WHEN one speaks of the history of industrialisation in Penang, the name that will naturally come across one's mind is none other than that of the Father of Modern Penang – the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu.

How could one ever forget how he first brought Penang under the Gerakan, the first opposition government to rule the island? Furthermore, his legacies stem from the establishment of Penang's Free Trade Zone to the Penang Bridge and the building of Komtar tower remains fresh in the minds of most Penangites until this very day.

While Penangites have long hailed Dr Lim's name as the architect of modern Penang, the early contributions of the island's first CM – the late Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee – have been long erased in the minds of many. In fact, casually mention Wong's name to any Penangite today and they will respond with a clueless stare.

Now, allow me to re-introduce the first, forgotten CM of Penang followed by his manifold and relatively unknown contributions in augmenting Penang.

The humble beginnings of Wong Pow Nee

Unlike most influential figures in society during his time, Pow Nee did not grow up in luxury. His father, Wong Ee Chin, a Catholic Hakka, was a hardworking timber merchant turned building developer, who built his own houses along Straight Street in Bukit Mertajam. He married Cecilia Foo and Michael Wong Pow Nee was born the fourth of seven children in the small town of BM where the family lived.

Growing up, Pow Nee received his first formal education in the Chinese Jit Sin Primary School before enrolling in the Anglo-Chinese School and later, the renowned St Xavier's Institution. There, his teachers were claimed to be prominent "legends of their time", from Khaw Bian Teng, Rev Bro Phillip, Lim Gim Boon to Arthur De'Cruz. Despite his hectic travelling schedule, Pow Nee managed to squeeze time in between to perform in the Li Teik Seah band.

Instead of pursuing a tertiary education overseas upon graduation in 1933, the young man opted for a brief clerical post in the BM Catholic Benevolent Society before joining the Sin Ban Guan Bus Company as a clerk in 1935. The course of his life took yet another major turn when the company landed in financial difficulties and closed down. As a result, he served as an English teacher with the St Mary's Mission School at Permatang Tinggi from 1937 to 1941.

The year 1945 marked the end of the Japanese occupation of Malaya and also the kick start of Pow Nee's teaching career. He was appointed as an English teacher of the newly established, Kim Sen Primary School in BM by Rev Father Joachim Teng. In order to ensure that he was qualified to be a teacher, Pow Nee had himself enrolled in a Teacher's Training Course and graduated in 1947. Unlike most youngsters then who took up the profession for its handsome remuneration of 100 dollars, Pow Nee was said to be a dedicated teacher and many of his students secured positions within the colonial government successfully.  

Apart from teaching, Pow Nee was also an avid scouter and was actively involved in various youth and student affairs. His ever keen to serve spirit made him a noticeable figure within the small town which subsequently paved the way for his involvement in politics.

From a school teacher to CM of Penang

The 1950s witnessed the beginning of the post-war era in Malayan politics. In 1951, the Penang Radical Party formed by Dr Lim, secured a victory in the municipal elections. The party launched a talent recruitment agenda and when the elections were first introduced in BM in 1954, candidates were sought to stand in the first BM Town Council Election. Pow Nee was apparently proposed by the villagers who wanted him to be in the council to help them further. Despite his initial reluctance, Pow Nee accepted their nomination, stood and won the seat in November 1954 under the Radical Party's ticket.

How Pow Nee actually came to CM-ship is somewhat interesting. He later joined Dr Lim in the MCA and was re-elected to the council in 1955 under the Alliance party. Unbeknownst to him, his position as colonial legislative councillor placed him at the same platform as Dr Lim himself and the late Cheah Seng Khim, an influential MCA figure, in an arduous competition for the position of Chief Minister of Penang.

However, events took on a slight twist. In the last Nominated Council meeting held shortly before Independence in 1957, the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya, Sir Donald McGillivray announced that Dr Lim would be Penang's first Chief Minister. He was deemed the most suitable candidate then given his position as senior council member and the Head of Penang MCA. However, the Dr Lim withdrew his candidacy, saying he was still mourning the death of his father.

His withdrawal intensified the stiff rivalry within the Penang MCA – between the Wong Pow Nee and Cheah Seng Khim fractions.

In spite of his amiable stature in politics, Pow Nee was claimed to be favoured by both Dr Lim and the first Prime Minister of Malaysia – the late Tunku Abdul Rahman himself. But a meeting held by the Penang Alliance in July 1957 resulted in both Pow Nee and Cheah having an equal number of votes. There are actually two versions of how Pow Nee actually became CM.

The first version dictates that Dr Lim, as the chairman of the meeting, cast his vote in favour of Pow Nee, turning him to the first CM of Penang by one vote. Nevertheless, it has also been claimed that Dr Lim had ordered a re-election and in the process, 2 members changed their minds and Pow Nee won by a majority of two votes instead of one. Regardless of which is true, perhaps fate had it that Pow Nee was destined to lead Penang as part of a new, sovereign nation.

Then dubbed as the "reluctant CM", Pow Nee was quickly given the honour of reading the Proclamation of Independence at the Esplande on Aug 31, 1957 after the Tunku did in Kuala Lumpur. As CM of Penang, he was also appointed as part of the 5-man delegation in 1962, to ascertain the views of residents in North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak, regarding their inclusion in the new Federation of Malaysia. Chaired by Lord Cobbold, this delegation of inquiry became widely known as the Cobbold Commission.

Part 2 – The decade of adversity & development

Koay Su Lyn is a research analyst with the history and heritage department of the Penang Institute. A lawyer by training, she believes that one cannot truly comprehend the present without a proper reference to the past. This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not represent the view of fz.com.