Biodata

My father, Michael Wong Pow Nee – was born in Bukit Mertajam, in one of the houses along Straight Street, on October 7, 1911 – became the first Chief Minister of the State of Penang when the Federation of Malaya achieved Independence on 31st August 1957. He was educated at the Anglo-Chinese Primary School, and at the St. Xaviour’s Institution, Penang. He passed the Cambridge School Certificate Examination in the December of 1932 and the Teacher’s Training Course Examination in May 1947.

Pow Nee first taught at St. Mary’s Primary School, Permatang Tinggi, Simpang Ampat, Province Wellesley from 1937 to 1941, and then, as English teacher at Kim Sen Primary School, Bukit Mertajam from 1945 to 1957.

In 1953, Pow Nee was elected Member of Bukit Mertajam Town Council. In 1955, he was re-elected to that Council and served for a further two years; in that same year he was also elected Member of the Settlement Council, and appointed Member of the Nominated Council and then Chairman of the Committee for Commerce and Industry.

On 7th January 1955, he was appointed Member of B.M. District War Executive Committee as Representative of the Chinese Community by the District Officer, B.M., Mr. Michael Aldrig Kidner. On 29th July 1955, he was appointed Member of Penang Psychological Warfare Advisory Committee by the Penang Resident Commissioner Mr. D. Gray.

On 9th October 1955, he was elected Vice president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, B.M. During the period 1956 to 1957, he was elected President Schools Combined Schemes Association, B.M.

On 31st, August, 1957 my father was appointed Chief Minister of Penang and awarded the P.M.N. for his distinguished service. In 1959, he was re-elected to the State Legislation Assembly and was re-appointed Chief Minister for another five-year term. His term of office saw the successful implementation of the Rural Development Plan for Penang and the expansion of industries.

In the April 1964 elections, he contested again and won the Bukit Mertajam Constituency for the Penang Legislative Assembly, and was re-appointed Chief Minister for another five years. This period saw the successful implementation of the Five Year Development Plan for Penang.

The Penang City Council was suspended on 1st June 1966, and my father took over the duties of the Council to ensure the healthy progress of the City.

PowNee also held numerous ex-officio appointments as Chairman of various Boards and Committees that were set up by the State Government. From time to time, he served on various bodies set up by the Federal Government. When Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman made a State Visit to the Philippines in June 1959, my father was a member of that delegation. In 1961, he was appointed a Member of the Rahman Talib Committee on the review of Education Policy. Then, in early 1962, he was selected as the Federal Government’s Representative to the Cobbold Commission Of Inquiry into the Borneo Territories. He also served as a Member of the Fulbright Commission from 1963 to 1965.

Despite his onerous duties, my father was able to devote himself to youth work in his capacity as President of the Boy Scouts Association as well as the St. John’s Ambulance Association.

He was appointed Assistant Chief Commissioner, Boy Scouts for the Northern Region on 9th January 1964 and, he was awarded the “Semangat Rimba” for his valuable services to the scouting movement. On 22nd February 1966, he was awarded the “Semangat Padi” which was the highest Malaysian Scouting Award.

My father was Chairman and Camp Chief of the extremely successful First Malaysian Scout Jamboree held at Teluk Bahang, Penang, from 4th December 1966 to 10th December 1966.

On 22nd November 1967, he was admitted as a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John, in recognition of his great contribution to the movement.

My father contested unsuccessfully and lost out in the May 1969 elections in Bukit Mertajam.