Fan Yew Teng
Encyclopedia
Fan Yew Teng was former Acting Secretary-General of the Democratic Action Party
, Malaysia, former Member of Parliament for Kampar (elected in 1969) and Menglembu (elected in 1974), and former Selangor State Assemblyman for Petaling Jaya. In 1975, he was charged with and convicted for sedition for publishing, as editor of DAP's The Rocket, a speech by Dr. Ooi Kee Saik, then Penang DAP Chairman. Fan was then disqualified from Parliament and denied all MP privileges, including his pension. He left DAP over differences in 1978 to join Social Democratic Party (SDP). He rejoined the DAP in 1998, during the transformative period of Reformasi
in Malaysia.
Prior to his involvement in party politics, Fan had been actively engaged in the National Union of Teachers. He was the co-organiser of the 1967 nationwide teachers' strike, which helped to bring about equal pay for women, as well as pension, housing and health benefits for all teachers. He was also the editor of 'The Educator', the official organ of the NUT.
Throughout his life, he continued to write prolifically on political and social issues and campaign for human rights and the cause of justice. His books include 'If We Love This Country' (1988), 'Oppressors and Apologists' (1988), 'The UMNO Drama: Power Struggles in Malaysia' (1989), 'The Rape of Law' (1990), and 'Anwar Saga: Malaysia on Trial' (1999). He also co-authored, with A. Rajaguru, 'The Neverending Quest: The teachers' struggle for dignity and excellence' (1994).
Fan's political career was marred by many trials and tribulations, including his infamous conviction under the Sedition Act in 1975 and subsequent disqualification from the Menglembu parliamentary seat. Fan was disqualified after he was fined RM2,000 in default six months’ jail for publishing a seditious speech by the then Penang DAP chairman Dr Ooi Kee Siak the in party organ The Rocket. A two-term MP and a sterling leader of society, he was denied even his basic right to an MP pension. To make ends meet, Fan became a freelance writer and would occasionally conduct lectures for students.
Fan graduated from Brinsford Lodge teacher training college in the UK. He held a Masters in Education from the University of Sussex
, and was a Parvin Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs at Princeton University
. In the late 1960s, he was appointed as the editor of the NUTP’s (National Union of the Teaching Profession) organ 'The Educator', where he launched staunch and oftentimes sharp criticism against the government, particularly against the then Education Minister. He also co-organised the 1967 nationwide teacher's strike. Due to his leadership in the NUTP he was sent off from Kuala Lumpur
to schools in rural areas like in Kuala Lipis
and Temerloh
, Pahang
and Tanah Merah
, Kelantan
.
He contested on a DAP ticket in Kampar in 1969 and in the 1974 general election, he daringly took on PPP founding president SP Seenivasagam in Menglembu parliamentary seat and unionist and former MTUC secretary-general, the late V. David in the Petaling Jaya state seat. Fan won both seats, and came to be known as a 'giant slayer'. Fan was also famed for his firebrand oratory style.
Fan Yew Teng was known as 'a man who would part with his last dollar to help the needy', dedicating his life to serving the poor and unfortunate. He lived frugally renting a house in the city of Ipoh
, Malaysia and also stayed with his wife who works for the United Nations office in Bangkok
, Thailand
. Fan lived out the final days of his life close to his wife, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer
and twin daughters in Bangkok. Fan passed away after a year-long battle with cancer at 1.40pm on December 07, 2010 in the Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok.
Democratic Action Party
The Democratic Action Party, or DAP is a secular, multi-racial, social democratic Malaysian political party.The DAP is one of the three major opposition parties in Malaysia, along with the PKR and PAS, that are seen as electable alternatives to the Barisan Nasional coalition of parties...
, Malaysia, former Member of Parliament for Kampar (elected in 1969) and Menglembu (elected in 1974), and former Selangor State Assemblyman for Petaling Jaya. In 1975, he was charged with and convicted for sedition for publishing, as editor of DAP's The Rocket, a speech by Dr. Ooi Kee Saik, then Penang DAP Chairman. Fan was then disqualified from Parliament and denied all MP privileges, including his pension. He left DAP over differences in 1978 to join Social Democratic Party (SDP). He rejoined the DAP in 1998, during the transformative period of Reformasi
Reformasi (Malaysia)
The Reformasi movement in Malaysia was initiated by Anwar Ibrahim and his supporters shortly after he was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister in 1998. It consisted of several mass demonstrations and rallies against the long-standing Barisan Nasional coalition government, and continued until Anwar was...
in Malaysia.
Prior to his involvement in party politics, Fan had been actively engaged in the National Union of Teachers. He was the co-organiser of the 1967 nationwide teachers' strike, which helped to bring about equal pay for women, as well as pension, housing and health benefits for all teachers. He was also the editor of 'The Educator', the official organ of the NUT.
Throughout his life, he continued to write prolifically on political and social issues and campaign for human rights and the cause of justice. His books include 'If We Love This Country' (1988), 'Oppressors and Apologists' (1988), 'The UMNO Drama: Power Struggles in Malaysia' (1989), 'The Rape of Law' (1990), and 'Anwar Saga: Malaysia on Trial' (1999). He also co-authored, with A. Rajaguru, 'The Neverending Quest: The teachers' struggle for dignity and excellence' (1994).
Fan's political career was marred by many trials and tribulations, including his infamous conviction under the Sedition Act in 1975 and subsequent disqualification from the Menglembu parliamentary seat. Fan was disqualified after he was fined RM2,000 in default six months’ jail for publishing a seditious speech by the then Penang DAP chairman Dr Ooi Kee Siak the in party organ The Rocket. A two-term MP and a sterling leader of society, he was denied even his basic right to an MP pension. To make ends meet, Fan became a freelance writer and would occasionally conduct lectures for students.
Fan graduated from Brinsford Lodge teacher training college in the UK. He held a Masters in Education from the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, and was a Parvin Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. In the late 1960s, he was appointed as the editor of the NUTP’s (National Union of the Teaching Profession) organ 'The Educator', where he launched staunch and oftentimes sharp criticism against the government, particularly against the then Education Minister. He also co-organised the 1967 nationwide teacher's strike. Due to his leadership in the NUTP he was sent off from Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
to schools in rural areas like in Kuala Lipis
Kuala Lipis
Kuala Lipis is a big town in Pahang, Malaysia with a population of 200,000. It is located in the district of Lipis.-History:Kuala Lipis was a gold-mining center before the British arrived in 1887. In 1898 it became the capital of Pahang until 1953....
and Temerloh
Temerloh
Temerloh is a town in Central Pahang, Malaysia in Temerloh district. Located about from Kuala Lumpur along the Kuantan-Kuala Lumpur trunk road, Temerloh is the second largest town in Pahang after Kuantan. It is situated at the junction of the Pahang River and the Semantan River...
, Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
and Tanah Merah
Tanah Merah
Tanah Merah is a territory and town in the state of Kelantan in northeast Malaysia.The capital and main town is Bandar Tanah Merah where is situated nearby Sungai Kelantan.It is bordered by Pasir Mas in the north, Machang to the East, Kuala Krai to the South East, Jeli to the South West and...
, Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
.
He contested on a DAP ticket in Kampar in 1969 and in the 1974 general election, he daringly took on PPP founding president SP Seenivasagam in Menglembu parliamentary seat and unionist and former MTUC secretary-general, the late V. David in the Petaling Jaya state seat. Fan won both seats, and came to be known as a 'giant slayer'. Fan was also famed for his firebrand oratory style.
Fan Yew Teng was known as 'a man who would part with his last dollar to help the needy', dedicating his life to serving the poor and unfortunate. He lived frugally renting a house in the city of Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
, Malaysia and also stayed with his wife who works for the United Nations office in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Fan lived out the final days of his life close to his wife, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer
Noeleen Heyzer
Noeleen Heyzer currently serves as the Executive Secretary of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific . She was appointed to the position by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July 2007....
and twin daughters in Bangkok. Fan passed away after a year-long battle with cancer at 1.40pm on December 07, 2010 in the Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok.