PETALING JAYA: Prominent MCA veteran and former party deputy president Tun Michael Chen Wing Sum passed away at the age of 92 on Friday (July 26) afternoon.
According to Chinese daily Sin Chew, Chen’s demise was confirmed by his daughter, who was not named.
Chen, a lawyer by profession, began his working career at 24 years old as a journalist at a local Chinese daily in Penang for more than two years.
In 1961, while studying law at Lincoln’s Inn in London, Chen was approached by then MCA president Tun Tan Siew Sin to be made MCA chief secretary. But, Chen turned down the offer.
Despite that, Chen eventually entered politics by contesting the Damansara Parliament seat in the 1964 general election, which he won against PAP (People’s Action Party).
Chen was then appointed by former premier Tun Abdul Razak Hussein as the Parliament secretary for five years.
But, in 1969, Chen lost the Damansara parliament seat to DAP. In 1972, Chen was offered another chance to contest the Ulu Selangor Parliament seat, which he won against DAP.
Between 1972 and 1974, Chen had served as the special functions minister.
From 1974 to 1979, Chen served as the housing, local government and new village minister. During then, he also served as the Port Klang Authority chairman for 16 years and held various director posts in several private companies.
Chen also contested the Beruas parliament seat in the 1982 general election under Gerakan’s banner and he won. He served as the Beruas MP for a term until 1986.
Between 1997 to 2003, Chen served as a member of a senate and he was also the Senate president from 2000 to 2003.
In Sept 2017, Chen was among the three to be conferred the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM) award by then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, which carries the title of Tun.
