Media statement by DAP National Headquarters on Monday, 16^th May 2011:

DAP former National Vice Chairman, Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam and Batu Gajah, Sdr Datuk Chian Heng Kai, passed away today in Muar

Sdr Datuk Chian Heng Kai, the DAP former National Vice Chairman, Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam and Batu Gajah, passed away in Muar today after a long struggle with liver cancer.

Sdr Datuk Chian joined the DAP in 1967, one year after the DAP was formally registered. He worked as a translator for the DAP National HQ in 1968, and later join the editorial team for the party organ, The Rocket. Throught his 27 years of political activism until 1998, Sdr Datuk Chian held the post of DAP National Vice Chairman, National Organising Secretary, National Publicity Secretary and Chairman of Disciplinary Committee.

In 1974 Sdr Datuk Chian was elected as member of parliament for Batu Gajah. Two years later, together with another party stalwart, Sdr. Chan Kok Kit, Sdr Datuk Chian was detained under the Internal Security Act on Nov. 3, 1976 for standing steadfast for the right of Malaysians to their mother-toungue education. They were held in detention for 4 years and 9 months before regaining their freedom.

Sdr Datuk Chian and Sdr Kok Kit contested in the 1978 general election while under ISA etention and won the parliamentary seats of Batu Gajah and Sungai Besi respectively. Their commitment to defend the constitutional position of mother-tongue education in general, and Chinese education, in particular were strongly supported by their constituents. Sdr Datuk Chian later moved from Perak to Penang and was elected member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam in 1986 and 1990.

He received the DSPN award from the Penang Yang Di Pertua Negeri in July 2008 which gvae him the title "Datuk". He was the first DAP veteran to received such honour.

Sdr Datuk Chian is survive by his wife, Sdr Tan Chui Swee (DAP Wanita first National Chairperson) and three children.

Public can pay their last respect to Sdr Datuk Chian at Muar Seu Teck Sean Tong, (No. 40 Jalan Sultan Ibrahim, 84000 Muar, Johor, Enq: Mr Tan (012-3598408). The funeral is scheduled on Wednesday, 11.00am.

* DAP National Headquarters