Amin Liew Abdullah

Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah @ Liew Kong Ming
Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah @ Liew Kong Ming
Born	Error: Need valid birth date: year, month, day; Brunei
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, government official
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Second Minister of Finance and Economy II of Brunei, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, chairman of Brunei Economic Development Board and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Amin Liew Abdullah, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 1 December 2025

Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah @ Liew Kong Ming (; born December 1962) is a prominent Bruneian entrepreneur and government official. Since 2018, he has held the position of second minister of finance and economy II as well as minister within the Prime Minister's Office. Additionally, he chairs both the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD). Before this, he served as deputy minister of finance from 2015 until 2018.

Early life and education

Born in December 1962 and of Chinese heritage, Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah was originally named Liew Kong Ming prior to his conversion to Islam. He completed his undergraduate studies at Queen Mary University of London in 1984, followed by obtaining a master's degree and doctorate from Imperial College, University of London in 1989 and 1993 respectively.

Early career

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Amin Liew worked as a research analyst for ICI Finance PLC in the United Kingdom. He returned to Brunei in the mid-1990s to take on the role of crude oil trader at Brunei Shell Petroleum. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) since 2004 and member of CFA Singapore, he joined the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA)—the country's sovereign wealth fund—on 16 October 1997. His tenure occurred despite BIA's earlier difficulties linked to Prince Jefri Bolkiah’s Amedeo Development Corporation, which had collapsed under nearly US$16 billion in debt.

In May 2005, Amin Liew was promoted to managing director of BIA, where he managed investment strategies spanning listed equities, fixed income, real estate, private equity, and joint ventures. Simultaneously, from October 2008 to June 2010, he fulfilled duties as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance, concluding his role at BIA on the same date.

Between June 2010 and September 2011, he acted as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. On 30 January 2012, he joined Progen Holdings as finance and business development director in a non-independent, non-executive capacity, responsible for overseeing cash management, accounting processes, tax compliance, internal controls, corporate governance standards, and regulatory affairs. In April 2012, Yoma Strategic Holdings appointed him as an independent director. However, on 9 February 2015, Progen Holdings announced his departure due to increased commitments as CEO of Darussalam Assets and his relocation to Brunei full-time in November 2014, which limited his availability for duties.

Deputy Minister of Finance

Amin Liew was named deputy minister of finance following the Brunei cabinet reshuffle on 22 October 2015. In July 2016, he established the Chinese Firms Association in Brunei, which brought together 27 enterprises from the People's Republic of China. On 9 May 2017, he formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Guangxi Ruian Logistics to develop a B$60 million halal food and spice processing centre within Brunei.

Minister of Finance II

After the cabinet reshuffle on 30 January 2018, Amin Liew assumed the position of second minister of finance and was appointed chairman of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD). Later that year, on 8 October, he also took on the role of chairman at the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).

On 21 February 2019, Amin Liew officiated the inauguration of State Street Corporation's new headquarters at Pavo Point, promoting partnerships between international universities to bolster Brunei’s financial sector. On 14 March, he announced the delay of Brunei’s special economic zone project due to financial challenges encountered by CFLD (Singapore) Investment. Then, on 9 December, he signed an MoU with 8F Asset Management to invest in a land-based Atlantic salmon aquaculture facility utilizing recirculating aquaculture technology.

On 1 October 2020, Amin Liew initiated the ARMECS Bridging Programme aimed at improving local workforce employability within the construction industry. In May 2021, he represented Brunei as governor during the Asian Development Bank’s 54th Annual Meeting. On 16 December, he facilitated Brunei’s official accession to the International Finance Corporation, highlighting cooperation efforts for economic diversification and private sector expansion. During a virtual discussion on 7 April 2022 with South Korea’s Yeo Han-koo, he voiced support for South Korea’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Minister at the Prime Minister's Office

Amin Liew was appointed minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and maintained this position following a cabinet reshuffle on 7 June 2022. On 7 July, he launched the Brunei Economy Programme, delivering a keynote focused on empowering MSMEs towards a sustainable digital future while stressing the importance of public-private collaboration to meet Wawasan Brunei 2035 economic objectives. On 24 August, he and Singapore’s Gan Kim Yong signed two MoUs aimed at deepening cooperation in energy, green economy initiatives, and enhancing resilience in food and medical supplies. Subsequently, on 27 August, additional MoUs were signed to strengthen ties between Singapore’s Public Services Division and Brunei’s PMO.

In October 2022, Amin Liew addressed the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting, presenting Brunei’s approaches to mitigating inflationary pressures and advancing economic diversification. The following month, he officiated the opening of the Ministry of Health Intelligence Hub located at EVYD Campus—a joint venture between MoH and EVYD Technology. In December 2023, he signed a memorandum with Japan's Ken Saitō focusing on regional cooperation for energy transition.

In February 2024, Amin Liew and UAE’s Mohammad Al Gergawi formalized an MoU under the Government Experience Exchange Program to promote government development and reinforce bilateral relations. During the March 2024 Legislative Council session, he addressed concerns regarding rising utility expenses attributed to meter malfunctions and water leakage.

In a July 2024 interview, Amin Liew highlighted priorities such as fiscal consolidation, economic diversification, and fostering public-private partnerships to reduce reliance on oil and gas while encouraging sustainable growth across aquaculture, agriculture, ICT, and ecotourism sectors. He underscored investments in human capital development and nurturing local enterprises as key drivers for long-term prosperity. The following month, he signed a strategic partnership MoU with Muhammed Al-Jasser from the Islamic Development Bank covering 2025–2030 initiatives focused on climate action, SME support, Islamic finance expansion, and economic growth aligned with Wawasan Brunei 2035.

On 8 March 2025, Amin Liew announced completion of the feasibility study for establishing Brunei’s stock exchange with implementation slated to commence that month. The initiative includes creating a central securities depository, clearing house, and securities exchange aimed at advancing financial market infrastructure.

Personal life

Amin Liew is wedded to Pengiran Datin Hajah Noor Yashimah binti Pengiran Anak Haji Hashim, who belongs to the Brunei royal lineage. Together, they are parents to two sons, Mohd Isa Liew and Muhd Danial.

Honours

The accolades awarded to Amin Liew include:

Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB; 15 July 2018) – bearing the title Dato Seri Setia
Order of Setia Negara Brunei Third Class (SNB; 15 July 2006)
Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB; 15 July 2017) – with the honorific Dato Seri Paduka
Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 15 July 2010) – entitled Dato Paduka

References

Vienne, Marie-Sybille De; Jammes, Jérémy (2020). "China's Maritime Nexus in Southeast Asia: Economic and Geostrategic Challenges of the Belt and Road Initiative in Brunei". Asian Survey. 60 (5): 905–927.
Vienne, Marie-Sybille de (2011). "The Chinese in Brunei: From Ceramics to Oil Rent". Archipel. 82 (1): 25–48.

External links