Product Description
By Peter Wong Tet Phin and Koay Su Lyn
Unsung Patriot: Memoirs of Wong Pow Nee is a record of Pow Nee’s impeccable journey in writing national history – rising from humble beginnings as a farmer and school teacher to public office as the first Chief Minister of Penang from 1957 to 1969.
Apart from rare insights and accounts of Pow Nee’s early services and personal life, this book seeks to fill in the gaps of Penang’s post-independence developmental history, while highlighting Pow Nee’s personal struggles and major contributions during his turbulent tenure as Chief Minister. Literally and little known, Pow Nee paved the way for the birth of Penang’s industrialisation, typically on the mainland portion of the state, which later turned out a huge success under his successor, Dr. Lim Chong Eu. All of these are significant events in Penang’s modern history that mark the state’s impressive transformation from ‘swamps to semiconductors’.
Also, in uncovering the bits and pieces of national history, this book equally sheds light on Pow Nee’s ambassadorial role to Rome and his involvement in the Cobbold Commission of 1962, tasked with the responsibility of gathering opinions from East Malaysia for the formation of Malaysia. Although these formed a relatively small part of Malaysia’s rich history, Pow Nee had nevertheless played a significant role in the nation’s building process as a whole including that of Penang.
All in all, the book strives to document and share the story of the unsung patriot, who made history and faded from the scene of public life, quietly with a sense of humility, after having devoted his time and service to the nation and Penang. The end of his journey proved even more remarkable – on the very same day he made history – the morning of 31st August 2002.
Editorial Reviews
“… apart from rare insights and accounts of Pow Nee’s early services and personal life, the book seeks to provide interesting untold details on Penang’s post-developmental history during his tenure.” – Malaysian Insider
Read more about it in our Weekly Newsletter!
To subscribe, email us at arecabooks@gmail.com
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 CHILDHOOD YEARS
Parentage and ancestry
Chapter 2 EDUCATION EARLY YEARS
FROM JIT SIN TO ST. XAVIER’S
A TRIBUTE TO ST.XAVIER’S
POST-EDUCATION CAREER
Chapter 3 THE ADVENT OF WORLD WAR TWO
POW NEE AND THE ST. ANNE’S CHURCH, BUKIT MERTAJAM
ROMANCE IN TIMES OF WAR
THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF BUKIT MERTAJAM
THE DEMISE OF AH HONG
Chapter 4 POW NEE’S RETURN TO TEACHING
THE MALAYAN EMERGENCY
THE ROMANCE OF 1948
NEW VILLAGES AND THE ROLE PLAYED BY MCA
TEMPLER AND THE TURNING POINT
THE NEW CHURCH
THE END OF THE EMERGENCY CELEBRATIONS IN BUKIT MERTAJAM
Chapter 5 THE BUKIT MERTAJAM TOWN COUNCIL ELECTIONS OF 1953
THE ELECTIONS OF 1955 LEADING TO INDEPEDENCE ON 31ST AUGUST 1957
31ST AUGUST 1957: BECOMING FIRST CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
Chapter 6 THE COBBOLD COMMISSION AND THE FORMATION OF MALAYSIA
THE FORMATION OF MALAYSIA
THE INDONESIAN CONFRONTATION
THE PROCLAMATION OF MALAYSIA
Chapter 7 SUMMARY OF POW NEE’S NUMEROUS EX-OFFICIO APPOINTMENTS
Chapter 8 POW NEE’S ENDURING LEGACY IN THE SCOUT MOVEMENT
Chapter 9 THE FIRST MALAYSIA JAMBOREE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5th 1966 – OPENING CEREMONY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6th 1966 – “GOVERNOR’S DAY”
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7th 1966 – “PRIME MINISTER’S DAY”
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8th 1966 – CLOSING CEREMONY
Chapter 10 THE TURBULENT YEARS
DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS IN PENANG
LOW COST HOUSING UNDER POW NEE’S STATE GOVERNMENT
THE PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND IN A CRUMBLING STATE
THE PENANG MASTER PLAN OF 1964
ITS CIRCUMSTANTIAL FAILURE
IN THE FACE OF THE STORM
THE PENANG TODAY 1969
REFLECTIONS OF THE PENANG TODAY 1969 BOOKLET – ECONOMIC PROSPECTS OF THE ‘70s BY PETER WONG
PENANG’S RIOTS
THE GENERAL ELECTIONS OF 1969
ELECTION LOSS AND MAY 13TH 1969
Chapter 11 DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO ROME AS MALAYSIA’S FIRST AMBASSADOR TO ITALY
THE MALAYSIAN EMBASSY IN ROME
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE VATICAN
RELATIONS WITH THE DE LA SALLE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS
Chapter 12 THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO SIMPLE LIFE
REMEMBERING THE TUNKU
A FRUITFUL VISIT BY MCA LEADERS
Chapter 13 DEATH AND OBITUARIES
