Leong Yew Koh

Leong Yew Koh (; 22 August 1888 – 12 January 1963) was a Malayan politician who served as the 1st Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca from the independence of the Federation of Malaya in August 1957 to August 1959 and Minister of Health from 1955 to 1956, Minister of Health and Social Welfare from 1956 to 1957 and Minister of Justice from 1959 to his death in January 1963. Being a Kuomintang member himself and serving under the Republic of China government from 1932 and later became the leader of Overseas Chinese Anti-Japanese Army branch in Perak from 1942 until 1945, he is one of the founders of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) in 1949 and the party's first secretary-general.

Early life and background Born in Salak Utara, Sungai Siput, Kuala Kangsar, Perak on 22 August 1888, Leong was the son of Leong Yew Teen, a Chinese migrant tin miner of Cantonese descent, who was responsible for developing Salak Utara.

Republic of China In 1932, Leong returned to China and served the Chinese government as counsellor of the Ministry of Railways, legal adviser to the Executive Yuan, member of Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, adviser to the Treaty Commission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and inspector of China consulates in the Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Malaya and South Africa from 1935. After the war ended and subsequent Japanese surrender, a negotiation was held between him and the British Malayan authorities where he agreed for the OCAJA under his authority being absorbed into the national Special Constabulary in 1947 to fight alongside the British against the Communist-influenced Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA).

He was appointed the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca on 31 August 1957, and served until 30 August 1959. In 1958, he was awarded a federal title of Tun, bestowed by DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya. He was then appointed the Justice Minister of Malaya in 1959. He died on 12 January 1963 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

He was the first and only Chinese to be appointed the Yang di-Pertua Negeri and a member of the Conference of Rulers in any of the Malayan states.

Election results + Federal Legislative Council YearConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout1955Ipoh-MenglembuLeong Yew Koh (MCA)7,42176.92%Loh Ah Kee (NAP)98310.19%9,6516,43882.70%D. R. Seenivasagam (PPP)8088.37%W. E. Balasingam (IND)4394.55%

Honour Honour of Malaya