which was published in several countries across the world. His works mostly illustrate Malaysia’s social and political scenes, portraying them in a comedic light without bias.

20. Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir

The eldest child of the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir is considered to be an inspirational figure in Malaysia. She is a leader in the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and is currently an active sociopolitical blogger. She is an active campaigner for women’s rights and is a member of the board of Sisters in Islam. Marina Mahathir has also called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientations in 1998 and 1999.

21. Chef Wan

A Malaysian celebrity chef, Redzuawan Ismail, or better known as Chef Wan, started his career as an accountant before turning to cooking. After witnessing the popularity of Asian food in western countries, he decided to promote Malaysia and other South East Asian countries using food from their respective countries. In 2009, he won the Best Celebrity Television Chef of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards and is Tourism Malaysia’s culinary ambassador.

22. Dato’ Sheila Majid

Dubbed as the “Malaysian Queen of Jazz”, Dato’ Sheila Majid has achieved regional and international recognition over the years with her trademark contemporary- pop songs with a bit of jazz and R&B repertoire. She has won the prestigious BASF Award (Indonesian Music Award) for Best Female Artist in an R&B category in 1987. In 1989, Dato’ Sheila Majid performed at the Tokyo Music Festival and remains the first and only Malaysian artist to successfully infiltrate the Japanese music market. She has performed at a sold-out concert at London’s West End Royalty theatre in 1996 and took the stage to perform at Ronnie Scotts in London, the jazz Mecca of the music world. She is also the first local artiste to perform at the Petronas Filharmonik Hall in 2000.

23. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. P. Ramlee

The Late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. P. Ramlee, better known as P. Ramlee, was a Malaysian film actor, director, singer, songwriter, composer and producer. He is the icon of Malay entertainment in Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra due to his contributions to the movie and music industry and literary works. P.Ramlee was spotted at a cultural festival in early 1948 singing his own composition “Azizah .” He was spotted by director B.S. Rahjans who invited him to work as a back-up singer for Shaw Brothers studio films. His first acting role was in Cinta ( 1948) as a villain. In the next 18 years under the Malay Film Production unit of Shaw Brothers (popularly known as the Ampas Road studio) he acted, composed music and eventually wrote and directed dozens of Malay movies ranging from historical dramas to contemporary comedies. He won several acting and composing awards at the Asian Film Festival in the 1950s and 1960s.

24. Ananda Krishnan

Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan is a Malaysian businessman and philanthropist. Nicknamed AK, he is estimated to have a net worth of US$11.7 billion according to Forbes’ latest annual list of wealthiest people, making him the second wealthiest in Southeast Asia behind Robert Kuok. Ananda Krishnan is seldom seen in public. He is known to maintain a low profile for a person of his stature. He started attracting attention when he helped organise the Live Aid concert with Bob Geldof in the mid-1980s. In the early 1990s, he began building a multimedia empire that now includes two telecommunication companies; Maxis Communications, MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems and SES World Skies. He also has three communication satellites circumnavigating the earth.

25. Dato’ Bernard Chandran

Malaysia’s “King of Fashion”, Dato’ Bernard Chandran is a Malaysian fashion designer. His talents have earned him many faithful clients among Malaysia’s elite, most notably the Royal families of Malaysia and Brunei, as well as two former Miss Universe. Chandran is also a Malaysian television personality. He is the chief designer of the reality television show, Project Runway Malaysia. Chandran was also a guest judge on Britain’s Next Top Model, Cycle 6, Episode 12. The top three models were given the chance to model for Chandran’s fashion show during London Fashion Week.

26. Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza binti Tarudin

Malaysia’s “Pop Princess” Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza is a singer, songwriter, record producer, television presenter and businesswoman. Since her debut, she has won a number of international singing competitions. She was crowned the Voice of Asia in 2002 after winning the Grand Prix Champion title at the Voice of Asia singing competition, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. To date, she has acquired more than 200 local and international awards since her debut at the age of 16. In 1998, she was chosen (amongst a handful of Malaysian artists) to perform during the closing ceremony of the 1998 Commonwealth Games. She performed in front of Queen Elizabeth II, her consort, Prince Philip, and other dignitaries and officials from 70 countries including those from the Commonwealth of Nations. In 2005, she became the first Southeast Asian singer to perform a solo concert at the Royal Albert Hall, while being backed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Her success in the Asian region has gained her honorific titles including “Voice of Asia” and “Asia’s Celine Dion”.

27. Datuk Zang Toi

Fashion icon Zang Toi is a Malaysian fashion designer. Zang Toi started out in New York, where he also studied at the distinguished Parsons School of Design, with just US$300 in his pocket. In 1990, he was awarded the Mouton Cadet Young Designer of the year, which recognizes the top young U.S. designers. This became a springboard to his fame in the fiercely competitive New York fashion world. He went on to win more awards in the coming years. Today, his House of Toi near Fifth Avenue, often dubbed the world’s most expensive street, produces high-end clothes for fine specialty stores in Saks 5th Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Among his rich-and-famous clientele are Melinda Gates, wife of Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, actresses Kirstie Alley and Eva Longoria, popstar Fergie of Black Eyed Peas, and even Saudi princesses.

28. Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim

Dato’ Seri Anwar served as Malaysia’s Finance Minister from 1991 to 1998. He was also the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1993 to 1998, when he was a member of UMNO, the major political party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. He was dismissed from his post as Deputy Prime Minister by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, and jailed for corruption and sodomy. Dato’ Seri Anwar has been a leading figure in the opposition following his release and is the leader of Pakatan Rakyat, economic advisor to the state government of Selangor and de facto leader of the People’s Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat).

During Dato’ Seri Anwar’s term as Education Minister, he was elected as the 25th President of UNESCO’s General Conference. In 1988, he became the second president of the International Islamic University of Malaysia. He was also selected as the Chairman of the Development Committee of World Bank and International Monetary Fund from March 1998 until September 1998. That year, Newsweek magazine named him “Asian of the Year”.

Who do you think should have been in this list of famous Malaysians? Let us know in the comment section below.

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24 Famous Malaysians You Should Know

Celebrities, politicians, activists, models, millionaires and entrepreneurs; Malaysia has some famous people worth knowing. Here are 24 famous Malaysians you should know.

1. Dato’ Jimmy Choo, OBE Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat

Photo credit: Simon Bierwald, Flickr

Dato’ Jimmy Choo comes from a family of shoemakers in Penang. His name, Jimmy Choo, was actually misspelled on his birth certificate; Jimmy Choo was supposed to be Jimmy Chow! His company’s international recognition for its expensive and high-end handmade women’s shoes can be traced back to his father who taught Choo how to make his first shoe at the age of 11. Jimmy co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd in 1996 but has since sold his 50% stake in the company to his co-founder, Tamara Mellon. Based in London, Jimmy Choo is currently involved in a project to set up a shoemaking institute in Malaysia.

2. Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan

Photo Credit: Nigel Sia, Flickr

A prominent Malaysian lawyer and human rights advocate, Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan graduated, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law, from the University of Exeter in 1979, admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 1982, and is one of the eight recipients of the US International Women of Courage Award in 2009, which she received from Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. From 2007 to 2009, she served as the President of the Malaysian Bar Council.

Ambiga is also well-known for her involvement in  Bersih, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections looking to change the current electoral system in Malaysia. The United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton commended Ambiga on her “remarkable record of accomplishment in Malaysia” for being “a resolute advocate of women’s equality and their full political participation”.

3. Tan Sri Tony Fernandes

Photo credit: CaterhamF1, Flickr

“Now everyone can fly,” is the famous tagline for AirAsia. And the man behind the successful low-cost airline is non other than the Malaysian-British entrepreneur, Tony Fernandes. Fernandes, the founder of Tune Air, is responsible for introducing Malaysia’s first low-cost airline, AirAsia, and has turned it from a failing government-linked commercial property into a highly lucrative public-listed airline company. Fernandes also lobbied the idea of open skies agreement with Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore to Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed in the mid-2003. He is also involved in a reality TV series: The Apprentice Asia, is the founder of the Caterham F1 Formula One and the Chairman of Queens Park Rangers. As of February 2014, Forbes Asia’s Malaysia’s Richest valued Fernandes’ net worth at $650 million, ranking him 28th on the list.

4. Abdul Samad Bin Muhammad Said

Photo Credit: adrianaizat.blogspot.com

Better known by his pen name, A. Samad Said is a Malaysian poet and novelist who received the Southeast Asia Write Award in 1979, and the National Laureate title for his continuous writings and contributions to the nation’s literary heritage. A native of a small village called Belimbing Dalam in Malacca; he graduated from Singapore’s Victoria School in 1956 with a Senior Cambridge Certificate, started working as a clerk in a hospital and achieved his ambition of becoming a full-time writer in Utusan Melayu, Warta Tebrau and Berita Harian . A. Samad Said also aided Ambiga Sreenevasan and other activists in organizing the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9, 2011.

5. Bunkface

Photo credit: Mohd Fadza Ishak, Flickr

Bunkface is Malaysia’s Pop-Punk band from Klang, Malaysia. Formed in 2005, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Shamsul Anuar (Sam), bass guitarist and backup vocalist Farouk Jaafar (Youk) and lead guitarist Ahmad Farhan (Paan). The band’s name was inspired from one of Sum 41’s songs “Crazy Amanda Bunkface”. Besides Sum 41, they have cited Green Day, Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, The Offspring and Nofx as their main influences and style of music.

6. Jaclyn Victor

Photo Credit: Irwandy Mazwir, Flickr

Jaclyn entered and won Malaysian Idol in 2004, after receiving immense encouragement from her mother to join the singing competition. Today, Jaclyn has a recording contract with Sony BMG Entertainment under her belt. She is also signed under KRU Music. Jaclyn’s amazing vocal prowess has made her well-known in Asia. Apart from singing, she has also starred in several films including Susuk and Appalam . Her appearance in Talentime (a Yasmin Ahmad production) won her the award for Best Promising Actress at the 22nd Malaysian Film Festival. Jaclyn Victor recently married American singer, songwriter and producer Shawn Rivera, from the RnB group Az Yet.

7. Amber Chia

Photo Credit: Amber Chia, Facebook

Born December 14, 1981 in Ipoh, Perak, Amber Chia rose to fame as a model at the age of 17 after she moved to Kuala Lumpur. Securing her position as a finalist in the 2004 Guess Watches Timeless Beauty Contest, the pouty-lipped beauty has been in several advertisements by famous brands such as Sony, L’oreal and Mitsubishi. In fact, one could say that she has an omnipresent face! She has also ventured into the acting field in Chinese movies and series. Amber Chia also opened her own academy, the Amber Chia Academy, to train other up and coming models. In February 2014, she appeared as a guest judge in an episode of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 2.

8. Joel Neoh

Joel Neoh is the founder of Groupon Malaysia. He is listed as one of the top 10 youngest entrepreneurs in Asia. His first successful business venture was a student agency set-up which helped to match fresh graduates with employers. In 2007, he was the youngest among 10 contestants to win Malaysia’s first corporate reality television programme “The Firm”. Neoh then co-founded and expanded Youth Asia (a social technology company) into a group of award-winning internet companies. One such company is GroupsMore, which mirrored Groupon’s business model. Four months later, the company joined Groupon and re-branded itself to Groupon Malaysia with Neoh as the CEO.  Neoh has also been named as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) Class of 2013, out of 200 nominees, based on his professional achievements, leadership and commitment to society.

9. Robert Kuok

Photo Credit: www.thestar.com.my

Opulence is not an unknown word in Robert Kuok’s dictionary. According to Forbes, Kuok’s net worth is estimated to be at $14.7 billion (February 2012), making him the richest person in Malaysia. Having studied at Raffles Institution and English College Johor Bahru, Kuok was known as the Sugar King of Asia in the 70s’ for monopolizing five percent of the world’s sugar market. The Chinese Malaysian tycoon also made his money in palm oil, shipping and property. The Kuok Group boasts a huge network of companies under 3 main groups in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

10. Sazali Samad

Photo Credit: www.sportsnhealth.net

Sazali Samad is Malaysia’s premier bodybuilder. Born in Batu Pahat, Johor, Samad is a father to  three boys and one girl, and loves to lift weights (obviously) at the Royal Malaysia Police PDRM bodybuilding training centre located in Bukit Aman, where he worked as a sub-inspector. Sazali Samad has represented Malaysia in the Asian Games in 2006 at Doha, Qatar. He has won numerous titles; Mr. Universe in Jeju, Korea (2007), 9-times winner of the World Bodybuilding & Physique Championship, 8-times winner of Mr. Asia, the Sports Man of the Year award (2006) by the Malaysian Sports Council and Anugerah Melayu Cemerlang by UMNO.

11. The Late Yasmin Ahmad

Photo credit: uhcseas, Flickr

Most Malaysians can still recall Yasmin’s heart-warming Petronas commercials during the festive seasons. These commercials were funny and depicted love and unity between all Malaysians. Her works have won multiple awards both within Malaysia and internationally. Born in Muar, Johor, Yasmin originally worked as a copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather before moving to Leo Burnett in 1993 as joint creative director with Ali Mohamed. She soon rose to the position of executive creative director, and became well-known for her inspirational movies such as Rabun, Mukhsin, Talentime and more. In 2009, Yasmin suffered a stroke during a meeting. She was rushed to the hospital where she underwent a neurosurgery procedure. A few days later, she suffered a brain haemorrhage and passed away.

Photo credit: nazmi hamidi, Flickr

Yuna is an independent Malaysian singer-songwriter. She began composing music at the age of 14 and went on to perform her own songs when she was 19. Since 2006, she has performed in numerous acoustic shows and events throughout Malaysia. US Indie-Pop record label and management company discovered her talent and actually flew to Malaysia to convince her to sign a contract with them. They also managed to get her a deal with FADER Label, which is based in New York. Yuna is currently signed with the Verve Music Group with Grammy-winning producer David Foster heading the creative operations. In 2012, her single “Live Your Life”, produced by Pharrell Williams debuted on iTunes and she was recognized with a National Youth Icon Award by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

13. Dato’ Lee Chong Wei

Photo Credit: Ian Patterson, Flickr

Dato’ Lee Chong Wei is a Malaysian Chinese professional badminton player. He was ranked first worldwide for 199 consecutive weeks from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012. He is the third Malaysian player to achieve such a ranking (since official rankings were first kept in the 1980s), and is the only Malaysian shuttler to hold the number one ranking for more than a year. Chong Wei is a silver medalist in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, making him the sixth Malaysian to win an Olympic medal and the first Malaysian to reach the finals in the men’s singles event.

14. Datuk Nicol David

Photo Credit: Stevecubbins, Flickr

Datuk Nicol Ann David is currently ranked world number 1 in women’s squash. She is the first Asian woman to achieve this title. Nicol is a seven-time World Open Squash Championship record holder and a five-time British Open Squash Championship record holder. She has also won the World Junior Squash Championship title twice and is an eight-time Asian Squash Championship record holder. Nicol held an impressive 13-month, 51-match winning streak from March 2006 until April 2007. She lost in the finals of the 2007 Seoul Open Squash Championship. She was also – on seven occasions – the Women’s Squash Association Player of the year from 2005 – 2010 and 2012.

15. Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh

Photo credit: BIDTransporte / Foter / CC BY-NC

A Malaysian actress best known for performing her own stunts in Hong Kong action films, Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh was chosen by People Magazine as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” in 1997. She is best known for her roles in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon where she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in 2000. In 2008, she was ranked the greatest action heroine of all time by the film critic website Rotten Tomatoes. She was listed by People Magazine (the only Asian actress to be listed) as one of the “35 All-Time Screen Beauties” in 2009.

16. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor

Photo credit: roll / Foter / CC BY-NC

This orthopedic surgeon was the first Malaysian to travel into space. He was launched to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the Expedition 16 crew on 10 October 2007. Sheikh Muszaphar flew under an agreement with Russia through the Angkasawan program, and returned to Earth on 21 October 2007, aboard Soyuz TMA-10 with the Expedition 15 crew members.

Photo credit: afirdaus zainal / Foter / CC BY

Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid, more popularly known as Lat, is a Malaysian cartoonist. Lat is the winner of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize in 2002 and has published more than 20 volumes of cartoons since he was 13 years old. While in school, he supplemented his family’s income by contributing cartoon strips to newpapers and magazines. He was 13 years old when he published his first comic book, Tiga Sekawan Menangkap Pencuri ( Three Friends Catch A Thief) . Lat is best known for his work The Kampung Boy , which was published in several countries across the world. His works mostly illustrate Malaysia’s social and political scenes, portraying them in a comedic light without bias.

18. Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir

The eldest child of the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir is considered to be an inspirational figure in Malaysia. She is a leader in the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and is currently an active sociopolitical blogger. She is an active campaigner for women’s rights and is a member of the board of Sisters in Islam. Marina Mahathir has also called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientations in 1998 and 1999.

19. Chef Wan

Photo Credit: Ubud Readers and Writers Festival, Flickr

A Malaysian celebrity chef, Redzuawan Ismail, or better known as Chef Wan, started his career as an accountant before turning to cooking. After witnessing the popularity of Asian food in western countries, he decided to promote Malaysia and other South East Asian countries using food from their respective countries. In 2009, he won the Best Celebrity Television Chef of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards and is Tourism Malaysia’s culinary ambassador.

20. Dato’ Sheila Majid

Photo Credit: SheilaMajid.com

Dubbed as the “Malaysian Queen of Jazz”, Dato’ Sheila Majid has achieved regional and international recognition over the years with her trademark contemporary- pop songs with a bit of jazz and R&B repertoire. She has won the prestigious BASF Award (Indonesian Music Award) for Best Female Artist in an R&B category in 1987. In 1989, Dato’ Sheila Majid performed at the Tokyo Music Festival and remains the first and only Malaysian artist to successfully infiltrate the Japanese music market. She has performed at a sold-out concert at London’s West End Royalty theatre in 1996 and took the stage to perform at Ronnie Scotts in London, the jazz Mecca of the music world. She is also the first local artiste to perform at the Petronas Filharmonik Hall in 2000.

21. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. P. Ramlee

The Late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. P. Ramlee, better known as P. Ramlee, was a Malaysian film actor, director, singer, songwriter, composer and producer. He is the icon of Malay entertainment in Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra due to his contributions to the movie and music industry and literary works. P.Ramlee was spotted at a cultural festival in early 1948 singing his own composition “Azizah .” He was spotted by director B.S. Rahjans who invited him to work as a back-up singer for Shaw Brothers studio films. His first acting role was in Cinta ( 1948) as a villain. In the next 18 years under the Malay Film Production unit of Shaw Brothers (popularly known as the Ampas Road studio) he acted, composed music and eventually wrote and directed dozens of Malay movies ranging from historical dramas to contemporary comedies. He won several acting and composing awards at the Asian Film Festival in the 1950s and 1960s.

22. Dato’ Bernard Chandran

Photo Credit: Bernard Chandran, Facebook

Malaysia’s “King of Fashion”, Dato’ Bernard Chandran is a Malaysian fashion designer. His talents have earned him many faithful clients among Malaysia’s elite, most notably the Royal families of Malaysia and Brunei, as well as two former Miss Universe. Chandran is also a Malaysian television personality. He is the chief designer of the reality television show, Project Runway Malaysia. Chandran was also a guest judge on Britain’s Next Top Model, Cycle 6, Episode 12. The top three models were given the chance to model for Chandran’s fashion show during London Fashion Week.

23. Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza binti Tarudin

Malaysia’s “Pop Princess” Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza is a singer, songwriter, record producer, television presenter and businesswoman. Since her debut, she has won a number of international singing competitions. She was crowned the Voice of Asia in 2002 after winning the Grand Prix Champion title at the Voice of Asia singing competition, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. To date, she has acquired more than 200 local and international awards since her debut at the age of 16. In 1998, she was chosen (amongst a handful of Malaysian artists) to perform during the closing ceremony of the 1998 Commonwealth Games. She performed in front of Queen Elizabeth II, her consort, Prince Philip, and other dignitaries and officials from 70 countries including those from the Commonwealth of Nations. In 2005, she became the first Southeast Asian singer to perform a solo concert at the Royal Albert Hall, while being backed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Her success in the Asian region has gained her honorific titles including “Voice of Asia” and “Asia’s Celine Dion”.

24. Datuk Zang Toi

Photo Credit: Zimbio.com

Fashion icon Zang Toi is a Malaysian fashion designer. Zang Toi started out in New York, where he also studied at the distinguished Parsons School of Design, with just US$300 in his pocket. In 1990, he was awarded the Mouton Cadet Young Designer of the year, which recognizes the top young U.S. designers. This became a springboard to his fame in the fiercely competitive New York fashion world. He went on to win more awards in the coming years. Today, his House of Toi near Fifth Avenue, often dubbed the world’s most expensive street, produces high-end clothes for fine specialty stores in Saks 5th Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Among his rich-and-famous clientele are Melinda Gates, wife of Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, actresses Kirstie Alley and Eva Longoria, popstar Fergie of Black Eyed Peas, and even Saudi princesses.

This article was produced by the staff at Expat GO Malaysia. see more.

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13 M’sian Athletes Who Made International News In 2021 & Embodied The ‘Malaysia Boleh’ Spirit

Malaysian athletes who made us proud in 2021

2021 was a rollercoaster ride for most Malaysians as we battled the Covid-19 pandemic with more lockdowns and uncertainties. Nonetheless, it was a great year for sports, at least, with multiple international sporting events taking place, such as the Olympics, Euro 2020 and the Paralympic Games, among others.

Although we were devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic, there were a series of remarkable achievements by our athletes that made us proud. Here’s a list of 13 of them who embodied the ‘Malaysia Boleh’ spirit and proved to us that Malaysians have sporting talent.

1. Lee Zii Jia – the badminton player who is the talk of 2021

2021 was a big year for men’s singles badminton player Lee Zii Jia , who gained popularity in March when he won the All England Open Championships against Viktor Axelsen from Denmark. This incredible achievement put Lee in the spotlight with many locals showing a growing interest in the budding shuttler’s activities on and off the court. 

After the All England Open win, Lee made news headlines several times when he released a song and his fans formed a new fandom called ‘Shattlehearts ’ in support of the shuttler during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Apart from this, Lee also placed 7th in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Rankings before being nominated for a BWF Award in the Most Improved Player of The Year category. His popularity among Malaysians became evident when he became the top searched athlete of 2021 on Google Malaysia.  

Read more about Lee Zii Jia here.

2. Azizulhasni Awang – the track cyclist who revived our hopes at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

National track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang , who is the second most searched athlete by Malaysians in 2021 on Google Malaysia, revived the country’s medal hopes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when he won a silver medal in the men’s keirin event.

Though Malaysians would typically rely on badminton players to bring home Olympic medals, Azizul made everyone believe that athletes in other sports such as track cycling can contribute medals as well with this latest win.

His silver medal win at the Olympics also makes him the only Malaysian athlete to win medals in the cycling event. Shortly before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Azizul’s achievements as a national track cyclist was also rewarded with a Datukship title conferred by the Terengganu state government in July 2021.

Read more about Azizulhasni Awang here.

3. Nicol David – the squash icon who became the greatest athlete of all time

When we talk about sports in Malaysia, there’s no one quite like the legendary squash player Nicol Ann David . The nation’s pride, who retired two years ago, made a historic achievement in 2021 when she was crowned the World Games’ Greatest Athlete of All Time in an online poll held by the International World Games Association on its 40th anniversary.

Nicol amassed an impressive grand total of 318,943 votes against runner-up James Kehoe, an Irish tug-of-war athlete who scored 113,120 votes and Ukraine’s powerlifter Larysa Solovlova who came in third with 80,790 votes. 

Though already a few years into her retirement, Nicol continues to make international headlines for her stunning performance and achievements throughout her career.

4. Pandelela Rinong Pamg – the national diver who’s the epitome of girl power

National diver Pandelela Rinong represented Malaysia again in 2021 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Although the odds did not favour her and she returned home without a medal, Pandelela still set a record by becoming the first female Malaysian athlete to participate in the Olympics four times. With her participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she is now tied with badminton legend Lee Chong Wei who has competed in four Games too. 

Earlier in 2021, Pandelela also made history by winning the country’s first-ever gold medal at the Fina Diving World Cup in Japan. The most decorated female Malaysian Olympian continues to work hard for the next Olympics with hopes of winning the country’s first gold medal – something we can all look forward to witnessing.

Read more about Pandelela Rinong here.

5. Soh Wai Ching – the tower runner who made history in 2021

Malaysian tower runner Soh Wai Ching , who made history by becoming the first Asian to win the Empire State Building Run Up, is another national athlete who embodied the ‘Malaysia Boleh’ spirit in 2021.

Soh completed the race by blazing up 1,576 stairs of the world-famous tower in New York in just 10 minutes and 46 seconds. Although tower running may not be a well-known sport among Malaysians, Soh made a name for himself at international competitions in 2021.

In August 2021, he won the German Towerrunning Championship at the Cologne Tower, scaling 39 floors and 714 steps at an elevation gain of 142m in just three minutes and 24 seconds. In November 2021, Soh also set a new course record for tower running at the Willis Tower in Chicago which was once the tallest building in the world with a completion time of 12 minutes 57 seconds.

6. Abdul Latif Romly – the Paralympian who won a gold medal despite an injury

2021 was a great year for Malaysia at the Paralympic Games as well, as our athletes won three gold medals in total. Abdul Latif Romly made history again in 2021 by defending his gold medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympics in the long jump event despite suffering from a groin injury during the finals in Tokyo .

Due to this injury, he was unable to complete all six jumps in the finals and left the event in a wheelchair. But his hard work paid off as he was crowned the winner once again.

Abdul, who currently holds the world record for the T20 long jump event, also became the Paralympian who won the most gold medals in Malaysian history after adding another one to his trophy cabinet from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Read more about Abdul Latif Romly here.

7. Ziyad Zolkefli – the shot putter who was robbed of his gold medal

Despite not winning a medal at the Paralympics 2020 Games, shot putter Ziyad Zolkefli remained a much-loved national athlete widely celebrated by Malaysians.

Ziyad, who broke the world record for the F20 shot put event in the Games with a distance of 17.94m, returned home without a medal as he was disqualified from the event by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for showing up late to the roll call area. 

This decision sparked a heated argument on social media as Malaysians rushed to defend Ziyad, who was said to be robbed of his gold medal and a new world record. Although the appeal to reconsider his participation failed in the end, Ziyad certainly made Malaysians proud with his performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Read more about Ziyad Zolkefli here.

8. Aaron Chia – one half of the badminton team who gifted us the first medal at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Badminton is a major event that most Malaysians look forward to for medal wins at the Olympics. However, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics happens to be the first one without star badminton player Lee Chong Wei, who retired in 2019.

Nonetheless, we had a number of talented athletes who made their Olympic debut – including men’s doubles player Aaron Chia . He did not hold back during the Games, delivering his best performance along with his partner Soh Wooi Yik and gifting Malaysia’s first and only medal in badminton at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Aaron also participated in the Sudirman Cup 2021 with Soh and helped Malaysia win the bronze medal. His achievements in 2021 did not go unrecognised, as he was nominated for the 2020/2021 BWF Awards in the Most Improved Player of the Year category.

Read more about Aaron Chia here

9. Soh Wooi Yik – the other half of the badminton team who gifted us the first medal at Tokyo Olympics

Together with Aaron Chia, men’s doubles badminton player Soh Wooi Yik contributed to Malaysia’s first medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It was Soh’s first time at the Olympic Games too – which goes to show just how many rising shuttlers we have in Malaysia who we can look to cheering on at future competitions.

Soh was also part of the Malaysian team in the Sudirman Cup 2021 where he played with Aaron and helped Malaysia win the bronze medal. Soh was also nominated for the 2020/2021 BWF Awards in the Most Improved Player of the Year category.

Read more about Soh Wooi Yik here

10. Bonnie Bunyau Gustin – the powerlifter who won a gold medal at the Paralympics

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics was arguably the greatest time for Malaysia as our athletes won a total of five medals comprising three golds and two silvers – the most medals won at a Paralympic Games yet. Sarawakian powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin became the first to do so with his gold medal win in powerlifting. 

This win was a historic one too, as Bonnie was the first Malaysian to win a gold medal for powerlifting in the men’s 72kg event where he set a game record by lifting 228kg.

About two months before the Paralympics, Bonnie set a stunning world record by lifting 230kg in the same event at the World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai. Despite his disabilities, Bonnie made several historical achievements in 2021 that made Malaysians tremendously proud.

11. Cheah Liek Hou – the Paralympian who won the first gold medal in badminton

Winning a gold medal in an international sporting event is not easy as it takes years of hard work and dedication. After a staggering 18 years of waiting , Cheah Liek Hou finally got the chance to represent Malaysia and returned home with a gold medal for badminton in the SU5 category of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Cheah’s significant gold medal win marks Malaysia’s first gold at the Paralympic Games in badminton, introduced for the first time at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics . But it certainly won’t be our last. 

His extraordinary performance at the Games finally earned him long-awaited recognition, which was capped off with a much-deserved 2020/2021 BWF Awards nomination in the Male Para Badminton Player of The Year category.

12. Chew Wei Lun – the first Malaysian to win a Paralympic medal in boccia

Our national athletes achieved a series of firsts at the Paralympic Games – including our first ever medal in the boccia sport event. Achieving this remarkable feat for the country is Chew Wei Lun, who clinched a silver medal in the Paralympic sport which doesn’t always make the spotlight. 

For the uninitiated, boccia is a precision ball sport played by athletes with physical disabilities. The game is played by individuals, pairs or teams of three who throw red or blue coloured leather balls as close as they can to a white target ball called a ‘ jack’ . S everal rounds are played before the winner is decided.

Chew, who is known as Malaysia’s ‘Silent Killer’ due to his reputation as a dark horse in competitions, won the silver medal in the boccia BC1 category.

Off the court, his story serves as an inspiration to many. Chew was quoted saying in 2017 that he had to be independent since he was young. He was raised by his grandfather before briefly living in a home for individuals with disabilities at 9 years old. His love for the sport remained with him through the ups and downs of his life, and one of his dreams was to represent the nation through his love of boccia – something he has remarkably achieved.

13. Jong Yee Khie – the powerlifter who gifted us a silver medal at the Paralympics

It takes a lot of courage for people to find the motivation to move on with their lives after losing one of their limbs in an accident. Paralympian Jong Yee Khie , whose right leg was amputated above the knee after a motorcycle accident in 2005 , is one of these inspiring individuals – his Paralympic journey shows us all that there’s still hope even after a tragedy in life. 

Jong took up powerlifting after his leg amputation in 2008, and has since won several medals in the sport. The silver medal he won at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in the men’s 107kg event also happens to be Malaysia’s first medal in the event. Other impressive medals in his trophy cabinet include a silver and a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games.

From winning gold medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games to being named the most searched person in sports, Malaysian athletes have simply made us all proud with their remarkable achievements and stellar performances at prestigious sporting events in 2021.

These athletes will certainly be remembered by all of us for many more years as they showed the nation and world what Malaysians are capable of and that Malaysia indeed ‘Boleh’.

Read more articles about Malaysian athletes here:

• Malaysian athletes who debuted at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
• 8 facts about the handsome Malaysian swimmer Welson Sim
• 10 Malaysian Paralympians at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics

Cover image adapted from: @leeziijia , Nicol David and @azizulhasniawang

This article was updated on 12th January 2022.

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I Love My Country, I Am Proud to Be a Malaysians

As a Malaysian, I am proud of my country and everything it has to offer. Malaysia is unique in that it is home to various ethnic groups, each with their own distinct cultures and traditions. Despite our differences, we live harmoniously thanks to the spirit of One Malaysia. Malaysia’s tropical climate, beautiful beaches, and cool hill resorts make it a popular destination for tourists. However, it is the friendly people, rich heritage, and fantastic array of food that truly make Malaysia special. As Malaysians, we have the freedom to pursue our dreams and grow, thanks to the support of the government and those around us. Malaysia is a rich country, known for its exports such as rubber, palm oil, and tin. I feel lucky to have been born in Malaysia, a peaceful and multi-racial country that I love dearly.

I love my country, I am proud to be a Malaysians Malaysia is a country which consists of three main races that is Malay, Chinese and Indians, and also various ethnic tribes like the Iban and the Kadazan community, and many more. What makes it so special is that we can all live harmoniously in this country, that is because the spirit of One Malaysia. In a way, I am proud to be a Malaysian, no matter how many times I say that I want to live in another country or studying at oversea when I grow up. Home is where the heart is.

There are many reasons behind this. First of all, Malaysians, being of different races, can be seen on the streets in their various costumes and adding color to the scene. The sunny, warm and wet climate throughout the year makes Malaysia a tropical paradise. Visitors like the green forested hills, the golden beaches with graceful coconut palms fringing them, the blue sea and of course of the local cuisine. Foreign tourists find these places ideal for a holiday, as they get away from their cold countries.

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Malaysia’s cool hill-resorts like Genting Highlands, Fraser’s Hill and Cameron Highlands make the day refreshing and pleasant and also away from the hot lowlands. I have been to many places, get the experienced of different culture and met new faces, but I realize that nowhere in the world can compare with Malaysia and its friendly people, our colorful culture, rich heritage and especially of our fantastic array of food. Malaysia offers a huge variety of food, from our local cuisine to Western cuisine.

To be Malaysian means having freedom, knowing that we have the freedom to pursue our dreams and grow. We live in a country that supports growth and we can do so much with the support of the government and the people around us. Besides that, people in other countries are beginning to recognize that Malaysia is a growing country and they have positive things to say about it. I’m proud to be part of this nation and that is another reason why I love my country-Malaysia!

Lastly, Malaysia is a rich country and also famous the world over for its rubber, palm oils and exports and tin. Kuala Lumpur, which is the capital city, is the largest in Malaysia, with many modern buildings. I am proud of my country which I love dearly. Be proud to be a Malaysian. Don’t ask what the country has done for you but ask what you have done for the country. I am lucky that I am born in Malaysia, a peaceful and multi-racial country to live in.

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15 Amazing Reasons To Visit Malaysia

Travelling to Malaysia should be on your bucket list for many reasons. A melting pot of most of the world, this beautiful country has much to offer that sets it apart from the rest of Southeast Asia. Here are 15 reasons to convince you to plan a trip here (and possibly help with some can’t-miss sights).

Cultural diversity.

Multitudes of Asian ethnicities have settled in Malaysia over centuries, forming their own special blends distinct from their original cultures. And with the increasing globalization, imports from all around the world have continued to diversifying thecountry. Each culture is expressed and celebrated harmoniously, creating a beautiful living atlas.

Religious variety

Continental food

With the many cultures that have found a home in Malaysia, food showcasing their uniqueness and specialties has become one of, if not the , highlight of a trip here. Even in ancient times, Malaysia was a designated stop on the world’s spice trade route. As a result, local foods bring together flavors from all over the known world to create a special flavor only found here. Cuisines from all over still continue to flow through this meeting point of the world, so an Indian breakfast followed by a Nyonya lunch and a Korean dinner is totally doable.

Continuous development

While Kuala Lumpur has been hailed as a first-class city, its surrounding areas are still pretty traditional, creating a mixed landscape of old and new. Its newer and more prominent buildings still derive their design from traditional Malay architecture, thus creating monuments with eclectic flair . Much of the Malaysian landscape is similar and still transitioning from antique to modern.

Long-standing tradition

While Malaysia’s people are quite urbanized and modern, most still adhere to some traditions passed down through their families and communities. Observe carefully, and you might witness some of these traditions still in practice, such as praying before meals or younger generations serving their elders before partaking in meals.

Rain forest trekking

Believe it or not, Malaysia is a part of some of the oldest tropical jungles in the world, more ancient than even the Amazon jungles. The majestic island of Borneo is also a part of Malaysia, containing Sabah and Sarawak. Peninsular Malaysia also preserves some of the ancient natural world and has areas open for trekking for those wanting to explore.

Automatic multilingualism

Listening to Malaysians having a conversation is possibly one of the most interesting to do, as most locals have a habit of alternating between all the languages they know as they speak (known as code-switching). This often involves their mother tongue combined with English and Malay terms . Pay attention – you might catch words from other dialects that have made their way into the local vernacular.

Cheap goods galore

One of the attractions of Malaysia is the low cost of goods, be it of the edible, wearable or simply displayable variety. The distinctive day and night food markets , frequented by everyone regardless of income and class, provide great insight into the everyday life of Southeast Asian locals. Discover everything at a deliriously cheap price, but beware of knockoffs .

Tropical climate

Malaysian weather is truly an experience. Since it’s right on the equator, the country’s tropical humidity – a mixture of both high heat and sudden rains – is like no other. While this almost unpredictable weather pattern may seem daunting to some, it’s all part of the charm. Explore the many landscapes of Malaysian climate: from sweltering heat in the urban jungle, to perfect strawberry-growing climate in the Cameron Highlands , to absolutely gorgeous beach-lounging weather.

Natural monuments

Some of the world’s most fascinating natural sculptures are found within Malaysian borders, namely the Kinabalu mountain in Sabah and the Quartz Ridge in Klang. Both are extremely popular venues for hikers and mountain climbers from all over the world, so get ready to cross hiking the most amazing limestone crags off that bucket list.

One-of-a-kind wildlife

Malaysian jungles are home to some of the most bizarre and interesting wildlife that can’t be found anywhere else. Relive an evening of watching Borneo -set nature documentaries by exploring the rain forests and seeking out strange animals you’ve only ever seen on screen: the tapir, the binturong and the elusive pangolin. For simpler alternative, drop by the National Zoo or some of the animal reserves to learn more about the local flora and fauna from the experts and the conservationists.

UNESCO Heritage sites

Since much of Malaysia has been inhabited by traders and job-seeking immigrants from many parts of the world since the 1800s, it is no wonder that many towns still bear the cultural remnants in their architecture. States such as Penang and Malacca are particularly famous for maintaining these historical towns buildings and have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites to protect these relics of eras past for future generations.

Multicultural art

The diversity of Malaysia’s population has brought together the many art styles and techniques from all over Asia, producing a distinct design in architecture , fashion and food . The best of these fusions is seen in the Peranakan, or Baba-Nyonyan, tradition, which combines beautiful Indonesian and Balinese batik print patterns with oriental embroidery and beading, creating one of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful styles. The architecture is unique , as well, and mixes Chinese designs with Malay motifs.

Festivals for every season

With a multitude of cultures and religions come the celebrations for every special occasion. Malaysia’s many races come together to celebrate each other’s festivals of in perfect harmony. A Ramadan evening market will be filled with representatives of all races eager to feast on the many Malay Muslim delicacies. Chinese New Year will be lively with Indian and Malay friends visiting their Chinese peers’ open houses to collect ang pau packets and join in on the tossing of y ee sang salad to bring in prosperity and well wishes. It is truly a sight to see, so do not fret about planning to visit during the hectic holiday seasons.

The beautiful archipelago that spans all of lower Southeast Asia is a destination adventure all by itself, but Malaysia has its own islands worth making a little trip up north. The west coast islands of Penang and Langkawi are exceptionally famed for being among the top must-visit spots in lower Asia, and east coast islands such as Redang and Perhentian are popular among backpackers and snorkelers for their beautiful beaches and clear, reef-filled waters.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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Food & Drink

Borneo food: top dishes to try when you visit.

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See & Do

Visiting the borneo rainforest: all you need to know.

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Guides & Tips

The borneo sun bear: where to find the world's smallest bear.

What Are the Best Resorts in Malaysia?

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The Best Hotels to Book in Sabah, Malaysia

Culture trip spring sale, save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips limited spots..

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