M.L. Khong entered the Malaysian Institute of Arts in 1969 to study Eastern and Western fine arts, where he discovered a passion for photography. Graduating in 1972, he decided to pursue photography as his profession. In 1990, he co-founded the PhotoArt Institute, offering courses for photography enthusiasts and professionals. Today, he is still a lecturer at the institute and is highly regarded in Malaysia and internationally, frequently invited to exhibit and share his ideas as a speaker. Khong won the 1st prize at the Malaysian Landscape Photography Competition (1978), the SUNPAK award (1981), and the OKAMOTO award (1986) at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre Photo Contest, 1st prize at the China Photographers Association’s (CPA) 1st International Salon, and the Global Golden Brand Award (2011).

In 1981, Khong was awarded the Associate Distinction (ARPS) from the Royal Photography Society of Great Britain. In 1990, the Photographic Society of Malaysia nominated him for the Honorary Fellowship Award. In 1992, Khong received the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Khong was also an executive committee member and judge of the Society of Worldwide Ethnic Chinese Photographers (SWECP), and a committee member of the Photographic Society of Malaysia (PSM) and the Asia Photographic Recreation Centre (APRC).