Chua Jui Meng, longest-serving health minister, dies

Former 5-term Bakri MP passes due to cardiac problems at 4.15pm.

DATUK Chua Jui Meng, Malaysia’s longest-serving health minister and a former five-term MP, died today aged 80 at Serdang Hospital, media reports said. Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa posted her condolences on social media about his death, which reportedly occurred due to cardiac problems at 4.15pm today.

“Got sad news a while ago. Datuk @‌chuajuimeng, the former minister of health Malaysia, has left us,” she said on X. “My condolences to all the family members of the deceased. May you persevere in this test.”

Chua held the position of health minister from 1995 to 2004.

He is also well-known for his tenure as MCA vice-president. He joined the party in 1976 and served it for over three decades. He quit MCA to join PKR, where he became its Johor chief, in 2009.

He lost in the general election in 2013 when he ran against MIC’s Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam for the Segamat parliamentary seat. His legacy remains in Malaysia and among the Johor people, especially as he had served as Bakri MP from 1986 to 2008.

Among those paying Chua tribute was veteran medical practitioner Datuk Dr Christopher Lee Kwok Choong, who has retired from the Health Ministry and is a member of the Selangor Public Health Advisory Council.

On his X account @‌chriskc_Lee, Lee recalled his first encounter with Chua. He said he had to brief Chua about protease inhibitors, which were the new HIV drugs then.

“He listened and actually took notes. He (increased) the HIV treatment budget then to get more (patients) on therapy.

“For that, I am grateful. RIP Sir,” Lee said.

A hands-on minister

PKR extended its condolences to Chua’s family via Facebook.

“He was Johor PKR chairman for five years from 2009 to 2014. Under Chua’s leadership, for the first time, PKR won the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat and the Bukit Batu state seat in the 2013 general election,” the post said.

MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong hailed Chua, whom he has known for 30 years, as one of his early mentors in the party. He described Chua as a charismatic leader and an eloquent speaker who always backed up his speeches with facts and figures.

“Before being appointed health minister, he was the deputy international trade and industry minister who greatly helped SME (small and medium enterprise) players, including by setting up the SME Association of Malaysia,” Wee said on Facebook.

“Even though he left MCA in 2008 after the 12th general election to join PKR, our friendship persisted.

“When he was health minister, Datuk Chua showed great concern for all health issues related to the people. He was a hands-on minister who was actively involved in all cases referred to him.”
Wee recalled a time in April 2002 when his daughter Joan was admitted to the emergency ward of Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru for emergency surgery due to duodenal ulcer.

“Datuk Chua understood very well the feelings my wife and I had as parents and updated us regularly on my daughter’s condition. My family and I are forever grateful for his kind gesture,” Wee said.

– The Vibes, December 3, 2023.