Woo Kah Leong

Summary

Woo Kah Leong (born 1991) is a DAP lawyer-politician who has served as Pasir Bedamar ADUN and the youngest Perak State EXCO member since November 2022, holding the portfolio of Domestic Trade, Consumer Affairs, Cooperatives and Chinese New Villages. He simultaneously leads both DAPSY (from November 2024) and PH Youth (from March 2025), making him one of the most prominent youth political figures in the Pakatan Harapan coalition. A first-term assemblyman who won his debut election by a margin of 17,446 votes, he has been active on consumer protection, institutional accountability, and multiracial coalition politics.

Biography

Woo Kah Leong (吴家良; born 3 March 1991) is a Malaysian politician and lawyer serving as Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Pasir Bedamar since November 2022, and as a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition [1]. He was born in Kampong Baru Pasir Bedamar, Teluk Intan, Perak, and received his secondary education at SMJK San Min, Teluk Intan, before reading law at the University of Malaya, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) [1]. Prior to entering politics, he worked as a Legal Associate at A M Ong & Partners [1]. In the 2022 Perak state election, Woo made his electoral debut, winning the Pasir Bedamar seat with a majority of 17,446 votes over candidates from BN and PN [2]. Following the formation of a BN-PH unity state government in Perak after a hung assembly result, Woo was appointed to the Perak State Executive Council (EXCO) with the portfolio of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, Consumer Affairs and Chinese New Villages — becoming the youngest Perak EXCO member at that time [1]. In November 2024, he was elected Chief of DAPSY (DAP Socialist Youth) for the 2024–2027 term, winning the post unopposed [3]. In March 2025, he was appointed as the 6th Chief of PH Youth, selected unanimously during a coalition youth wing meeting [3].

Known for

Woo Kah Leong is the youngest member of the Perak State Executive Council, holding the portfolio of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, Consumer Affairs and Chinese New Villages [1]. He simultaneously leads DAP's youth wing (DAPSY) as its national chief and serves as the PH Youth chief, making him a prominent figure in coalition youth politics at the state and national levels [4]. He is a trained lawyer who entered electoral politics at his first attempt and secured one of the largest winning majorities in the 2022 Perak state election.

Political positions

In his EXCO role, Woo has publicly emphasised price stability and consumer protection, including oversight of controlled goods supplies during festive seasons and daily enforcement of market prices in Perak [3]. As DAPSY and PH Youth chief, he has positioned DAP Youth as a multiracial youth movement and has taken stances in favour of institutional accountability, including calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into MACC and backing anti-Azam Baki protests in 2026 [5]. He has argued that anti-corruption efforts must be accompanied by due process and respect for civil liberties, cautioning against enforcement actions that could create a 'climate of fear' [5]. He has also taken a firm stance on multiracialism, calling for DAP Youth to distance itself from figures he describes as conservative extremists, and has criticised Perikatan Nasional on racial and religious politics [5]. On democratic norms, he has defended the use of political satire as a legitimate form of expression [6].

Education

1. Secondary school, Teluk IntanAttended SMJK San Min, Teluk Intan, for secondary education.⛓
2. University of Malaya (LLB)Read law at the University of Malaya, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).⛓

Before politics

1. Pre-2022Worked as a Legal Associate at A M Ong & Partners before entering politics.⛓

Political career

1. November 2022Won the Pasir Bedamar state seat in the 2022 Perak state election on his electoral debut, defeating BN and PN candidates by a majority of 17,446 votes.⛓
2. November 2022Appointed Perak State EXCO member in charge of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, Consumer Affairs and Chinese New Villages by Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad — the youngest Perak EXCO member.⛓
3. November 2024Elected unopposed as Chief of DAPSY (DAP Socialist Youth) for the 2024–2027 term at the DAPSY National Congress in Klang.⛓
4. March 2025Appointed as the 6th PH Youth chief, selected unanimously at a meeting of all PH component youth wings.⛓

Election history

• 2022Pasir Bedamar (Perak State)Won53.8%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentWoo holds an EXCO position within Perak's BN-PH unity state government, responsible for consumer affairs, domestic trade, cooperatives, and Chinese New Villages. In this capacity, he has worked within the coalition framework under Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad (BN).⛓
• OppositionPerak Opposition Leader Razman Zakaria (PN) demanded a public apology from Woo during the Perak State Assembly sitting in April 2025, alleging Woo used his photo without permission and edited it into a clown caricature, describing the act as offensive. Woo defended the post as political satire.⛓
• OppositionUmno president Ahmad Zahid told Woo it was 'unbecoming' of the DAP Youth leader to label Umno as 'hypocrites' for contesting solo in the Johor elections, saying political partners should respect each other.⛓
• VerifiedFactsWoo won the 2022 Pasir Bedamar state seat with 21,061 votes (53.8% share), a majority of 17,446, on a 70.9% voter turnout. He ran against Kong Sun Chin (BN-MCA) and Suriyanarayanan Sannasy Naidu (PN-PAS).⛓