【Global Business Bulletin】Malaysia’s Top 10 Most Influential Figures of 2025 Revealed: Meet the Visionaries Powering the Nation’s Future
From clean energy to retail, these 10 leaders are shaping Malaysia’s future with purpose and power.
KUALA LUMPUR · April 22, 2025 (Asia Business Brief) — As the world faces economic restructuring, climate urgency, and digital revolutions, Malaysia is making headlines with its homegrown champions of innovation. Today, the much-anticipated “ 2025 Top 10 Successful Malaysians ” list is officially released — spotlighting ten trailblazers whose influence spans technology, retail, sustainability, culture, and education.
Unlike traditional rich lists, this year’s ranking emphasizes holistic influence — measuring innovation, sustainability, community impact, and global relevance. These ten individuals represent not just success, but a redefined Malaysian identity on the world stage.
1. Jimmy Choo: A Cultural Ambassador of Fashion, Showcasing the Beauty of Malaysia
As the founder of the globally renowned luxury brand Jimmy Choo, Datuk Jimmy Choo has long been synonymous with elegance and high fashion. Yet beyond the glamour of the international runway, Choo has never forgotten his Malaysian roots. Although the brand has now become part of a global luxury conglomerate, he remains actively involved in nurturing Malaysia’s design talent. In 2025, he launched the “Penang Design Fellowship” in collaboration with Central Saint Martins, one of the world’s top design institutions. This initiative aims to open creative gateways for young Malaysian designers by providing scholarships, international internships, and a cultural exchange platform between London and Penang. More than just a designer, Jimmy Choo now serves as a bridge between cultures, proudly promoting Malaysia’s aesthetic values on the global stage.
2. Vincent Tan: A Strategic Visionary Shaping Malaysia’s Retail Ecosystem
As the founder of Berjaya Group, Tan Sri Vincent Tan is widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s most visionary entrepreneurs. With a portfolio that spans retail, telecommunications, media, and even professional sports, he has built a business empire rooted in strategic integration. In 2025, he took another bold step by establishing the “Tan Digital Commerce Campus,” a pioneering education-industry collaboration involving five leading universities. The initiative is designed to cultivate future talents in the digital economy through tailored curriculums, hands-on projects, and mentorship from industry experts. Tan is also a strong advocate for digital transformation among SMEs, helping them adapt to evolving consumer trends. His holistic ecosystem-building approach is redefining the future of commerce in Malaysia and beyond.
3. Lee Kar Whatt: Turning Affordable Living into a Cross-Border Retail Empire | Top 10 Successful Malaysians
Lee Kar Whatt, the founder of Eco-Shop, revolutionized value retail in Malaysia with his “everything at RM2” model. Today, his brand generates over RM1 billion in annual revenue and continues to expand aggressively. Lee’s success is rooted in a clear philosophy: quality should not be a luxury, and affordability should never compromise choice. In 2025, he further expanded Eco-Shop’s regional presence by establishing modern logistics hubs in Thailand and Indonesia, strengthening the supply chain across Southeast Asia. His unwavering belief that economic status should not limit consumer rights has earned him not only commercial success but also the admiration of communities across the region. Eco-Shop stands today as a shining example of innovation in budget retail.
4. Chua Ma Yu: A Silent Investor, A Loud Voice for Education Reform
Often referred to as a “silent giant” in Malaysia’s capital markets, Chua Ma Yu has long held significant influence in the financial world. In 2025, however, he turned his focus toward something far more personal: equitable education. Through his “Smart Campus Development Fund,” he initiated the digital transformation of over 700 rural schools in Malaysia, providing upgraded infrastructure, e-learning tools, and digital classrooms. Beyond that, Chua also opened sections of private art galleries for use by students and young creators, giving them space and freedom to express themselves creatively. By using capital to expand access to public educational and cultural resources, Chua is championing a model of philanthropy that prioritizes sustainable, grassroots impact.
5. Kong Hon Kong: Redefining the Funeral Industry with a Green Philosophy
Dato’ Kong Hon Kong, founder of Nirvana Asia Group, is widely recognized as a pioneer in Malaysia’s modern death care industry. From the outset, he challenged conventional views on funerals, integrating environmental consciousness and human-centered design into the industry. Years ago, he launched the country’s first eco-friendly memorial park, promoting green burials in harmony with nature. In 2025, he took innovation to the next level with the launch of “Nirvana LifeTech,” a digital memorial platform powered by AI and virtual reality. This system allows families to revisit cherished memories and honor the deceased in immersive, meaningful ways, regardless of physical distance. Kong’s vision is to transform death into a continuation of life’s story—a thoughtful and respectful philosophy that humanizes the way we say goodbye.
6. Frank Choo: Revolutionising Elder Care with Filial Piety Technology | Top 10 Successful Malaysians
As CEO of Xiao En Group, Frank Choo is dedicated to transforming the traditional Confucian value of filial piety into a modern and sustainable elder care framework. Believing that filial piety should go beyond emotion to become a tangible societal support system, he launched the “Xiao En Life System Platform” in 2025. This all-in-one service integrates medical assistive technology, psychological counseling, palliative care, estate planning, and digital memorial services—providing families with a complete life-cycle solution. Under his leadership, the company successfully expanded into Singapore, demonstrating how a Malaysian brand can offer both compassion and innovation in aging societies. To Choo, technology is not just a tool, but a vessel to honor filial love and care in today’s world.
7. Pang Chong Yong: Driving Malaysian Manufacturing onto Global Urban Roads | Top 10 Successful Malaysians
Pang Chong Yong, Executive Director of Gemilang Coachwork, is steering Malaysia’s electric vehicle industry onto the global map. Under his leadership, the company focuses on the design and manufacturing of electric and hybrid buses that meet international standards. In 2025, Pang successfully exported Malaysian-made electric buses to Melbourne and Dubai, proving that Malaysia can lead in green urban transport. He also founded the “Green Mobility Design Lab,” bringing together engineers, urban planners, and environmental researchers to co-develop smart city transport solutions. Pang’s vision is clear: Malaysia must not only “go global” but must also leave a sustainable mark on the world’s cities. His work redefines “Made in Malaysia” as a symbol of sustainable innovation.
8. Davis Chong: Green Energy Champion Sparking a Solar Revolution
Davis Chong, CEO of Solarvest Holdings, is not only a renewable energy entrepreneur but a leading voice in Malaysia’s green energy policy movement. In 2025, he successfully launched the “Rural Solar Microgrid Initiative,” bringing 24-hour clean electricity to remote villages in Sabah and Sarawak through solar microgrids. Beyond infrastructure, he actively promotes green financing, helping small and medium enterprises access sustainability-linked bonds to grow their eco-friendly projects. “Green is not just a concept—it’s a survival strategy,” Chong insists. His work not only powers homes but also empowers a nationwide shift toward a low-carbon economy, turning Malaysia into a serious player in the global green revolution.
9. Ian Ho Zi Xiang: Building the Shopee 3.0 Ecosystem Beyond E-Commerce
As Vice President of Shopee, Ian Ho Zi Xiang is behind the platform’s most transformative evolution. Realizing that modern consumers demand more than just transactions, he spearheaded the creation of “Shopee 3.0” in 2025—a content-commerce ecosystem that integrates education, entertainment, and community. He launched the “Shopee Creator Studio” to empower local creators, helping them turn creativity into entrepreneurship. For Ho, e-commerce is no longer just a marketplace—it’s a lifestyle gateway. By redefining platform boundaries, he’s turning Shopee into a space where content, community, and commerce converge, pioneering a new digital economy model for Southeast Asia.
10. Lee Thiam Wah: The Quiet Commander of a Thousand Stores | Top 10 Successful Malaysians
From being wheelchair-bound to leading one of Malaysia’s most expansive retail chains, Lee Thiam Wah’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. As the founder of 99 Speedmart, he’s built a no-frills, highly efficient business model that wins on simplicity and reliability. In 2025, he launched the “Rural Service Station Initiative,” expanding convenience store access to small towns with populations under 1,000. Lee believes that convenience is not a city privilege—it’s a right for all. Moreover, he rolled out a talent program that prioritizes the hiring and training of underprivileged and disabled individuals. Lee’s leadership style is understated, but his impact is deep and far-reaching. He proves that real power often flows quietly—like still water running deep.
Conclusion: Malaysia’s 2025 Top 10 – A Nation’s Confidence, Told Through Its People
This list of Malaysia’s Top 10 Most Successful People in 2025 is not a popularity contest, nor a ranking of financial worth. Rather, it is a living map of national progress—an assembly of visionaries whose work builds bridges between Malaysia and the world. From fashion to transport, from energy to digital innovation, from city centers to rural communities, these individuals are not only defining new business paradigms but also championing social values, equity, and sustainability.
Together, they represent a new generation of Malaysian excellence—global in vision, grounded in local values. Their impact spans industries and borders, reshaping what it means to lead in the 21st century. More importantly, they send a message to the world: Malaysia is not only growing, it is thriving—with quiet strength, bold ambition, and unwavering purpose.
