Robert Lau Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Yang Berbahagia Datuk
Robert Lau
Honorific-Suffix:PGBK
Native Name Lang:zh-my
Birth Date:1942 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Sibu, Japanese occupation of Sarawak (now Sarawak, Malaysia)
Death Place:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Office:Deputy Minister of Transport
Primeminister:Najib Razak
Alongside:Abdul Rahim Bakri
Minister:Ong Tee Keat
Constituency:Sibu
Predecessor:Lajim Ukin
Successor:Jelaing Mersat
Term Start:11 April 2009
Term End:9 April 2010
Office1:Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government
Alongside1:Azizah Mohd Dun (2004–2008)
Hamzah Zainudin (2008–2009)
Primeminister1:Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Najib Razak
Monarch1:Sirajuddin
Mizan Zainal Abidin
Constituency1:Sibu
Minister1:Ong Ka Ting (2004–2008)
Ong Ka Chuan (2008–2009)
Successor1:Lajim Ukin
Predecessor1:Peter Chin Fah Kui
Term Start1:27 March 2004
Term End1:9 April 2009
Constituency Mp3:Sibu
Parliament3:Malaysian
Term Start3:21 October 1990
Term End3:9 April 2010
Majority3:2,008 (1990)
4,845 (1995)
9,142 (1999)
3,340 (2004)
3,235 (2008)
Predecessor3:Tiew Sung Seng (SUPPBN)
Successor3:Wong Ho Leng (DAP)
Office2:Chairman of Sibu Municipal Council
Predecessor2:Kong Sien Han[1]
Successor2:Tiong Thai King
Term Start2:April 1999
Term End2:29 March 2004
Party:Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP)
Otherparty:Barisan Nasional (BN)
Occupation:Politician
Spouse:Janet Lau Ung Hie (刘文惠)
Children:Alvin, Pierre and Tammy Lau; Tiffany Jane Ngu Ngee Hwong and Wong Siew Hung (adopted daughters)

Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chiew (; 15 September 1942 – 9 April 2010) was a Malaysian politician. He represented Sibu in the Parliament of Malaysia from 1990 until his death in 2010, and served as Deputy Minister of Transport from April 2009 until his death. Lau was also a vice-president of the Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP).[2] [3]

Background

Lau was born to a poor family and his mother died when he was three years old. He was schooled at St Michael's College, Adelaide and studied accountancy at the South Australia Institute of Technology (now the University of South Australia). In Australia he met his wife, Kapitan Dato' Janet Lau Ung Hie.[4] He had three children with his wife; Alvin Lau Lee Ren (elder son), Tammy Lau Lee Teng (only daughter) and Pierre Lau Lee Wui (younger son).

His political career began in 1983 when he joined the SUPP party. He first contested a Parliamentary election in the 1990 Malaysian general election, winning the seat of Sibu against a Democratic Action Party candidate by a majority of 2,008 votes. He defended the seat in four further elections until 2008.[4]

Death

Lau died of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)[3] in his home in Kuala Lumpur on 9 April 2010.[2] His remains arrived in Sibu at night on the same day and his funeral was held two days later on 11 April 2010. The funeral began with a procession around Sibu town centre followed by a requiem mass at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in the Sungai Merah neighbourhood. His body was later buried at the Nirvana Memorial Park in Oya Road, just outside town.[5]

Election results

Year!
ConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout
1990P172 Sibu, Sarawak (SUPP)11,91454.20%Ling Sie Ming (DAP)9,90645.06%22,2082,00868.60%
bgcolor= Tang Lung Chiew (PLUS)1620.74%
1995P184 Sibu, Sarawak (SUPP)15,31757.31%Wong Ho Leng (DAP)10,47239.18%27,3164,84569.39%
Narawi Haron (IND)9373.51%
1999P185 Sibu, Sarawak (SUPP)23,22762.25%Wong Sing Nang (DAP)14,08537.75%38,5219,14267.66%
2004P211 Sibu, Sarawak (SUPP)20,50154.43%Wong Ho Leng (DAP)17,16145.57%38,2163,34062.82%
2008P212 Sibu, Sarawak (SUPP)19,13853.38%Wong Ho Leng (DAP)15,90344.36%36,3793,23567.77%
Lim Chin Chuang8122.26%

Honours

Notes and References

  1. News: Award in recognition of service, contribution to society, says Kong. 1 March 2015. The Borneo Post. 6 February 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150301114317/http://www.theborneopost.com/2010/02/06/award-in-recognition-of-service-contribution-to-society-says-kong/. 1 March 2015.
  2. News: Sibu MP dies. 9 April 2010. The Malaysian Insider. 9 April 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100411034450/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/59281-sibu-mp-dies. 11 April 2010. dmy-all.
  3. News: Sibu MP and Dep Transport Minister Robert Lau dies (Updated). 9 April 2010. The Star. Star Publications. 9 April 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100410221640/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F4%2F9%2Fnation%2F20100409124155&sec=nation. 10 April 2010. dmy-all.
  4. News: Sibu loses an illustrious son. 10 April 2010. The Borneo Post. The Borneo Post. 10 April 2010.
  5. http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newspolitic.php?id=489451 Datuk Robert Lau's Remains Arrive In Sibu