Michael Chen Wing Sum ( zh, c=曾永森, p=Zēng Yǒngsēn, s=, t=; 26 June 1932 – 26 July 2024) was a Malaysian politician. Across his political career, he had served as Housing, Local Government and New Village Minister as well as the Senate President.

Life and career

Michael Chen joined the

Malaysian Chinese Association The Malaysian Chinese Association (Abbreviation, abbrev: MCA; Malay language, Malay: ''Persatuan Cina Malaysia''), formerly known as the Malayan Chinese Association, is an ethnic List of political parties in Malaysia, political party in Malaysi ...

(MCA) in 1960. He was elected MP for the Damansara constituency in Selangor in the 1964 general elections. He was subsequently appointed 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 Hulu Selangor is a district in Selangor, Malaysia. It contains the towns of Serendah, Batang Kali and Kuala Kubu Bharu. Its principal town is Kuala Kubu Bharu. The district is located in the northeastern part of Selangor and borders the s ...

after the death of the incumbent MP Khaw Kai Boh. Chen was appointed 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 Lee San Choon (; 24 March 1935 – 3 March 2023) was a Malaysian politician and businessman. He was the fourth president of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a major component party of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) from 1975 to ...

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. He contested the 1982 election under the Gerakan's banner and won

Beruas Beruas (alternative spelling: Bruas) is a small town and mukim in Manjung District, Perak, Malaysia. Name Beruas is named for a local mangosteen-like tree, '' Garcinia hombroniana'', the "seashore mangosteen", called in the local Malay dial ...

seat. He was a member of the parliament until 1986. From 1997 until 2003, he served in the

Dewan Negara The Dewan Negara (; Jawi script, Jawi: ) is the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia, consisting of 70 senators of whom 26 are elected by the State legislative assemblies of Malaysia, state legislative assemblies, with two senators for ea ...

. He was deputy president from 1997 to 2000, and president from 2000 to 2003. Michael Chen was married to Toh Puan Helen Chen. He died on 26 July 2024, at the age of 92.

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : **

Grand Commander of the

Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia The Most Esteemed Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country and awarded by the sovereign. The order was instituted on 15 April 1966 and gazetted on 30 June 1966 ...

(SSM) – Tun (2017) **

Commander of the

(PSM) – Tan Sri (2002) ** Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Silver) (PPM) (1965) * : ** MY-SEL Order of the Crown of Selangor - Knight Commander - DPMS

Knight Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Selangor The Most Illustrious Order of the Crown of Selangor (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota Selangor Yang Amat Mulia'') is an order awarded by Sultan of Selangor as a reward for general services to the sultan and state of Selangor. It was foun ...

(DPMS) – Dato' (1977)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Michael Wing Sum 1932 births 2024 deaths People from Perak Malaysian politicians of Chinese descent Malaysian journalists 20th-century Malaysian lawyers Former Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia politicians Malaysian Chinese Association politicians Government ministers of Malaysia Members of the Dewan Negara Presidents of the Dewan Negara Members of Lincoln's Inn Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Grand Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia 21st-century Malaysian politicians Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor Malaysian MPs 1964–1969 Malaysian MPs 1971–1974 Malaysian MPs 1974–1978 Malaysian MPs 1978–1982 Malaysian MPs 1982–1986