The following is a list of prominent people who were born in or have lived in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, or for whom Sarawak is a significant part of their identity.
A Aaron Ago Dagang – politician, born in Kanowit, Sibu Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg – 6th Chief Minister of Sarawak, born in Limbang Abang Abu Bakar Abang Mustapha – former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kuala Rajang Abang Haji Openg – 1st Governor of Sarawak Abang Muhammad Salahuddin – 3rd and 6th Governor of Sarawak, born in Kampung Nangka, Sibu Abdul Rahman Ya'kub – 4th Governor of Sarawak and 3rd Chief Minister of Sarawak, born in Kampung Jepak, Bintulu Abdul Taib Mahmud – 7th Governor of Sarawak and 4th Chief Minister of Sarawak, born in Miri Adenan Satem – 5th Chief Minister of Sarawak, born in Kuching Ahmad Lai Bujang – MP for Sibuti Ahmad Zaidi Adruce – 5th Governor of Sarawak, born in Sibu Aidil Mohamad – footballer, born in Mukah Alan Ling Sie Kiong – lawyer and politician, born in Sibu Albert Kwok – leader of a resistance fighter known as the "Kinabalu Guerrillas" in Jesselton Revolt, Jesselton (present-day Kota Kinabalu in neighbouring Sabah) during Japanese occupation of British Borneo, born in Kuching Alexander Nanta Linggi – federal Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and MP for Kapit Alex Wong (SingleTrackMind) – independent musician and singer as well a retired professional jet ski racer Alice Lau Kiong Yieng – MP for Lanang, born in Sibu Amirul Hakim – actor, television broadcast journalist and news presenter for TV3, born in Kuching Angelina Chai Ka Ying, well-known as Angel – singer, a member of Dolla. Born in Kuching. Annuar Rapaee – Member of the State Legislative Assembly for Nangka, born in Sibu Anthony Lee Kok Hin – prelate Ashri Chuchu – footballer Aslina Chua – tennis player, born in Kuching Awang anak Raweng – Iban scout headman, born in Nanga Skrang, Sri Aman Azizan Saperi – footballer, born in Kuching
B Baru Bian – politician, born in Lawas Billy Abit Joo – MP for Hulu Rajang Benedict Martin – footballer Benedict Sandin – Iban ethnologist, historian, and curator of the Sarawak Museum in Kuching Bertram of Sarawak – member of the family of White Rajahs who ruled Sarawak for a hundred years, born in Kuching Bolly Lapok – bishop, born in Sebemban, Sri Aman Bryan Nickson Lomas – diver, born in Kuching
C Camelia – singer and model, born in Kuching Celestine Ujang Jilan – politician and former Speaker for the State Legislative Assembly Chan Seng Khai – 2nd mayor for Kuching South City Council, born in Kuching Chong Chieng Jen – lawyer and politician, born in Kuching Chong Ted Tsiung – 3rd mayor for Kuching South City Council, born in Kuching Clare Rewcastle Brown – British investigative journalist, born in Sarawak
D Dan Sullivan – Australian politician, born in Kuching Daeloniel "Kilat Boy" Mcdelon – boxer, born in Sri Aman Daniel Bego – swimmer, born in Kuching Dayang Nurfaizah – singer, born in Kuching Depha Masterpiece – musician and member of Masterpiece, born in Kapit Dewi Liana Seriestha – singer, model, beauty queen and the first Malaysian to win the Miss World Talent award in Miss World 2014 competition, born in Kuching Dion Cools – Belgian-Malaysian footballer, born in Kuching Ding Kuong Hiing – MP for Sarikei Douglas Uggah Embas – Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak and former MP for Betong Dunstan Endawie Enchana – former Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak and Member of the State Legislative Assembly for Krian Dzulazlan Ibrahim – footballer
E Elizabeth Jimie – diver, born in Kuching
F Fadillah Yusof – Malaysian Works minister, born in Kampung Hilir, Sibu Fareez Tukijo – footballer Fatimah Abdullah – Sarawak State Minister, Member of the State Legislative Assembly for Dalat Francisca Luhong James – Miss Universe Malaysia 2020, born in Kuching
G George Chan Hong Nam – former Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, born in Miri Gilbert Cassidy Gawing – footballer, born in Miri
H Hafiz – singer, born in Kuching Hairol Mokhtar – footballer, born in Kuching Harrison Ngau Laing – environmentalist and former MP Hasbi Habibollah – MP for Limbang Henry Golding – British-Malaysian actor, born in Sarawak Henry Sum Agong – MP for Lawas Halimah Ali – MP for Kapar, born in Marudi
I Idris Jala – former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, born in Bario Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling - former Member of the State Legislative Assembly for Bukit Assek, born in Bau.
J Jacob Dungau Sagan – MP for Baram, born in Long Anap, Ulu Baram James Chan Khay Syn – 4th Mayor of Kuching South City Council, born in Kuching James Chin – Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania and leading scholar of Malaysian politics and society, born in Kuching James Dawos Mamit – former MP for Mambong James Jemut Masing – Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak James Wan – Australian film director, screenwriter, and producer, born in Kuching James Wong – 1st Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak and former Leader of the Opposition, born in Limbang Jason Lo – music artist, producer, DJs, entrepreneur and former chief executive officer of Tune Talk, born in Kuching Jelaing Mersat – former MP of Saratok Jessie Chung – singer-songwriter, musician, oncologist, actress, author, naturopath, and nutritional consultant, born in Kuching Jimmy Raymond – footballer Joseph Entulu Belaun – Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and MP for Selangau Joseph Kalang Tie – footballer Joseph Salang Gandum – former MP for Julau Juanda Jaya – politician and former Mufti of Perlis Jugah Barieng – Paramount Chief of the Iban people and former Sarawak Internal Affairs Minister Julian Tan Kok Ping – former MP for Stampin
K Kanang anak Langkau – national hero and soldier from the Iban-Dayak community Kennedy Edwin – musician and member of Masterpiece, born in Kanowit, Sibu Koreyoshi Kurahara – Japanese screenwriter and director, born in Kuching Kuda Ditta – athletics, competitor at the 1964 Summer Olympics
L Lana Nodin – model and actress, born in Kuching Larissa Ping Liew – Miss World Malaysia 2018, born in Kuching Law Hieng Ding – former Science, Technology and the Environment minister Leo Michael Toyad – former MP for Mukah Leo Moggie – former politician and chairman board member of Tenaga Nasional Lily Eberwein – nationalist and women's right activist Liu Shan Bang – Sarawak Chinese historical warrior Lynda Ghazzali – entrepreneur and porcelain painter
M Muhammad Iyad Izzuddin Muhtar – actor Made Katib – former Anglican bishop Malcom Mussen Lamoh – Member of the State Legislative Assembly for Batang Ai Masir Kujat – MP for Sri Aman Mathew Ngau Jau – Sapeh master and Malaysia's Living National Heritage. Performs and also making the musical instrument, born in Long Semiyang Mazwandi – footballer Margaret Lim – Canadian-born Malaysian book author Melvin Sia – actor, model and singer Melvin Wong Hwang Chee – entrepreneur, speaker and businessman as well founder of FanXT, born in Kuching Michael Manyin – Member of the State Legislative Assembly for Tebedu Mohd Azlan Iskandar – squash player, born in Kuching Mohd Effendi Norwawi – businessman, administrator and politician, former Agriculture minister
N Nancy Shukri – Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and MP for Batang Sadong Nicholas Teo – Malaysian singer based in Taiwan, born in Kuching Norah Abdul Rahman – former MP for Tanjong Manis Neil Paul Sakai – Martial Artist, Wadoryu Karate Sensei and appointed as First Senior Zone (SEA) Instructor for Sakuukai Karate Federation, Japan
O Ong Kee Hui – politician and founder of Sarawak United Peoples' Party, born in Kuching Ong Poh Lim – Malayan/Singaporean badminton player, born in Kuching Ong Tiang Swee – renowned Chinese leader and businessman, born in Kuching
P Pandelela Rinong – diver, born in Bau Peter Chin Fah Kui – former Energy, Green Technology and Water minister and MP for Miri Peter John Jaban – DJ on Radio Free Sarawak and human rights campaigner
R Reeshafiq Alwi – footballer Rentap – Iban-Dayak historical warrior Richard Riot Jaem – Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia and MP for Serian, born in Serian Robert Lau Hoi Chew – former Deputy Minister for Transport and MP for Sibu, born in Sibu Robert Raymer – American writer and writing facilitator, born in Grove City, Pennsylvania and migrated to Kuching Rodney Akwensivie – Ghanaian-Malaysian footballer, born in Serian Rohani Abdul Karim – MP for Batang Lupar Rosli Dhobi – nationalist, born in Kampung Pulo, Sibu Rubiah Wang – MP for Kota Samarahan Rynn Lim – singer and actor, born in Kuching
S Sanjay Singh – squash player, born in Miri Sapok Biki – boxer, born in Simunjan Shahrol Saperi – footballer Shaun Maloney – English-Scottish footballer, born in Miri Sherie Merlis – actress, born in Sibu Sim Kui Hian – cardiologist and Sarawak Local Government and Housing minister Simoi Peri – politician Stella Chung – actress and singer Stephen Kalong Ningkan – 1st Chief Minister of Sarawak, born in Betong Stephen Yong Kuet Tze – former Cabinet Minister Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib – former Deputy Minister Sulaiman Daud – former MP for Petra Jaya Syarif Masahor – Sarawak Malay historical warrior
T Tawi Sli – 2nd Chief Minister of Sarawak Thane Bettany – English actor and dancer, born in Sarawak Tiki Lafe – former MP for Mas Gading Tiong Hiew King – businessman and founder of Rimbunan Hijau, born in Sibu Tiong King Sing – Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and MP for Bintulu Tiong Thai King – former MP for Lanang Traisy Vivien Tukiet – diver Tsai Horng Chung – Chinese-Malaysian painter, born in China and migrated to Sarawak during Japanese occupation of British Borneo Tsai Ming-liang – Taiwanese filmmaker, born in Kuching Tuanku Bujang – 2nd Governor of Sarawak
V Valentino Bong – Filipino-Malaysian squash player, born in Kuching Venice Elphi – footballer, born in Kuching Violet Yong Wui Wui – politician
W Wahab Dolah – former MP for Igan Wan Junaidi – Minister of Entrepreneur Development And Co-operatives and MP for Santubong Watson Nyambek – sprinter, born in Miri Watt Marcus – musician and member of Masterpiece, born in Sibu Welson Sim – swimmer, born in Kuching Wee Han Wen – architect and Chairman of the Miri City Council Wee Kheng Chiang – businessman, born in Kuching Wee Kheng Ming – actor William Nyallau Badak – MP for Lubok Antu Willy Edwin – musician and member of Masterpiece, born in Kanowit, Sibu Wilson Nyabong Ijang – Member of State Legislative Assembly for Pelagus Wong Ho Leng – former Opposition Leader of the Sarawak State Assembly, born in Sibu Wong Ling Biu – politician Wong Soon Koh – former Opposition Leader of the Sarawak State Assembly
Y Yi Jet Qi – Taiwanese singer and songwriter, born in Miri Yong Khoon Seng – former MP for Stampin Yong Mun Sen (Yong Yen Lang) – artist and one of the founder of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, born in Kuching
Z Zamri Morshidi – footballer Zee Avi – singer-songwriter, guitarist and ukulele player, born in Miri Zulkifli Che Ros – weightlifter
See also Demographics of Sarawak
References