Wong Tien Fatt
Datuk Wong Tien Fatt (simplified Chinese: 黄天发; traditional Chinese: 黃天發; pinyin: Huáng Tiānfā; 2 October 1954 – 28 March 2019), also known as Stephen Wong, was a Malaysian politician. He won to be the Member of Parliament for Sandakan in Sabah for two terms (2013-2019).[1] He was also one of the nominated member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly and the Minister of People's Health and Wellbeing of Sabah (2018-2019).[2] Wong also held the position of state chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) for Sabah (2015-2019).[3]
Yang Berbahagia Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt | |
---|---|
黄天发 | |
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Sandakan | |
In office 5 May 2013 – 28 March 2019 | |
Preceded by | Liew Vui Keong (LDP-BN) |
Succeeded by | Vivian Wong Shir Yee (PH-DAP) |
Majority | 1,088 (2013) 10,098 (2018) |
Chairman of the Democratic Action Party of Sabah | |
In office 2015 – 28 March 2019 | |
Chairman | Tan Kok Wai |
Secretary-General | Lim Guan Eng |
Preceded by | Jimmy Wong Sze Phin |
Succeeded by | Frankie Poon Ming Fung |
Minister of People's Health and Wellbeing of Sabah | |
In office 16 May 2018 – 28 March 2019 | |
Governor | Juhar Mahiruddin |
Chief Minister | Shafie Apdal |
Succeeded by | Frankie Poon Ming Fung |
Personal details | |
Born | Wong Tien Fatt @ Wong Nyuk Foh 2 October 1954 Sandakan, Crown Colony of North Borneo (now Sabah, Malaysia) |
Died | 28 March 2019 64) Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia | (aged
Resting place | Sandakan Christian Burial Ground, along Mile 12 off Labuk Road, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia |
Citizenship | Malaysian |
Political party | Democratic Action Party (DAP) (2012-2019) |
Other political affiliations | Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Pakatan Harapan (PH) |
Spouse(s) | Chong Mee Fook |
Children | 1 son 3 daughters (including Vivian Wong Shir Yee) |
Occupation | Politician |
Political career
2013 general election
In the 2013 election, Wong faced Liew Vui Keong of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and subsequently won the parliamentary seat.[4]
2018 general election
In the 2018 election, his party of DAP field him again to contest the seat to facing a new candidate Lim Ming Hoo from LDP.[5][6] He won the election with a large majority.[7][8]
Controversies and issues
Criticism of ESSCOM failure and request for security enhancement
In 2015, Wong criticised the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) for its costly formation despite kidnapping cases are recurring and expressed disappointment towards "irresponsible and arrogant attitude by the government leaders as it seems as they are trying to avoid the blame from public".[9] A year before, Wong had proposed that he urged the government to implement the re-issuance of identity cards in Sabah since there are many migrants coming from the neighbouring southern Philippines.[10]
Acceptance of Sabah State Award and Datukship Title
In 2018 Wong acceptance of the Sabah State Award of Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) which carry the title "Datuk" from the Yang di-Pertua Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin during his 65th birthday on 6 October but was only announced two days earlier; had gone against the decision of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of DAP for party elected representatives and local councillors not to accept titles and awards during their period of active political service.[11] Wong was somehow unapologetic to the party leadership or willing to return the award back.[12]
Election results
Year | Government | Votes | Pct | Opposition | Votes | Pct | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Liew Vui Keong (LDP) | 13,138 | 47.1% | Wong Tien Fatt (DAP) | 14,226 | 51.0% | ||
2018 | Wong Tien Fatt (DAP) | 19,094 | 48.0%2 | Lim Ming Hoo (LDP) | 8,996 | 22.6%2 | ||
Notes: Table excludes votes for candidates who finished in third place or lower. 2 Different % used for 2018 election. |
Death
Wong died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia on 28 March 2019 due to a heart attack during a morning hike on the same day.[18] His body was flown back to his hometown of Sandakan to be laid to rest.[19]
His death had caused the 2019 Sandakan by-election on 11 May and the seat was successfully defended by his daughter Vivian Wong Shir Yee as DAP candidate by a bigger majority of 11,521 votes.[20]
Honours
Honours of Malaysia
Sabah : Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) - Datuk (2018)[21]
References
- "Maklumat Ahli Parlimen" (in Malay). Parliament of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- "Wong to brace for power devolution". The Borneo Post. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- "Jimmy claims DAP Sabah chief broke 'Shanghai' promise". The Borneo Post. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- Winnie Kasmir (6 May 2013). "LDP president Liew loses in Sandakan". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- "Sabah DAP chief Stephen Wong to defend his Sandakan seat". Free Malaysia Today. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- Winnie Kasmir (28 April 2018). "Incumbent Stephen Wong faces BN's debuntant Lim for Sandakan seat". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- Winnie Kasmir (10 May 2018). "DAP wins big in Sandakan". Daily Express. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- Nandini Balakrishnan (10 May 2018). "Historic Win: The Complete Result Of GE14's Parliamentary Seats Across Malaysia". Says.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- Tarrence Tan (20 May 2015). "MP: Sabah's 'toothless tigers' have failed the people". Free Malaysia Today. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- Rohmatin Bonasir (3 April 2014). "Penculikan Sabah, KTP diusulkan diterbitkan ulang" (in Indonesian). BBC News Indonesia. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- Robin Augustin (28 October 2018). "Don't mess with me, Guan Eng tells DAP leaders who accepted titles". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- Adam Abu Bakar (16 October 2018). "Pengerusi DAP Sabah tak kan minta maaf kerana terima gelaran 'Datuk'" (in Malay). Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout (including votes for candidates not listed).
- "Sabah [Parliament Results]". The Star. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2018. Results only available from the 2004 election.
- "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- Julia Chan (28 March 2019). "Sabah minister dies from heart attack". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- Natasha Joibi (29 March 2019). "Stephen Wong to be laid to rest in Sandakan on April 1". The Star Online. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- Tracy Patrick (11 May 2019). "DAP wins bigger majority in Sandakan". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- "Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak head list of 1,158 Sabah award recipients". Bernama. Borneo Post. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.