Ong Kian Ming

Renowned for his insightful and candid perspectives on Malaysia’s political, economical and industrial landscape, Professor Dr Ong Kian Ming stands as a stalwart figure in Malaysia’s academic and political spheres. He is currently serving as the Programme Director of the Philosophy Politics & Economics (PPE) Programme at Taylor’s University, Malaysia – the second of its kind in Asia. Global alumni of the PPE Programme include the likes of Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss.

A keen observer of Singapore-Malaysia bilateral relations, Dr Ong speaks with authority on ASEAN, US-China relations, especially in economics and foreign direct investments. He was a Senior Visiting Senior Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and serves as a Senior Adviser to Global Counsel, a distinguished international advisory firm spanning five countries. His appointment to the Board of Directors of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in August 2023 further underscores his instrumental role in shaping economic policies and fostering investment opportunities.

Leveraging on his wealth of experience, Ong Kian Ming also advises the Malaysia China Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, providing strategic guidance and facilitating meaningful collaborations. He is involved in initiatives such as the Selangor Digital School / AI Nustantara with hopes to foster innovation and digital literacy within the local Malaysian community.

Dr Ong’s illustrious career boasts a significant political footprint, having served two terms as a Member of Parliament in Malaysia from 2013 to 2022. During his tenure, he represented the Democratic Action Party with distinction and served as the Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry from July 2018 to February 2020. Prior to his political career, he honed his expertise as a lecturer at UCSI University, a researcher at esteemed institutions such as the Socio-Economic Development and Research Institute and the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Studies, and as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in Kuala Lumpur.

An ASEAN Scholar, Ong Kian Ming completed his “O” and “A” levels at Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College. He was also a former Fulbright Scholar and holds a PhD in Political Science from Duke University, an MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge, and a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.

In his free time, Dr Ong enjoys simple pleasures such as jogging, watching movies, and hosting his podcast channel titled “Are we OK?” with Peter Yong aka Mr Money TV.