James Wong Kim Min
Sarawak State Assembly for Limbang | |
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In office 1963–2001 | |
Succeeded by | Richard Wong Shoan Fook |
Personal details | |
Born | Malaysian | 6 August 1922
Political party | Sarawak National Party (SNAP) |
Spouse | Valerie Bong |
Children | 5 daughters, 3 sons |
Occupation | Politician |
James Wong Kim Min | |
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Chinese name | |
Tâi-lô | N̂g Kim-bîng |
Personal life
Wong was born in
Early political career
He began his political career in 1951, when he was elected to the Limbang District Council.[1]
In 1956, Wong was elected to Sarawak's legislature, the Council Negri, which is now known as the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.[1] 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
Member of the opposition
SNAP pulled out of the national coalition government, led by the
Reconciliation with Barisan Nasional
Wong's Sarawak National Party reconciled and rejoined the successor of the Alliance, the
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.[1] By 2003, Wong had published the third addition of The Birth of Malaysia, a history of the country.[1] He also released a third book, Memories of Speeches at the Council Negri.[1] 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.[1]
Wong also spearheaded the push to have
Death
James Wong suffered a heart attack on 18 July 2011. He died shortly after 10 a.m. at the Normah Medical Specialist Centre in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, at the age of 90.[2] Wong was survived by his wife, Datin Amar Valerie Bong; five daughters; three sons; thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.[1]
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, Bruneian Malays, Bisaya, Tabun, Lun Bawang and Iban.[4]
Sarawak government announced that it will put together an exhibit of Wong's documents at the state museum.[5]
Electoral record
Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1969 | P142 Miri-Subis, Sarawak | James Wong Kin Min (SNAP) | 4,391 | 46.36% | Ekoon Bantar (SUPP) | 3,892 | 41.09% | 9,472 | 499 | 73.67% | ||
Guyang Nisau (Ind.) | 1,189 | 12.55% | ||||||||||
1974 | P152 Miri-Subis, Sarawak | James Wong Kin Min (SNAP) | 7,334 | 45.04% | Yang Siew Sang (SUPP) | 8,949 | 54.96% | 16,283 | 1,615 | 67.68% | ||
1990 | P177 Bintulu, Sarawak | James Wong Kin Min (SNAP) | 6,337 | 37.41% | Chiew Chiu Sing (DAP) | 6,050 | 33.14% | 18,255 | 287 | 62.50% | ||
Salleh Jafaruddin (PERMAS) | 3,227 | 17.68% | ||||||||||
Francis Lutau Jilan (Ind.) | 2,118 | 11.60% | ||||||||||
Daniel Sigah Limbai (Ind.) | 523 | 2.86% | ||||||||||
1995 | P189 Bintulu, Sarawak | James Wong Kin Min (SNAP) | 10,370 | 45.64% | Chiew Chiu Sing (DAP) | 12,416 | 53.54% | 22,719 | 1,794 | 63.72% | ||
Jonny Walker Tinggang (Ind.) | 185 | 0.81% |
Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1969 | S47 Limbang | James Wong Kim Min (SNAP) | 2,935 | 63.69% | Bakar Abdullah (PPBB) | 1,068 | 23.18% | 4,608 | 867 | 79.85% | ||
Pugi Yabai (Ind.) | 385 | 8.36% | ||||||||||
Tahir Hassan (Ind.) | 220 | 4.77% | ||||||||||
1974 | N47 Limbang | James Wong Kim Min (SNAP) | 3,224 | 57.52% | Mustapha Besa (BN) | 2,224 | 39.68% | 5,605 | 1,000 | |||
Lim Cho Seng (Ind.) | 157 | 2.80% | ||||||||||
1979 | James Wong Kim Min (SNAP) | Unopposed | ||||||||||
1983 | James Wong Kim Min (SNAP) | Unopposed | ||||||||||
1987 | Abdul Taib Mahmud (SNAP) | Unopposed | ||||||||||
1991 | James Wong Kim Min (SNAP) | 5,813 | 52.99% | Edward Guatee Sundai (PBDS) | 2,819 | 25.70% | 10,971 | 2,994 | 69.57% | |||
Munir Karim (PERMAS) | 2,160 | 19.69% | ||||||||||
Alan Dunggat (DAP) | 179 | 1.63% | ||||||||||
1996 | N60 Limbang | James Wong Kim Min (SNAP) | Unopposed |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Ling, Sharon (19 July 2011). "James Wong dies". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d Ling, Sharon (18 July 2011). "First Sarawak Deputy CM and former SNAP chief James Wong dies at age 89". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "Sarawak party leader seized". The Age (Australia). 31 October 1974. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^ Borneo Post. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "Sarawak Mulls Exhibition To Recognise Datuk Amar James Wong's Legacy". Bernama. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.