Ngeh Koo Ham

Summary

Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham is a DAP politician and practising lawyer from Ayer Tawar, Perak, who has represented the Beruas parliamentary constituency since 2008 and held senior positions including Senior State EXCO member under the 2008 Pakatan Rakyat Perak government and Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly from 2018 to 2020. He is a senior DAP figure, serving as the party's National Treasurer since March 2025 and its MPs' spokesperson on law and Parliament. He drew national attention in late 2023 when a proposal he made regarding the composition of a shariah law review committee sparked widespread controversy; he withdrew the proposal and apologised, and his home was subsequently subjected to a Molotov cocktail attack in January 2024.

Biography

Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (born 29 September 1961), also known as James Ngeh, is a Malaysian politician, advocate and solicitor who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Beruas, Perak since March 2008 [1]. A native of Ayer Tawar, Perak, he attended the Methodist English School, SMJK Shyr Tien, and the Anglo-Chinese School in Sitiawan, before obtaining a Bachelor of Laws from Universiti Malaya [1]. He practised law with Nga Hock Cheh and Co. in Sitiawan before founding his own firm, Ngeh and Co., headquartered in Ayer Tawar with branches in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur [1]. Ngeh served as DAP Perak chairman from 2000 to 2014 and held the Sitiawan state assembly seat for three consecutive terms from 2004 to 2018, also serving as head of the Opposition in the Perak State Legislative Assembly from 2004 to 2008 [1]. Following the 2008 general election, he was appointed Senior State Executive Councillor in the Pakatan Rakyat Perak government, holding portfolios for Infrastructure and Public Amenities, Energy and Water, and Non-Muslim Affairs until the government's collapse in February 2009 [1]. After Pakatan Harapan's GE14 victory, he was appointed Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly on 3 July 2018 — the first speaker of Chinese descent — a post he resigned from on 12 May 2020 following the Sheraton Move political crisis [1]. In April 2008, Sultan Azlan Shah conferred on him the Darjah Dato Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP), making him the first actively serving DAP politician to accept a Malaysian chivalrous title [1]. He has served as DAP's National Treasurer since March 2025 and serves as DAP Perak State Advisor, and is DAP MPs' spokesperson on law and Parliament [1].

Known for

Ngeh Koo Ham is among the longest-serving DAP parliamentarians in Perak, holding the Beruas parliamentary seat continuously since 2008. He is a senior legal voice within the party, serving as DAP MPs' spokesperson on law and Parliament. He drew national attention in December 2023 when he proposed including non-Muslim constitutional experts on a government committee reviewing shariah law jurisdiction — a proposal he subsequently withdrew and apologised for after criticism from political leaders and a Royal reminder, and which was followed by an arson attack on his home [2].

Political positions

On constitutional and legal matters, Ngeh has consistently advocated for adherence to the Federal Constitution and serves as DAP MPs' spokesperson on law and Parliament [3]. In December 2023, he proposed that non-Muslim constitutional experts and a Malaysian Bar representative be appointed to the special committee studying the harmonisation of shariah law with the Federal Constitution, reasoning that non-Muslim views on constitutional provisions should be considered [4]. He subsequently withdrew the proposal and apologised after it was clarified that the special committee was formed under the National Islamic Affairs Council (MKI), not by Cabinet [2]. On economic policy, he has expressed caution about reinstating the Goods and Services Tax (GST), warning of potential inflationary effects, while acknowledging economists' view that GST is a more efficient system than the Sales and Services Tax [4]. On procurement law, he defended the Government Procurement Bill in August 2025, arguing it improves transparency and creates new offences for rent-seeking in government procurement [4].

Education

1. 1970sAttended Methodist English School, Ayer Tawar; SMJK Shyr Tien, Ayer Tawar; and the Anglo-Chinese School, Sitiawan.⛓
2. Late 1970s–Early 1980sObtained a Bachelor of Laws from Universiti Malaya, where he was active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship and Persatuan Kristian Varsiti.⛓

Before politics

1. 1980sPractised law with Nga Hock Cheh and Co. in Sitiawan before founding his own firm, Ngeh and Co., headquartered in Ayer Tawar with branches in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur.⛓

Political career

1. 1990First contested the Beruas parliamentary seat against Gerakan president Lim Keng Yaik in the general election; lost by a narrow margin.⛓
2. 1995Contested the Batu Gajah parliamentary seat in the general election but lost.⛓
3. 1999Contested the Ipoh Timor parliamentary seat and the Pasir Pinji state seat in the general election; lost both.⛓
4. 2000Became DAP Perak chairman, a post he held until 2014 when it passed to his cousin Nga Kor Ming.⛓
5. 2004Won the Sitiawan state assembly seat for the first time in GE11. Served as head of the Opposition in the Perak State Legislative Assembly from 2004 to 2008.⛓
6. March 2008Won the Beruas parliamentary seat and the Sitiawan state assembly seat concurrently in GE12. Appointed Senior State Executive Councillor in the Pakatan Rakyat Perak government with portfolios for Infrastructure and Public Amenities, Energy and Water, and Non-Muslim Affairs.⛓
7. April 2008Conferred the Darjah Dato Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP) by Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak, becoming the first actively serving DAP politician to accept a Malaysian chivalrous title.⛓
8. February 2009The Pakatan Rakyat Perak state government collapsed due to the Perak political crisis, ending his role as Senior State EXCO member.⛓
9. 2013Re-elected to the Beruas parliamentary seat and Sitiawan state assembly seat in GE13.⛓
10. 9 May 2018Re-elected to the Beruas parliamentary seat in GE14; did not contest the Sitiawan state seat, which had been abolished in redelineation.⛓
11. 3 July 2018Appointed Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly — the first speaker of Chinese descent in that role — despite not being a sitting state assemblyman.⛓
12. 12 May 2020Resigned as Perak Speaker following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan federal and state governments in the 2020 political crisis.⛓
13. 19 November 2022Re-elected to the Beruas parliamentary seat (P068) in GE15 under the Pakatan Harapan banner.⛓
14. March 2025Appointed National Treasurer of DAP; also serves as DAP Perak State Advisor.⛓

Election history

• 2022BeruasWon⛓
• 2018BeruasWon⛓
• 2013BeruasWon⛓
• 2008BeruasWon⛓
• 1999Ipoh TimorLost⛓
• 1995Batu GajahLost⛓
• 1990BeruasLost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentDAP secretary-general Anthony Loke stated that Ngeh's December 2023 proposal on the shariah law committee was based on an erroneous understanding of how the special committee was constituted, clarifying it was formed under the National Islamic Affairs Council (MKI) chaired by the Selangor Sultan, not by Cabinet.⛓
• OppositionBersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal stated that Ngeh had gone overboard with his proposal to include non-Muslims on the shariah court review committee, calling the statement shallow. Separately, in 2012, Perak MCA called on Ngeh to publicly clarify his directorship in Upaya Padu Plantations Sdn Bhd and the circumstances of its Kelantan land transaction.⛓
• PublicPAS condemned the January 2024 Molotov cocktail attack on Ngeh's home as unacceptable, with secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan stating that differences in views do not justify actions that violate the law and threaten lives and property.⛓
• VerifiedFactsNgeh Koo Ham has held the Beruas parliamentary seat continuously since March 2008. He served as Perak State Legislative Assembly Speaker from 3 July 2018 to 12 May 2020. He has been DAP National Treasurer since March 2025. He is a practising advocate and solicitor who founded Ngeh and Co. law firm.⛓

Business interests (publicly reported)

According to The Edge Malaysia and The Star, a Companies Commission of Malaysia document obtained by reporters in December 2012 showed Ngeh Koo Ham among the directors of Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd, a company that had entered into a land management arrangement over approximately 4,259 hectares in Gua Musang, Kelantan, with Yayasan Islam Kelantan (Source: theedgemalaysia.com/article/mca-tells-ngeh-come-clean-land-deal; thestar.com.my/news/community/2012/12/21/ngeh-refutes-land-scandal-raised-in-state-assembly). Ngeh stated the transaction was a private sector investment that took place in 2006, before Pakatan Rakyat took power in Perak, and that the investors were his legal clients (Source: thestar.com.my/news/community/2012/12/21/ngeh-refutes-land-scandal-raised-in-state-assembly). The Kelantan government clarified that the land was only leased, and that no ownership title was issued (Source: theedgemalaysia.com/article/kelantan-govt-land-was-leased-upayapadu). Wikipedia records that Ngeh founded Ngeh and Co. law firm, headquartered in Ayer Tawar with branches in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngeh_Koo_Ham).