Premesh Chandran

Premesh Chandran is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Malaysiakini. He retired from Malaysiakini in 2022 and continues to be director and co-owner.

Launched in 1999, Malaysiakini is widely regarded as Malaysia’s most influential news organisation, reaching over 6 million readers in four languages. It has won numerous national and international awards, playing a key national role in democratising the media.

Apart from Malaysiakini, Premesh co-founded a transport-tech company Asia Mobiliti (in 2019), and an AI company Awatar Innovations (in 2024). He has also coached over 60 tech companies as part of a government-funded coaching and mentoring programme. He chaired a committee that spearheaded the development of the Malaysian Media Council, which was approved by Parliament this year.

He is a TED Senior Fellow and serves on the board of the United Nations University – International Institute of Global Health. He graduated in Physics (UNSW) and obtained his Masters in International Studies.

At heart, Premesh is a social entrepreneur, and enjoys using innovation and business to respond to issues around inequality, social justice and democracy. Most importantly, he aims to find practical ways to achieve the ideals we believe in.