Head of State, CM, state cabinet ministers pay last respects to late Wong Soon Kai
KUCHING: Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and his deputies Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing were among those who paid their last respects to the late Tan Sri Dr Wong Soon Kai at his residence yesterday.
Others who paid their last respects to the former Sarawak deputy chief minister and former president of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) yesterday were Sarawak State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Seri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, state cabinet ministers and assistant ministers, and former deputy chief minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.
They were received by Wong’s wife Puan Sri Dr Jane Yong and her family members at their residence in Lorong Tabuan 2, off Jalan Tabuan. Wong died on March 22 at the age of 90.
Abang Johari when met by reporters later said, Wong entered politics in 1974 and was one of those who helped in uniting the Chinese community in Sarawak as well as helping in stabilising SUPP and the state government.
“The late Tan Sri Wong Soon Kai was a member of parliament in the mid-70s and 80s and later joined the state administration under the late Tun Abdul Rahman Yaakub and then under Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud. He successfully played his role in bringing the Chinese community to become part of the main stream in the state’s administration,” he said.
Abang Johari said Wong entered politics by sacrificing his profession as a surgeon for the sake of the Chinese community, who eventually became part of the team to develop Sarawak.
“He was very humble, yet firm and under his leadership, SUPP was a very united party.
“He wanted the Chinese community to play their part not only in politics but also in the government to help develop the state,” he added.
Wong was SUPP’s third president. He first won the Sibu seat under the SUPP/BN ticket in the 1978 general election and held several state ministerial positions and served as deputy chief minister of Sarawak from 1994 to 1996.
In the 1996 state election, Wong lost in Bukit Assek to DAP’s Wong Ho Leng by 226 votes, which ended his political career.
Wong served as special science advisor to the Sarawak government since 1997. He was a medical specialist for over 20 years. - Bernama