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Sandakan MP Stephen Wong collapsed in car after hiking
Thursday, 28 Mar 20192:58 PM MYT
by stephanie lee and natasha joibi
KOTA KINABALU: Two-term Sandakan MP and Sabah Health and People's Well-being Minister Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt collapsed in his car after he went on a hike at the Tambaig Adventure Park in Kg Duvanson, Putatan near here early Thursday (March 28).
He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital emergency unit where doctors failed to revive him and was pronounced dead at about 12.15pm.
Wong, 64, was with his wife and some officials during the hike organised by the Junior Chamber International (JCI), and was seen in a video listening to a guide's explanation of the area.
According to sources who declined to be named, there was no sign of him having any difficulty during the hike.
Apart from his wife, he leaves behind three daughters and a son.
Family members are expected to bring his remains home to Sandakan.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and other state ministers are with Wong's family at the hospital.
"This is a tragic day where a friend and minister has passed away. He is my old friend who fought with us in politics prior to GE14," said Shafie.
He said Wong was a hardworking minister and a people-centric leader.
Wong's death is set to trigger another by-election.
Wong, a Sabah lawmaker, first became involved in politics in the 1980s, but took a long break before going full-time into politics in the early 2000s.
He became the MP for Sandakan 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 last year, Wong kept his seat after beating newcomer Lim Ming Hoo of the LDP with a 10,098 majority and served as a government MP after the ruling Barisan Nasional party was overthrown in the election.
Sandakan Chinese Chamber of Commerce chairman Chong Chang Hing, in expressing his shock over Wong's sudden demise, said his passing was a loss to the people of Sabah, particularly those in Sandakan.
"He rose from being a vocal and strong opposition leader to being in the government. He was a leader who strived to champion the well-being of the people," he said.
Chong said it was sad to note that Wong did not have the opportunity to fulfil many of his visions for the people of Sandakan and Sabah.
United Sandakan Chinese Communities Association chairperson Leung Kam Ying said she was saddened by Wong's passing and remembered him as a friendly and humble person.
"He always asked us for input on ways to improve Sandakan's economy and organised activities and had plans to bring back the crowd to our town," she said, adding that Wong was a good leader who was willing to listen to the people.
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