MISSION TO ROME

My father was the first Chief Minister of Penang, from 1957 to 1969. He was the man who had read the declaration of Independence at the Esplanade at the State-level celebration of Independence. He was a devout Catholic who was credited with helping to establish diplomatic links with the Vatican while he was ambassador to Italy from 1970 to 1975. He was a humble man who would readily admit his shortcomings, and made it a point to consult department heads before making decisions.

He was also a formidable foe of the Communists. Despite many attempts on his life, he continued to implement programmes to neutralise them, especially by resettling villagers. Despite the Communist threat, he did not use bodyguards or police outriders until 1963 during the Confrontation.

He had this to say, “To this day, I still cannot believe that I was the first Chief Minister of Penang. How could a Chinese school teacher, son of a farmer, become the first Chief Minister? I thought I was only acting as one in a school concert. But things that you least expected to happen, do happen. Thinking back, I was greatly honoured to be at the helm of the state’s early development after independence until I stepped down in 1969.”

“To the young generation, especially people of Penang, Malaysia, you are very lucky to be able to live in a happy and peaceful country. I hope that you will work hard and continue to contribute to the development of the state and country.’’

By his own admission, my father was “a reluctant politician”- humble, sincere and a straightforward man of principle – offering to leave office in 1959, 1964 and again before the 1969 elections. “But every time I wanted to retire, Tunku (Abdul Rahman) would say: Sorry, but we cannot get a replacement, so you go back.”

“In 1964 and 1969, my father had expressed my intention to give up my post as he felt that he did not do enough. The state had no money, not much power and had to rely on the central government. But Tunku said, “If you want to retire, make sure you can get a good man to take over.’’ At that time, there were already Alliance people tussling for my father’s post.

My father’s in the 1969 election came as no surprise. He had anticipated it and had even started packing in preparation to move out from the Chief Minister’s official residence.

My father recalled, “The information department had already told me to be careful as the Bukit Mertajam people would not support me much. During the election campaign, I told the people: If you want a change, it is your right. ’’I was at the Bukit Mertajam district office counting centre when the polling results came out after midnight. I lost but I took the news calmly and proceeded to take off the state flag from the official car, a Mercedes-Benz with the registration number PG1.

I immediately returned to the Chief Minister’s official home at Macalister Road and my whole family moved out in the wee hours of the morning itself. We moved to a double-storey brick house which was built using money I had saved when I was Chief Minister. My last salary was still RM2,000 a month, unchanged from the time when I first took up the post 12 years earlier. My salary was never revised as it was awkward for me, being the Chief Minister, to revise my own salary.”

After my defeat in 1969, my father submitted his resignation from all party posts (but still remained a life member of MCA) and also stepped down as the Scout Council Penang chairman.

“Not long after that, the Opposition accused me of accumulating RM40mil in a Swiss bank and the Anti-Corruption Agency came to interrogate me. I even had to report how many chopsticks I had. But “God is great,’’ I said. If I had done wrong I should be punished. Eventually, they could not find any fault or proof that I stashed away RM40million.

In 1971, I suffered a heart attack from over-exertion during gardening and it was so bad that I could have died. In 1972, I was appointed by Tunku as the first Ambassador to Italy. In total contrast with being Chief Minister, my duty now was to build up the relationship between Italy and Malaysia. I now had a chance to be closer to the holy city, meet the Pope and venture into my next phase of spiritual development which was a stark contrast to my previous hectic life as Chief Minister. I stayed in Italy with my youngest son, Matthew Wong Tet Hee, until I retired in 1975,” he recalled.