Chang Lih Kang

Summary

Chang Lih Kang (born 1980, Ipoh) is the PKR Member of Parliament for Tanjong Malim, Perak, having held the seat since GE14 in 2018 and retained it in GE15 in 2022. He serves concurrently as Malaysia's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Unity Government, overseeing national roadmaps on hydrogen energy, artificial intelligence, and startup development. Within PKR, he is a Vice President and the party's highest-ranked ethnic Chinese leader.

Biography

Chang Lih Kang (born 23 October 1980, Ipoh) is a Malaysian politician serving as the Member of Parliament for Tanjong Malim, Perak, since May 2018, and as the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since December 2022 [1]. He is a member of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and has served as a Vice President of the party since December 2018 [1]. Chang holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia and a Master in Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore [1]. He joined PKR in August 2007 shortly after graduating and made his electoral debut in the 2008 General Election, winning the Teja state seat in Perak with a 175-vote majority [2]. He defended the Teja seat in 2013 before transitioning to the federal arena in 2018, winning the Tanjong Malim parliamentary seat — then a Barisan Nasional stronghold — with a majority of 5,358 votes [3]. He successfully retained the seat in the 2022 General Election (GE15) with 25,140 votes and a 3,541-vote majority [3]. In the 2022 PKR party elections, Chang was elected Vice President by party members, securing 34,939 votes and finishing second among vice-presidential candidates [1]. As minister, he has overseen the launch of the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR) and national roadmaps on artificial intelligence and startup ecosystem development [4]. He was re-elected unopposed as Tanjong Malim PKR division chief in the 2025 party divisional elections [3].

Known for

Chang Lih Kang is identified primarily with Malaysia's science, technology and innovation agenda, holding the MOSTI ministerial portfolio since December 2022 and steering national roadmaps on hydrogen energy, artificial intelligence governance, and startup ecosystem development [5]. Within PKR, he is the highest-ranked ethnic Chinese in the party hierarchy, serving as Vice President since 2018 and having been re-elected to that post by popular party vote in 2022 [1]. His constituency record includes flipping the historically BN-held Tanjong Malim seat in 2018 and defending it through GE15 in 2022 [3].

Political positions

On technology and innovation policy, Chang has consistently advocated for Malaysia to achieve high-tech nation status by 2030, targeting a gross expenditure on R&D of 3.5% of GDP and a top-20 ranking in the Global Innovation Index by 2025 [1]. He launched the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR), framing hydrogen as a strategic response to energy reliability, affordability and sustainability challenges, with the country committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 [2]. On artificial intelligence, Chang has directed MOSTI to develop a national AI Governance and Ethics code and has indicated that his ministry is examining the need for a formal AI Act [6]. On startup development, he set a target of 5,000 startups registered on the MYStartup portal by 2025 and has expressed ambitions for Kuala Lumpur to become a regional startup and digital hub [7]. On social policy, while in opposition, Chang called for extended rental waivers for B40 public housing tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic and urged greater democratic access by advocating for the reopening of the Johor-Singapore border ahead of the 2022 Johor state election to allow overseas voters to cast ballots [8]. He has also intervened on local constituency matters, including negotiating for the restoration of 24-hour emergency services at Klinik Kesihatan Tanjong Malim [7].

Education

1. Pre-2007Graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia.⛓
2. Post-graduation (year unspecified)Obtained a Master in Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.⛓

Political career

1. August 2007Joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) shortly after graduating from university.⛓
2. March 2008Won the Teja state seat (under Gopeng parliament) in the 12th General Election with a majority of 175 votes, beginning his first term as Perak State Legislative Assembly member.⛓
3. May 2013Successfully defended the Teja state seat in GE13 with a larger majority.⛓
4. May 2018Won the Tanjong Malim federal parliamentary seat in GE14, defeating BN's Mah Hang Soon with a majority of 5,358 votes (36.0% vote share), flipping a long-standing BN stronghold.⛓
5. December 2018Appointed as Vice President of PKR by party president Anwar Ibrahim.⛓
6. August 2022Appointed as Perak PKR leadership council chairman for the 2022–2025 term.⛓
7. November 2022Retained the Tanjong Malim parliamentary seat in GE15 with 25,140 votes (35.5%) and a majority of 3,541 votes in a six-cornered contest.⛓
8. December 2022Elected as one of PKR's Vice Presidents in the 2022 party election, securing 34,939 votes and finishing second among candidates — the highest-ranked ethnic Chinese in the party. Subsequently appointed Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.⛓
9. April 2025Re-elected unopposed as Tanjong Malim PKR division chief in the 2025 PKR divisional elections.⛓

Election history

• 2022Tanjong Malim (Federal — Perak)Won35.5%⛓
• 2018Tanjong Malim (Federal — Perak)Won36%⛓
• 2013Teja (State — Perak)Won⛓
• 2008Teja (State — Perak)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentChang has been entrusted with Malaysia's national science and technology ministerial portfolio since December 2022 and is recognised within the Unity Government as the minister responsible for steering Malaysia's high-tech ambitions, including the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap and the national AI governance framework.⛓
• VerifiedFactsChang secured 25,140 votes (35.5%) and a majority of 3,541 in GE15 (2022), down from 24,672 votes (36.0%) and a majority of 5,358 in GE14 (2018), both at the Tanjong Malim federal constituency.⛓
• IndustryBFM has noted that Chang, as MOSTI minister, is central to integrating science and technology policy with the Madani Economy Framework's goals of entering the top 30 Global Innovation Index countries by 2025 and achieving high-tech nation status by 2030.⛓

Asset declarations

According to Wikipedia, Chang Lih Kang had a net worth of RM1 million as of September 2022. No primary-source voluntary disclosure document from the allowlist has been located to corroborate the figure or provide further detail (Source: en.wikipedia.org).