Tan Sri Michael Wong Pow Nee, PMN DUPN PPM (7 October 1911 – 31 August 2002) was a Malaysian politician and diplomat who was chief minister of Penang from 1957 to 1969. He was the first person to hold the position, and remains the only chief minister from the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).

Wong was raised in a Hakka Catholic family from Bukit Mertajam. He worked as a clerk before becoming a teacher in the 1940s. He first involved in politics in 1953 as an elected member of the Bukit Mertajam Town Council for the Radical Party. In 1955, he joined MCA and was elected as state representative for the Bukit Mertajam constituency under the Alliance ticket. In 1957, he defeated Cheah Seng Khim in an MCA party election to become the inaugural chief minister of Penang.

As chief minister, Wong's tenure was represented by key social and economic developments during a population boom in Penang, such as low-cost housing and establishing a tourism industry in the state. In 1962, he was appointed to the Cobbold Commission which supported the creation of Malaysia. By the late-1960s, an economic recession after the loss of the free port status in the traditionally mercantile Penang resulted in social unrests and popular discontent. In the 1969 state elections, he and his party lost in a landslide against Gerakan under the leadership of Lim Chong Eu, and he resigned from all party positions in MCA and Alliance soon after.

After retiring from politics in 1970, he was appointed as the first ambassador of Malaysia to Italy, and served until 1975. In 2002, he died in his private residence at the age of 90.

Early life and education

Michael Wong Pow Nee was born on 7 October 1911 in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. His parents were John Wong Ee Chin and Cecilia Foo Nguk Yin, both Catholic Penangite Chinese of Hakka descent. He was the fourth of seven children within his family. John Wong was a timber merchant who became a developer based around Bukit Mertajam.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Wong was firstly educated at Jit Sin Chinese Primary School, then he went on to the Anglo-Chinese School and after that, he finished his secondary education St. Xavier's Institution from which he graduated in 1933.^[1]

Instead of pursuing further studies abroad, Wong went to work as a clerk at the Bukit Mertajam Catholic Benevolent Society. In 1935, he took up a clerical position with the Sin Ban Guan Bus Company, but the company folded not long after and Wong Pow Nee embarked on a very different career. Between 1937 and 1943, he taught English at St. Mary's Mission School at Permatang Tinggi. In 1945, he taught English at Kim Sen Primary School in Bukit Mertajam. At the same time he enrolled in a Teachers Training Course from which he graduated in 1947.^[3]^[1]^[4]

Early political career

In 1953, he stood for elections in the first Bukit Mertajam Town Council (precusor authority of the Seberang Perai City Council) elections, having reluctantly accepted the nomination of villagers who insisted on being represented by him. He won a seat on the Council under Lim Chong Eu's Radical Party, formed earlier in 1951.^[1] In 1955, together with Lim Chong Eu, he joined the Malayan Chinese Association following the bad defeat of the Penang Radical Party which was defeated by the newly formed Alliance,^[4]^[5] and was re-elected to the Council under the Alliance party,^[1] after having successfully campaigned against independent candidate, M. P. L. Yegappan.^[4]

Chief minister of Penang (1957–1969)

In 1957, he was appointed as the first Chief Minister of Penang and delivered the Proclamation of Independence at the Esplanade on 31 August in front of a large crowd, after Tunku Abdul Rahman had done the same simultaneously in Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.^[3]^[1]

In the Cobbold Commission

He was a member of the Cobbold Commission formed in 1962 that ascertained the views of residents in Sabah (then North Borneo) and Sarawak about joining the Federation of Malaysia preparing the framework for the eventual incorporation of Sabah and Sarawak in 1963.^[1]^[4] Lord Cobbold headed the Commission. Other members of the Commission assisting him, together with Wong Pow Nee, were Tan Sri Ghazali Shafiee, Sir Anthony Abell and Sir David Watherston. The result of their work was the Cobbold Commission Report 1962.^[6] Later, he also read out the proclamation of the formation of Malaysia at the Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama), George Town on 16 September 1963.^[3]

Economy

Defeat and resignation

In 1969, he failed in his bid to retain the Bukit Mertajam seat and was defeated by the Gerakan candidate, Ooh Chooi Cheng.^[4]

Later life

As a result of the electoral defeat, he suffered a heart attack in December of that year but recovered well enough to continue his service to King and country.^[7]

In May 1970, he officially handed over the reins of leadership of the Penang Alliance coalition to Tengku Abdul Rahman.^[8]

After relinquishing the position of Chief Minister of Penang, Wong Pow Nee served as Malaysian Ambassador to Italy and the Holy See between 1970 and 1975.^[4]

Wong was appointed as the first Malaysian Ambassador to Italy on 5 January 1970.^[9]

Death

Wong died on the 45th anniversary of Merdeka Day on 31 August 2002 at 6.30am, aged 90. He left behind his wife, Puan Sri Elizabeth Law Siew Kim, seven sons and three daughters. He was accorded a state funeral of the highest honour. Among those who came to pay their last respects were Governor of Penang Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Hilmi Yahaya and members of Penang's State Executive Committee.^[3]^[4]^[10]

Legacy

A memorial was held by Hakka Connextion on Merdeka Day, 31 August 2007.^[11] A photo exhibition memorialising the struggles and achievements was hosted from 15 September 2012 by Federation of Hakka Associations of Malaysia at the Penang Hakka Association building in Burmah Road, George Town.^[12]^[13]

Electoral history

State elections

Penang state elections, 1969: Bukit Mertajam^[14]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	GERAKAN	Ooh Chooi Cheng	7,098	68.97	+42.66
	Alliance	Wong Pow Nee	4,420	25.91	−16.55
Majority			1,050	11.24	−28.55
Rejected ballots			561	5.43	–
Turnout			10,337	75.51	−2.78
	GERAKAN gain from Alliance		Swing	+42.66

Penang state elections, 1964: Bukit Mertajam^[15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Alliance	Wong Pow Nee	3,967	42.46	−26.51
	Socialist Front	Tan Chong Boo	2,917	31.22	+2.04
	UDP	Ooh Chooi Cheng	2,458	26.31	–
Majority			1,050	11.24	−28.55
Turnout			9.342	78.29	+10.31
	Alliance hold		Swing	−28.55

Penang state elections, 1959: Bukit Mertajam^[16]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Alliance	Wong Pow Nee	4,221	68.97	−12.45
	Socialist Front	Kang Eng Wah	1,786	29.18	+26.11
Majority			2,435	39.79	−27.56
Rejected ballots			113	1.85	+0.41
Turnout			6,120	67.98	−10.02
	Alliance hold		Swing	−27.56

Penang state elections, 1955: Bukit Mertajam^[17]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Alliance	Wong Pow Nee	4,966	81.42	–
	Independent	M. P. L. Yegappan	858	14.07	–
	Labour	Ng Chye Gaik	187	3.07	–
Majority			4,108	67.35	–
Rejected ballots			88	1.44	–
Turnout			6,099	78.00	–
	Alliance win (new seat)

Parliamentary elections

Titles, awards and honours

Honours of Malaya

Malaya :
- Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (1958)^[18]
Malaysia :
- Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Gold) (PPM) (1965)^[19]
Penang :
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama (1979)^[20]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Koay, Su Lyn (16 July 2013). "Wong Pow Nee – the first and forgotten CM of Penang". The Edge.
^ Choong, Kwee Kim (16 August 2006). "A peek into Hakka heritage". The Star. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Ng, Su-Ann (9 August 2007). "Tribute to Wong Pow Nee". The Star. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Bekas KM Pulau Pinang pertama meninggal dunia" [First CM of Penang passes away]. Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 1 September 2002. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018.
^ Ooi 2013
^ Lim, Kian Hock (16 September 2010). "A former civil servant recalls reading out the Malaysia Proclamation". The Star. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018.
^ Straits Times 1970b
^ Berita Harian 1970
^ "Diary of events, January – June". Foreign Affairs Malaysia. 3 (1): 5.
^ Straits Times 2002
^ The Star 2007
^ Chow, Melissa Darlyne (11 September 2012). "Remembering Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013.
^ Tan 2012
^ "State Assemblies (contd.)". The Straits Times. 12 May 1969. p. 7.
^ "Battle for the state assemblies". The Straits Times. 27 April 1964. pp. 8–9.
^ "The voting in Penang". The Straits Times. 7 June 1959. p. 7.
^ "How the people voted". The Straits Times. 21 February 1955. p. 4 – via NewspaperSG.
^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Tahun 1958" (PDF).
^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
^ "梹元首庆62华诞致词指出梹州获得额外拨款将会带来更大利益" [Yang di-Pertua of Penang's speech to celebrate his 62nd birthday pointed out that the additional funding received by Penanh will bring greater benefits]. 星洲日报 (Sin Chew Jit Poh). 18 July 1979. p. 7.

Sources

Berita Harian, 20 May 1970, Page 10
Ng Su-Ann (2007) Tribute to Wong Pow Nee in The Star 9 August 2007 [online] at accessed mon 1 August 2013.
Ooi Kee-Beng (2013) 'Dr Lim and the unchanging face of Malaysian politics' in The Malaysian Insider 10 July 2013 [online] at accessed on 1 August 2013.
Tan, Christopher (2012) 'Memorial hall to celebrate Penang's first CM' in The Star 7 September 2012 [online] at accessed on 1 August 2013.
The Star 1 September 2007 [online] at accessed on 1 August 2013.
The Straits Times, 13 May 1970, Page 3
The Straits Times, 14 May 1970, Page 15
The Straits Times, 6 September 2002, Page 25

Lim Chong Eu

1969 Penang state election
← outgoing members members elected →
24 seats to the Penang State Legislative Assembly; 13 seats needed for a majority
Registered	282,401 ( 11.75%)
Turnout	77.67% ( 2.31pp)
	Pakatan Harapan seats: DAP PKR BERSATU AMANAH Opposition seats: UMNO PAS
Chief minister before election; Wong Pow Nee; Alliance (MCA)	Elected Chief minister ; Lim Chong Eu; Gerakan

Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr.
Lim Chong Eu
PMN DUPN PPM
Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu PMN DUPN PPM
林苍祐
	Portrait, c. pre-1963
2nd Chief Minister of Penang
	In office; 19 May 1969 – 25 October 1990
Governor	Syed Sheh Barakbah; Sardon Jubir; Awang Hassan; Hamdan Sheikh Tahir;
Preceded by	Wong Pow Nee
Succeeded by	Koh Tsu Koon
Constituency	Kota (1964–1974); Padang Kota (1974–1990);
Majority	4,108 (1955); 2,435 (1959); 1,050 (1964); ;
President of Gerakan
	In office; 12 January 1971 – 18 August 1980
Preceded by	Syed Hussein Alatas
Succeeded by	Lim Keng Yaik
Personal details
Born	28 May 1919; George Town, Penang, Straits Settlements
Died	24 November 2010 (aged 91); Tanjung Bungah, Penang, Malaysia
Political party	Gerakan (after 1968); UDP (1962–1968); MCA (1953–1962); Radical (1951–1953); ;
Other political; affiliations	Alliance (1953–1962, 1972–1973); BN (after 1973); ;
Spouses	; Agnes Lim Meng Hong (m. 1942; died 1945) ; Elizabeth Law Siew Khim (m. 1949)
Relations	Lim Chong Keat (brother)
Children	10
Residence(s)	Hillside, Tanjung Bungah, Malaysia
Alma mater	Penang Free School; University of Edinburgh; (MB ChB);
Occupation	Politician; physiciain;
	Other offices 1962–1968: President of the United Democratic Party ; 1958–1959: President of the Malaysian Chinese Association ;

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri
Wong Pow Nee
PMN DUPN PPM
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee PMN DUPN PPM
王保尼
	Portrait, c. pre-1963
1st Chief Minister of Penang
	In office; 31 August 1957 – 12 May 1969
Governor	Raja Uda; Syed Sheh Shahabudin; Syed Sheh Barakbah
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Lim Chong Eu
Constituency	Bukit Mertajam
Majority	4,108 (1955); 2,435 (1959); 1,050 (1964); ;
Personal details
Born	Michael Wong Pow Nee; 7 October 1911; Bukit Mertajam, Province Wellesley, Straits Settlements
Died	31 August 2002 (aged 90); George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Political party	MCA (after 1955); Radical (1953–1955); ;
Other political; affiliations	BN (after 1973); Alliance (1953–1973); ;
Spouses	; Agnes Lim Meng Hong (m. 1942; died 1945) ; Elizabeth Law Siew Khim (m. 1949)
Children	10
Alma mater	St. Xavier's Institution
Occupation	Politician; diplomat; teacher;
	Other offices 1970–1975: Malaysian Ambassador to Italy ; 1962: Member of the Cobbold Commission ; 1953–1957: Member of the Bukit Mertajam Town Council ;

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1969 Penang state election