KOTA KINABALU: Former Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Wong Phin Chung died this morning due to health problems.
Wong, who was Kudat assemblyman for three terms from 1985, is said to have died about 11am while on his way to Kudat.
The Kudat state constituency has since been replaced with Tanjong Kapor after it was made into a federal constituency in 2003.
In the April 1985 state election, Wong took over the Kudat state seat from Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, who won the seat under a Berjaya ticket in 1981.
Wong, who would have turned 82 on Nov 29, left PBS in 1998. He was the chair of the board of director of SM Pei Tsin, Kudat.
He was assistant minister in the Sabah Cultural, Youth and Sports Ministry, Chief Minister’s Department and State Finance Ministry.
He was also former Malaysia Hakka Federation president, Sabah Hakka Federation president, and Sabah Wang Clan Association president.
Sabah Hakka Federation president Datuk Tham Yuk Leong said Wong’s passing was a big loss to the state.
“He was the man who had helped to bring progress to the Sabah Hakka Federation and connect (the state Hakka federation) to the world,” he said.