List of Melanau
This is the list of prominent people of Melanau descent.
Early History
- Pangeran Matusin – Mukah Governor during Sultanate Brunei
- Orang Kaya Selair – Leader of Matu district before and during reign of Brooke Dynasty
- Orang Kaya Srigunim – Women who become a leader of Jemoreng district during reign of Brooke Dynasty, killed during pregnancy by her rival
- Sawing – One of the Sharif Masahor army leader during attack on Kanowit Fort 1859, who killed Henry Steel & Charles Fox
- Salakai – Sawing close friend who fought together during attack on Kanowit Fort 1859.
Academics
- Datuk Hj Adi Badiozaman Tuah – Well-known educationalist. Former Education Director (Examinations) Malaysia. Director (Education) for Yayasan Islam Sarawak.
- Yusuf Hadi (a.k.a. Prof Datu Dr. Yusuf Hadi) – Academician UNIMAS.
- Sulaiman Hanapi (a.k.a. Prof. Dr. Sulaiman Hanapi) – Academician UNIMAS.
- Rashid Abdullah (a.k.a. Datuk Prof. Dr Rashid Abdullah) – Academician UNIMAS.
- Associate Professor Dr Haji Abdul Mutalip Abdullah – The former dean of Faculty of Social Sciences UNIMAS
- Rohani Abdullah (a.k.a. Prof Dr. Rohani Abdullah @ Josephine Yaman) – Academician UPM
Pop Culture
- Aliff (Mohd Aliff Bolhassan) – Founder of Aliff Channel, Internet celebrity, entrepreneur, lifestyle/tech writer.
- Anding Indrawani Zaini [1] - Akademi Fantasia star, model, actor and singer. He is of mixed Melanau-Bidayuh parentage.
- Len Bubat – Melanau song composer/producer/lyricist (first Melanau original album 2002). This album Cinta Tuwah was launched by the Chief Minister of Sarawak in Miri, Sarawak during the Persatuan Melanau Miri 40th Anniversary Celebration on 24 October 2002. Two popular songs from this album are the "Blues Tubeng Balau" and "Bier Kou Tuwad".
- Mary Corina Jul Mahrof – DJ RTM Kuching
- Nizza – The Dalat singing champion in 2000, she sang five songs on the album Cinta Tuwah, First Melanau Original Song Album 2002
- Saiful Rahini – DJ Nasional MusikFM KL
- Sazia – The Malaysian national Bintang Kecil champion in 2000, she sang five songs on the album Cinta Tuwah, First Melanau Original Song Album 2002
- Sharifah Zarina – A singer most notable for her hit, "Langit Ke-7"
- Tazudin Murni – Melanau song composer/producer/arranger/sound designer/ANUM guitarist (ANUM First Melanau Original Rock Song Album 2006)
Politics
- Abdul Taib Mahmud (a.k.a. Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud) – The fourth and longest serving Chief Minister of Sarawak and seventh TYT (Governor) of Sarawak, father of Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, a politician and Mahmud Bekir Taib, corporate figure
- Abdul Rahman Ya'kub (a.k.a. Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'kub)[2] – The third Chief Minister of Sarawak & the Fourth TYT (Governor) of Sarawak
- Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Muhammad Nor – The fifth TYT of Sarawak
- Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng (a.k.a. Tun Sallahuddin) – The sixth TYT of Sarawak
- Fatimah Abdullah - state legislative member for Dalat, Sarawak and also hold the portfolio of Sarawak Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development. She is of Foochow Chinese and Melanau descent.[3]
- Leo Michael Toyad (a.k.a. Datuk Sri Dr. Mohammad Leo Toyad) – Ex-federal minister (Foreign Affairs). Chairman, Sarawak Conventions Bureau
- Mohd Effendi Norwawi (a.k.a. Dato Seri Effendi Norwawi) – Former minister in The Prime Minister Department (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration)
- Wahab Dollah (a.k.a. Datuk Wahab Dollah) – Member of Parliament.
- Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib – The son of Abdul Taib Mahmud. A corporate figure who also Kota Samarahan Parliamentary Member
- Datuk Hj Hamden Hj Ahmad – Former DUN Assemblyman and Former Assistant Minister of Youth and Tourism. Corporate figure (Oil-palm plantation)
- Abu Seman Jahwie – DUN Assemblyman. Former Deputy Superintendent Customs. Secretary Party PBB Sarawak.
- Len Talip Salleh (a.k.a. Datu Len Salleh) – Forestry expert; member of state legislative council (ADUN); Deputy Minister
- Yossibnosh Balo[4] - State Assemby Representative for N51 Balingian
Others
- Zaini Oje @ Ozea - former Director of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Sarawak & Sabah. A poet, writer, theater & stage director.
- Mohamad Taufan Mohamad Yassin – Social activist
- Hang Tuah Merawin – Resident, Kapit Division
- Hj Sarudu Hoklai – Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Planning (Sarawak). Former Resident, Mukah, Kota Samarahan and Kapit (Sarawak)
- Akit Sebli – Former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism Sarawak
- Dr Haji Mohamad Topek Taufek Nahrawi – Businessman, developer and contractor, Former Deputy Chairman of SEDC, Academic
- Datu Aloysius J Dris – CEO of Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak.[5]
- Edmund Kurui – Former assistant curator Sarawak Museum
- Datuk Hamid Sepawi – Corporate leader, CEO of Naim Cendera Group, well known property and housing developer and public listed company
- Sahari Ubu – Staff Sergeant Royal Corps of Signal British Army 1962 Staff No 23895416, Penghulu Kampung Nangka, Sibu.
- Tuan Haji Mohamad Atei Abang Medaan – Mayor (Datuk Bandar) of Kuching North (Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU))
- Datuk Dr Yusof Hanifah – Former mayor of Kuching North (Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU)
- Rapaee Kawi (a.k.a. Apai or Mashor) (1958–2009) – First Sarawakian to scale Mount Everest,[6] ex-commando and Sarawak's most senior national press photographer
- Dr. Junaidi bin Hj. Diki – Public health medicine physician, senior HCISB consultant SAINS, Ex Dep Hos Director SGH, DHO Sibu/Kuching/Samarahan/Bintulu
- Datuk Haji Abang Abdul Wahap Haji Abang Julai – Mayor (Datuk Bandar) of Kuching North (Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU)
- M. Zulfadhli Zainudin – Sarawakian tycoon, businessman, investor, and philanthropist
- Diana Rose - Cultural activist
References
