This article contains a list of notable Malay Singaporeans, people with Malay ancestry born or naturalised in Singapore.
Note: For Malays in Singapore, the last name is patronymic, not a family name. The person should be referred to by his or her first or second name which is the given name. The Malay word bin (b.) or binte (bte.), if used, means "son of" or "daughter of" respectively.
Literature and culture
Alfian Sa'at (b. 1977 – ) – acclaimed poet and playwright. He has written his works in both English and Malay.
Djamal Tukimin (b. 1946 – ) – writer, poet and theatre activist. Winner of the Tun Seri Lanang Award, the highest Malay literary award in Singapore, in 2007. Also the recipient of the Anugerah Warisan Kencana (Golden Legacy Award) given by the Taman Warisan Melayu (Malay Legacy Group) in 2007. He is the writer of the book Arus Teater Melayu (The Direction of The Malay Theatre), which highlights the history of the Malay Theatre in Singapore since the 1970s and also discusses it future.
Isa Kamari (b. 1960 – ) – writer, who is known for addressing controversial yet profound issues in his novels. His 1998 novel, Satu Bumi (One Earth), about a Chinese girl adopted into a Malay family, questioned where Malay loyalties lay when Singapore separated from Malaysia in the 1960s. Tawassul (Intercession) (2002) imagined what would happen if someone cloned Prophet Muhammad. Kiswah (Drape of Kaabah) (2002) broke the taboo of discussing the tension between sexuality and spirituality in the generally conservative Malay/Muslim community, while Atas Nama Cinta (In The Name of Love) (2006) centred on the 1950s riots in Singapore triggered by the Muslim-Christian family feud over Dutch girl, Maria Hertogh. Memeluk Gerhana (Embrace The Eclipse) (2007) related the coming of age story of a youth who was caught by the Internal Security Department for his alleged clandestine activities connected with the Iranian revolution in 1979. His latest novel Rawa (2008) revealed the story of the Orang Seletar, the indigenous people of Singapore who lost their homeland. His novels have been translated into English and Chinese. He has written seven novels, two collections of poetry, a collection of short stories, two television scripts and two plays. He received the S.E.A Write Award in Bangkok in 2006 and was awarded the Cultural Medallion by the Singapore Government in 2007. In 2009 he was conferred the highest Malay literary award, the Anugerah Tun Seri Lanang by the Malay Language Council of Singapore.
Mahmud Ahmad (b. 1906 – d. 1976) – linguist, culturist, social reformer. He helped revitalise the development of the Malay language and culture in Singapore via many social organisations. Was posthumously awarded the Tun Seri Lanang Literary Award upon his death in 1976.
Dr. Masuri Salikun (b. 1927 – d. 2005) – poet, writer and playwright who used the nom de plume Masuri S N. He was among the top laureates in the Malay world. His works are read in many universities. Founded the leading Malay literary group, Angkatan Sasterawan 50 (Singapore Writer's Movement '50). His works included poems, short stories, essays and plays. Was a fellow at the Institute of South East Asian Studies and Iowa University as well as a resident writer of the Malaysian Language Institute and the National University of Singapore. Beginning with the poem Ros Kupuja (Rose I Admire) (1941), he had dedicated 60 years of his life to poertry. His notable works include Awan Putih (White Cloud) (1958) and Dalam Merenung Dalam (In Deep Thought) (2006). Recipient of many awards including the Public Service Star in 1963. Was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the Sultan Idris University, Malaysia.
Mohamed Latiff Mohamed (b. 1950 – ) – writer and social activist. He is regarded as one of the most influential Malay writers of his time. A firm believer of developing the younger generation, he has mentored numerous youths including Hoirull Amri Tahiran, Fariz Husna Sajani, Arni Johan and Muhammad Jailani. He is widely regarded as a radical poet whose works highlights the life and struggle of the post-independence Malay community in Singapore. Among his outstanding works are the poem Bangsaku di Hari Lahirku (My People on The day I was Born), the short stories Mondok and the novel Batas Langit (The Sky is the Limit). He has also written many essays and criticisms. He received the prestigious the Arts Literary Award (1988) from the Montblanc NUS Centre, SEA Write Award (2002), and Tun Seri Lanang Award (2003) for his outstanding contributions in the world of literature. His works, Bagiku Sepilah Sudah (It's Quiet For Me), an anthology of poetry, and Nostalgia Yang Hilang (Lost Nostalgia), a collection of short stories, as well as Bila Rama-Rama Patah Sayapnya (When the Butterfly Breaks Its Wing), a collections of poetry, all received the Singapore Literature Prize in 2004, 2006 and 2008 respectively.
Mohamed Pitchay Gani BMAA (b. 1967 – ) – writer, lecturer, researcher, editor, critique and social activist. Lifetime member of 'Golden Key National Honor Society' in America. He is one of the key leaders in shaping contemporary trends in cultural and language initiatives. Under his keen supervision and leadership, he has managed to revive Angkatan Sasterawan '50 (Asas '50), one of the oldest literary organisations in the region, to excellence. In 2009, he was elected as the president of Asas '50. Among his most notable contributions to the society was through his landmark research of the evolution of the Malay language over 2000 years. He also received the young laureate award in 2006. His field of expertise includes Malay literature and language. In 2009, his research paper on the language situation in Singapore was awarded the "Best Research Paper Award" at the Conference for Academic Discipline in Toronto, Canada.
Mohd Eunos Abdullah (b. 1876 – d. 1934) – writer and social activist. He was a member of the Johore royal family. Ran the first Utusan Melayu (1912–1914) which was a translation of the English paper, the Singapore Free Press. His progressive ideas in his writings lead some scholars to hail him as the 'father of Malay journalism'. The first Malay to serve in Legislative Assembly and was awarded the Justice of Peace. A champion of Malay rights, he was the founder of the Malay Union Singapore in 1926, the first quasi-political body in the Malay world. Today, a road called Jalan Eunos is named after him.
Dr. Muhammad Ariff Ahmad (b. 1924 – d. 2016) – writer and culturist. Responsible for the formation of several Malay literary and cultural organisations like the Malay Educational Council and Central Council of Malay Cultural Organisations. Regarded as the beacon of Malay literature and culture in Singapore and even the region, he had been honoured with many awards including the Tun Seri Lanang Literary Award (1993), Cultural Medallion (1993) and Public Service Star (2000).
Muhammad Jailani Abu Talib (b. 1985 – ) – writer, poet, art, social and cultural critique and activist. He created history in 2009 by being the first foreign student to be elected as president of Persatuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya (PBMUM), a post previously held by notable leaders, ministers and academics from Malaysia. His poems and critiques are regularly published in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. His expertise, views and thoughts are regularly sought by various institutions. He has also given a talk on contemporary Malay culture and art to various educational institutes in the region. In 2008, he introduced a new literary genre of which he termed as Graftera. Among the honours that he has received include being selected as the Youth Activist Icon (2009) by the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University Malay Language Society and being awarded the National Arts Council Bursary Scholarship Award (2009).
Nongchik Ghani (b. 1928 – d. 2006) – writer and culturist. His name was synonymous with the development of Malay arts in Singapore. Supervisor of the former National Theatre. Was active with the Anglo-Malay Evening School, Malay Youth Literary Association (4PM), and founded the Malay cultural body, Sriwana, in 1955 and served as its secretary for 40 years. He wrote several stage plays and choreographed several musicals such as Todak (Garfish Attack on Singapore). After Singapore's separation from Malaysia, he was instrumental in reviving the Malay arts especially with the Drama Festival that showcased many drama talents. Was awarded the Sriwana Meritorious Service Medal (2000) and the Public Service Star (1965).
Arts and entertainment
Aaron Mustapha bin Aziz (b. 1976 – ) – TV and film actor better known as Aaron Aziz who has appeared in many local Malay television shows and is now based in Malaysia. A popular entertainer in both Malaysia and Singapore, his recent film KL Gangster is the highest grossing in Malaysian box office history.
Abdul Wahid Bin Ahmad (b. 1935 – ) – singer, comedian and actor better known as Wahid Satay who appeared in many Malay films of the 1950s to 1960s. He became known by the moniker "Satay" after audiences identified him with his role as a satay seller in the Malay horror movie Pontianak in 1957. He was awarded the Perdana Golden Award at the 9th Perdana Festival in 2007 organised by Suria television network.
Adi Yadoni – filmmaker and musician who started off his career as a painter. His first documentary, Reflections of the Misunderstood Mat Rockers, a documentary on Malay rockers in Singapore, was the first ever local documentary to be chosen as the main entry for the Singapore Film Festival 2002. He is the brainchild behind the Kaki 5 Galerie & Cafe, an eatery which has become a meeting place for local Malay artists and musicians. Adi Yadoni is also a respected figure in the local indie music scene with his yearly event the Kaki 5 Folk Akustika which aims to provide a platform for local musicians to flourish and continue celebrating their artistic passion.
Ahmad Jaafar (b. 1919 – d. 2009) – composer and musician. He had composed many songs for Malay films. Also headed the orchestra of the then Radio & Television of Singapore and Singapore Broadcasting Corporation until his retirement in 1992. Among his songs, Ibu (Mother), Bunga Tanjung (Tanjung Flower) and Selamat Hari Raya (Happy Eid), are still evergreen. He was bestowed with many accolades including the Public Service Medal and Cultural Medallion (1982) and Gold Premier Award (Mediacorp in 2002) for his contribution to the arts in Singapore.
Anis Mohamed (b. 1982 – ) – creative director of the media production companies PictureMatters Sdn Bhd and PictureMatters Pte Ltd who started off his career as a singer and TV actor. He gained further media exposure after winning a local P. Ramlee singing contest in 2001 organised by the MediaCorp Radio, which gave him an opportunity to be a singer and actor in a programme produced for the Astro Channel in Malaysia. He was based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,from 2002–2004 and later became a writer and producer. Was nominated for the prestigious Malaysian Anugerah Seri Angkasa award in 2004 & 2005 for co-writing/researching the Malay documentary Gemilang Filem Melayu (Golden Age of Malay Film) (Seasons 2&3) for the Astro Channel.
Bani Buang (b. 1930 – d. 1996) – director and producer. Hailed as "the father of Singapore Malay drama", he had produced and directed numerous plays as well as nurtured many talents since the 1940s. Produced and directed the 1970s Malay TV series Sandiwara. Headed the Malay Drama Unit of the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 1979.
Hanis Saini (b. 1964 – ) – former fashion model, also known as Hanis Saini Hussey was discovered in 1982 by model scout Dick Lee of Carrie Models. Shortly thereafter, she was crowned 'Catwalk Model of the Year Singapore' and her prize was a modelling contract with a Parisian agency. Upon her arrival, the 5'11" Hanis clinched a two-year contract with Yves Saint Laurent. She was chosen to close YSL 1983 fall-winter show, dressed in a wedding gown. Went on to model for other fashion houses such as Balmain, Givenchy, Ungaro, Lanvin, Dior and Jean-Louis Scherrer. She appeared in Scherrer's 'Scherrer 2' parfum ad, with supermodel Linda Evangelista. Having spent over a decade strutting the Paris catwalks, Hanis returned to Singapore and opened her modelling agency Hanis International. In 1997, she became the first Singapore's model to appear on the cover of Time Magazine Asia. She now lives in Singapore with her American husband and three children. Now retired from modelling, she works as a grooming consultant. She also sells Micki Elaine handbag hangers and supports the XS Project Europe, a non-profit organisation, recycling trash into eco-friendly handbags .
Hazlina Abdul Halim (b. 1985 – ) – television presenter, journalist and radio announcer.
Imran Ajmain (b. 1981 – ) – award winning singer, songwriter and producer. His hit single Seribu Tahun (A Thousand Years), became the theme song for the Malaysian soap opera series, Kerana Cintaku Saerah (Because of My Love For Saerah). He was, at one time, also a celebrity columnist for Berita Minggu, Singapore's weekend Malay-language paper, who chronicled the development of the Malay entertainment industry in Singapore. Songwriter/composer at large for many Malay-language singers with Taufik Batisah, Hady Mirza, Anuar Zain, and Faradina Mohd. Nadzir being among them.
Iskandar Ismail (b. 1956 – d. 2014) – composer, arranger, conductor, musical director, recording producer and jazz performer. He has done the musical arrangements for musicals such as Chang And Eng. Has also arranged for the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and arranged and conducted for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Istana Budaya Orchestra of Malaysia and China National Opera & Ballet Orchestra. As a record producer, he has worked with Cantopop kings Jacky Cheung and Aaron Kwok as well as veteran Hong Kong singer Sandy Lam. He is also the music arranger for Singapore's National Day Parades and Chingay Parades. Winner of the Cultural Medallion award in 2008.
Iskandar Jalil (b. 1940 – ) – a highly regarded local ceramist who uses fine clay to develop bowls and pots into art works, integrating Japanese and Islamic styles. His work is featured in the collections of many international public and private collections, such as those by the National Museum of Sweden, Sultan of Brunei, former American President George H Bush, and the former Governor of Hong Kong.
Ithnaini binte Mohd Taib (b. 1952 – ) – singer, host and actress better known as Anita Sarawak who appeared in several Malay films in the 1960s. She was wildly popular as a singer on television and stage shows in the 1960s and 1970s. She was the first Singaporean singer to make it big on the Las Vegas scene, performing nightly at Caesar's Palace in the 1980s. She now still occasionally hosts some TV shows.(For more information, search "Anita Sarawak" at the Malay Language Wikipedia.)
Khalid Ibrahim (b. 1935 – ) – actor who uses the name Cal Bellini. Notable for his appearances in a number of Hollywood films and television series in the 1960s and 1970s. Appeared in films like Little Big Man, Fuzz, The Mountain Men, and A Darkness at Blaisedon. His TV credits include shows like Hawaii Five-O, The Streets of San Francisco, The Rockford Files, Barnaby Jones, Ironside, Cannon, and Little House on the Prairie. He is also the brother of the late former Attorney-General, Ahmad Ibrahim.
Marpiah binti Abdul Rahim (b. 1921 – d. 2015) – singer, comedienne and actress better known as Momo Makarim a.k.a. Momo Latiff who appeared in many Malay films of the 1930s to 1970s. She had also appeared in a number of films with P. Ramlee. She was awarded the Johan Pingat Sarawak medal in Sarawak, Malaysia on her 86th birthday on 8 September 2007.
Mazlan Ahmad aka Phyreman (b. 1976 – ) – A self-taught graffiti/street artist and the founder of the renowned graffiti crew Operation Art Core in 1994. The first Singaporean to bring street art and graffiti to the international scene in the United States in 2003. He is also affiliated with the world-renowned graffiti crew Kings Destroy led by the legendary graffiti/street artist COPE2 in the Bronx, New York. Mazlan has also successfully installed one of the first graffiti/street arts gallery in Singapore called Artkore Industry.
Mohd Najip Bin Ali – musician and TV personality better known as Najip Ali. He became a household name for being the wacky host of the TV programme Asia Bagus in the 1990s.
Mohd Noor Mohd Yusofe (b. 1936 – ) – songwriter better known by the pen name Yusnor Ef. He has written over 350 Malay songs. A number of these songs were featured in the Malay movies in the 1960s including those sung by P. Ramlee. He has written songs for Malay singers from both Singapore and Malaysia and many of his songs are evergreen. A scriptwiter, TV producer and an author, he is also the founder member of the Society of Singers, Musicians and Professional of the Malay music industry in Singapore (PERKAMUS). He is also the recipient of the Public Service Star for his contribution in the arts and letters.
Muhammad Mirzahady Bin Amir (b. 1980 – ) – singer, winner of the reality TV series competition Singapore Idol (Second Season in 2006). Also the winner of the first Asian Idol held in 2007. Performs under the name Hady Mirza.
Muhammad Taufik Bin Batisah (b. 1981 – ) – award-winning singer, songwriter and producer. Winner of the reality TV series competition Singapore Idol (First Season in 2004). Considered one of the most outstanding among the younger generation of artistes, he shone through local music history when his debut album Blessings became the best-selling local English album in the past decade with record sales of more than 36,000 copies. Audiences at more than a hundred performances within Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei have also witnessed his progression from an aspiring star to an iconic artiste in a league of his own. He has garnered many music and popularity awards including the regional MTV Asia Awards as well as the Best Local Song award for Usah Lepaskan (Don't Let Go) at the Anugerah Planet Muzik 2007 and Berserah (Surrender) at the Anugerah Planet Muzik 2008. Taufik's venture into Malaysia with his debut Malay album also received rave reviews from the critics and media in Malaysia, dubbing him "a gem in the Singapore music industry" from his capability as a performer, as well as his talent for songwriting and producing. A humble and endearing personality, Taufik has not only won a tremendous fan support throughout his career but also endorsements from popular consumer brands such as 7-Eleven and StarHub. His wholesome approach has also gained recognition from government agencies and he has also been the top choice to front for various national initiatives. He was awarded a national honour with the Singapore Youth Achievement Award in 2008. He performs under the name Taufik Batisah.
Murni Mastan aka Mo Selle (b. 1976 – ) – visual artist, screenwriter, director. She was a VJ (video performance artist) who helmed the booth of the world renown club, Ministry of Sound, from 2005 to 2008. She has worked alongside top named international DJs including Tiesto, ATB, Benny Benassi, Deep Dish, Axwell, Steve Angello, Sandy Rivera and Frankie Knuckles. She was also involved in live theatre visual production (Singapore Indian Artiste Association/TheatreWorks/The Necessary Stage), television (Mediacorp Channel 5/Suria) and film direction. Her works have been screened at the Singapore International Film Festival (2006), Melbourne Queer Film Festival (2006), The Substation's "First Take" (2007) and Singapore Malay Film Association's "Purnama" (2008). To date, her VJ animation has been downloaded 350,000 times and remixed by international VJs.
Nina Halim (b. 1979 – ) – actress, producer and entrepreneur. Co-founder/Creative Director of RightBrain Pte Ltd. Launched Singapore's bilingual entertainment portal awan-awan with her upcoming director/photographer brother, Helmindra J.A. Halim. Popularly remembered for her gangster role as Mummy in the Malay television series Anak Metropolitan in 2002 and 2004. She was nominated twice in the Pesta Perdana award show. She is the daughter of award winning actor J.A. Halim and veteran actress Aminah Ahmad.
Nuraliza Osman (b 1977 – ) – winner of the Miss Singapore Universe in 2002. Formerly a lawyer with the law firm of Rajah & Tann, she has been a legal counsel with Upstream International Asia at Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd since 2005.
Noorhaqmal Mohamed Noor (b. 1984 – ) – well known as Aqmal N., winner of Suria Mediacorp 2004, runner-up for Mediacorp Power 98FM "Army Icon" (2005) and Mediacorp Ria 98.7FM "Ria Remix" (2006), singer of winning song "Suara Itu" for Esplanade SingaRaya (2007), top five for Mediacorp Warna 94.2FM and Ria 89.7FM "Projek Rentak" (2008) and winner of Mediacorp Warna 94.2FM and Ria 89.7FM "Projek Rentak" (2009), with song entitled Warkah Cinta Dunia. A singer/songwriter who has won most Mediacorp's major competitions since winning Anugerah in 2004; especially in the Malay media stream. First musician, singer/songwriter to have a research paper titled Muzik, Bahasa dan Media Baru (Music, Language and New Media) published in Bahasa Sumber Intelektual Peribumi (2009), a compilation of research papers on Malay language by experts of various fields. Literary activist and has published works, namely Awan Tak Larat in Jurnal Akademik Jilid VII (2007), Drama Waktu Sesudah Itu mengungkap pengalaman pendokumentasian in Jurnal Akademik Jilid VIII (2008), Pembelot in "Aku Ingin Menulis: Panduan Mudah Menulis Cerpen" and "Teman Siber" (2009), Pengaruh bahasa dalam seni kata dikir Singapura in Jurnal Akademik Jilid IX (2009), Representasi Puisi dalam pelbagai media dari sudut genetik in Jurnal Akademik Jilid IX (2009), Hitam in Kasih Bunga Merah (2009) and Muzik dan Pembelajaran: Satu penelitian in Jurnal Akademik Jilid IX (2009). He is a full-time educator but best known as a musician, singer/songwriter, researcher and activist of literary arts. His song, "Warkah Cinta Dunia" (2009) has been distributed worldwide in internet websites such as Amazon, Rhapsody, iTunes, Napster, eMusic, SonipTap, Shockhound, Imesh and NokiaMusic.
Nordin Ahmad (b. 1932– d. 1971) – actor who started his film career as a protege of P. Ramlee and also appeared in a few film with him. Due to his good looks and intense acting, he became a bankable star appearing in 49 films in his 15-year career. He is especially remembered for his roles as a tragic hero who dies at the end in films like Air Mata Duyong (A Mermaid's Tears), Dang Anum, Raden Mas and Hang Jebat. In 1971, he died of liver failure at a relatively young age of 39. (For more information, search "Nordin Ahmad" at the Malay Language Wikipedia.)
Norleena Salim (1973 – ) – popular TV actress, comedianne and singer, mainly known for her role as Rosnah in Mediacorp's sitcom Under One Roof. She is currently working as a jazz singer in Australia .
Othman Hamzah (b. 1962 – ) – singer, songwriter, producer and motivational speaker. Winner of the TV singing competition series Talentime in 1979. Was a best selling local singer in the 1980s.
Rafaat Hamzah – poet, actor, director and producer who has also penned songs as well as scripts for television and theatre, Rafaat has been writing since the late 1980s. Rafaat's poems are considered bold, succinct and echo issues close to the heart of the Singapore Malays. His poems have been featured in the local newspapers and on radio, and he published his first compilation of poems, Yang Bilang (As Told), in 2007. The 3-time award winning actor (2000, 2007, 2011) has appeared in more than 40 stage plays and 35 television shows. In Kallang Roar The Movie (2008), he portrayed the Malaysian football legend Mokhtar Dahari. As a poet, he has performed both locally and regionally. His 1st poetry concert, Gua Cakap Sama Lu: Who Says Poetry is Boring? at the Esplanade Theatre Studio in 2005 was a full house and received positive reviews. More recently he represented Singapore at the Numera World Poetry Reading in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2012. He was also one of the poets featured in the Singapore Writers Festival 2012. Rafaat is currently in the midst of compiling his second anthology, which will be his first work with an English translation. Rafaat is also an art and entertainment entrepreneur is currently the Executive Director of the media production company COKELAT Events & Production LLP and the Artistic Director of a community theatre performance company called Anak Wayang LLP.
Ramlah bt Mohamad Sulaiman (b. 1921 – d. 1999) – actress better known as Siput Sarawak. Acted in about 50 films, mostly in the 1950s and 1960s. She is best known for her roles in playing the "bad girl" and evil characters. She was honoured with the Veteran Artist Award at the 9th Malaysian Film Festival in 1991. Her last film was Layar Lara (Lara's Journey) (1997) at the age of 76, two years before her demise. She was also Anita Sarawak's mother. (For more information, search "Ramlah bt Mohamad Sulaiman" at the Malay Language Wikipedia.)
Ramli Sarip (b. 1952 – ) – singer and best selling Malay recording artist in Singapore. He was first popular with his group Sweet Charity in the late 1970. Since 1989, he has cut eight solo albums with an average sale of 100,000 copies per album. The highest sale achieved was 250,000 copies. He is now a popular singer and producer in Malaysia.
Salmah binti Ismail – (b. 1935 – d. 1983) – singer and actress better known as Saloma. She was the older sister of fellow actress Siti Mariam Binti Ismail (known as Mariani) and the wife of P. Ramlee. She was one of the first Malay Diva during the golden age of the Malay motion pictures. Her marriage with the late P. Ramlee was hailed by the media as the first Malay celebrity power couple.
Sarkasi Said (b. 1938 – ) – artist, who also goes by the name Sarkasi Said Tzee. He is known in Singapore as the Batik Baron because of his work with batik paintings. His works have been exhibited in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand, United States, Japan and France. They have also found their way into many distinguished public and private collections including the National Museum of Singapore, Her Royal Highness Sultana of Johore, Her Royal Highness Pengiran Hajjah Mariam of Brunei Darussalam, the offices of the Singapore High Commissions in Brunei and Kuala Lumpur as well as the President of the Republic of Singapore. In 1974, he won the APAD Medal from APAD, a local art group. Other awards include the Best Foreign Entry Sarasota Art Society (United States) (1981), 8th UOB Painting of the Year Award (1989) and the IBM Art Award (1990). He had, at one time, held a record in the Guinness Book of Records for having painted the world's longest Batik painting of 103.9 metres in 2003.
Sezairi Sezali (b. 1987 – ) – singer, winner of the reality TV series competition Singapore Idol (Third Season in 2009).
Shamsuddin bin Dali (b. 1928 – d. 2013) – actor and comedian who went under the name S. Shamsuddin. He had acted in close to 30 Malay movies, mostly in the 1950s and 1960s. Some of the classic films like Nujum Pak Belalang (Mr Grasshopper the Astrologer) (1959), Nasib Si Labu Labi (Labu's and Labi's Luck) (1963) and Tiga Abdul (The Three Abduls) (1964) are still widely watched and enjoy regular re-runs on Malay television channels in both Singapore and Malaysia. His first film was Cempaka directed by B. S. Rajjhans in 1948. His last role was in Tiga Menantu (Three Daughters-In-Law) a 2009 made-for-television movie commissioned by Malaysian broadcast company Astro and produced and directed by Yusnor Ef. In February 2013, Shamsuddin received the Anugerah Seri Temasek, a lifetime achievement award to honour artistes of Singapore and Malaysia.
Sharif Medan (b. 1905 – d. 1997) – actor. Hailed as "Father of Bangsawan" because of his background in bangsawan (Malay Opera). He was also a pioneer in the first Malay talkie film Laila Majnun (1933). Appeared in a number of Malay films in the 1950s and 1960s. He served as an advisor and writer to many radio and television programmes especially bangasawan. Was a regular cast in the 1970s Malay TV series Sandiwara that was shown on the then Radio & Television of Singapore Channel 5.
Som Binte Mohamed Said (b. 1951 – ) – dancer, instructor and choreographer of Malay dance. Som's perception of the poor quality of Malay dance in the 1970s pushed her to continuously pursue the task of improving standards, both in herself when she was dancing, and now in others for whom she choreographs. She saw the road to improving standards was in instilling the right training in the young, and in 1974, she formed the Sriwana Children's Dance section. Som's students have gone on to become committed professional dancers and instructors, thus continuing a tradition started by her. For her efforts and dedication, she was presented with the National Youth Service award in 1979. A pioneering member of the Sriwana Cultural Group in 1965, her other contributions include the formation of the Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts, Singapore's first fully professional Malay dance company, in 1997. She has been awarded both the Cultural Medallion (1987) and the Public Service Medal (1992).
Suhaimi Subandie – musician and founder of hardcore band Stompin' Ground.
Suhaimi Yusof – actor & comedian.
Wandly Yazid (b. 1925 – d. 2005) – composer and arranger of Malay film music (1940's to 1960s).
Yusof Bin Latiff – (b. 1922 – d. 1998) actor who appeared in a number of Malay films in the 1950s to 1960s. He also appeared in a number of films with P. Ramlee. He was later a regular cast in the weekly Malay TV series Sandiwara in the 1970s on the then Radio & Television of Singapore Channel 5
Wahyu Rahman – A popular and talented actress who is also a director, producer and writer. Despite playing characters people love to hate on the screen countless of times, she was voted by the viewers as the Most Popular Personality 2009 at the Pesta Perdana 10. Wahyu is also an entrepreneur who has several creative businesses.
Zubir Said (b. 1907 – d. 1987) – musician and composer of the Singapore National Anthem 'Majulah Singapura'.
Zulkifli Mohamed Amin (b. 1983 – ) – musician, composer and arranger. Resident arranger and conductor of Orkestra Melayu Singapura (Youth).
Abdul Halim bin Haron (b. 1972 – ) – bodybuilder, winner of the silver medal at the Asian Championship in 2001 and gold medal winner in the Busan 2002 Asian Games (bantamweight category).
Aqilah Binte Sudhir (b. 1991 – ) – shooter, winner of a gold medal in the Commonwealth Youth Games 2008 (Girls' 10m air rifle event ), winner of a bronze medal in the SEA Games 2009 in Vietnam (individual category of the Women 50m Rifle 3-Position) and winner of a bronze and gold medal in the Commonwealth Games 2010 in India (individual and pairs category of the Women 50m rifle 3-position respectively).
Azman bin Abdullah – bodybuilder, five-time Mr Singapore title holder, three-time Mr Asia and an Asian Pro-Am Classic Champion. Three times winner of the SEA Games gold medal. First Singaporean to win a gold medal in the middleweight division of the IOC-sanctioned World Games Bodybuilding Championship in 1993.
Bulat Bin Ismail – boxer, first Singaporean to win an Asian medal in boxing when he won a silver at the 1954 Asian Games in the Philippines in the welterweight division.
Fandi Ahmad (b. 1962 – ) – (retired) soccer player, ex-Singapore National Team member and Singapore's first sporting millionaire. Regarded by many as one of the finest soccer players produced by Singapore.
Fatholomein Ali – (retired) bodybuilder who won the Asian Amateur Championships eight times from 1980 to 1990. Also three times winner of the gold medal in the 1979 (lightweight category), 1987 (welterweight category) and 1989 (welterweight category) SEA Games.
Ibrahim bin Sihat (b. 1957 – ) – bodybuilder, three times winner of the SEA Games gold medal. Silver medal winner in the Busan 2002 Asian Games (bantamweight category). Oldest bodybuilder from Singapore to win a gold medal in the 2005 SEA Games in the Philippines (flyweight division) when he was 48 years old.
Indra Sahdan Daud (b. 1979 – ) – soccer player, recently made captain of the Singapore National Team . Regarded as Fandi's successor in terms of his prowess and ability on the field.
Ismail Marjan (b. 1920 – d. 1991) – badminton player, men's doubles player. Winner at the International Badminton Championships in Glasgow in 1952. Winner of the Thomas Cup and All England Championship 1949–1955.
Jumaat Ibrahim (b. 1938 – ) – (retired) boxer, National Champion 1962–1970 (flyweight division). Winner of the bronze medal at the 1965 SEAP Games and silver medals at the 1967 and 1969 SEAP Games (flyweight category).
Kamsari Salam (b. 1941 – ) – (retired) cyclist, winner of the silver medal at the 1965 SEAP Games and bronze medal at the 1967 SEAP Games.
Lon bin Mohamed Noor (b. 1921 – d. unknown) – weightlifter, National Champion 1947–1956. Winner of the bronze medal at the 1951 Asian Games. First Malay athlete from Singapore to participate in the Olympic Games. Finished 8th place out of 19 in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki (bantamweight category).
Mardan Mamat (b. 1964 – ) – golfer, first Singaporean to win a European Tour event by winning the 2006 OSIM Singapore Masters Tournament.
Mohd Ismail Muhammad – bodybuilder, two times winner of the SEA Games gold medal. Silver medal winner in the Busan 2002 Asian Games (middleweight category).
Muhammad Imran Abdul Rahim (b. 1983 – ) – (retired) silat player, world junior champion (2000), world champion (2004 and 2007) and winner of the gold medal in the 2005 SEA Games (tanding Class H 80–85 kg category).
Mohamed Zain Amat (b. 1976 – ) – shooter, winner of a gold medal in the 2005 SEA Games (double trap – shotgun) and winner of three gold medals in the 2007 SEA Games (individual and team trap event, team double trap).
Mohamed Zulfakar bin Mohamed Ramli (b. 1981 – ) – silat player, winner of the gold medal in the 1999 and 2001 SEA Games (tanding Class D and C category respectively), world champion 2002 (tanding Class C category).
Najwa Binte Jumali (b. 1994 – ) – sailor, winner of the silver medal at the Asian Youth Games in 2009, 5th Overall and Female World Champion in Byte CII World Championship 2009 in Ontario, Canada.
Noor Azhar Hamid (b. 1949 – ) – (retired) athletic high jumper, three times winner of the SEAP Games gold medal (1969, 1973 and 1975). In all, he represented Singapore in a total of nine consecutive SEAP/SEA Games from 1967 to 1981 and earned 3 gold, a silver and two bronze medals.
Rohmat Juraimi (b. 1947 – ) – (retired) bodybuilder who won the Asian Amateur Championships four times and was named Overall Winner for the 1973 championships. He was the first Singaporean to be a Mr Universe finalist. He took part in the Mr Universe contest twice and was placed sixth in both 1977 and 1982. Had a role as a rebel leader in the 1992 Hollywood movie Fifty/Fifty which also starred Peter Weller (star of the movie RoboCop).
Suharni Binte Mohammad (b. 1971 – ) – bodybuilder, winner of the bronze medal in the 1998 Asian Women's & Mixed Pairs tournament in Inchon City, South Korea (lightweight category). Gold medal winner in the 1999 Asian Women's & Mixed Pairs tournament in Almaty, Kazakhstan (lightweight category) and in the 2000 Asian Women's Championship in Singapore (lightweight category).
Syafiq Abdul Samad (b. 1994 – ) – Muay Thai boxer, first Singaporean to win a medal in the Asian Muay Thai Championship when he won a gold (light-middleweight division 71 kg) in the event on 30 June 2010 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He is currently a mix martial arts fighter affiliated with the Juggernaut Fight Club and fights under the moniker "The Slasher".
Zainal Abidin Abdul Malek (b. 1952 – ) – (retired) squash player who ruled the squash courts of Singapore and was Singapore's undisputed squash champion from 1977 to 1986. His accomplishments included winning the East Asia title six times, the national title 5 times and the Japan Open title for two consecutive years, 1985 and 1986. Additionally, he was also the Malaysian Guinness Circuit champion while at the Asian Team Championship (1986), he led the Republic to second-placing at the tournament. Among his greatest achievements was winning the Penang Open title in 1989 by beating the then world champion, Ross Norman of New Zealand, 3-1 in the finals.
Ahmad Mohamed Ibrahim (b. 1916 – d. 1999) – law professor. Ahmad Ibrahim received the Queen's Scholarship in 1935 which enabled him to study at St. John's College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1939 with 1st Class Economics Tripos I and 1st Class Law Tripos II. In 1949, he ran as an independent in the Municipal Commission Election and won. He was the Republic of Singapore's first Attorney General and later the Republic's ambassador to Egypt. He was appointed as Professor of Legal Studies at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya (1969–1972), Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Malaya (1972–1983), Professor Emeritus, University of Malaya (1984) and the Shaikh and the Dean of the Kulliyyah of Laws, University of Malaysia (1983–1999). The Kulliyyah of Laws was later renamed Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws (AIKOL). His writings on civil law and Islamic jurisprudence are regarded as international references. After his death, AIKOL established the Ahmad Ibrahim Memorial Lecture. IKIM later instituted an academic project on his works. Ahmad Ibrahim was also the brother of Hollywood actor, Cal Bellini (actual name Khalid Ibrahim).
Hadijah Rahmat – Associate Professor, Head of Malay Language Division, and Assistant Head of the Asian Languages and Culture Academic Group at the [Nanyang Technological University]. She has written 9 books, edited 11 books and published numerous academic papers in international journals. Her works are on classical and modern Malay Literature, Singapore Malay literature, Malay settlements and socio-cultural developments in Singapore.
Hussin Mutalib – Associate Professor, Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore.
Lily Zubaidah Rahim – a Senior Lecturer in Government and International Relations, Department of Econonmic History at the University of Sydney, Australia. She lectures on Southeast Asian Politics and Islam in the Modern World. Author the book The Singapore Dilemma: The Political and Educational Marginality of the Malay Community which examines the factors that have contributed to the persisting socio-economic marginality of the Singapore Malay community. Building on the themes in The Singapore Dilemma, Dr Lily’s second sole-authored book Singapore in the Malay World: Building and Breaching Regional Bridges (London: Routledge, 2009) focuses on Singapore’s mercurial relations with neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia. She is currently engaged in a global project on gender justice and shariah reforms in Islam. She is also the daughter of Abdul Rahim Ishak, a former Senior Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), and the niece of Singapore's first president, Yusof Ishak.
List of Malay Singaporeans Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA
