EY Young Tax Professional of the Year 2026 Malaysia competition winner

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 JULY 2026 — Gan Chia Lian (颜家莲) of Sunway TES was named the winner of the EY Young Tax Professional of the Year (EY YTPY) 2026 Malaysia competition at an event attended by Encik Shahrul Niza Bishahrin, Director of the Corporate Services Department, Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia (HASiL).

Gan, 21, who is in her third year of the ICAEW accounting program will represent Malaysia at the EY YTPY global finals, where she will compete against other country winners for the title of EY Young Tax Professional of the Year 2027. As the winner of the EY YTPY 2026 Malaysia competition, Gan also took home a cash prize of RM8,000 and secured a paid internship of no less than eight weeks or a conditional offer of employment with Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn. Bhd.

When asked for her reaction, she said, “Winning the EY Young Tax Professional of the Year 2026 was a truly rewarding experience. The competition challenged me to think critically, learn from outstanding peers and showcase my ideas before distinguished HASiL directors and EY tax partners. This recognition gives me even greater motivation to develop my skills and continue aiming higher in my career. I encourage all my peers to try and participate in this program!”

The first runner-up was Karanjot Singh, 20, who is pursuing his Bachelor of Accounting at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT). Karanjot received a cash prize of RM6,000, as well as a paid internship of no less than eight weeks or a conditional offer of employment with Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn. Bhd.

Kayden Ng Chun Sern (黄俊森), 21, who is pursuing his Bachelor of Business and Commerce, majoring in Digital Marketing, at Monash University Malaysia, was named second runner-up. He received a cash prize of RM3,000 and a paid internship or a conditional offer of employment with Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn. Bhd.

In his address, Shahrul Niza said, “Tax today sits at the intersection of economic policy, digital transformation and global developments. Technology, including artificial intelligence, is already changing how tax work is done. However, strong judgment, ethics and integrity will always remain at its core. Programs like the EY YTPY help students understand that tax is not just about calculations or compliance. It is about responsibility, trust and making decisions that affect businesses, society and the nation.”

Farah Rosley, Malaysia Tax Managing Partner at Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn. Bhd. said, “The future of tax is being shaped by a new generation of talent who are agile, confident, tech-aware and commercially minded. EY YTPY is where that transformation begins. The caliber we are seeing today shows that Malaysia is building a strong pipeline of future-ready professionals who can thrive in an every-changing and complex environment.”

Hisham Halim, Program Director of EY YTPY Malaysia; and Partner at Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn. Bhd. shared, “EY YTPY is a proving ground for future tax leaders. This year’s finalists brought strong judgment, creativity and the ability to navigate complex business issues with confidence. We are excited to see Malaysia represented on the global stage by talent that is ready to perform at the highest level.”

The EY YTPY international competition is a global event that fosters learning, team building and networking among top young tax professionals from around the world. Every country winner will participate in a virtual program and virtual competition/judging process to determine the top 10 finalists. In 2026, there were 40 finalists from a pool of participants spanning across 62 countries and regions. Gan will represent Malaysia in the 2027 global competition, expected to take place within January to March 2027.

For more information about the EY Young Tax Professional of the Year program, visit ey.com/my/careers/ytpy.
 

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