Tan Phock Kin

Tan Phock Kin, also known as Tan Hock Hin, was a former Malaysian MP and political detainee who spent 15 years in detention without trial.

He was elected to Malaysia's first Parliament in 1959 as a Socialist Front candidate for the Tanjong parliamentary constituency. He also served as a legislative councillor in George Town as well as state assemblyman for Jelutong (1964-1969) and Air Itam (1971-1974).

A former Labour Party of Malaya assistant secretary general, he was later a member of Gerakan and Pekemas.

Tan was known as a fierce debater in Parliament and strongly voiced his objections to the proposed Internal Security Act which was drawn up in 1960.

Following Merdeka, initial public expectations of expanded civil liberties were met with criticism over the introduction of increasingly restrictive regulations and arbitrary legal enforcement.

“Is this then an occasion for rejoicing and merriment? I feel sure that all thinking people will agree that such an occasion should be one for mourning and not for celebration," he said at the time.

In 1963, the Labour Party and its Socialist Front allies was hit by waves of detentions without trial. Tan was not one of those detained at the time but it spelt the end of the party as a force.

Uniquely he won the Air Hitam state seat from detention in 1969 while representing Gerakan. In 1972, he was among the former Labour Party leaders who left Gerakan to form Pekemas after that party joined Barisan Nasional. |Year |Constituency

|Votes |Pct

|Votes |Pct |Ballots cast |Majority |Turnout

| G.H. Goh (MCA)

32.42%

Khoo Yat See (PPP)

10.59%