By Hailey Chung
It is hard to separate morality from spirituality —a conviction that’s embedded within the heart of Tan Sri Tong Kooi Ong, Chairman and Founder of The Edge Media Group.
Although he readily admits that he is not religious, Tong is unapologetically certain about one thing: there is a God. In his opinion, to believe in God yet detach that belief from one’s moral responsibility would be, as he puts it, “hypocritical.”
Tong was sharing these reflections at SPARKZ@After7 in October 2025, a monthly forum featuring marketplace leaders who gather not merely for corporate insights, but to exchange wisdom on workplace ethics, social impact, and family life.
Held at Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) and moderated by Pastor Ann Wan Kuan, the evening agenda unfolded like a candid talk show: thoughtful, authentic, and deeply human.
A battle for truth: The 1MDB expose
For many Malaysians, the 1MDB scandal has been a defining moment in recent times, an indelible mark stamped across the pages of history. For Tong, it was a personal test of integrity and courage.
Once a friend of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak—a man who he recalled, used to come by for dinner—Tong found himself at the moral crossroads of friendship and truth when The Edge became instrumental in exposing one of the country’s biggest financial scandals.
“Many choices we make are because we are creatures of circumstance,” Tong reflected. “But how do we react? Do we back away?”
The roots of the exposé trace back to 2009, when 1MDB, then known as the Terengganu Investment Authority, raised RM5 billion in government-guaranteed bonds. It offered unusually high interest rates, a move that immediately raised eyebrows in financial circles.
From that spark, a relentless pursuit of truth began, one that would eventually shake Malaysia’s political landscape and test the moral fortitude of those involved.
Since then, the scandal has led to criminal prosecutions and global asset recovery efforts.
Najib Razak has served prison time since August 2022 for corruption and money laundering offenses tied to SRC International, a subsidiary of 1MDB. With some court reprieves, his main 1MDB-related trial remains ongoing.
“Trust God, Be Calm, Be Brave”
In the sweltering heat of fear and when the cost of truth felt almost too heavy to carry, Tong penned a small note to himself: “TRUST GOD, BE CALM, BE BRAVE in doing what’s right.”
The words scribbled on the page steadied his soul, and his convictions about God deepened. “I know God listens to prayers,” he ruminated.
Asked how he sees God, Tong’s response was simple yet profound: “God is love. Even when you abandon Him, God is still love.”
Remarkably honest in that he does not always seek God, except in moments of frailty such as illness, fear or insecurity, the renowned journalist acknowledged that he has experienced divine intervention in life’s most uncertain hours.
He recalled one particular moment, when he was fearing the consequences of exposing the truth surrounding 1MDB.
Just then, a phone call from someone only identified as a member of the current Cabinet patched through; it was a call of encouragement, assuring Tong that the unfolding events were an answered prayer.
“I think we all acknowledge that everything [nation-building] starts with a person. The Bible talks about Moses and Abraham — God assigns one person [to make a change],” Tong said.
With a tone both apologetic and firm, he challenged the audience: “If you refuse to do anything for the nation, at least don’t tell others not to. That’s just noise pollution, justifying your inaction.”
It was a statement not of condemnation, but of conscience; a reminder that moral courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act despite it.
A rebel for a greater cause
Tong calls himself “a rebel within the establishment”, one who critiques government policies not out of defiance, but out of love for the nation and a desire for betterment.
In his recent articles for The Edge, he has continued to push for reforms such as a fair and transparent Urban Renewal Act (URA) as well as greater accountability among government-linked companies (GLCs).
For Tong, the battle for truth and morality — whether in the newsroom, the boardroom, or the nation — is ultimately a spiritual one.
In that journey, his compass remains clear: Trust God. Be Calm. Be Brave.
All photos provided by SPARKZ@After7.
