Gan Ay Ling

Summary

Gan Ay Ling (PKR) is the Member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly for Indera Kayangan, first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, and has served as Leader of the Opposition of Perlis since November 2022. She is the sole opposition representative in the Perlis state assembly following Perikatan Nasional's capture of 14 out of 15 seats in the 2022 state election. She has been active on constituent utility issues, notably challenging the Perlis government over water tariff increases and the performance of Syarikat Air Perlis, while also calling for greater governance transparency.

Biography

Gan Ay Ling (Chinese: 颜艾菱) is a Malaysian politician, volunteer, assistant engineer and pricing analyst who has served as Member of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Indera Kayangan since May 2018 [1]. She is a member of the People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition [1]. Since November 2022, she has also served as Leader of the Opposition of Perlis — a position she assumed after PN's sweep of 14 out of 15 state seats at the 2022 Perlis state election left her as PH's sole representative in the assembly [2]. She has also served as PKR Women Treasurer since June 2025, and previously held the positions of State Women Chief of PKR Perlis and Member of the Penang Island City Council [1]. Gan was born as the fifth child among six siblings and was raised by her single mother in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan [1]. Wikidata records indicate she was educated at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) [3]. Prior to entering elected politics, she worked as an assistant engineer and pricing analyst, served as a volunteer with the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS), and was a member of the Penang Island City Council [1]. She first won Indera Kayangan in 2018 with a majority of 3,177 votes, defeating candidates from BN and Gagasan Sejahtera [1]. She successfully defended the seat in 2022 with a reduced majority of 1,873 votes against PN, BN, and Warisan candidates despite Perikatan Nasional's statewide dominance [1]. In April 2025, she contested — and narrowly lost — the PKR Kangar division chief election to incumbent Noor Amin Ahmad [2].

Known for

Gan Ay Ling is known for holding PH's sole seat in the Perlis state assembly following the 2022 election, making her the only opposition voice in a chamber otherwise dominated by Perikatan Nasional's supermajority. She has positioned herself as a cross-coalition cooperator, stating publicly that her job as an assemblyman is to bring development to Perlis regardless of which coalition leads the state government. She has also raised constituent concerns on public utility issues, particularly challenging the Perlis state government over water tariff increases and the quality of water services delivered by Syarikat Air Perlis (SAP).

Political positions

Gan has consistently advocated for cross-coalition cooperation on state development, declaring after the 2022 election that elected representatives must set aside differences and focus on developing Perlis to ensure it keeps pace with other states [2]. On public utilities, she questioned the state government's decision to raise water tariffs, arguing that consumers should not be made to bear the failures of Syarikat Air Perlis, and cited constituent complaints about low water pressure, lack of clean water, and frequent unannounced disruptions [4]. On governance and transparency, she expressed disappointment at the PN state government's lack of transparency over the licence status of gaming outlets in Perlis [5]. No public positions on federal policy matters were identified in the searched sources.

Education

1. UTM (year not specified)Educated at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), according to Wikidata.⛓

Before politics

1. Pre-2018Worked as an assistant engineer and pricing analyst prior to entering elected politics.⛓
2. Pre-2018Served as a volunteer with the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS), participating in the 6th Asia and Pacific Red Cross Youth Gathering in Thailand and receiving the Young Meritorious Service Medal from the MRCS.⛓
3. Pre-2018Served as a Member of the Penang Island City Council and as State Women Chief of PKR Perlis.⛓

Political career

1. May 2018Won the Indera Kayangan state seat for the first time under PH, defeating BN and Gagasan Sejahtera candidates by a majority of 3,177 votes.⛓
2. November 2022Defended the Indera Kayangan seat, winning by a majority of 1,873 votes over PN, BN, and Warisan candidates, becoming PH's sole representative in the Perlis state assembly.⛓
3. November 2022Appointed Leader of the Opposition of Perlis following PN's supermajority win in the 2022 Perlis state election.⛓
4. June 2025Assumed the position of Women Treasurer of PKR at the national level.⛓
5. April 2025Contested the PKR Kangar division chief position, receiving 1,059 votes but losing to incumbent Noor Amin Ahmad who garnered 1,295 votes.⛓

Election history

• 2022Indera KayanganWon⛓
• 2018Indera KayanganWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsGan Ay Ling has held the Indera Kayangan seat since 2018 and is the sole PH/opposition member in the 15-seat Perlis state assembly as of the 2022 election. She has been Leader of the Opposition of Perlis since November 2022 and PKR Women Treasurer since June 2025.⛓
• OppositionGan questioned the Perlis state government's 22% water tariff hike, arguing the public should not be made to bear the failures of Syarikat Air Perlis (SAP) given persistent complaints of low pressure and unannounced supply disruptions.⛓
• OppositionGan expressed disappointment at the PN state government's lack of transparency over the licence status of gaming outlets in Perlis.⛓
• GovernmentThe Perlis state government, through its Infrastructure and Public Transport Committee chairman, defended the water tariff adjustment as necessary for SAP to upgrade infrastructure, noting that tariffs had not been adjusted since 1996 and SAP was recording annual losses of RM5–6 million.⛓
• PublicPerlis residents in Gan's constituency have raised complaints about low water pressure, lack of clean water supplied to homes, and frequent water disruptions without prior notice, as reported by Gan herself to the press.⛓