Ex-health minister Chua contributed immensely to country: PM

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has conveyed his condolences to the family of former health minister Chua Jui Meng, who died yesterday afternoon.

Anwar said Chua contributed immensely to the country, as he was Malaysia’s longest-serving health minister, holding the post for nine years from 1995 to 2004.

Chua also played an important role in PKR, especially when leading the party in Johor, he added.

“All his deeds and contributions will be remembered by the people and his friends who were together with him in fighting for our beloved country. I pray for his family's well-being,” Anwar, who is also the PKR president, said in a Facebook post.

Chua, 80, died at the Serdang Hospital yesterday at 4.04pm.

He was an MCA vice-president before quitting the party to join PKR in 2009.

Within a year of joining PKR, he was elected as its vice president.

Always caring

MCA president Wee Ka Siong said Chua always cared about the well-being of the people.

Wee, who had known Chua for 30 years, described him as a charismatic leader who was adept at speaking based on accurate facts and data, and a mentor in politics in the 1990s.

“When he was the health minister, Chua was always concerned about the well-being of the people, and everything that was referred to him would receive his undivided attention.

“I still remember an incident that occurred in April 2002, at that time I was not yet an MP.

“My daughter, Joan, was admitted to the emergency ward of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru for urgent surgery due to a ‘duodenal ulcer’.

“Chua understood the concern of my wife and I as parents; he regularly obtained reports from surgeons and provided updates on my daughter’s condition. My family is truly indebted to him,” he said on Facebook.

Wee also extended condolences to Chua’s family.

“Chua’s contributions and sacrifices to the country were significant and will always be remembered by the people.

“Before holding the position of health minister, he served as deputy minister of international trade and industry and also assisted small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including establishing the SME Association of Malaysia,” he said.

He added that although Chua left MCA after the 12th general election in 2008 and joined PKR, their friendship had remained strong.

Condolences

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa also extended her condolences to Chua’s family members and prayed for their strength and perseverance during this testing time.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said extended condolences to Chua’s family as well.

While expressing her condolences, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh described Chua as a fine gentleman, devoted to God and his family.

- Bernama

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