Wee Ka Siong
{{short description|Malaysian politician and engineer}}
{{Use Malaysian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{family name hatnote|Wee (魏)|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|魏家祥}}}}
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=MYS|DGSM|DMSM|size=100%}} FICE MP
| image = Wee Ka Siong IMO (cropped).jpg
| caption = Wee in 2021
| office = Minister of Transport
| term_start = 30 August 2021
| term_end = 24 November 2022
| monarch = Abdullah
| primeminister = Ismail Sabri Yaakob
| deputy = Henry Sum Agong
| predecessor = Himself
| successor = Anthony Loke Siew Fook
| constituency = Ayer Hitam
| term_start1 = 10 March 2020
| term_end1 = 16 August 2021
| monarch1 = Abdullah
| primeminister1 = Muhyiddin Yassin
| deputy1 = Hasbi Habibollah
| predecessor1 = Anthony Loke Siew Fook
| constituency1 = Ayer Hitam
| successor1 = Himself
| office2 = 11th President of the
Malaysian Chinese Association
| deputy2 = Mah Hang Soon
| term_start2 = 4 November 2018
| predecessor2 = Liow Tiong Lai
| constituency_MP3 = Ayer Hitam
| parliament3 = Malaysian
| term_start3 = 21 March 2004
| predecessor3 = Position established
| majority3 = 15,763 (2004)
13,909 (2008)
7,310 (2013)
303 (2018)
2,963 (2022)
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Ministerial offices|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}} {{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office4 = Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
| term_start4 = 14 May 2013
| term_end4 = 9 May 2018
| monarch4 = Abdul Halim
Muhammad V
| primeminister4 = Najib Razak
| predecessor4 = Position established
| successor4 = Position abolished
| constituency4 = Ayer Hitam
| office5 = Deputy Minister of Education
| primeminister5 = Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Najib Razak
| alongside5 = Razali Ismail (2008–2010)
Mohd Puad Zarkashi (2010–2013)
| minister5 = Hishammuddin Hussein (2008)
Muhyiddin Yassin (2008–2013)
| term_start5 = 19 March 2008
| term_end5 = 14 May 2013
| monarch5 = Mizan Zainal Abidin
Abdul Halim
| predecessor5 = Hon Choon Kim
| successor5 = Kamalanathan Panchanathan
| constituency5 = Ayer Hitam
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Party offices|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}} {{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office6 = Deputy President of the
Malaysian Chinese Association
| president6 = Liow Tiong Lai
| successor6 = Mah Hang Soon
| term_start6 = 21 December 2013
| term_end6 = 3 November 2018
| predecessor6 = Liow Tiong Lai
| office7 = Youth Chief of the Malaysian Chinese Association
| president7 = Ong Tee Keat
Chua Soi Lek
| term_start7 = 13 October 2008
| term_end7 = 21 December 2013
| deputy7 = Mah Hang Soon
| predecessor7 = Liow Tiong Lai
| successor7 = Chong Sin Woon
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| office8 = Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
| subterm8 = 2004–
| suboffice8 = Barisan Nasional
| occupation = Politician
| profession = Engineer
| nationality = Malaysian
| birth_name = Wee Ka Siong
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|10|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Jasin, Malacca, Malaysia
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)
| otherparty = Barisan Nasional (BN)
| spouse = Jessica Lim Hai Ean
| children = 2
| alma_mater = University of Technology Malaysia (BEng, PhD)
Nanyang Technological University (MEng)
| website = {{URL|http://weekasiong.com.my/}}
}}
Wee Ka Siong ({{lang-zh|t=|s=魏家祥|p=Wèi Jiāxiáng|c=|poj=Gūi Ka-siông}}; born 20 October 1968) is a Malaysian politician and engineer who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayer Hitam since March 2004. He served as Minister of Transport for the second term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022 and his first term in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from March 2020 to the collapse of the PN administration in August 2021, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and the Deputy Minister of Education in the BN administration under former Prime Ministers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak as well as former Ministers Hishammuddin Hussein and Muhyiddin from March 2008 to the collapse of the BN administration in May 2018.{{cite web | url=http://www.parlimen.gov.my/tempat-duduk-ahli-dr.html?uweb=dr&lang=en&_print=true | title=SEATING ARRANGEMENT OF MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | access-date=22 March 2016}} He is a member of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a component party of the BN coalition. He has also served as the 11th President of MCA since November 2018. He also served as the Deputy President of MCA from December 2013 to his promotion to the party presidency in November 2018 as well as the Youth Chief of MCA from October 2008 to his promotion to the party deputy president in December 2013. He was the sole minister of Chinese ethnicity and MCA in the PN and BN administrations from March 2020 to November 2022 and sole MCA candidate to be elected in the 2018 general election.{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/12/22/New-leaders-will-bring-a-breath-of-fresh-air-says-Lee/|title=MCA polls: New leaders will bring a breath of fresh air, says Lee|date=22 December 2013|work=The Star|access-date=30 October 2014}}
Early life and education
He was born in Jasin, Melaka to a Hakka clan and later brought up in Tampin, Negeri Sembilan. He attended the SJK(C) Yu Hsien primary school and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Bendahara Jasin, Melaka.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
He studied Civil Engineering at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 1986–1991. He later pursued his Master in Traffic Engineering at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore from 1993 to 1996 and a PhD in Transportation Planning at the UTM from 1996 to 2001. He is a qualified Civil Engineer and is a member of the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM).{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
He is married to Datin Seri Jessica Lim Hai Ean ({{lang|zh|林海燕}}), a lawyer and they have 2 children, a daughter and a son.
Early political career
Wee begin his political career in Johor Bahru Malaysian Chinese Association, which he joined in 1992.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}. He was the Division Secretary of MCA Johor Bahru Division from 1993 to 2005. After that, he is elected as Johor Bahru's MCA Majidi Branch chairman from 1996 to 2008, and became the MCA Johor Bahru Division Youth Chief from 2002 to 2008.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
In 2005 during the National MCA Youth election, he was elected as the National MCA Youth Wing Secretary General, and was appointed as the National MCA Youth Education Bureau Chief (2005–2008). He was awarded The Outstanding Young Malaysian (TOYM) Award (Politics, Governmental Affairs & Legal) ({{lang|zh-hans|马来西亚十大杰出青年奖}}) by the Junior Chamber International Malaysia; this award was presented to him by Dato' Sri Ong Tee Keat, then Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2005.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
On 13 October 2008, Wee was elected unopposed as the MCA Youth Chief for the 2008–2011 term, taking over the position from the Health Minister, Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai. On 11 November 2008, Wee Ka Siong was elected to lead the MCA Malacca State Liaison Committee.[http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/22/nation/2617802&sec=nation ‘Old and new’ formula for Malacca MCA to regain seats], The Star (Malaysia), 22 November 2008 Prior to this, he was the secretary general for Malaysia Chinese Association Youth Wing.
In 2013, he contested, and won, the deputy presidency of the full party.{{cite news|url=http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/mca-polls-former-health-minister-liow-tiong-lai-new-president|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108011423/http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/mca-polls-former-health-minister-liow-tiong-lai-new-president|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 November 2014|title=MCA polls: Former health minister Liow Tiong Lai is new president|date=21 December 2013|work=asiaone|access-date=30 October 2014}}
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (2013–2018)
After the MCA's disastrous performance in the 2013 election, losing eight of its fifteen seats, the MCA voluntarily withdrew from its ministerial positions. Wee Ka Siong, by then the deputy president of the party, was then later appointed to the Cabinet as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department after a minor cabinet reshuffle.{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/10/14/Dr-Wee-Ka-Siong-100-days-in-office/|title=Dr Wee's first 100 days challenging, but minister happy with progress|last=Akil Yunus|date=14 October 2014|work=The Star|access-date=30 October 2014}}
After months of public speculations about Wee's health, on 2 May 2016 he made a statement that he would undergo a spinal surgery abroad and promised he will recover and return to duty soon.{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/05/02/dr-wee-to-undergo-spinal-surgery/|title=Dr Wee to undergo spinal surgery|author= FOONG PEK YEE|date=2 May 2016|work=The Star|access-date=11 August 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/05/142906/mca-deputy-president-undergo-spinal-surgery-week|title=MCA deputy president to undergo spinal surgery this week|author=KOI KYE LEE|date=2 May 2016|work=New Straits Times|access-date=11 August 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/05/02/wee-ka-siong-to-undergo-spinal-surgery/|title=Wee Ka Siong to undergo spinal surgery|date=2 May 2016|work=Free Malaysia Today|access-date=11 August 2014}}
Wee Ka Siong is the only member of MCA to hold a seat in the parliament after the Malaysian general election in May 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/06/02/wee-mca-down-but-not-out-partys-sole-mp-charting-its-next-course-after-ge14-bruising/ |title=Wee: MCA had no room to say 'no' in the past|date= 2 June 2018|work=The Star|author=Foong Pek Yee }}
Transport Minister (2020-2022)
After the 2020–21 Malaysian political crisis, Wee has been appointed Minister of Transport by the ruling government Perikatan Nasional.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
Loke Siew Fook took over as Minister of Transport following the 2022 Malaysian general election.{{cite news |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/12/06/no-beef-with-wee-were-friends-says-loke/ |title=No beef with Wee, we're friends, says Loke| date=6 December 2022 |work=Free Malaysia Today}}
Controversies and issues
=Cabotage policy=
Wee Ka Siong, had on 13 November 2020, signed a federal gazette revoking the cabotage exemption to foreign ships involved in the repair of submarine cables, which connects Malaysia to the global internet network. The exemption helped speed up repairs of submarine cables that are damaged from time to time, causing internet disruption in the country. In November 23, tech giants, including Microsoft, Google and Facebook, have turned to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for intervention over a decision by Wee Ka Siong, which they say will hamper Malaysia's internet infrastructure.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-23|title=Tech giants turn to Muhyiddin after Wee's 'abrupt' move|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/552084|access-date=2021-10-16|website=Malaysiakini}}
On 26 November, Wee Ka Siong has assured tech giants Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Malaysia Internet Exchange (MyIX) that foreign vessels would be allowed to carry out undersea communications cable repair works if local vessels are unable to do it or are located too far from the areas where repairs are needed.{{Cite web|last=Bernama|date=2020-11-26|title=Wee assures tech giants on undersea cable repair works|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/552551|access-date=2021-10-16|website=Malaysiakini}}
The long-running spat between Wee Ka Siong and DAP's Lim Guan Eng over the cabotage policy on foreign ships that repair submarine cables in Malaysia. On 2 November 2021, the two rival politicians are set for a one-hour debate session that started at 9.30pm. It is aired on Astro Awani and 8TV, as well as on TV3's social media pages.{{Cite web|last=Mohd|first=Hariz|date=2021-11-02|title=Cabotage policy: Wee vs Lim debate on live TV|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/597748|access-date=2021-11-16|website=Malaysiakini}}
Election results
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ Parliament of Malaysia{{cite web|url=http://keputusan.spr.gov.my|title=Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri|publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia|language=ms|access-date=4 February 2017}}{{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|language=ms|access-date=1 May 2010}}{{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|archive-date=14 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314141057/http://resultpru13.spr.gov.my/module/keputusan/paparan/paparan_laporan.php|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web | title = Malaysia General Election | work = undiinfo Malaysian Election Data | publisher = Malaysiakini | url = http://undi.info/# | access-date = 4 February 2017}} Results only available from the 2004 election. !|Year !|Constituency !colspan=2|Candidate !|Votes !|Pct !colspan=2|Opponent(s) !|Votes !|Pct !|Ballots cast !|Majority !|Turnout |
| 2004
|rowspan=7|P148 Ayer Hitam |{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |{{nowrap|Wee Ka Siong}} (MCA) |align="right" |20,065 |82.34% |{{Party shading/PAS}} | |Mohd Zamri Mat Taksis (PAS) |align="right" |4,302 |17.66% | 25,218 | 15,763 | 76.87% |
| 2008
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |{{nowrap|Wee Ka Siong}} (MCA) |align="right" |20,230 |76.11% |{{Party shading/PAS}} | |Hussin Sujak (PAS) |align="right" |6,321 |23.78% | 27,488 | 13,909 | 78.98% |
| 2013
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |{{nowrap|Wee Ka Siong}} (MCA) |align="right" |22,045 |59.79% |{{Party shading/PAS}} | |Hu Pang Chaw (PAS) |align="right" |14,735 |39.96% |37,839 |7,310 |88.18% |
| rowspan=2|2018
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | rowspan=2|{{nowrap|Wee Ka Siong}} (MCA) | rowspan=2 align="right"|17,076 | rowspan=2|43.98% |{{Party shading/Keadilan}} | |align="right" |16,773 |43.20% | rowspan=2|38,824 | rowspan=2|303 | rowspan=2|85.52% |
| {{Party shading/PAS}} |
|Mardi Marwan (PAS) |align="right" |4,975 |12.82% |
| rowspan=2 | 2022
|rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | rowspan=2 |{{nowrap|Wee Ka Siong}} (MCA) | rowspan=2 align=right|18,911 | rowspan=2 |40.50% | {{Party shading/PH}} | |Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali (DAP) | align=right|15,948 |34.16% | rowspan="2" |46,692 | rowspan="2" |2,963 | rowspan="2" |76.49% |
| bgcolor={{Party color|Perikatan Nasional}} |
| Muhammad Syafiq A Aziz (BERSATU) | align=right|11,833 |25.34% |
Honours
- {{flag|Malaysia}} :
- 50px Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2024)
- {{Flag|Malacca}} :
- 50px Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (2008){{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2008/10/11/datukship-for-shah-rukh-khan/|access-date=11 September 2018|work=The Star|title=Datukship for Shah Rukh Khan|date=11 October 2008}}
- 50px Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2015){{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/10/10/dr-wee-gets-malacca-award-mustapa-receives-dgsm-title/|work=The Star|date=10 October 2015|access-date=11 September 2018|title=Dr Wee gets Malacca award}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
- [http://kasiong.blogspot.com 家祥部落格 Wee Ka Siong Blog]
- [http://weekasiong.com.my/ 魏家祥蓝色希望] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006124648/http://weekasiong.com.my/ |date=6 October 2014 }}
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{{Malaysia 15th FedRep}}
{{Second Najib cabinet}}
{{Portal bar|Malaysia|Biography|Politics}}
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Category:Malaysian people of Hakka descent
Category:Malaysian politicians of Chinese descent
Category:Malaysian civil engineers
Category:Presidents of Malaysian Chinese Association
Category:Malaysian Chinese Association politicians
Category:Government ministers of Malaysia
Category:University of Technology Malaysia alumni
Category:Nanyang Technological University alumni
Category:20th-century Malaysian engineers
Category:21st-century Malaysian engineers
Category:Malaysian MPs 2004–2008
Category:Malaysian MPs 2008–2013
Category:Malaysian MPs 2013–2018