Wikipedia

Queenie Chong

Queenie Chong Chin Yee (Chinese: 莊靜宜; pinyin: Zhuāng Jìngyí; born 4 February 1988) is a Bruneian entrepreneur and politician of Chinese descent who was among the members appointed to the Legislative Council of Brunei (LegCo) in 2023.

Yang Berhormat
Queenie Chong
PIKB
莊靜宜
Chong in 2026
Member of the Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 January 2023
Personal details
BornChong Chin Yee
(1988-02-04) 4 February 1988 (age 38)
Tutong District, Brunei
EducationSufri Bolkiah Secondary School
Sayyidina 'Othman Secondary School
Monash University (BEc)
Universiti Brunei Darussalam (MEd)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • businesswoman
Awards
See here
Websitewww.queeniecy.com
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese庄静宜
Traditional Chinese莊靜宜
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhuāng Jìngyí
Southern Min
Hokkien POJChong chǐⁿ-gî

Chong was raised in the Tutong District and received housing assistance from the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation in 2005. She completed a degree in economics at Monash University and later taught at Tutong Sixth Form Centre. After leaving the Ministry of Education in 2018, Chong participated in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative program and becoming an Edmund Hillary Fellowship recipient in 2020.

Chong completed the Accelerate DARe program and founded Startup Brunei, which launched UnikLearn to support the employability of youth with disabilities. She also founded the platforms Memori and Mirath for will planning and charitable donations. On 20 January 2023, she was appointed as a member of LegCo on 20 January 2023, with a focus on youth entrepreneurship development, digital and technological literacy, and a future-ready workforce; she officially took her oath of office on 29 January.

Early life and education

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Chong was born on 4 February 1988.[1] She and her younger brother grew up with their widowed mother, Khoo Eng Leong, in the Tutong District. They lived in a makeshift hut in Kampong Penabai. The hut was just big enough for a twin bed, a bunk bed, a partially enclosed kitchen, and no bathroom, making it necessary for her family to travel a few minutes to her grandmother's house to access sanitary services. The hut lacked proper lighting for daily tasks such as preparing for school. Despite not having formal education herself, her mother taught her the importance of diligence.[2]

The family had access to the housing aid provided by the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation of Kampong Bukit Udal in 2005, which helped improve their standard of living.[2] Chong mentioned that her family had been saved from destitution because of the welfare program.[3] From her account, she was 17 years old and currently in Year 11 at Sufri Bolkiah Secondary School at the time of the housing aid. She was also preparing for her sixth form classes at Sayyidina 'Othman Secondary School of Kampong Bukit Beruang.[2]

In 2011, Chong graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University in Melbourne.[3] After completing her three-year course, she went back to Brunei where she planned to teach in her former school.[2] Later on, she joined the Ministry of Education (MoE), teaching economics in Tutong Sixth Form Centre.[3] She was one of the delegates at the National Environment Conference in 2014, where she represented Beach Bunch.[4] In 2015, she received a scholarship from the Brunei government to pursue her Master of Education at Universiti Brunei Darussalam.[5]

Chong holding a YSEALI sign in front of the United States Capitol in 2019

After working for almost seven years in the MoE, Chong opted out of the role in 2018[6] as an education officer not due to her disinterest in education, but owing to the high rate of unemployment prevailing at that time and even now. In the same year, she took up an evening class for entrepreneurship at UBD where she studied the basics of business management, especially digital technology.[2] She further attended the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship in Seattle and the regional YSEALI Impact eXL workshop in Indonesia.[7] Chong has become the first person from Brunei to get the Edmund Hillary Fellowship in 2020.[8][9]

Business career

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The Accelerate DARe programme was completed by Chong who, alongside another entrepreneur, formed the venture consultancy firm known as Startup Brunei. As part of its initiatives, Startup Brunei launched a pilot programme named UnikLearn to help young people with disabilities in Brunei achieve employability.[5][10] Several organisations have shown an interest in providing industrial training opportunities to the beneficiaries of the UnikLearn initiative, which includes persons with autism. According to Chong, industrial restructuring and business model transformation would be important for remaining economically competitive and developing quality job opportunities, while the problem faced in Brunei was one of skills mismatches.[11]

The second round of financing for Memori came in 2019 from Asian royals as the firm was preparing for its soft launch that same year in August.[12] Despite lacking an online platform back then, Memori managed to raise B$158,000 (US$100,000) from the 113 Venture Growth Fund. Memori is expected to operate like an all-in-one online legacy management platform that offers services related to memorialisation, insurance, and wills. The inspiration behind the creation of Memori came from the personal loss of the founder who lost both his grandparents.[13]

In 2021, Memori was classified as being based in Singapore, so that it could participate in a company incubation program. Memori later launched yet another online platform called Mirath, that is involved in cheap will writing, bequeathing services for the Muslim community. Mirath is engaged in offering will-related services, hibah (gift/grant), faraid (Islamic inheritance), as well as funeral management packages or even donating money to mosques. The firm managed to raise over $10,000 in order to help more than 40 poor families. These platforms have been launched in order to serve Southeast Asian countries, where people tend to have very few wills, as it is viewed as an uncomfortable topic.[5] At the "Secawan Kopi Sejuta Bicara" event held on 31 January 2022, Chong discussed success, highlighting courage, perseverance, and concentration as essential ingredients.[14]

Political career

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The Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, nominated Chong to be part of the LegCo on 20 January 2023.[15] Some of her major areas of work included youth entrepreneurship, digital technology knowledge, and preparing a workforce for the future.[10] Chong was sworn in on 29 January.[16]

In her speech delivered at the 19th LegCo session on 4 March 2023, Chong focused on youth digital skills, productivity and innovation, labour market efficiency and workers' rights, lifelong learning, and the adoption of technology by SMEs to enhance global competitiveness.[17] The next day, she acknowledged government efforts through bodies such as the Manpower Planning and Employment Council, the Manpower Industry Steering Committee, and the Lifelong Learning Centre to reduce youth structural unemployment, and called for youths to be resilient and adaptable in a technology-driven economy.[18]

Chong (centre) and Caryn McClelland (right) at the United States embassy in August 2023

On 22 March 2023, Chong discussed healthcare innovation through a Behavioural Insights using data and machine learning for disease prevention and improving elderly healthcare use,[19] and later discussed about digital literacy and a national digital index, alongside expanded digital inclusion and ICT literacy programs.[20] Later in April, she urged students to set ambitious goals and work hard based on experience and knowledge.[21] At the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Hanoi, she assured Brunei's focus on creativity and digitalisation such as the CREATES initiative to advance innovation in AI, big data, and IoT.[22]

In February 2024 in Vientiane, Chong called for women's empowerment in technology and cybersecurity through regional parliamentary engagement and collaboration at the Meeting of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians.[23] Later that month, during the "Ladies in Cyber" meeting and the 20th LegCo sessions, she pointed out women's contributions to ICT and cybersecurity, the digital economy and Smart Nation agenda, the Digital Economy Masterplan 2025, ASEAN growth prospects, and the need to assess the impact of digital transformation policies and budgets.[24] Additionally, she recognised the ASEAN growth forecasts, economic changes post-COVID-19,[25] and the evaluation of budgetary and digital transformation results.[26]

In March 2024, Chong suggested several steps to internationalise ambuyat and sago, via inter-ministerial cooperation.[27] She also discussed financial transactions related to the creation of a digital transaction hub in the country,[28][29] appreciated initiatives toward developing ICT-related education,[30] suggested greater coordination among ministers on issues related to business development and infrastructure development,[31] and advocated the review of the ICT syllabus and communication policies.[32] In the following month, at the "International Women's Day – Future Impact" event, she inaugurated the "DigiThink" initiative to increase digital literacy through online portals in Southeast Asia.[33]

Abdul Aziz Hamdan (left) dan Chong (centre) during the public discussion Uniting Youth Voices in December 2025

In March 2025, at the 21st LegCo session, she addressed several queries concerning the occupancy rate of industrial lands controlled by Brunei Economic Development Board and focused on land usage monitoring and business investment.[34] In May, she took part in the discussion about youth involvement, sustainability, inclusiveness, and application of digital technologies in ASEAN development at the Second Consultative Meeting of AIPA Young Parliamentarians in Klang.[35] She later accompanied the official LegCo delegation in an official visit to China.[36] She participated in the BIMP-EAGA Youth Bus Programme, where she gave a speech on youth as agents of change and involved other participants in discussion about community development and entrepreneurship.[37]

Recognition and honours

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Throughout her career, she has received the following:[38]

Recognition

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  • Excellent Youth Award (2021)[39][40]
  • Brunei's 50 most inspiring LinkedIn Icon (2020; 2021)
  • 30 people to watch in the Business of Law in Asia (2020)[41]
  • 30 Women legal innovators in Asia to follow (2022)[42]
  • Country Winners of the MCCC-AAET Green Award (2014)[43]
  • ASEAN Business Awards (2019)[44]

Honours

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  • Excellent Service Medal (PIKB; 25 June 2023)[39][45]

References

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  1. ↑ Istiadat pembukaan rasmi mesyuarat pertama dari musim permesyuaratan kesembilan belas Majlis Mesyuarat Negara [Official opening ceremony of the first meeting of the nineteenth session of the Legislative Council]. Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat. 2 March 2023. p. 75.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Meraikan ulang tahun" [Celebrating an anniversary] (PDF). Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. 2023. pp. 49–51. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Thiann, Kok Hua (22 February 2023). "莊靜宜接受本報訪問" [Chong Ching Yee accepted an interview with this newspaper]. United Daily News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "National Environment Conference 2014" (PDF). Asia Inc Forum. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Wong, Aaron (2 September 2021). "Entrepreneurs shine at National Youth Awards". Biz Brunei. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Brunei's 50 most inspiring Linkedin icons 2021". The Bruneian. 3 January 2022. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  7. ↑ U.S. Embassy Brunei Darussalam [@usembassybsb]; (12 November 2021). "#GEWFeature today highlights a tech entrepreneur and our #YSEALI alumna Queenie Chong! Queenie is the brain behind @memori.io and @mirath.io , which disrupted the traditional funeral industry by bringing digital innovation solutions to legacy planning and funeral arrangements" – via Instagram.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ↑ Wardi Wasil (12 December 2020). "Online Legacy planner Memori eyes Western expansion". The Bruneian. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via PressReader.
  9. ↑ "Memori co-founder picked as The Edmund Hillary Fellow". Borneo Bulletin. 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  10. 1 2 "YB Queenie Chong is the Youngest Legislative Council Member Driving Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurial Spirit in Brunei". Youth Achievement Records. 8 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 November 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "More companies offering internships to Uniklearn trainees". The Scoop. 8 December 2018. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via An-Nur Harapan.
  12. ↑ Wong, Aaron (4 July 2019). "Legacy planner Memori secures investment from Asian royal family". Biz Brunei. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  13. ↑ Prisca Akhaya (20 December 2018). "Brunei's legacy planning startup Memori raises US$100K funding". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  14. ↑ Saerah Haji Abdul Ghani. "Berani, percaya diri rahsia untuk capai kejayaan" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "New Legislative Council appointed". Borneo Bulletin. 20 January 2023. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  16. ↑ Salawati Haji Yahya (30 January 2023). "Ahli-ahli MMN angkat sumpah" [Members of the LegCo were sworn in]. Media Permata (in Malay). Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  17. ↑ Marlinawaty Hussin (6 March 2023). "Belia perlu manfaatkan kepesatan teknologi" [Youth need to make use of the rapid advancement of technology] (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  18. ↑ Lyna Mohamad (5 March 2023). "LegCo members deliver motion of thanks". Borneo Bulletin. Borneo Bulletin. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  19. ↑ Hajah Siti Zuraihah Haji Awang Sulaiman (25 March 2023). "Perancangan Pernubuhan Unit Behavioral Insight" [Planning the establishment of a Behavioural Insights Unit] (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  20. ↑ Rohani Haji Abdul Hamid (27 March 2023). "Mempromosikan 'inclusivity' digital, tingkatkan kemahiran ICT" [Promoting digital inclusivity, enhancing ICT skills] (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  21. ↑ Kon, James (29 August 2023). "Inspiring young minds". Borneo Bulletin. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  22. ↑ "LegCo members share Brunei's commitment to innovation in Hanoi meet" (PDF). Borneo Bulletin. 18 September 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat.
  23. ↑ "LegCo members join Laos meeting". Borneo Bulletin. 5 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat.
  24. ↑ "Female workforce in ICT grows". Borneo Bulletin. 17 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat.
  25. ↑ Adib Noor; Fadley Faisal (29 February 2024). "Digital transformation key to economic prosperity, growth". Borneo Bulletin. Archived from the original on 24 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  26. ↑ Adib Noor; Azlan Othman (1 March 2024). "LegCo members deliberate fiscal plans". Borneo Bulletin. Archived from the original on 24 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  27. ↑ Azlan Othman (3 March 2024). "Minister cites reasons for repeat offenders" [Menteri menyebut alasan bagi pesalah berulang]. Borneo Bulletin. Retrieved 16 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ↑ Han, Shareen (10 March 2024). "MoFE: Brunei's fiscal deficit unsustainable". The Scoop. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  29. ↑ "Minister highlights robust digital payment infrastructure". Borneo Bulletin. 10 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via Jabatana Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat.
  30. ↑ "Ministry will continue to produce students who can compete globally". Borneo Bulletin. 14 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat.
  31. ↑ Kon, James (19 March 2024). "Issuance of occupational permit delay raised". Borneo Bulletin. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  32. ↑ "'Imperative' to review MoE's ICT curriculum". Borneo Bulletin. 24 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat.
  33. ↑ "LegCo member underlines importance of digital tool mastery". Borneo Bulletin. 9 April 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat.
  34. ↑ Marlinawaty Hussin (22 March 2025). "BEDB sentiasa pantau, pastikan penggunaan tanah perindustrian optimum" [BEDB constantly monitors to ensure optimal use of industrial land.] (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  35. ↑ Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat (8 May 2025). "Meningkatkan keterlibatan belia dalam penggubalan dasar, tangani cabaran global" [“Enhancing youth engagement in policy-making to address global challenges]. Pelita Brunei. Retrieved 16 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ↑ Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat. "Teroka kerjasama dalam bidang teknologi, kebudayaan, pembangunan mampan" [Exploring cooperation in the fields of technology, culture, and sustainable development.]. Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Archived from the original on 27 December 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  37. ↑ "BIMP-EAGA Youth Bus 2025 concludes successfully, strengthening regional youth cooperation" [Bas Belia BIMP-EAGA 2025 berakhir dengan jayanya, memperkukuh kerjasama belia serantau]. Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. 6 December 2025. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  38. ↑ "YB Queenie Chong is the Youngest Legislative Council Member Driving Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurial Spirit in Brunei". youthachievementrecords.com. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  39. 1 2 Aaron Wong (2 September 2021). "Entrepreneurs shine at National Youth Awards". www.bizbrunei.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  40. ↑ "CALON-CALON PENERIMA ANUGERAH 2020" (PDF). Hari Belia Kengsaan (in Malay). 7 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  41. ↑ Asia Law Portal (13 July 2020). "30 people to watch in the business of law in Asia in 2020". asialawportal.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  42. ↑ Asia Law Portal (5 May 2022). "30 women legal innovators in Asia to follow in 2022". asialawportal.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  43. ↑ "ASEAN Green Award". aaet-asean.org. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  44. ↑ "ABA Awards and Categories". www.aseanbacbrunei.com.bn. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  45. ↑ Thiann Kok Hua (25 June 2023). "莊靜宜獲頒P.I.K.B勛章". weareunited.com.my (in Chinese (Malaysia)). Retrieved 21 April 2024.
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