Chong Chieng Jen
Chong Chieng Jen (simplified Chinese: 张健仁; traditional Chinese: 張健仁; pinyin: Zhāng Jiànrén; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tiuⁿ Kiān-jîn; Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Chông Khien-ìn, born 12 February 1971), is a Malaysian politician and lawyer who has served as Chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) since February 2024, State Leader of the Opposition of Sarawak from June 2013 to November 2020 and again since March 2024, Member of Parliament (MP) for Stampin since May 2018 and Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Padungan since December 2021. He served as the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and former Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail from July 2018 to the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020, MP for Bandar Kuching from March 2004 to May 2018 and MLA for Kota Sentosa from May 2006 to December 2021. He is a member, National Vice Chairman, State Chairman of Sarawak, Branch Chairman of Bandar Kuching and State Youth Advisor of Sarawak as well as Bandar Kuching of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the PH and formerly Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Barisan Alternatif (BA) coalitions.
Chong Chieng Jen | |
|---|---|
张健仁 | |
 Chong in 2013 | |
| Chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health | |
| Assumed office 19 February 2024 | |
| Minister | Steven Sim Chee Keong |
| Deputy | Manivannan Gowindasamy |
| Preceded by | Wilson Ugak Kumbong |
| State Leader of the Opposition of Sarawak | |
| Assumed office 19 March 2024 | |
| Governor | Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar |
| Premier | Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari |
| Preceded by | Wong Soon Koh |
| Constituency | Padungan |
| In office 10 June 2013 – 8 November 2020 | |
| Governor | Abdul Taib Mahmud |
| Chief Minister | Adenan Satem (2013–2017) Abang Abdul Rahman Johari (2017–2020) |
| Preceded by | Wong Ho Leng |
| Succeeded by | Wong Soon Koh |
| Constituency | Kota Sentosa |
| Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs | |
| In office 2 July 2018 – 24 February 2020 | |
| Monarchs | Muhammad V (2018–2019) Abdullah (2019–2020) |
| Prime Minister | Mahathir Mohamad |
| Minister | Saifuddin Nasution Ismail |
| Preceded by | Henry Sum Agong (Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism) |
| Succeeded by | Rosol Wahid |
| Constituency | Stampin |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Stampin | |
| Assumed office 9 May 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Julian Tan Kok Ping (PR–DAP) |
| Majority | 14,221 (2018) 7,158 (2022) |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Bandar Kuching | |
| In office 21 March 2004 – 9 May 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Song Swee Guan (BN–SUPP) |
| Succeeded by | Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (PH–DAP) |
| Majority | 2,041 (2004) 9,952 (2008) 19,642 (2013) |
| Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Padungan | |
| Assumed office 18 December 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Wong King Wei (PH–DAP) |
| Majority | 1,198 (2021) |
| Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Kota Sentosa | |
| In office 20 May 2006 – 18 December 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Yap Yau Sin (GPS–SUPP) |
| Majority | 531 (2006) 4,824 (2011) 2,819 (2016) |
| State Chairman of Pakatan Harapan of Sarawak | |
| Assumed office 30 August 2017 | |
| National Chairman | Mahathir Mohamad (2017–2020) Anwar Ibrahim (since 2020) |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| National Vice Chairman of the Democratic Action Party | |
| Assumed office 16 December 2012 Serving with
| |
| National Chairman | Karpal Singh (2012–2014) Tan Kok Wai (2014–2022) Lim Guan Eng (2022–2025) Gobind Singh Deo (since 2025) |
| Secretary-General | Lim Guan Eng (2012–2022) Anthony Loke Siew Fook (since 2022) |
| State Chairman of the Democratic Action Party of Sarawak | |
| Assumed office 10 June 2013 | |
| Deputy | David Wong Kee Woan Alice Lau Kiong Yieng |
| Secretary-General | Lim Guan Eng (2013–2022) Anthony Loke Siew Fook (since 2022) |
| Preceded by | Wong Ho Leng |
| 4th Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Action Party | |
| Assumed office 23 June 2025 | |
| National Chairman | Gobind Singh Deo |
| Secretary-General | Anthony Loke Siew Fook |
| Preceded by | Nga Kor Ming |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Chong Chieng Jen 12 February 1971 |
| Party |  Democratic Action Party (DAP) |
| Other political affiliations | Barisan Alternatif (BA) (1999–2004) Pakatan Rakyat (PR) (2008–2015)  Pakatan Harapan (PH) (since 2015) |
| Spouse | Tan Hui Poh |
| Relations | Chong Siew Chang (father) Sim Yaw Sik (mother) |
| Children |
|
| Alma mater | Australian National University |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | chiengjen.blogspot.com |
Chong Chieng Jen (simplified Chinese: 张健仁; traditional Chinese: 張健仁; pinyin: Zhāng Jiànrén; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tiuⁿ Kiān-jîn; Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Chông Khien-ìn, born 12 February 1971), is a Malaysian politician and lawyer who has served as Chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) since February 2024,[1] State Leader of the Opposition of Sarawak from June 2013 to November 2020 and again since March 2024, Member of Parliament (MP) for Stampin since May 2018 and Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Padungan since December 2021. He served as the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and former Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail from July 2018 to the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020, MP for Bandar Kuching from March 2004 to May 2018 and MLA for Kota Sentosa from May 2006 to December 2021. He is a member, National Vice Chairman, State Chairman of Sarawak, Branch Chairman of Bandar Kuching and State Youth Advisor of Sarawak as well as Bandar Kuching of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the PH and formerly Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Barisan Alternatif (BA) coalitions.[2][3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Chong started his primary education in SJK(C) Methodist (Methodist Chinese National Primary School), Sibu. He continued his Primary 3 to 5 education at Kuching's SJK(C) Chung Hua No. 3 (Chung Hua No. 3 Chinese National Primary School), and Primary 6 at SRK St. Theresa Padungan (St. Theresa Padungan National Primary School), Kuching. Chong later undertook his secondary education in SMK St. Joseph, Kuching (St. Joseph, Kuching National Secondary School) and Saint Patrick's School, Singapore. He was admitted into Victoria Junior College, one of the top junior colleges in Singapore.
Chong pursued his tertiary studies at the Australian National University, Canberra and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in accounting & economics, and Bachelor of Laws.[4]
Legal career
[edit]He works as an advocate in Kuching and is attached to the legal firm Messrs Chong Brothers Advocates.
Political career
[edit]Chong first took part in the 10th Malaysian general election, contesting for the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat as a DAP candidate but lost to Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) candidate, Song Swee Guan.[5][6] In the following 10th Sarawak state election, he contested for the Padungan state seat, eventually losing out to Lily Yong Lee Lee, also a SUPP candidate.[7]
In the 11th Malaysian general election, Chong was elected as MP for Bandar Kuching with a 2,041 majority vote,[8] and later, Sarawak state assemblyman for the newly created seat of Kota Sentosa in following the results of the 11th Sarawak state election.[9][10]
Chong defended his parliamentary seat in the 12th Malaysian general election with an increased majority.[11] In 2011, he once again, he defended his state seat, this time against Yap Chin Loi, with a majority vote of 4,824.
On 17 December 2012, during the DAP 16th National Congress, Chong was among seven DAP leaders appointed to the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC).[12] On 5 May 2013, he contested for the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat for the final time in the 13th Malaysian general election and retained the seat with an even larger majority of 19,642 against SUPP's Tan Kai.[13]
On 7 May 2016, during the 11th Sarawak state election, Chong retained his Kota Sentosa state seat with a majority vote of 2,819 against Yap Yau Sin.[14] On 12 November 2017, during the DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) re-election, Chong was re-elected as one of the party's five national vice-chairperson.[15][16]
Following incumbent Stampin MP Julian Tan Kok Ping's decision to retire from politics,[17] Chong moved to contest the Stampin parliamentary seat against SUPP president Sim Kui Hian in the 14th Malaysian general election (GE14) on 9 May 2018, which was seen as a 'grey' or unsafe seat following redelineation by the Election Commission (EC).[18] His special assistant, Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, contested for the Bandar Kuching seat.[19] Chong went on to win with a majority vote of 14,221.[20][21][22] Following the historic events of the GE14 which saw the first-ever change in the Government of Malaysia and end of six decades of National Front (BN) rule, on 2 July 2018, Chong was sworn-in as Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs of Malaysia by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia).[23][24]
In the 12th Sarawak state election, Chong's special assistant, Michael Kong Feng Nian was selected to contest in Kota Sentosa[25][26] whereas Chong went on to contest in the Padungan state seat against the mayor of Kuching South, Datuk Wee Hong Seng. Chong went on to win the Padungan state seat with a majority of 1,198.[25]
Election results
[edit]| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | P169 Bandar Kuching | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 5,913 | 17.39% | Song Swee Guan (SUPP) | 18,239 | 53.64% | 34,693 | 8,389 | 63.06% | ||
| Dominique Ng Kim Ho (IND) | 9,850 | 28.97% | ||||||||||
| 2004 | P195 Bandar Kuching | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 17,914 | 53.02% | Wee Kok Tiong (SUPP) | 15,873 | 46.98% | 34,693 | 2,041 | 63.06% | ||
| 2008 | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 22,901 | 63.88% | Sim Yaw Yen (SUPP) | 12,949 | 36.12% | 36,257 | 9,952 | 68.13% | |||
| 2013 | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 30,133 | 74.18% | Tan Kai (SUPP) | 10,491 | 25.82% | 40,879 | 19,642 | 76.64% | |||
| 2018 | P196 Stampin | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 33,060 | 63.70% | Sim Kui Hian (SUPP) | 18,839 | 36.30% | 52,550 | 14,221 | 79.33% | ||
| 2022 | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 39,310 | 53.30% | Lo Khere Chiang (SUPP) | 32,152 | 43.59% | 73,759 | 7,158 | 60.95% | |||
| Lue Cheng Hing (PSB) | 2,291 | 3.11% | ||||||||||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | N08 Padungan | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 7,369 | 46.73% | Lily Yong Lee Lee (SUPP) | 8,402 | 53.27% | 16,259 | 1,033 | 65.10% | ||
| 2006 | N12 Kota Sentosa | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 6,579 | 52.10% | Yap Chin Loi (SUPP) | 6,048 | 47.90% | 12,846 | 531 | 67.84% | ||
| 2011 | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 12,594 | 61.84% | Yap Chin Loi (SUPP) | 7,770 | 38.16% | 20,589 | 4,824 | 75.41% | |||
| 2016 | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 10,047 | 58.16% | Yap Yau Sin (SUPP) | 7,228 | 41.84% | 17,495 | 2,819 | 67.91% | |||
| 2021 | N09 Padungan | Chong Chieng Jen (DAP) | 4,686 | 50.40% | Wee Hong Seng (SUPP) | 3,488 | 37.52% | 9,297 | 1,198 | 44.94% | ||
| Raymond Thong Ee Yu (PBK) | 930 | 10.00% | ||||||||||
| Soo Lina (ASPIRASI) | 193 | 2.08% | ||||||||||
Honours
[edit]Honours of Malaysia
[edit]
Malaysia
Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2025)
References
[edit]- ^ "Chong Chieng Jen dilantik sebagai Pengerusi NIOSH". Suara Sarawak (in Malay). 19 February 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Kwan Yee, Kow (16 December 2012). "Karpal appointed DAP chairman for third time; Guan Eng remains sec-gen". The Star. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ "Chong Chieng Jen new state DAP chairman". The Borneo Post. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- ^ a b "DAP Candidate's CV – Chong Chieng Jen". Democratic Action Party. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
- ^ "DAP blames defeat on its alliance with the Pas". New Straits Times. 1 December 1999. p. 4.
- ^ "DAP and Keadilan tussle over Stampin, Bandar Kuching seats". New Straits Times. 13 November 1999. p. 8.
- ^ "Sarawak State Election: The candidates". New Straits Times. 19 September 2001. p. 6.
- ^ "DAP benefited from SUPP candidate list dispute". New Straits Times. 23 March 2004. p. 14.
- ^ "Stiff challenges ahead". New Straits Times. 25 April 2006. p. 8.
- ^ Teo, John (27 May 2006). "Sarawak's minor quake is really a wake-up call". New Straits Times. p. 18.
- ^ "Voters make their intentions clear". New Straits Times. 9 March 2008. p. 9.
- ^ "Appointment is first step to penetrate Dayak areas: Anthony". The Sun (Malaysia). 17 December 2012.
- ^ "Tan Kai says better to be pol-sec than election candidate". The Borneo Post. 15 September 2017.
- ^ "Sarawak DAP chairman retains Kota Sentosa". www.thesundaily.my.
- ^ "DAP re-election: Kok Wai elected national chairman, Gobind deputy". 12 November 2017.
- ^ "DAP CEC re-election: Kit Siang comes out on top, Gobind runner-up". 12 November 2017.
- ^ "Julian not defending Stampin in parliamentary polls — Chong". The Borneo Post. 5 September 2017.
- ^ "DAP's Chong Chieng Jen to contest Stampin parliamentary seat - Nation - The Star Online". The Star (Malaysia).
- ^ "Chong to leave 'safe' Bandar Kuching for 'grey' Stampin". Free Malaysia Today. 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Chong wins Stampin seat with 14,221 vote majority". The Sun (Malaysia).
- ^ "Chong wins Stampin seat with 14,221-vote majority". Bernama.
- ^ "GE14 : Official Sarawak P196 Stampin : Chong Chieng Jen wins". 9 May 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Son of Sarawak DAP founder appointed deputy minister". The Borneo Post. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ "Cabinet Malaysia 2018". The Borneo Post. 2 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Sarawak polls: Chong to contest Padungan, says he will tell locals why former rep Wong King Wei left DAP". The Star. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "S'wak polls: DAP announces six more candidates". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
