Khoo Poay Tiong

Summary

Khoo Poay Tiong (born 1970) is the DAP Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka, a seat he has held since 2018 and successfully defended in 2022, and is currently the sole DAP MP from Melaka. A former Maybank senior manager turned full-time politician, he has served DAP in various capacities including as Melaka State Chairman and DAP National Organising Secretary. In Parliament, he is an active voice on public healthcare workforce reform, anti-corruption accountability, and constituency development in Melaka.

Biography

Khoo Poay Tiong (Chinese: 邱培栋; born 13 December 1970) is a Malaysian politician and member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. He has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kota Melaka since May 2018 and is presently the sole DAP MP from Melaka [1]. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics from the University of Malaya and joined DAP in 1999 [2]. Before entering politics full-time, he was a senior manager at Maybank [1]. He was first elected to the Malacca State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Ayer Keroh in the 2008 general election, defeating the BN incumbent Chiew Hong Lan, and retained that seat in 2013, at which point he was also elected as Leader of the Opposition of Malacca [1]. In 2018, Khoo moved to federal politics, winning the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat in GE14 with a majority of 49,175 votes, and successfully defending it in GE15 (2022) with a majority of 46,420 votes [3]. He was appointed chairman of the Melaka Port Authority Malaysia (MPAM) in 2023 [4]. He was unanimously elevated to Melaka DAP State Chairman in June 2024 following the resignation of Tey Kok Kiew, and was formally confirmed in the role for the 2024–2027 term in November 2024 [5]. At the national level, he has served as DAP National Organising Secretary since March 2025 [1]. He is married to Lee Wei Cheng and has three daughters; he is the eldest son of Khoo Nian Koon, a tailor in Melaka town [1].

Known for

Khoo Poay Tiong is defined politically by his long tenure representing Melaka in both state and federal legislatures, spanning over 16 years as an elected representative under the DAP banner [1]. He is recognised as the DAP's leading figure in Melaka, holding the position of State Chairman and serving as the state's sole DAP MP [1]. He has been an active parliamentary voice on public healthcare workforce issues and anti-corruption accountability [6].

Political positions

On public healthcare, Khoo has consistently raised concerns in Parliament about overworked doctors and specialist shortages in the public health service, calling on the Ministry of Health to address brain drain and excessive working hours for medical officers [7]. He has proposed the short-term recruitment of foreign doctors as a mitigation strategy for the severe shortage of housemen and specialists, subject to strict standards and equitable remuneration [7]. On anti-corruption, he called in Parliament for the resignation of MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki following a shareholding controversy, and urged the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to restore confidence in the agency [4]. On digital regulation, he has expressed support for the government's MCMC social media licensing framework as a mechanism to protect users from online scams [8]. On DAP's participation in the Melaka state government, he has maintained that the decision on executive council appointments rests solely with the Chief Minister, and DAP's presence in the state government reflects the broader unity government framework at the federal level [4]. As chairman of the Malaysian Chinese New Village Secretariat, he has advocated for infrastructure upgrades in new villages and their development as tourism destinations [8].

Education

1. Pre-1999Graduated with Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Economics from University of Malaya.⛓

Before politics

1. Pre-2008Served as a senior manager at Maybank before resigning to pursue a full-time political career in 2008.⛓

Political career

1. 1999Joined the Democratic Action Party (DAP).⛓
2. March 2008First elected as State Assemblyman for Ayer Keroh in GE12, defeating BN incumbent Chiew Hong Lan.⛓
3. May 2013Retained the Ayer Keroh state seat in GE13 and was elected Leader of the Opposition of Malacca.⛓
4. November 2017Appointed Assistant National Organising Secretary of DAP.⛓
5. May 2018Won the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat in GE14, defeating Choo Wei Sern (BN) and independent Goh Leong San by a majority of 49,175 votes.⛓
6. October 2021Appointed as DAP election director for the 2021 Melaka state election.⛓
7. November 2022Defended and retained the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat in GE15, defeating Suhaime Borhan (PN), Kon Qi Yao (BN) and an independent candidate by a majority of 46,420 votes.⛓
8. October 2023Appointed chairman of the Melaka Port Authority Malaysia (MPAM).⛓
9. May 2024Appointed Chairman of the Secretariat of the Malaysian Chinese New Village Division.⛓
10. June 2024Unanimously elected Melaka DAP State Chairman on an interim basis following the resignation of Tey Kok Kiew.⛓
11. November 2024Formally confirmed as Melaka DAP State Chairman for the 2024–2027 term at the state DAP convention.⛓
12. March 2025Promoted to National Organising Secretary of DAP, having previously served as Assistant National Organising Secretary since November 2017.⛓

Election history

• 2022Kota MelakaWon45.1%⛓
• 2018Kota MelakaWon60.3%⛓
• 2013Ayer Keroh (Malacca State)Won⛓
• 2008Ayer Keroh (Malacca State)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentDAP secretary-general Anthony Loke cited Khoo's transparency in managing constituency allocations and non-discriminatory approach to serving constituents as the basis for his renomination for GE15, describing his parliamentary attendance and participation record as strong.⛓
• OppositionUmno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh called for DAP to quit the Melaka state government, a position Khoo publicly rebutted at the Melaka DAP convention in January 2026, asserting that only the Chief Minister holds the authority to make such decisions.⛓
• VerifiedFactsKhoo has won two consecutive federal elections in Kota Melaka (GE14: 60.3% vote share, majority 49,175; GE15: 45.1% vote share, majority 46,420), and has held elected office continuously since March 2008 across both state and federal levels.⛓