Choo Ken Hwa

Summary

Choo Ken Hwa (born 28 March 1977) is a DAP assemblyman who has represented the Lukut state constituency in Negeri Sembilan since May 2018, winning two consecutive terms in 2018 and 2023. He previously served on the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council under Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, holding the Unity, Information and National Integration portfolio from 2018 to 2023. Since 2023 he has continued as a backbench assemblyman, participating in state legislative debates on education, local governance, and environmental matters affecting the Port Dickson area.

Biography

Choo Ken Hwa (Chinese: 朱建華; born 28 March 1977) is a Malaysian politician and member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition [1]. He has served as the Member of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Lukut since May 2018, making him a two-term incumbent assemblyman [1]. Following the 14th General Election in May 2018, he was sworn in as one of five DAP members on the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council (EXCO), under Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun [2]. He held the EXCO portfolio for Unity, Information and National Integration (Jawatankuasa Bertindak Perpaduan, Penerangan dan Integrasi Nasional) during that administration [3]. He served in that EXCO capacity from May 2018 until August 2023 [1]. In the 2023 Negeri Sembilan state election, held on 12 August 2023, Choo contested and retained the Lukut seat under the PH banner, winning with 51.1% of the vote (13,696 votes) and a majority of 10,135 [4]. Following the formation of a new Perpaduan (Unity) state government after 2023, Choo was not reappointed to the EXCO and reverted to his role as a backbench assemblyman for Lukut [5]. He continues to participate actively in the Negeri Sembilan State Assembly, including raising constituency matters such as education standards and local issues affecting the Port Dickson district [5].

Known for

Choo Ken Hwa is known for holding the Unity, Information and National Integration portfolio in the Negeri Sembilan EXCO from 2018 to 2023, during which he advocated publicly for inter-ethnic harmony and against the spread of racially divisive content on social media [3]. He has held the Lukut state seat through two consecutive election cycles — GE14 in 2018 and the 2023 Negeri Sembilan state election — increasing his vote majority from 8,405 to 10,135 [4].

Political positions

Based on sourced reporting, Choo Ken Hwa has publicly emphasised national unity and racial harmony as political priorities, calling on Malaysians to refrain from spreading racially or religiously sensitive content on social media [3]. In the State Assembly, he has raised constituency-level concerns including education quality — specifically questioning a reported case of a teacher being absent for nearly 40 minutes during class — as well as local environmental matters such as river water quality in the Lukut Kechil area [5]. He has also raised issues relating to local beach-front vendor management at Telok Kemang in the Port Dickson area [5]. No public statements on federal policy positions were found in allowlist sources at the time of drafting.

Political career

1. May 2018Won the Lukut state seat in the 14th General Election (GE14) under the PH-DAP banner with 66.2% of the vote (11,449 votes) and a majority of 8,405 votes.⛓
2. May 2018Sworn in as one of five DAP members of the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council (EXCO) in the PH state government under Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun.⛓
3. 2018–2023Served as EXCO member holding the Unity, Information and National Integration (Perpaduan, Penerangan dan Integrasi Nasional) portfolio in the Negeri Sembilan state government.⛓
4. August 2023Retained the Lukut state seat in the 2023 Negeri Sembilan state election with 51.1% of the vote (13,696 votes) and a majority of 10,135, defeating PN-PAS candidate Ragu Subramaniam.⛓
5. August 2023Not reappointed to the Negeri Sembilan EXCO following the formation of the new Perpaduan state government; returned to role as backbench assemblyman for Lukut.⛓

Election history

• 2023Lukut (N.38), Negeri Sembilan StateWon51.1%⛓
• 2018Lukut (N.38), Negeri Sembilan StateWon66.2%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsChoo Ken Hwa won the Lukut seat in both 2018 (66.2%, majority 8,405) and 2023 (51.1%, majority 10,135), making him a two-term incumbent. He served on the Negeri Sembilan EXCO from 2018 to 2023 but was not reappointed after the 2023 election.⛓
• GovernmentAs part of the PH state government (2018–2023), Choo held the Unity, Information and National Integration portfolio and participated in state assembly debates on education, environment, and local governance issues in the Port Dickson area.⛓
• PublicThe Star reported that on polling day in August 2023, Choo filed a formal complaint with the returning officer alleging that PN campaign vehicles were spotted near polling centres, citing a violation of election rules; Election Commission officials confirmed they would follow up on the matter.⛓