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Biography
Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy (simplified Chinese: 陈广才; traditional Chinese: 陳廣才; pinyin: Chén Guǎng Cái; born 17 May 1955) was a Malaysian politician and the former deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, a component part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. He was formerly Transport Minister from 1 July 2003 but stepped down just before the 2008 general elections due to health reasons and to make way for young blood.
Life and career
Chan Kong Choy was born in Bentong, Pahang on 17 May 1955 with ancestry from Yunfu, Guangdong. He studied in Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1975 for his Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia. He graduated with first class honours in Chinese Study from University of Malaya in 1979. He went on to obtain a post-graduate Diploma in Education, University of Malaya in 1980. Throughout his career, he has held many positions.
He has served the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) national leadership for 16 years - thirteen years as Deputy Minister and four years as Pahang State executive councillor. He has served nine years as MCA Youth chairman, and the Federal and State Government portfolios continuously since 1986. During the same time, Chan served the Pahang Government as its executive councillor and held that post until 1990. After the 1990 general elections, Chan was elevated by the party leadership and made a Deputy Minister in the Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry. In 1990, Chan became the party's National Youth chairman. Chan was re-elected to a second term as the National Youth chairman in the 1993 party elections.
Chan was made a vice-president in 1999 and subsequently assumed the Deputy Finance Minister's post after the general elections that same year. With his experience in the party leadership and Government, Chan faithfully remained as Deputy Minister and MCA Vice-president. The MCA Central Committee appointed Chan as the party’s new deputy president with the resignation of Datuk Lim Ah Lek from that post.
Chan was the Member of Parliament for Selayang. In the previous 2004 General Election, Chan won the seat for the Barisan Nasional coalition (National Front) with a 23,226 votes majority over the opposition candidate.
He had left the post of deputy president of MCA and the post had been given to Datuk Chua Soi Lek after the party election on 18 October 2008.
Chronology of positions
- Lecturer, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
1980-1990 - Political Secretary
Ministry of Housing & Local Government (Datuk Lee Kim Sai)
1986 - EXCO Member
Pahang State Government
1986 - 1990 - Member Of Parliament
1990–Present - Deputy Minister
Culture, Arts & Tourism
1990 - 1995 - Deputy Minister
Energy, Communication & Multimedia
1995 - 1999 - Deputy Minister
Ministry Of Finance
1999 - May 2003 - Minister of Transport
1 July 2003 - 18 March 2008