As Malaysians, we’ve proven our unity time and time again when it comes to uplifting our nation’s name and taking pride in our fellow citizens’ achievements. An instance that comes to mind was when Malaysians waited with bated breath, hoping for Michelle Yeoh to win the coveted award of ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’ at the 95th Oscars (2023). Spoiler alert, she did in fact take home the title and award, much to our delight!

Whether they are real-world heroes, fictional icons, or figures from legends, what matters is that they make our hearts soar with pride and adoration from the impact they made (and continue to make) on our nation.

Once they’ve made a name for themselves as a Malaysian icon, they will forever be heroes in our eyes, never mind two years or centuries ago. Their stories will continue to be the talk of town for centuries more, especially as we celebrate Merdeka and Malaysia Day.

1. Yasmin Ahmad

Yasmin Ahmad’s impact on the Malaysian cinematic world will be forever etched in history, in the memorable works she captured throughout her life. Her evergreen directorial pieces, such as Sepet (2005), Mukhsin (2007) and of course, the many iconic Petronas commercials for festive seasons, continue to touch hearts and inspire youth to this day.

A personal testament to this is how Syafie Naswip, who played the titular character in the beloved 2007 picture, Mukhsin, continues to be referred to by many (including my parents) by the character’s name.

Yasmin Ahmad’s filmography was nothing short of a generational run. It is timeless. To this day, some are still seeking her successor for a fresh glimpse into Yasmin Ahmad’s essence of genuine, heartfelt messages.

2. Saloma

This iconic national songbird is no foreign name to locals. Think her *buluh perindu-like voice, her signature glamorous cinched-waist getups, and even the famous bridge named in her honour—the Saloma Link bridge.

*The buluh perindu (bambusa magica) is a genus of small Malaysian bamboos that produce a melodious sound when blown. For this reason, locals say ‘buluh perindu’ to mean a melodious sound or voice.

Saloma’s career kicked off interestingly in a happy accident, when a singer who was scheduled to sing on a radio broadcasting station failed to show up, leading to the beginning of Saloma’s rise to stardom. Her name truly solidified after becoming an actress, where her melodic vocals found further fame.

Her popularity endures, as people still find her movies easy to watch on leisurely evenings with family, and her songs are nostalgic enough to earn her more than 35,000 listeners on modern music platforms like Spotify!

3. Kampung Boy

For any millennial or Gen Z Malaysian, one of their most enjoyable childhood moments was definitely sitting in front of the television and catching reruns of Kampung Boy. At least that was how it was for me. Many might find it hard to believe that the thrilling adventures of Mat and his friends in Kampung Boy were only captured in 26 episodes! Doesn’t it feel like it was more than that? This proves just how impactful it was on the animation industry in Malaysia.

The creator himself, Lat, is as much a national treasure as his popular comic-turned-television-adapted series. One look at his art style and there’s zero argument on who the artist behind it is. Lat’s easy and sincere artistic style still spurs longing for the inner kampung child in each and every one of us.

Adoring fans can cure this longing by paying a visit to the Lat House Gallery in Perak. Here, you can admire his life’s work to your heart’s content, then head home after to put on some Kampung Boy for a laugh or two at Mat’s antics!

4. Karam Singh Walia

Datuk Karam Singh Walia championed environmental journalism like no one had before. He had a very unique style of weaving melodic pantun (poem) and proverbs into his reporting. Many locals admit to watching his reports to learn proverbs in a fun and engaging way, while also taking care to be more eco-conscious.

Having retired since, his decades-long service at TV3’s Buletin Utama remains admired by Malaysians all over the country. These days, Karam Singh Walia’s impact on journalism still echoes, as his unique delivery style makes the occasional rounds on social media. This has inspired many to attempt emulating his iconic reports.

Drawing parallels from Saloma’s story, his debut was accidental. The catalyst was the lack of action from the local council on a severe dengue fever outbreak in his residential area. To prove his commitment to the community, he made the brave decision to shift careers from his background in education. From that moment on, the rest was history.

5. Che Siti Wan Kembang

This Kelantanese warrior princess is an undoubted legend and a feminine force to be reckoned with. While many recognise her as Che Siti Wan Kembang, her real name is actually Puteri Adruja Wijayamala Singa.

She earned the warrior princess title for her decades-long reign over the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, beginning 1610. During her reign, she was said to have led a female cavalry (think: wielding swords while on horseback) and oversaw a trade hub that was visited by merchants from all over the world, including China, Japan, India, Arabia, and Europe.

Che Siti Wan Kembang never married and instead adopted Puteri Saadong (another well-known princess in local history and folklore) as heir to the throne. Her legendary reign reached a sort of near-mythical status where many believed she had “disappeared” into the spiritual realm rather than dying.

The legendary life of Che Siti Wan Kembang is so iconic that female leaders and women of noble standing after her would be regarded as her spiritual or symbolic successor.

6. Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh’s win at the 95th Oscars was beyond momentous for Malaysians who were watching. The buildup to her Oscars win included victories in various other high-profile, critics-based awards. At the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Golden Globe Awards, for example, with the former making her the first Asian woman to win the accolade.

Her various wins garnered so much attention in the film industry that cinephiles all over the world were also rooting for her historical Oscar win. Her achievement at the Oscars meant that she is the first Malaysian and Asian to win the ‘Best Actress’ award, and the second woman of colour since Halle Berry’s 2002 victory.

Even without the Oscar win, Michelle Yeoh is already an established name for being in other kino classics, such as Memoirs of a Geisha and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. If anything, it only further established her status as a household name. As a musical fan, I am excited for her return as Madam Morrible in Wicked: For Good (2025) after her breathtaking performance in Wicked (2024)!