Michael Chen Wing Sum

Ministerial roles1964–1969Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister1972–1974Minister with Special Functions1974–1976Minister of Housing and New Villages1976–1978Minister of Housing and Villages Development1978–1979Minister of Housing and Local GovernmentFaction represented in Dewan Rakyat1964–1969Alliance Party1972–1974Alliance Party1974–1982Barisan Nasional Personal detailsBorn
(1932-06-26) 26 June 1932 (age 91)
Perak, Federated Malay States, British MalayaCitizenshipMalaysianPolitical party Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) (1960–1979, 1988-present)
Gerakan (1981–1988)Other political
affiliationsBarisan NasionalSpouseHelen ChenChildren4OccupationPolitician

Michael Chen Wing Sum (Chinese: 曾永森; pinyin: Zēng Yǒngsēn; born 26 June 1932) is a Malaysian politician.^[1]

Across his political career, he has served as Housing, Local Government and New Village Minister as well as the Senate President.

He is married to Toh Puan Helen Chen.

Political career

Michael Chen joined the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) in 1960. He was elected MP for the Damansara constituency in Selangor in the 1964 general elections. He was subsequently appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein in Tunku Abdul Rahman's third cabinet. However, Chen failed to retain his seat in the 1969 general elections. In 1972, Chen was elected MP of Ulu Selangor after the death of the incumbent MP Khaw Kai Boh. Chen was appointed as Minister with Special Functions in Abdul Razak's first cabinet.

In 1977, Chen objected to an attempt to replace the Deputy President of MCA Lee Siok Yew with Chong Hon Nyan, and managed to defeat Chong for the position. He moved to challenge Lee San Choon for the MCA presidency itself in 1979, but was defeated. He did not challenge for the MCA presidency in 1981 as some who might have supported him had been expelled from the party; later he led a group of his supporters out of MCA to join the Gerakan.^[2]

He contested the 1982 election under the Gerakan's banner and won Beruas seat. He was a member of the parliament until 1986. From 1997 until 2003, he served in the Dewan Negara.^[3] He was deputy president from 1997 to 2000, and president from 2000 to 2003.^[1]

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1964	P073 Damansara, Selangor		Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	9,148	43.68%		Tan Kai Hee (SF)	8,602	41.08%	21,797	546	72.52%
							Lam Khuan Kit (PAP)	3,191	15.24%
1969			Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	12,089	43.71%		Hor Cheok Foon (DAP)	15,567	56.29%	28,658	3,478	69.34%
1972	P078 Ulu Selangor, Selangor		Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	11,052	67.02%		Lau Dak Kee (DAP)	5,439	32.98%	16,779	5,613	74.00%
1974	P075 Ulu Selangor, Selangor		Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	15,323	75.14%		G. Davidson (DAP)	5,070	24.86%		10,253
1978			Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	17,670	70.27%		Leong Ching Hoe (DAP)	4,868	19.36%		12,802
							Yusof Ahmad (PAS)	2,607	10.37%
1982	P056 Bruas, Perak		Michael Chen Wing Sum (GERAKAN)	14,922	63.08%		Quek Kow Sia (DAP)	7,490	31.66%	24,196	7,432	77.08%
							Yusoff Kassim (PAS)	1,244	5.26%

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

•  Malaysia :
  • Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Silver) (PPM) (1965)
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2002)^[4]
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) – Tun (2017)^[5]
•  Selangor :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – Dato' (1977)^[6]

References