Aug 5 — Malaysian actress Yumi Wong has spent more than a decade in the local film industry, but is now stepping away from acting to focus on producing full-time
She has appeared in films such as Nasi Lemak 1.0 (2022), All In (2024) and the Malaysia-Thailand-Singapore co-production Kong Tao, released in early 2026.
During the promotional run for Kong Tao in March, Wong revealed that the film, in which she portrayed Wei En, would mark her final appearance as an actress.
Speaking to Malay Mail, Wong said she was far more comfortable working behind the scenes.
She said she had been involved in film production and distribution for the past three to four years and had “really enjoyed being behind the camera.”
“I wanted to challenge myself more behind the camera.
“I’m not really good at being an actress,” she said, explaining the reason behind her career change.
Wong said acting required considerable emotional investment, while producing suited her better because she enjoyed the creative process of bringing projects to life.
Before settling on producing, she considered taking on other filmmaking roles.
She initially wanted to become a director but decided against it because she was not confident in handling camera work or overseeing a film’s overall creative direction.
She also tried scriptwriting but realised it was not her strength.
“In the end, producing was something I felt I could do,” she said.
Wong’s producing credits include Our Crazy Adventures (2024), last year’s Soloz: Game of Life and, most recently, Tiket Sehala.
The Malaysia-South Korea co-production, directed by Rahila Ali, is based on real-life stories involving overseas job scams.
“Tiket Sehala is something very new for everyone,” Wong said.
“It raises awareness. Everyone is so fascinated with Korea, Korean people and K-pop culture that many think it is one of the safest places in the world.
“This film is meant to show that these scams don’t only happen in places like Thailand or Cambodia, but can also happen in Korea. People need that awareness,” she added.
Tiket Sehala opens in cinemas tomorrow.
The film stars Noki K-Clique, Jaa Suzuran, Ainee Mustafa, Sharifah Sakinah, Zaki Yamani, Hasnul Rahmat, Sheila Mambo, Fancy Goh, Wafiy Ilham, Hyun-Jun Seok, Ha Ju-young, Tak Teu-in, Ninja Aphisit Usadee, Naufal Samudra, Saharudin Jamaludin and Ardell Aryana.
Looking ahead, Wong said she would serve as an executive producer on an upcoming animated project and a comedy horror film.
Asked whether she would consider executive producing a television series, Wong said her experience was rooted in filmmaking and that feature films remained her preferred focus.
