Mah Hang Soon


Mah Hang Soon is a Malaysian politician currently serving as the Deputy President of the Malaysian Chinese Association, a senior but minor component party of both Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional coalitions. He was handpicked by the 8th and current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to serve as the First Deputy Minister of Education after being appointed as Senator in March 2020. He had also served as member of Perak State Legislative Assembly for Chenderiang from 2008 to 2018.

Background

Mah is a cardiologist and graduate of the University of Malaya. He has involved in full-time politics since 2009.
Originally from Kampung Baru Changkat Kruing, Ayer Tawar, Perak Darul Ridzuan. He is the eldest child of the 6 siblings. His father Mah Chow Nam and his mother Lee Kee Hiong were smallholders of rubber and oil palm. He married Lim Soo Lee and had a son named Mah Song Wei.

Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)

He is the current deputy president of MCA. He was previously the National MCA Youth Vice President and the Perak MCA Youth Chief in 2008-2010. From 2013 until now, he is the Chairman of the MCA Perak and the Central Council.

Political career

In the 11th Malaysian general election, Dr. Mah made his debut and contested the Jelapang state seat in the Perak State Legislative Assembly. He failed to win the seat by 7,981 votes compared to Hee Yit Foong, a Democratic Action Party candidate who gained 8,233 votes.
In the 12th Malaysian general election, he succussfully won the state assembly state seat for Chenderiang with a majority of 3,392 votes and retained it in the 13th Malaysian general election with a majority of 4,767 votes.
During his two terms as Perak State Assemblyman, Dr. Mah has served in the Perak State Executive Council as the Chairman of the Health, Local Government, Consumer Affairs, Environment, Transportation and Non-Muslim Affairs ; and Chairman of the Committee on Health, Public Transportation, Non-Islamic Affairs, National Integration and New Villages.
Dr. Mah was picked as the BN candidate to contest the Tanjong Malim parliamentary seat instead in the 14th Malaysian general election eventhough his candidacy received protest from imcumbent Ong Ka Chuan's party supporters who had protested in front of the Bangunan Perdana, Putrajaya prior to the nomination day. He however lost to the People's Justice Party candidate Chang Lih Kang. The total number of votes he received was 19,314 while the PKR candidate received 24,672 votes with a majority of 5,358 votes. Overall, BN lost the parliamentary majority and failed to form the Federal Government in the GE14.

Election results