List of people from Penang
The following are notable people who were either born/raised or have lived for a significant period of time in Penang.
History of Penang
Founder of Penang
- Captain Francis Light (1740â1794), the founder of the British colony of Penang
Superintendents of Prince of Wales Island
- Philip Manington
- Forbes Ross MacDonald
- John Beanland
- George Caunter
Lieutenant Governors of Prince of Wales Island
- George Alexander William Leith
- Robert Townsend Farquhar
Governors of Prince of Wales Island
- Philip Dundas
- Henry Shepherd Pearson
- Norman Macalister
- Charles Andrew Bruce
- William Edward Phillips
- Archibald Seton
- William Petrie
- John Alexander Bannerman
- Robert Fullerton
Politics
- Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's seventh Deputy Prime Minister, current Leader of Pakatan Rakyat
- Gobind Singh Deo, Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Puchong
- Karpal Singh (1940-2014), former National Chairman of DAP
- Khaw Boon Wan, Malaysian-born Singaporean politician
- Irene Ng, Singaporean Member of Parliament
- Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, Penang's third chief minister
- Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, Penang's second chief minister
- Mohamad Sabu, Deputy President of PAS
- Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, former Malaysian minister
- Ramkarpal Singh, Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Bukit Gelugor
- Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, former Malaysian minister
- Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, former Malaysian minister
- Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee (1913-2002), Penang's first chief minister
- Yusuf Rawa (-2000), Fifth President of PAS
Prime Minister of Malaysia
- Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia's fifth Prime Minister
Entertainment
Fashion
- Angie Ng, Model
- Dato' Jimmy Choo, Fashion designer, co-founder of Jimmy Choo Ltd
- Marina Suwendy, International model
Film/Theater/Television
- Almy Nadia, Malaysian actress
- Ahmad Nisfu, Malaysian actor
- Anzalna Nasir, Malaysian actress
- Chelsia Ng, Malaysian actress
- Diana Danielle, American-born Malaysian actress
- Faezah Elai, Malaysian actress
- Faizal Ismail, Radio and television host
- Hannah Tan, Actress, singer-songwriter, model and television personality
- Irene Ng, Malaysian-born American former actress
- Jill Bennett (1931-1990), British actress
- Johan As'ari, Malaysian actor
- Mila Jirin, Malaysian actress
- Marion Caunter, Video jockey, events MC and television personality
- Nur Fathia Abdul Latiff, Malaysian actress
- Tan Sri P. Ramlee (1929-1973), Actor, director, singer, songwriter, composer, and producer, often considered the icon of Malay entertainment
- Pik-Sen Lim, British actress
- Qi Razali, Malaysian actor
- Ramona Zamzam, Malaysian actress
- Risteena Munim, Malaysian actress
- Shafiee Jaafar, Malaysian actor
- Sharnaaz Ahmad, Malaysian actor
- Simon Russell Beale, British actor
Music
- Ah Niu, singer
- David Arumugam, singer
- Ella, Rock singer
- Freya Lim, Mandopop singer
- Datuk Loganathan Arumugam, singer
Beauty pageant winners
- Andrea Fonseka, Miss Universe Malaysia 2004, actress, television presenter and model
- Kimberley Leggett, Miss Universe Malaysia 2012
- Lyndel Soon, Miss Tourism Malaysia 2001
Athletics
Badminton
- Chan Peng Soon, Malaysian badminton player
- Chew Choon Eng, Malaysian badminton player
- Chin Eei Hui, Malaysian badminton player
- David E. L. Choong (1929-2011), 4 times All England Champions, Badminton Hall of Fame
- Eddy Choong (1930-2013), 7 times All England Champions, 1955 Thomas Cup winner, Badminton Hall of Fame
- Heah Hock Aun, 1 time All England Champion
- Datuk Lee Chong Wei, third Malaysian player to ranked first worldwide, 2 times Summer Olympic silver medalist, 3 times All England Champions
- Lim Khim Wah, Malaysian badminton player
- Ng Tat Wai, Malaysian badminton player
- Ong Ewe Hock, Malaysian badminton player
- Tee Jing Yi, Malaysian badminton player
Squash
- Celine Yeap, ranked world number 115
- Elvinn Keo, ranked world number 97
- Ivan Yuen, ranked world number 66
- Low Wee Wern, ranked world number 6
- Datuk Nicol David, ranked world number 1, considered by some to be one of the greatest women's squash player of all time
- Ong Beng Hee, ranked world number 27
Hockey
- Kevin Lim, Malaysian international hockey player
Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang
- Raja Uda Raja Muhammad
- Syed Sheh Shahabudin
- Syed Sheh Hassan Barakbah
- Sardon Haji Jubir
- Awang bin Hassan
- Hamdan Sheikh Tahir
- Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas
Other
- Dato Abdul Malik Mydin, first Malaysian and Southeast Asian to swim across the English Channel
- Ivan Allan (1941 â 2009), British racing tycoon
- Tun Mohamed Salleh Ismael (1917-1973), Malaysia's second Inspector-general of police
- Raja Nazrin Shah, Raja Muda of Perak
- Tuanku Bainun, Raja Permaisuri of Perak
- Vijay Eswaran, Malaysian businessman