Brian Yap is a Senior Associate at Vriens & Partners’ Malaysia practice, where he works closely with clients and internal teams to deliver public policy advisory, government relations, and regulatory analysis engagements.
Since joining Vriens & Partners in 2023, Brian has led project teams across the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), sustainability, payments, automotive, and healthcare sectors. Brian also oversees V&P Malaysia’s knowledge and network bases in sustainability and ESG reporting, extended producer responsibility (EPR), as well as business and human rights.
Prior to joining the firm, Brian was a researcher at Amnesty International Malaysia, where he co-authored reports on a range of human rights issues, including freedom of expression, police reform, and the death penalty. Before this, he served as a Political Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, providing political and human rights analysis and supporting U.S. engagement with political leaders and civil society stakeholders. For his role in monitoring Malaysia’s 2018 General Election, he received the U.S. State Department’s Superior Honor Award.
Earlier in his career, Brian worked in government as Political and Press Secretary to Elizabeth Wong, then an Executive Councilor in the Selangor State Government. In this role, he supported efforts to establish the Freedom of Information (State of Selangor) Enactment, which was passed into law in 2011.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Emerson College in Boston. He has written extensively on the arts, politics, and public policy for regional and international outlets, including the New Straits Times, The Diplomat, and KLue.
