James Wong (politician)

Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min (August 6, 1922 – July 18, 2011) was a Malaysian politician active in the politics of Sarawak for decades.^{[1] [2]} Wong holds the record as the longest serving assemblyman in the history of the state of Sarawak, holding the office for nearly fifty years.^[3] Wong served as the first Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak and the president of the Sarawak National Party (SNAP).^[3] He held several other ministries of Sarawak politics until his retirement in 2001.^[3]

Personal life

Wong was born in Limbang, Kingdom of Sarawak, on August 6, 1922.^[2] Sarawak was a British protectorate at the time.^[2]

Early political career

He began his political career in 1951, when he was elected to the Limbang District Council.^[2]

In 1956, Wong was elected to Sarawak's legislature, the Council Negri, which is now known as the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.^[2] He continued to hold office in the Legislative Assembly until his retirement in 2001.

Malaysia became an independent country in 1963. Wong had been a member of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee's Sarawak delegation in 1962, which negotiated the formation of the new nation.^[2] Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the then president of the Sarawak National Party (SNAP), became the first Chief Minister of Sarawak, while Wong became the state's first deputy Chief Minister.^[2]

Member of the opposition

SNAP pulled out of the national coalition government, led by the Alliance Party, and became an opposition party. Wong, a member of the SNAP, won a seat in the Parliament of Malaysia in the 1969 general election, representing the Miri-Subis constituency.^[2] Wong became the leader of the Malaysian Opposition in August 1974.^[2] Wong would later be arrested under the Internal Security Act on 30 October 1974 and held at the Kamunting detention center for several years.^[2] In 1981, Wong became the third president of the Sarawak National Party.^[2]

Reconciliation with Barisan Nasional

Wong's Sarawak National Party reconciled and rejoined the successor of the Alliance, the Barisan Nasional. Under the new coalition, Wong became a minister in Sarawak's state cabinet, holding several portfolios during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Wong became the Environment and Tourism Minister of Sarawak from 1987 to 1994.^[2] He then became the state Minister of Environment and Housing from 1995 to 1997 and finally the state Minister of Environment and Public Health from 1998 until his retirement in 2001.^[2] In 2001, Wong, who was still serving as Environment Minister, was awarded the Langkawi Award for to work in launching a sea turtle satellite tracking program and spearheading a new reefball project for coral reefs.^[2]

Retirement from politics

Wong retired from politics in 2001. He continued to author new books and poems during his retirement. Wong authored The Price of Loyalty, a book about his imprisonment at the Kamunting detention center under the Internal Security Act.^[2] By 2003, Wong had published the third addition of The Birth of Malaysia, a history of the country.^[2] He also released a third book, Memories of Speeches at the Council Negri.^[2] In addition to his books, Wong also wrote poetry during his later life. His poetry collections included A Special Breed in 1981, Shimmering Moonbeams in 1983, Buy a Little Time in 1989 and Beautiful Butterfly in 2009.^[2]

Wong also spearheaded the push to have Malaysia Day declared a national holiday.^[2] In 2010, Malaysia Day was finally declared an official holiday, to be celebrated nationwide on September 16 of every year.^[2] Wong spoke of Malaysia Day in 2010 saying, "It is my hope that Malaysia Day will be celebrated every Sept 16. People should remember it because it’s a historic occasion."^[2]

Death

James Wong suffered a heart attack on July 18, 2011. He died shortly after 10 a.m. at the Normah Medical Specialist Centre in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, at the age of 89.^[3] Wong was survived by his wife, Datin Valerie Bong; five daughters; three sons; thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.^[2]

He was buried in Limbang at the family cemetery in Jalan Pandaruan.^[4] Dignitaries in attendance included members of each of Sarawak's major ethnic groups, including the Chinese, the Kedayan, Brunei Malays, Bisaya, Iban and the Tabun.^[4]

Sarawak's government announced that it will put together an exhibit of Wong's documents at the state museum.^[5]

References