MCA pays tribute to the late Dr Neo Yee Pan

PETALING JAYA: MCA has conveyed its condolences to the party's former acting president Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan, who died on March 5. He was 82.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said Dr Neo was an academic figure who previously served as the deputy culture, youth and sports minister, as well as the deputy finance minister and deputy local government and housing minister.

“Dr Neo’s passing is a great loss to society and the country. Condolences to Dr Neo’s family," he said in a Facebook post on Friday (June 19).

Dr Neo, born in Muar, Johor in 1938, had served as a lecturer in physics at Universiti Malaya between 1968 and 1974.

In the 1974 general election, he was elected as Muar MP and was appointed parliamentary secretary to the human resources, technology and research ministry.

Between 1975 and 1979, he was MCA’s secretary-general and in 1975, he was appointed the deputy culture, youth and sports minister and appointed as deputy finance minister in 1978.

In the 1978 July general election, he was re-elected Muar MP and in August 1979, he was elected vice-president during the MCA annual general assembly.

In the 1982 general election, he was re-elected Muar MP and subsequently, re-appointed minister of Housing and Local Government.

In 1983, he was appointed Johor MCA Liaison Committee chairman.

Following Tan Sri Lee San Choon's resignation as MCA president in the same year, he became the acting president for MCA.

Dr Neo’s tenure as MCA acting president had also seen a party crisis, which lasted for 20 months until Tan Koon Swan was elected as the new party president.

-Star