Chen Man Hin (; 14 November 1924 – 17 August 2022) was a Malaysian politician and physician. He was a founding member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and served as its inaugural chairman from 1966 to 1999. He later served as its life advisor until his death in 2022.
He served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Seremban Timor (1969–1974), and later for Seremban (1974–1982, 1983–1990). He also served as a member of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Rahang from 1965 to 1982.
Early life A Hakka Chinese, Chen Man Hin was born in China and sailed to British Malaya (present day Malaysia) at a young age, before the Second World War. In 1946, he studied at the King Edward VII Medical College in Singapore and graduated in 1952. He then worked as a doctor in Singapore and at a hospital in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan until 1956, before opening his own clinic.
Political career His first electoral victory was a 1965 by-election for the Rahang state legislative assembly seat in Negeri Sembilan as an independent using the symbol of a cherry blossom. The Democratic Action Party (DAP) was still in the process of creation at the time, and was only registered on 18 March, following which Chen became its inaugural chairman.
Chen Man Hin was one of the founders of the party in Seremban with other leaders such as Lim Kit Siang, Tan Seng Giaw, Karpal Singh and Hu Sepang. The party headquarters was then located at Choo Teik Building, Seremban. In the 1980s, Negeri Sembilan was a stronghold of the DAP.Misi `hidup atau mati' pembangkang di Negeri Sembilan
He won his first federal parliamentary seat in Seremban Timor, Negeri Sembilan in 1969 as a member of the DAP against Barisan Nasional (BN).
He subsequently won the elections of 1978 and 1986. In 1986, DAP won 24 parliamentary seats and 56 state seats.
In the 1999 general elections, he lost in Rasah, Negeri Sembilan to Goh Siow Huat from Barisan Nasional.Keputusan Pilihan raya 1999 The party performed below expectations that year and the results were called "catastrophic" by Lim Kit Siang. Chen eventually resigned as Chairman of DAP and was replaced by Lim.
Death Chen died on 17 August 2022 at the age of 97. According to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, Chen died in his sleep. Loke also revealed that he had been making trips to the hospital two months prior and had been infected with pneumonia prior to his death.
Legacy
A major road in Seremban, Jalan Temiang, was renamed to Jalan Dr. Chen Man Hin in honour of his contributions.
Election results + Negeri Sembilan State Legislative AssemblyYearConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout1965N07 RahangChen Man Hin (IND)3,57652.26% Kan Kok Kwan (MCA)2,036 29.75%6,8451,54069.14% Yim Chee Chong (LPM)1,231 17.99%1969Chen Man Hin (DAP)4,85070.40%Low Loo Toh (MCA)1,70524.75%7,1413,14573.88%Tan Kee Jon (UMCO)3344.85%1974N10 RahangChen Man Hin (DAP)6,21064.23%Oh Her Sang (MCA)3,45935.77%10,2842,75176.80%1978Chen Man Hin (DAP)
+ Parliament of MalaysiaYearConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout1969 P080 Seremban Timor Chen Man Hin (DAP)13,47560.32% Wong Sen Chow (MCA)8,073 36.14%22,3395,40272.14% Chin See Yin (UMCO)7913.54% 1974P091 Seremban Chen Man Hin (DAP)16,280 55.71% Wong Seng Chow (MCA)12,941 44.29% 29,221 3,339 74.33% 1978 Chen Man Hin (DAP)23,057 60.61% Gan Kong Seng (MCA)14,984 39.39% 38,041 8,073 71.88% 1982 Chen Man Hin (DAP)22,413 49.07% Lee San Choon (MCA)23,258 50.93% 45,671 845 77.22% 1983 Chen Man Hin (DAP)23,897 57.72% Rosie Teh (MCA)17,504 42.28% 41,401 6,393 67.98% 1986P107 Seremban Chen Man Hin (DAP)23,577 51.15% Yim Chee Chong (MCA)22,513 48.85% 46,090 1,064 71.47% 1990 Chen Man Hin (DAP)26,797 49.93% Yim Chee Chong (MCA)26,874 50.07% 53,671 77 72.93% 1995P118 Rasah Chen Man Hin (DAP)20,775 40.17% Wong See Wah (MCA)30,946 59.83% 53,732 10,171 73.53% 1999 Chen Man Hin (DAP)27,255 48.76% Goh Siow Huat (MCA)28,641 51.24% 55,896 1,386 73.44%
References