Late Sabah minister described as a fighter for state rights

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP chairman and two-term Sandakan MP Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt, who died of a heart attack yesterday, will be remembered as a fighter who sought to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia.

Wong had proposed a private Bill to change Sabah and Sarawak from one of 13 states in the first article of the Federal Constitution to one of three parties of the Federation.

His political secretary and Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe said he had been preparing a speech for the constitutional amendment for Wong to table in Parliament.

“It’s so unfortunate. He cared very much about Sabah and Sandakan. He was fearless even in the face of the (national) DAP leadership, to fight for Sabah rights,” said Phoong.

Wong, 64, who was also the state Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister, collapsed in his car after a hike at the Tambaig Adventure Park in Kg Duvanson, Putatan, near here.

He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s emergency unit where he was pronounced dead at 12.15pm.

Those who wish to pay their last respects to Wong can do so at the Fook Lu Siew funeral parlour here before his remains are sent back to his hometown of Sandakan tomorrow.

Wong leaves behind his wife, Chong Mee Fook, three daughters and a son.

Wong became the MP as an opposition member in 2013 after beating incumbent Datuk Liew Vui Keong of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) with a 1,088 majority in the 13th General Election in 2013.

In GE14, Wong kept his seat after beating newcomer Lim Ming Hoo of LDP with a 10,098 majority and served as a government MP after Barisan Nasional lost the election.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal described Wong as his comrade and a true Sabahan who fought hard for Sabah and her people. “Today, we lost a friend and a people-centric minister. He helped the people tremendously and was very committed to carrying out his responsibilities.’’