KNOWLEDGE gained in lectures is only the beginning; the ability to apply it beyond the classroom is what sets students apart.
Proving her prowess, Gan Chia Lian, a third-year student in the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales accounting programme at Sunway TES, was recently named the winner of the Ernst & Young Young Tax Professional of the Year (EY YTPY) 2026 Malaysia competition.
For the 21-year-old, the experience offered more than the RM8,000 cash prize.
“The competition challenged me to think critically, learn from outstanding peers and present my ideas before distinguished HASiL (Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia) directors and EY tax partners,” she said in a July 8 press release.
She added that the recognition has motivated her to further develop her skills and pursue greater goals in her career.
Gan will next represent Malaysia at the EY YTPY global finals, scheduled to take place in the first quarter of next year, where she will compete against other country winners for the EY YTPY 2027 title.
The global competition aims to foster learning, team building and networking among top young tax professionals from around the world. Country winners will participate in a virtual programme and a virtual competition or judging process to determine the top 10 finalists.
This year, 40 finalists were selected from participants across 62 countries and regions.
At the national level, Karanjot Singh, 20, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Accounting at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, was named first runner-up, while Kayden Ng Chun Sern, 21, a Bachelor of Business and Commerce student majoring in digital marketing at Monash University Malaysia, placed third.
They received RM6,000 and RM3,000 in cash prizes, respectively.
All three winners also secured a paid internship of at least eight weeks or a conditional offer of employment with Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn Bhd.
HASiL corporate services department director Shahrul Niza Bishahrin, in his address, said programmes 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.
“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 judgement, ethics and integrity will always remain at its core,” he said.
Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn Bhd Malaysia tax managing partner Farah Rosley said the future of tax is being shaped by a new generation of talent who are agile, confident, tech-aware and commercially minded.
“The calibre we are seeing today shows that Malaysia is building a strong pipeline of future-ready professionals who can thrive in an ever-changing and complex environment,” she said.
