Low Chee Leong

Summary

Low Chee Leong (born 21 May 1963) is a DAP politician who has represented the Kota Laksamana state seat in Melaka since May 2018, having served in the Malacca State EXCO under both the Pakatan Harapan and the BN-led unity government administrations. He currently holds the position of Deputy Chairman of the Melaka Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee under Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh. His public record reflects a focus on constituency-level issues including environmental monitoring, urban economic development, and public infrastructure in Melaka.

Biography

Low Chee Leong (born 21 May 1963 in Malacca) is a Malaysian politician from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition [1]. He has served as Member of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kota Laksamana since May 2018 [1]. Prior to his election as assemblyman, he served as treasurer of the Melaka DAP state committee [2][3]. Following his first electoral victory in May 2018, Low was appointed as a full member of the Malacca State Executive Council (EXCO) under the Pakatan Harapan state administration led by Chief Minister Adly Zahari. He held this EXCO position until the collapse of the PH state government in March 2020 [1]. He retained his Kota Laksamana seat in the snap November 2021 Malacca state election, which was called after four assemblymen withdrew support from the incumbent government [1]. Following the formation of a unity government in Melaka between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan in 2023, Low was appointed Deputy Member of the Malacca State EXCO under Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh, holding the portfolio for Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security [4][5]. He has been an active voice on constituency-level issues including river pollution, public infrastructure, urban economic development, and food security in Melaka.

Known for

Low Chee Leong is primarily identified as a long-serving DAP assemblyman for the urban Kota Laksamana seat in Melaka, having held the position since 2018 through two successive elections. He has served in the Malacca State EXCO under both the Pakatan Harapan and subsequent BN-led unity governments, making him one of the few opposition-aligned politicians to hold executive roles across different administrations. He is also known for constituency-focused advocacy, including proposals to develop Jalan Hang Tuah as a new business district and calls for public consultation on major state infrastructure projects.

Political positions

Low has publicly advocated for inclusive economic development in Melaka's urban core. In January 2025, he proposed transforming Jalan Hang Tuah into a new multicultural business district modelled on the Jonker Walk concept, emphasising that the initiative should benefit traders of all ethnicities and should not involve renaming or road closures [4][6][7]. On urban planning, he raised the possibility of Kota Laksamana being designated as a new state capital, and separately called for the Melaka Waterfront Economic Zone (MWEZ) to be considered as a potential future capital site [2][8][9]. On public transport, he called for public feedback before full approval of the proposed 20km Melaka Tram project, citing traffic and heritage-street concerns [2][10]. In the context of Melaka's unity government formed after GE15, he stated his acceptance of cross-coalition cooperation while committing to continue raising constituency concerns in the state assembly [2][11]. His environmental advocacy has included monitoring and reporting pollution incidents in Sungai Melaka [2][12][13].

Before politics

1. Pre-2018Served as treasurer of the Melaka DAP state committee prior to his election as assemblyman.⛓

Political career

1. May 2018Elected as Member of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly for Kota Laksamana under DAP/Pakatan Harapan in the 14th general election.⛓
2. May 2018Appointed as a full member of the Malacca State EXCO under the Pakatan Harapan state administration led by Chief Minister Adly Zahari.⛓
3. March 2020His tenure as Malacca State EXCO member ended with the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan state administration.⛓
4. October 2018Declined an offer by Melaka DAP state chairman Tey Kok Kiew to retain him as party treasurer in the new state DAP committee line-up.⛓
5. November 2021Retained the Kota Laksamana seat in the snap 2021 Malacca state election, which was called after four assemblymen withdrew support from the incumbent BN state government.⛓
6. April 2023Appointed Deputy Member of the Malacca State EXCO under the BN-led unity government, holding the portfolio for Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security.⛓

Election history

• 2021Kota LaksamanaWon⛓
• 2018Kota LaksamanaWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentMelaka Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh endorsed Low's proposal to designate Kota Laksamana as the new state capital, agreeing with the suggestion tabled during the final day of the Melaka Legislative Assembly proceedings in December 2024.⛓
• OppositionMelaka opposition leader Dr Yadzil Yaakub criticised Low's Jonker Walk 2.0 proposal, saying Jalan Hang Tuah already had rich historical significance and was a prime tourist attraction that did not need to be rebranded.⛓
• VerifiedFactsLow Chee Leong has served as Kota Laksamana assemblyman since May 2018, and has held state EXCO or Deputy EXCO positions under both Pakatan Harapan (2018–2020) and the BN-led unity government (April 2023–present), according to Wikipedia and Bernama.⛓