Michael Chen Wing Sum

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chen (曾).

Michael Chen Wing Sum (Chinese: 曾永森; pinyin: Zēng Yǒngsēn; 26 June 1932 – 26 July 2024) was a Malaysian politician.^[1]

Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Michael Chen Wing Sum SSM PSM DPMS PPM
曾永森
Ministerial roles
1964–1969	Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister
1972–1974	Minister with Special Functions
1974–1976	Minister of Housing and New Villages
1976–1978	Minister of Housing and Villages Development
1978–1979	Minister of Housing and Local Government
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
1964–1969	Alliance Party
1972–1974	Alliance Party
1974–1982	Barisan Nasional
Personal details
Born	Michael Chen Wing Sum (1932-06-26)26 June 1932 Chenderiang, Perak, Federated Malay States, British Malaya
Died	26 July 2024(2024-07-26) (aged 92)
Citizenship	Malaysian
Political party	Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) (1960–1979, 1988–2024) Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) (1981–1988)
Other political affiliations	Barisan Nasional
Spouse	Helen Chen
Children	4
Occupation	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 (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 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 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.^[2]

He contested the 1982 election under the Gerakan's banner and won Beruas seat. He was a member of the parliament until 1986. From 1997 until 2003, he served in the Dewan Negara.^[3] He was deputy president from 1997 to 2000, and president from 2000 to 2003.^[1]

Michael Chen was married to Toh Puan Helen Chen. He died on 26 July 2024, at the age of 92.^[4][5]

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia^[6]

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1964	P073 Damansara		Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	9,148	43.68%		Tan Kai Hee (LPM)	8,602	41.08%	21,797	546	72.52%
							Lam Khuan Kit (PAP)	3,191	15.24%
1969			Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	12,089	43.71%		Hor Cheok Foon (DAP)	15,567	56.29%	28,658	3,478	69.34%
1972	P078 Ulu Selangor		Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	11,052	67.02%		Lau Dak Kee (DAP)	5,439	32.98%	16,779	5,613	74.00%
1974	P075 Ulu Selangor		Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	15,323	75.14%		G. Davidson (DAP)	5,070	24.86%	21,680	10,253	80.83%
1978			Michael Chen Wing Sum (MCA)	17,670	70.27%		Leong Ching Hoe (DAP)	4,868	19.36%	26,521	12,802	76.33%
							Yusof Ahmad (PAS)	2,607	10.37%
1982	P056 Bruas		Michael Chen Wing Sum (Gerakan)	14,922	63.08%		Quek Kow Sia (DAP)	7,490	31.66%	24,196	7,432	77.08%
							Yusoff Kassim (PAS)	1,244	5.26%

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaysia :
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) – Tun (2017)^[7]
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2002)^[8]
  • Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Silver) (PPM) (1965)
• Selangor :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – Dato' (1977)^[9]