Wee Choo Keong
{{Short description|Malaysian politician (born 1953)}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{family name hatnote|Wee (黄)|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Wee Choo Keong
| honorific_suffix = SMK
| native_name = {{nobold|黄朱强}}
| native_name_lang = zh-my
| image =
| parliament = Malaysian
| constituency_MP = Wangsa Maju
| term_start = 8 March 2008
| term_end = 5 May 2013
| predecessor = Yew Teong Look (MCA)
| successor = Tan Kee Kwong (PKR)
| majority =
| parliament2 = Malaysian
| constituency_MP2 = Bukit Bintang
| term_start2 = 21 October 1990
| term_end2 = 25 April 1995
| predecessor2 = Lee Lam Thye (DAP)
| successor2 = Lee Chong Meng (MCA)
| majority2 =
| office3 =
| term_start3 =
| predecessor3 =
| majority3 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|06|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kelantan, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office =
| party = Democratic Action Party (DAP) (1986-1998)
Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP) (1999-2008)
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) (2008–2010)
Independent (Since 2010)
Heritage Party (Malaysia) (2022)
| otherparty = Pakatan Rakyat (PR) (2008-2010)
Gagasan Rakyat (GR) (1990-1996)
| nationality = Malaysian
| occupation = Politician, lawyer
| relations =
| spouse =
| children =
| website = {{URL|http://weechookeong.wordpress.com/}}
| footnotes =
}}
Wee Choo Keong ({{zh|t=黃朱強|s=黄朱强|p=Huáng Zhūqiáng}}; born 26 June 1953) is a Malaysian politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Bukit Bintang from 1990 to 1995 and Wangsa Maju from 2008 to 2013. Wee had been a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) before being expelled in 1998. He then formed the Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP) the same year. In 2008, he left the party to join the People's Justice Party (PKR) before becoming an Independent in 2010.[http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?sec=nation&file=/2010/5/14/nation/20100514163240 Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong quits PKR but remains as MP] The Star. 14 May 2010 Wee was appointed Tourism Malaysia chairperson by the then ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government on 17 June 2015.[https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/324179 Gov't coughed up RM400k for Yen Yen's yen for trips] Malaysiakini. Published 22 Dec 2015 7:52 am Updated 22 Dec 2015 7:56 am{{cite news |url= https://thecoverage.my/news/former-najib-appointed-scandalous-tourism-chairman-using-tm-yearly-rm-350-million-budget-award-contract-return-china-doll-service-presidential-suite/ |title=Former Najib Appointed Scandalous Tourism Chairman Using TM Yearly RM 350 Million Budget To Award Contract In Return For 'China Doll Service' In Presidential Suite|publisher=The Coverage|date=17 December 2018|access-date=19 December 2018}}
Political career
=Democratic Action Party=
Wee started his political career as a member of the DAP contesting in the 1986 general election and was elected as a member of parliament for the Bukit Bintang constituency (earlier was Kuala Lumpur Bandar before being renamed) in the 1990 general election.[http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/78617 "Choo Keong: Flying Dutchman no more" by Terence Netto], Malaysiakini, 25 February 2008
In 1993, an injunction was issued against Wee and two other defendants from "printing, circulating or publishing any allegation of impropriety about the companies" after a case was brought by MBf alleging the defendants "unlawfully conspired with each other with the predominant purpose of injuring the companies by unlawful means."The Star "Ex-Bukit Bintang MP wins appeal" 13 April 2007 MBf later applied to have the defendants (including Wee) held in contempt of court for failing to obey the injunction. The application succeeded against Wee and another of his co-defendants, and Wee was eventually ordered to pay a RM7,000 fine on appeal. The injunction against Wee brought by MBf was set aside in 2007 with the Court of Appeal ruling, "The injunction was too wide in its terms and almost oppressive." He later sought damages against MBf and AmBank (who had acquired MBf) for loss of income due to his inability to be an MP and the damage to his professional standing as a lawyer.
=Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP)=
Wee was removed from the Bukit Bintang seat in 1995 after a controversial court case, which nullified his re-election that year due to the fine he had received. He was ejected from the DAP in 1998 after being accused of damaging the party's image and went on to form the Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP). He later attempted to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) but was rejected by the party, which stated at the time that they did not want renegades from DAP. Due to the ruling against him in the 1995 court case, he was unable to contest the 1999 election.Former MP sues MBf, AmBank for RM39m New Straits Times, 4 October 2007 He contested the 2004 elections but did not even receive enough votes to keep his deposit.[http://semak.spr.gov.my/spr/laporan/5_KedudukanAkhir.php Election Commission records]
Wee Choo Keong was later referred to by V.K. Lingam in the Lingam tape.{{Cite web|url=http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/73050|title = Former MP to file for judicial review|date = October 2007}} After the videotape was made public in 2007, Wee stated he intended to file for judicial review of the 1995 decision. Later, he also lodged a report with Suhakam over the tape, arguing it demonstrated his human rights had been infringed.{{cite web| url = http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/20/nation/19226203&sec=nation| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121006021057/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/20/nation/19226203&sec=nation| archive-date = 2012-10-06| title = Wee lodges report with Suhakam over video clip - Nation {{!}} The Star Online}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/73743|title = Wee to Suhakam: Probe conduct of quartet|date = 19 October 2007}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/letters_others/media_statement_by_wee_choo_keong.html|title=Media statement by Wee Choo Keong - the Malaysian Bar}}
=People's Justice Party (PKR)=
Before the 2008 general election, although still a member of the MDP, he was invited to join the PKR under the de facto leadership of Anwar Ibrahim and contest the Wangsa Maju constituency, which he later won with a slim majority of 150.{{cite web| url = http://thestar.com.my/election/results/09/09p.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080416100416/http://thestar.com.my/election/results/09/09p.html| archive-date = 2008-04-16| title = The Star Online: Election 2008 : Malaysia Decides 2008}}
=Independent=
In May 2010, Wee left PKR to sit in Parliament as an independent, citing disappointment with the PKR-led state government in Selangor's handling of the Dengkil sand mining scandal and the influence of what he called "little Napoleons and trendy leftists" in the party.[http://weechookeong.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/press-release-by-wee-choo-keong-mp-of-wangsa-maju-on-14-may-2010/ Press Release on the Sand Mining Scandal In Dengkil, Selangor] Official blog. 14 May 2010 He did not recontest his seat in the 2013 general election.
=Joining Warisan=
Wee was reported that he will also make a return appearance with Warisan in GE15 contesting for Wangsa Maju under the Warisan Banner.{{cite news|url= https://malaysiapost.com.my/2022/10/28/sumber-ong-tee-keat-wee-choo-keong-calon-warisan-di-lembah-klang/ |title= Sumber: Ong Tee Keat, Wee Choo Keong calon Warisan di Lembah Klang |date= 28 October 2022 |work= Malaysia Today |access-date=1 November 2022}}
Election results
class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ Parliament of Malaysia{{cite web|url=http://semak.spr.gov.my/spr/laporan/5_KedudukanAkhir.php |title=Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri |publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia |access-date=27 May 2010}} Percentage figures based on total turnout.{{Cite web | title = Malaysia General Election | work = undiinfo Malaysian Election Data | publisher = Malaysiakini | url = http://undi.info/# | access-date = 5 May 2014}} Results only available from the 2004 election.{{cite web|url=http://resultpru13.spr.gov.my/module/keputusan/paparan/paparan_laporan.php|title=KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13|work=Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum|publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia|access-date=24 March 2017}} !|Year !|Constituency !colspan=2|Candidate !|Votes !|Pct !colspan=2|Opponent(s) !|Votes !|Pct !|Ballots cast !|Majority !|Turnout |
rowspan="3" |1986
| rowspan="3" |P093 Klang | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | | rowspan="3" |Wee Choo Keong (DAP) | rowspan="3" align="right" |24,299 | rowspan="3" |46.63% | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |{{nowrap|Ng Cheng Kiat}} (MCA) | align="right" |24,966 |47.92% | rowspan="3" |53,026 | rowspan="3" |667 | rowspan="3" |70.74% |
{{Party shading/PAS}} |
|Azmi Ali @ Nik (PAS) | align=right|2,317 | align=right|4.45% |
bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party (Malaysia)}} |
|Gabriel Lee (SDP) | align=right|519 | align=right|1.00% |
1990
| rowspan="6" |P108 Bukit Bintang | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |{{nowrap|Wee Choo Keong}} (DAP) | align="right" |31,829 |78.86% | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Tan Kah Choun (MCA) | align="right" |8,534 |21.14% |40,558 |23,295 |61.40% |
rowspan="2" |1995
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | | rowspan="2" |Wee Choo Keong (DAP){{ref label|1995|A|A}} | rowspan="2" align="right" |20,403 | rowspan="2" |57.66% | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Lee Chong Meng (MCA) | align="right" |14,857 |41.99% | rowspan="2" |36.666 | rowspan="2" |5,546 | rowspan="2" |61.75% |
{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|Teng Chang Khim (IND) | align=right|123 | align=right|0.35% |
rowspan="3" |2004
| rowspan="3" style="background-color: #000080;" | | rowspan="3" |Wee Choo Keong (MDP) | rowspan="3" align=right|1,107 | rowspan="3" |2.81% | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |{{nowrap|Fong Kui Lun}} (DAP) | align=right|19,103 |48.44% | rowspan="3" |39,938 | rowspan="3" |304 | rowspan="3" |61.34% |
{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Tan Chew Mooi (MCA) | align="right" |18,799 |47.67% |
{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|Billi Lim Peng Soon (IND) | align=right|132 | align=right|0.33% |
2008
|rowspan=6|P116 {{pseat|Wangsa Maju}} | {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | |Wee Choo Keong (PKR){{ref label|2008|B|B}} | align="right" |19,637 |67.07% | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | align="right" |19,487 |31.35% |39,798 |150 |73.01% |
rowspan=5|2022
| rowspan=5 {{Party shading/Sabah Heritage Party}} | | rowspan=5| Wee Choo Keong (WARISAN) | rowspan=5|576 | rowspan=5|0.62% |{{Party shading/PH}} | |Zahir Hassan (PKR) | align=right|46,031 |49.63% | rowspan=5|93,493 | rowspan=5|20,696 | rowspan=5|77.08% |
bgcolor={{Party color|Perikatan Nasional}} |
|Nuridah Mohd Salleh (BERSATU) | align=right|25,335 |27.32% |
{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Mohd Shafei Abdullah (UMNO) | align=right|19,595 |21.13% |
bgcolor={{party color|Homeland Fighter's Party}} |
|Norzaila Arifin (PEJUANG) | align=right|987 | align=right|1.06% |
{{party shading/Independent}} |
|Raveentheran Suntheralingam (IND) | align=right|216 | align=right|0.23% |
{{note label|1995|A|A}} Initially, the Returning Officer had declared Wee Choo Keong as the elected representative for Bukit Bintang on the night of 25 April 1995. However, Lee Chong Meng filed his petition to nullify the election because Wee had been convicted of the offence of contempt of Court and fined RM7,000, and hence disqualified to be a Member of Parliament under the provisions of Article 48(l)(e) of the Federal Constitution. The election was declared null and void. The Federal Court made a controversial decision to declare Lee Chong Meng the rightful winner. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. No by-election was held by the Election Commission of Malaysia.[http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/selected_judgements/wee_choo_keong_v_lee_chong_meng_anor_1996_ca.html Wee Choo Keong v Lee Chong Meng & Anor 1996 [CA]]
{{note label|2008|B|B}} Wee has contested and won the Wangsa Maju seat under the ticket of PKR but left to be an Independent in 2010.
Honours
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://weechookeong.wordpress.com/ Official blog]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wee, Choo Keong}}
Category:Malaysian politicians of Chinese descent
Category:20th-century Malaysian lawyers
Category:Malaysian political party founders
Category:Independent politicians in Malaysia
Category:Former People's Justice Party (Malaysia) politicians
Category:Former Democratic Action Party (Malaysia) politicians
Category:Malaysian Democratic Party politicians
Category:Sabah Heritage Party politicians