Wee Ka Siong

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.

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).

He is married to Datin Seri Jessica Lim Hai Ean (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.. 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.

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) (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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Wee Ka Siong is the only member of MCA to hold a seat in the parliament after the Malaysian general election in May 2018.

Transport Minister (2020-2022)

After the 2020–21 Malaysian political crisis, Wee has been appointed Minister of Transport by the ruling government Perikatan Nasional.

Loke Siew Fook took over as Minister of Transport following the 2022 Malaysian general election.

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.

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.

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.

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaysia
  • [[File:MY Pingat Pertabalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVII ribbon.png|50px]] Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2024)
• Malacca
  • [[File:MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca.svg|50px]] Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2015)
  • [[File:MY-MAL Exalted Order of Malacca.svg|50px]] Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (2008)

References

References

1. "SEATING ARRANGEMENT OF MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES".
2. (22 December 2013). "MCA polls: New leaders will bring a breath of fresh air, says Lee". The Star.
3. [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
4. (21 December 2013). "MCA polls: Former health minister Liow Tiong Lai is new president". asiaone.
5. Akil Yunus. (14 October 2014). "Dr Wee's first 100 days challenging, but minister happy with progress". The Star.
6. FOONG PEK YEE. (2 May 2016). "Dr Wee to undergo spinal surgery". [[The Star (Malaysia).
7. KOI KYE LEE. (2 May 2016). "MCA deputy president to undergo spinal surgery this week". [[New Straits Times]].
8. (2 May 2016). "Wee Ka Siong to undergo spinal surgery". [[Free Malaysia Today]].
9. Foong Pek Yee. (2 June 2018). "Wee: MCA had no room to say 'no' in the past". The Star.
10. (6 December 2022). "No beef with Wee, we're friends, says Loke". Free Malaysia Today.
11. (2020-11-23). "Tech giants turn to Muhyiddin after Wee's 'abrupt' move".
12. Bernama. (2020-11-26). "Wee assures tech giants on undersea cable repair works".
13. Mohd, Hariz. (2021-11-02). "Cabotage policy: Wee vs Lim debate on live TV".
14. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". [[Election Commission of Malaysia]].
15. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". [[Election Commission of Malaysia]].
16. "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". [[Election Commission of Malaysia]].
17. (10 October 2015). "Dr Wee gets Malacca award". [[The Star (Malaysia).
18. (11 October 2008). "Datukship for Shah Rukh Khan". [[The Star (Malaysia).