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Tan Sri Michael Wong Pow Nee, (7 October 1911 – 31 August 2002) was a Malaysian politician and diplomat who was chief minister of Penang from 1957 to 1969. He was the first person to hold the position, and remains the only chief minister from the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).

Wong was raised in a Hakka Catholic family from Bukit Mertajam. He worked as a clerk before becoming a teacher in the 1940s. He was first involved in politics in 1953 as a council member of the Bukit Mertajam Town Council for the Radical Party. In 1955, he joined MCA and was elected state legislator for Bukit Mertajam under the Alliance ticket. In 1957, he defeated Cheah Seng Khim in an MCA party election to become the inaugural chief minister of Penang.

As chief minister, Wong's tenure was represented by crucial reforms in an economically declining Penang. His government introduced urban renewal schemes and attempted to implement economic policies that initiated limited industralisation in the traditionally mercantile state. Several notable infrastructural projects, such as the Penang Bridge, Komtar, and Sri Pinang Hall were proposed during his leadership. In 1962, he was appointed to the Cobbold Commission which supported the creation of Malaysia. In the late 1960s, a severe recession following the removal of Penang as a free port resulted in social unrest, such as the 1967 hartal riot. In the 1969 state elections, he and his party lost in a landslide against Gerakan under the leadership of Lim Chong Eu, and he resigned from all party positions in MCA and Alliance soon after.

After retiring from politics in 1970, Wong was appointed as the first ambassador of Malaysia to Italy and served until 1975. In 2002, he died in his private residence at the age of 90. Assessments of his leadership concluded that while he failed to revive Penang's economy, his economic policies influenced Lim Chong Eu in successfully industrialising Penang as a manufacturing powerhouse.

Early life and education
Michael Wong Pow Nee was born on 7 October 1911 in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. His parents were John Wong Ee Chin and Cecilia Foo Nguk Yin, both Catholic Penangite Chinese of Hakka descent. He was the fourth of seven children within his family. John Wong was a timber merchant who became a developer based around Bukit Mertajam.

Wong was firstly educated at Jit Sin Chinese Primary School, then he went on to the Anglo-Chinese School and after that, he finished his secondary education St. Xavier's Institution from which he graduated in 1933.

Instead of pursuing further studies abroad, Wong went to work as a clerk at the Bukit Mertajam Catholic Benevolent Society. In 1935, he took up a clerical position with the Sin Ban Guan Bus Company, but the company folded not long after and Wong Pow Nee embarked on a very different career. Between 1937 and 1943, he taught English at St. Mary's Mission School at Permatang Tinggi. In 1945, he taught English at Kim Sen Primary School in Bukit Mertajam. At the same time he enrolled in a Teachers Training Course from which he graduated in 1947.

Early political career
In 1953, he stood for elections in the first Bukit Mertajam Town Council (precusor authority of the Seberang Perai City Council) elections, having reluctantly accepted the nomination of villagers who insisted on being represented by him. He won a seat on the Council under Lim Chong Eu's Radical Party, formed earlier in 1951. In 1955, together with Lim Chong Eu, he joined the Malayan Chinese Association following the bad defeat of the Penang Radical Party which was defeated by the newly formed Alliance, and was re-elected to the Council under the Alliance party, after having successfully campaigned against independent candidate, M. P. L. Yegappan.

Chief minister of Penang (1957–1969)
In 1957, he was appointed as the first Chief Minister of Penang and delivered the Proclamation of Independence at the Esplanade on 31 August in front of a large crowd, after Tunku Abdul Rahman had done the same simultaneously in Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.

In the Cobbold Commission
He was a member of the Cobbold Commission formed in 1962 that ascertained the views of residents in Sabah (then North Borneo) and Sarawak about joining the Federation of Malaysia preparing the framework for the eventual incorporation of Sabah and Sarawak in 1963. Lord Cobbold headed the Commission. Other members of the Commission assisting him, together with Wong Pow Nee, were Tan Sri Ghazali Shafiee, Sir Anthony Abell and Sir David Watherston. The result of their work was the Cobbold Commission Report 1962. Later, he also read out the proclamation of the formation of Malaysia at the Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama), George Town on 16 September 1963.

Defeat and resignation
In 1969, he failed in his bid to retain the Bukit Mertajam seat and was defeated by the Gerakan candidate, Ooh Chooi Cheng.

Later life
As a result of the electoral defeat, he suffered a heart attack in December of that year but recovered well enough to continue his service to King and country.

In May 1970, he officially handed over the reins of leadership of the Penang Alliance coalition to Tengku Abdul Rahman.

After relinquishing the position of Chief Minister of Penang, Wong Pow Nee served as Malaysian Ambassador to Italy and the Holy See between 1970 and 1975.

Wong was appointed as the first ambassador of Malaysia to Italy on 5 January 1970. Originally scheduled to leave for Rome in February 1970, his departure was delayed until 30 May after he fell ill a few days before his departure. A devout Catholic, although Malaysia never formally established diplomatic ties with the Vatican City, he maintained friendly relationships with Pope Paul VI.

Death
Wong died on the 45th anniversary of Merdeka Day on 31 August 2002 at 6.30am, aged 90. He left behind his wife, Puan Sri Elizabeth Law Siew Kim, seven sons and three daughters. He was accorded a state funeral of the highest honour. Among those who came to pay their last respects were Governor of Penang Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Hilmi Yahaya and members of Penang's State Executive Committee.

Legacy
A memorial was held by Hakka Connextion on Merdeka Day, 31 August 2007. A photo exhibition memorialising the struggles and achievements was hosted from 15 September 2012 by Federation of Hakka Associations of Malaysia at the Penang Hakka Association building in Burmah Road, George Town.

Honours
On 30 August 1958, Wong became among the twelve inaugural recipients of the Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN).

List of titles, awards, and honours

 * MY_Darjah_Yang_Mulia_Pangkuan_Negara_(Defender_of_the_Realm)-_PMN.svg Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (30 August 1958)
 * 🇲🇾 Malaysian_Commemorative_Medal_ribbon.gif Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Gold) (PPM) (1965)
 * MY-PEN_Order_of_the_Defender_of_State_-_Knight_Grand_Commander_-_DUPN.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama (1979)