KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Michael Chen was laid to rest, with a large crowd of community leaders, political figures and close friends paying their final respects to the late MCA leader.
At 10am yesterday, there was a final viewing at the Nirvana 2 funeral centre here, followed by the sealing of the casket and prayer services. The wake service had been held there since Sunday.
Chen, who held several Cabinet posts in the past, died on Friday at the age of 92.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong delivered a recorded video message to express his condolences and apologised for being unable to attend the funeral, saying he was abroad to attend his daughter’s graduation.
“Please accept my sincere apologies for my absence during this poignant moment,” he said.
In paying tribute, he said Chen had led a remarkable life and made a significant contribution to helping establish diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China after the Cold War in 1974.
He commended Chen for his diplomatic skills and use of ping-pong diplomacy to navigate Malaysia through the complexities of setting up ties with China.
Ping-pong diplomacy refers to the exchange of table tennis players between the United States and China in the early 1970s, which was considered a turning point in relations between both nations.
“Even in his later years, Chen remained an unwavering pillar of support for MCA.
“Despite his advanced age and reliance on a wheelchair, his loyalty to the party never faltered,” said Dr Wee, adding that Chen always showed up at MCA events to offer encouragement and support to party leaders.
“His demonstration of profound dedication inspired all. Chen’s passing is a tremendous loss to our party, nation and people. His legacy of dedication and service will always be remembered,” he added.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon recalled how Chen always spent the first day of Chinese New Year at the party’s annual open house.
“His son even told me that on the first day of Chinese New Year, he was not the first one to see him but we were,” said Chong.
He said MCA had wanted to interview Chen in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic ties this year but this was not possible due to Chen’s failing health.
“As a former MCA veteran who served in various ministerial roles, as well as being the Senate president, he was a very distinguished statesman. We don’t see many of them these days,” he added.
Chong said MCA’s flag was draped across Chen’s casket as a mark of the party’s highest respect to the late leader, adding that the flag was folded and given to his family as a remembrance.
Following funeral rites conducted by family members and a public memorial, Chong and five MCA central committee members draped the coffin before accompanying Chen on his final journey to the Nirvana Memorial Park in Semenyih with his two sons, two daughters, grandchildren, and relatives.
Chen, who joined MCA in 1960, began his foray into politics by contesting and winning the Damansara parliamentary seat in the 1964 general election.
Despite losing the next general election in 1969, Chen made a comeback in 1972 after winning the Ulu Selangor parliamentary seat following the death of the incumbent MP.
Chen was appointed Special Functions Minister in charge of Nuclear Energy Research and Environment in 1973. The following year, he was made Housing, Local Government and New Villages Minister.
Chen contested the Beruas parliamentary seat in the 1982 general election under Gerakan’s banner and won.
In 1984, he was made the Port Klang Authority chairman and served for 16 years. He also held various director posts in several private companies.
Chen served as Senate president from 2000 to 2003.
In September 2017, he was among the three to be conferred the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Setia Mahkota award by the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, which carried the title Tun.
