Steven Sim Chee Keong

Summary

Steven Sim Chee Keong (born 13 May 1982) is the DAP Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam, Penang, elected consecutively since 2013, and currently serves as Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. A former computer scientist and municipal councillor, he rose through ministerial portfolios covering youth and sports, finance, and human resources, becoming associated in particular with landmark labour reforms including the passage of the Gig Workers Bill in 2025. He also chairs Penang DAP since September 2024 and holds the position of DAP Deputy Secretary-General as of March 2025.

Biography

Steven Sim Chee Keong (born 13 May 1982 in Bukit Mertajam, Penang) is a Malaysian politician and member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), serving as the Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam since May 2013 [1]. He received his early education at SK Stowell and Bukit Mertajam High School, before graduating from Universiti Malaya with a degree in Computer Science in 2004 [1]. He later completed a Master's in Sustainable Development at the Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, graduating in 2020 [1]. Prior to politics, Sim worked in a multinational corporation for three years before joining the Penang state government in 2008 [1]. He served as a councillor on the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) from January 2011 [1] and was formerly the executive secretary of the Network of Social Democracy in Asia [1]. He also sits on the governing board of the Penang Institute, a public policy think tank [1]. First elected to Parliament in GE13 (2013), he was re-elected in GE14 (2018) and GE15 (2022) [2]. Under the Unity Government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, he served as Deputy Minister of Finance II (December 2022–December 2023), then as Minister of Human Resources (December 2023–December 2025), and has served as Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development since December 2025 [1]. Within DAP, he has served as National Organising Secretary (March 2022–March 2025), was elected to the DAP Central Executive Committee in 2022, and became Penang DAP Chairman in September 2024 [2]. He has authored four books and is a regular contributor to public policy publications [1].

Known for

Steven Sim is associated with labour reform, having championed the landmark Gig Workers Bill as Human Resources Minister — legislation that formally recognised gig workers as a distinct labour category and introduced statutory protections for approximately 1.2 million Malaysians in the gig sector [2]. He is also associated with technology-driven constituency service, having introduced the 'Citizen Action Technology' application for lodging public complaints to local authorities [2]. As Penang DAP Chairman since September 2024, he is a prominent figure in Pakatan Harapan's Penang political structure [2].

Political positions

On labour rights, Sim has consistently advocated for stronger worker protections and higher wages. As Human Resources Minister, he oversaw a 13 per cent increase in the statutory minimum wage, a 20 per cent boost in social security benefits, and the extension of full social security protection to foreign workers [3]. He championed the Gig Workers Bill, which passed Parliament in August 2025, establishing a Gig Workers Tribunal, mandatory written service agreements between platforms and workers, and a tripartite advisory council for negotiating pay structures [4]. On monetary policy, when serving as Deputy Finance Minister II in 2023, he stated the government would not peg the ringgit to the US dollar, arguing such a move would cause Malaysia to lose independent monetary policy and could disrupt capital flows [4]. As Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development from December 2025, his stated focus shifted to SME growth and MSME access to financing, including a RM50 million programme to help 200 SMEs list on Bursa Malaysia by 2030 [4]. He has advocated internationally for labour rights at forums including the ILO International Labour Conference and the APEC Human Resources Ministerial Meeting [3]. Sim has described his approach to the gig economy as balancing worker protection with the development of the gig industry in Malaysia [5].

Education

1. 2004Graduated from Universiti Malaya with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.⛓
2. 2020Completed a Master's in Sustainable Development at the Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable Development, Sunway University.⛓

Before politics

1. 2004–2007Worked in a multinational corporation for approximately three years after graduating from Universiti Malaya.⛓
2. 2008Joined the Penang state government after leaving the private sector.⛓

Political career

1. January 2011Appointed as a member of the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP).⛓
2. May 2013First elected as Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam under DAP/Pakatan Rakyat in the 13th General Election.⛓
3. May 2018Re-elected as MP for Bukit Mertajam in GE14 with 63,784 votes against BN's 10,907 votes, a majority of 52,877.⛓
4. July 2018Appointed Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in the Pakatan Harapan government.⛓
5. February 2020Pakatan Harapan government collapsed; role as Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports ended.⛓
6. March 2022Elected to the DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) and appointed National Organising Secretary of DAP.⛓
7. November 2022Re-elected as MP for Bukit Mertajam in GE15 under DAP/Pakatan Harapan with a majority of 57,685 votes.⛓
8. December 2022Appointed Deputy Minister of Finance II in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.⛓
9. 12 December 2023Appointed Minister of Human Resources following Cabinet reshuffle, replacing V. Sivakumar.⛓
10. March 2025Appointed Deputy Secretary-General of DAP.⛓
11. September 2024Elected Penang DAP Chairman for the 2024–2027 term, replacing Chow Kon Yeow who had held the post since 1999.⛓
12. August 2025The Gig Workers Bill, championed by Sim as Human Resources Minister, passed Parliament, formally extending labour protections to approximately 1.2 million gig workers.⛓
13. 18 December 2025Appointed Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP) following Cabinet reshuffle; began official duties on 18 December 2025.⛓

Election history

• 2022Bukit Mertajam (P45)Won⛓
• 2018Bukit Mertajam (P44)Won⛓
• 2013Bukit Mertajam (P44)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsSteven Sim has held the Bukit Mertajam parliamentary seat consecutively since May 2013 and has served in Cabinet under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim across three portfolios: Deputy Minister of Finance II (2022–2023), Minister of Human Resources (2023–2025), and Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (December 2025–present). He is also Penang DAP Chairman (2024–2027) and DAP Deputy Secretary-General (March 2025–present).⛓
• GovernmentAs Human Resources Minister, Sim stated that Malaysia recorded its lowest unemployment rate in a decade at 3.1 per cent, citing a 13 per cent increase in the statutory minimum wage and a 20 per cent boost in social security benefits for workers during his tenure.⛓
• IndustryJose Rizal, spokesman for the Coalition of E-hailers, described the Gig Workers Bill as 'the much-needed reform and thinking shift that would dignify gig workers,' and expressed the view that the bill would make the gig economy more secure and stable.⛓