• Head of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Public Services and Complaints Department (PCSD)since 1987
• Co-founder of The Rela Honorary Club
• Exco Member for Majlis Datuk Persekutuan Malaysia
• Exco Member for Majlis Datuk Dato’ Malaysia
• Solved more than 35,000 cases
• Answered hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of calls in
his lifetime in serving others
• Hailed as longest-serving head of a public services and bureau in the country in 2017 by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR)
• Go-to person of Malaysians for any social problem
• Saved a 17-year old from human trafficking, dealt with loan sharks and scammers, family feuds, cybercrimes, blackmail situations, and extortion rackets, amongst others
• Assisted in the surrender of prominent members of the Marxist-Leninist communist group in the region
• Cases handled are 75% Ah Long related
• Actively helped several Malaysian youths who were trafficked to Cambodia early 2022
• Survived Covid-19 at the age of 72
• Icon of compassionate service; one of Malaysia’s modern-day superheroes
If you haven’t heard of Datuk Seri Michael Chong in Malaysia, you must be living under a rock over the past three decades or so. Anyone living in the country will surely have heard of him and the more than 35,000 cases he has so far solved as the head of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Public Services and Complaints Department since 1987.
While he served as the head of MCA Public Services and Complaints Department for the last 36 years, he has gained the unwavering respect, loyalty and support of the institution that refused to let him go despite his intention to retire several times. MCA just isn’t what it is today if not for Datuk Chong who has turned it into an exemplary public office worthy of its members’ dedication. In fact, the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) hailed him as the longest-serving head of a public services and bureau in the country in 2017.
Despite these accolades, Datuk Chong never saw himself as an ambitious person and did not at all expect to be in politics. As a young child, one of six siblings, he learned to get through dire times, living in his hometown in Batu Arang, Selangor. He lost his father to cancer when he was just 17 years old, and his mother who washed clothes for a living, along with his brothers and sisters, had to do everything just to survive. Thanks to their church family at St. Michael’s, their Indian neighbors, and schoolteachers, they got by.
He dabbled in the insurance industry as an agent, and also tried to find success as a salesman but fate brought him to MCA in 1980, surprising even himself since he doesn’t speak or write a word of Chinese Mandarin. He didn’t think that his “que sera sera” or “come what may” attitude will usher in his career with MCA, but he poured in his blood, sweat and tears to help people who go to him, seeking rescue. Clearly, compassion towards others runs deep in his heart and mind and has since been the driving force in his service.
It’s not unexpected then that people heaped praises after praises upon Datuk Chong, especially those he was able to help, out of their miseries. He is the go-to person for every social problem that ails the Malaysian people. Where there is injustice, there he will be, doing everything he can to right it, hence the title given to him as a modern-day superhero.
He was even dubbed as “Misfortune Michael” and “Mr. Fix-It” because every problem may be brought to him, and he amazingly provides a solution that works! He looks at all issues with interest and passion. He does not discriminate. His benevolence towards people who are fighting for justice but are powerless to do so, knows no bounds.
To name a few of the times he went to such great lengths to help people out, he flew to Macau to rescue a 17-year-old from a mafia who was trying to traffic the young girl to prostitution. And she is just one of many. He also, at one point, tracked down a missing person, a runaway Vietnamese wife to a Malaysian husband, again just one of many.
There is no case so seemingly insignificant or so bizarre that he will not give his time and attention to. Once, a model by the name of Ah Mei, claimed that all men who go by the name “Michael” in their town cheated her of cash and jewelry. In another instance, he gets anonymous calls from men who claim that prostitutes stole their kidneys! If real concern towards others doesn’t drive you, these types of cases will not see the light of day. But Datuk Chong treats every situation with equal importance.
In the countless cases that Datuk Chong has won over the years, he has dealt with loan sharks and scammers, family feuds, cybercrimes, blackmail situations, and extortion rackets, amongst others. But out of all these, his most epic case has to be his involvement in the surrender of prominent members of the Marxist-Leninist communist group in the region.
Because of his popularity amongst the masses, newspapers brought to the jungles reached the hands of these communist individuals and they came to know him. They then sought the help of Datuk Chong to surrender to the police. Though he was dumbfounded as to the reason, he obliged and brought them in. Despite the triads coming after him, he braved it and his efforts truly paid off. These men were brought to a rehabilitation center and released after a few years.
Today, a quarter of cases that Datuk Chong handles are Ah Long related (illegal money lenders or scammers) and victims are mostly single mothers who are striving to make a living. Despite the attack he endured in 2002 from an offended Ah Long, he continued his work to help the victims because he knows it’s the right thing to do and it is simply part of his nature to extend a helping hand. Even a pimp, who broke his arm in 1989 when his prostitution ring was made public, did not stop him from fighting against injustice in Malaysia.
His streak of cases doesn’t stop. In fact, one of his latest ones is a couple of extortion rackets in late 2022 when he held a press conference to share the details of a 23-year-old woman whose husband worked with an individual needing advertising service. After the transaction took place and the service rendered, the man complained about his dissatisfaction and demanded money from them. This quickly escalated to serious threats to their properties and lives unless they pay up.
The same thing happened to a 32-year-old hairdresser who borrowed money from an online lender, who later extorted money from her for accumulated fees on late payments. She received the same threats as earlier mentioned. Datuk Chong advised both women and implored the public to be hyper vigilant so as not fall victim to these extortion schemes.
Datuk Chong also actively helped several Malaysian youths who were trafficked to Cambodia early 2022 through the guise of overseas employment. He urged all young job seekers to consult family and friends before agreeing to an employment contract especially on overseas posts, while the syndicate remains active and will continue to be once the borders fully open.
He fights for other people’s well-being, but most importantly, he fights for his own survival. At the age of 72, he recently battled Covid-19 and won. He is never a quitter. He showed those who want to give up on the disease that it can be defeated. He encouraged everyone to trust the doctors and draw inspiration from their loved ones. He exemplified holding on until the end. His “never say die” brought him back to excellent health, enabling him to go back to what he loved most – helping other people.
In all these things, you will see not just a man, but an icon of compassionate service. Someone who will go the extra mile, accomplish all that is necessary and beyond, to serve those in need. With a man like Datuk Seri Michael Chong serving as long as he had in a position so close to the hearts of the Malaysian people, it’s not at all difficult to understand why his colleagues and constituents at MCA are endeared to him. The good news is, Datuk Seri Michael Chong will surely keep on serving Malaysia for as long as he is able, and in any way possible. May his tribe increase in this country.
Related Articles for Datuk Seri Michael Chong:
• Never say die, Michael Chong tells Covid-19 patients
• Michael Chong is the fix-it guy for social problems
• Chong: Getting Covid-19 was ‘hell’
• MCA’S DATUK SERI MICHAEL CHONG IS THE GO-TO GUY FOR EVERY SOCIAL PROBLEM IN MALAYSIA
• Got problems, who do you call? Chong!
http://www.mca.org.my/2/Content/SinglePage?_param1=12-052018-122957-05-201812&_param2=TS
• Who You Gonna Call? Michael Chong says “Me! ME!”
• Rela Honorary Club donated RM9,000 worth of PPE to help flood relief work
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