Chong Kah Kiat
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat (Chinese: 章家傑, born June 2, 1948) was the 13th Chief Minister of Sabah
, Malaysia. He is also the former president of the Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP).
's Victoria University of Wellington
, earning a Masters law degree (LLM first class honours) in 1975.
He contested and won the Kudat
seat on a Berjaya
ticket in the March 1981 state election and was appointed assistant minister to the chief minister
the following year. He held the post until April 1985 when he lost the seat to Datuk Wong Phin Chung of Parti Bersatu Sabah
(PBS).
In March 1987, he became a member of the Berjaya Supreme Council but later left the party when it became clear that it was losing ground.
Chong and several Chinese leaders founded the LDP in 1989 and was made its pro-tem secretary general. Then in 1991, he became the party's president
. He did not contest in the 1994 state election but a year later was appointed as Senator in the Dewan Negara
, and subsequently included in the federal cabinet
as a minister
in the Prime Minister
's Department. He quit the federal ministerial post in March 1999 to contest in the state polls. This time, he won back his traditional stronghold of Kudat, and was appointed state minister of Tourism Development, Environment, Science and Technology.
Chong became the 13th Chief Minister of Sabah in 2001 representing the Chinese
community in a rotation system mooted by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed in 1994.
When Datuk Seri Musa Aman
took over the helm of the state government in 2003, Chong was appointed deputy chief minister as well as the person in charge of the tourism, culture and environment portfolio. It was then the rotation system was scrapped and from then onwards, the Chief Minister post was held by the United Malays National Organisation
.
In April 2007, Chong resigned from the Deputy Chief Minister post under Datuk Musa Aman's cabinet, citing matters of principle.
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
, Malaysia. He is also the former president of the Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Malaysia)
The Liberal Democratic Party is a Chinese political party originally founded in the town of Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia by Hiew Min Kong in 1989.The party is considered a minor political party in Malaysia, having its base mainly in Sabah...
(LDP).
History in politics
Born in Kudat, Chong was a graduate of New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, earning a Masters law degree (LLM first class honours) in 1975.
He contested and won the Kudat
Kudat
Kudat is a town in Sabah, East Malaysia, on the northern tip of Borneo island. It serves as the administrative center for the Kudat Division, which includes the towns of Kudat, Pitas, Kota Marudu, and some offshore islands....
seat on a Berjaya
BERJAYA
BERJAYA was a political party based in the eastern state of Sabah in Malaysia. BERJAYA stands for Parti Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sabah or Sabah People's United Front. The party was a result of a cooperation between Sabah's first Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens and former United Sabah National...
ticket in the March 1981 state election and was appointed assistant minister to the chief minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
the following year. He held the post until April 1985 when he lost the seat to Datuk Wong Phin Chung of Parti Bersatu Sabah
Parti Bersatu Sabah
The Parti Bersatu Sabah is a political party in Sabah, east Malaysia. It was registered as a political party on March 5, 1985...
(PBS).
In March 1987, he became a member of the Berjaya Supreme Council but later left the party when it became clear that it was losing ground.
Chong and several Chinese leaders founded the LDP in 1989 and was made its pro-tem secretary general. Then in 1991, he became the party's president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
. He did not contest in the 1994 state election but a year later was appointed as Senator in the Dewan Negara
Dewan Negara
The Dewan Negara is the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia. The Dewan Negara consists of 70 members, of which 26 are indirectly elected by the states, with two senators for every state in the Federation, and the other 44 being appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong .The Dewan Negara...
, and subsequently included in the federal cabinet
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...
as a minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
in the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
's Department. He quit the federal ministerial post in March 1999 to contest in the state polls. This time, he won back his traditional stronghold of Kudat, and was appointed state minister of Tourism Development, Environment, Science and Technology.
Chong became the 13th Chief Minister of Sabah in 2001 representing the Chinese
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
community in a rotation system mooted by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed in 1994.
When Datuk Seri Musa Aman
Musa Aman
Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Musa bin Haji Aman , is the 14th and current Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia. He took over the post from Chong Kah Kiat on March 27, 2003...
took over the helm of the state government in 2003, Chong was appointed deputy chief minister as well as the person in charge of the tourism, culture and environment portfolio. It was then the rotation system was scrapped and from then onwards, the Chief Minister post was held by the United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
.
In April 2007, Chong resigned from the Deputy Chief Minister post under Datuk Musa Aman's cabinet, citing matters of principle.