20th-century Malaysian politicians

Rafidah binti Aziz (Jawi: رافيده بنت عزيز; born 4 November 1943) is a Malaysian politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for the Selayang from 1978 to 1982 and Kuala Kangsar constituency from 1982 to 2013. Born in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Rafidah was Minister of International Trade and Industry from 1987 to 2008. As minister, she was the chairman of MATRADE beginning in 1991. Presently she is a member of Malaysian United Indigenous Party or Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU), a component of Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, after she was sacked from United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) of Barisan Nasional (BN) in 2018.

Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak (Jawi: محمد نجيب بن عبدالرازق‎, born 23 July 1953) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 6th prime minister of Malaysia from April 2009 to May 2018. He is the son of another former prime minister, Abdul Razak Hussein. Najib Razak was the chairman of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition from April 2009 to May 2018 and the president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) from November 2008 to May 2018, which had maintained control of Malaysia's government with a parliamentary majority for more than sixty years until the coalition's defeat in the 2018 general election.

Anwar bin Ibrahim (Jawi: أنوار بن إبراهيم‎, IPA: ; born 10 August 1947) is a Malaysian politician who has been the 10th and current Prime Minister of Malaysia since 2022. A member of the People's Justice Party, he has been the president of the party since 2018. He previously served as the 12th and 16th Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2015, and again from 2020 to 2022. He has been the Chairman of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition since 2020, the Member of Parliament for Tambun since November 2022. He also served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister and in many other cabinet positions in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad from 1982 to his removal in 1998.

Muhammad Fuad Stephens, (born Donald Aloysius Marmaduke Stephens; 14 September 1920 – 6 June 1976) was the first Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia, and the first Huguan Siou or Paramount Leader of the Kadazandusun community. He played a role in bringing Sabah into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. While he was initially against the idea of Sabah joining in the Federation, given British concerns about the stability of the region and their move to relinquish all their colonies in the post WWII era, he was gradually convinced to work towards it. He held the chief minister's post from 16 September 1963 until 31 December 1964 when he was forced to resign; and again in 1976 for 54 days from 15 April.

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek (simplified Chinese: 蔡细历; traditional Chinese: 蔡細歷; pinyin: Cài Xìlì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chuà Soè-li̍k); born 2 January 1947, also known as Chua Kin Seng, is a Chinese Malaysian politician from the state of Johor. He is the 9th President of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a major component party in Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He held the post of Minister of Health from 2004 until 2008.

Mahathir bin Mohamad (Jawi: محضير بن محمد‎, born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 4th and 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003, and again from 2018 to 2020. He was Deputy Prime Minister from 1976 to 1981 and has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Langkawi since 2018. He was MP for Kota Setar Selatan from 1964 to 1969 and for Kubang Pasu from 1974 to 2004. Mahathir's political career has spanned more than 70 years, starting with his participation in protests against non-Malays gaining Malaysian citizenship during the Malayan Union through to forming his own political parties, the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) in September 2016 and the Homeland Fighters' Party (PEJUANG) in August 2020.

Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi (Jawi: عبد الله بن احمد بدوي, 26 November 1939 – 14 April 2025) was a Malaysian politician and civil servant who served as the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2003 to 2009. He was also the sixth president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and led the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition during his premiership. Affectionately known as Pak Lah—with Pak being a respectful term derived from Bapak (meaning "father" or "sir") and Lah from his given name, Abdullah. He was granted the soubriquet "Father of Human Capital Development" ("Bapa Pembangunan Modal Insan") of Malaysia.

Puan Sri Datin Janaky Devar (25 February 1925 – 9 May 2014), better known as Janaky Athi Nahappan, was a founding member of the Malaysian Indian Congress and one of the earliest women involved in the fight for Malaysian (then Malaya) independence.

Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein (Jawi: هشام الدين بن حسين; born 5 August 1961) is a Malaysian politician in the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and currently serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 10 March 2020. He was also the Minister of Defence of Malaysia from 16 May 2013 to 10 May 2018. He previously served as Minister of Youth and Sports (1999–2004), Minister of Education (2004–2009), and Minister of Home Affairs (2009–2013). As Acting Minister of Transport (2013–2014) he came to international prominence in March 2014, as the minister responsible for investigating the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

Tun Hussein bin Dato' Onn (12 February 1922 – 29 May 1990) was a Malaysian politician who served as the 3rd Prime Minister of Malaysia from the death of his predecessor Abdul Razak Hussein in January 1976 to his retirement in July 1981. Moreover, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sri Gading from 1974 to 1981, representing Barisan Nasional (BN) and United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). He was granted the soubriquet "Bapa Perpaduan" (Father of Unity).