by Ganesh Sahathevan
The Star of Malaysia has published a story about Australia's new Foreign Minister Penny Wong that challenges the
Wong narrative of growing up with just one other sibling in Australia, cared for by their Australian mother.
The Star has reported:
Penny, 53, is the eldest in the family of seven siblings from ... father Datuk Francis Wong’s two marriages.
James said Penny, though much older than him, was very much part of the Wong family who spent a lot of time together, be it in Sabah or Australia.
“We all grew up together as one family; she made many trips to KK (Kota Kinabalu).
James’ other siblings have left Sabah to live in Australia and similarly, his father and mother are there too with all their grandchildren.
“I am the only one left here. I love Sabah,” said James, who heads the Sabah branch of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce-Young Entrepreneurs Committee aimed at helping young entrepreneurs.
That James is active in the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce is not surprising for the Communist Party Of China is particularly active in Sabah and Sarawak., with business and other ties to the local Chinese population in those two states.
It is to be expected that members of the Wong family, including father Francis, would have business and/or other dealings with Communist Party China linked entities active in Sabah. Again, contrary to the narrative the Hakka clan which the Wongs belong to are not wandering Jews who are not welcome anywhere but rather a powerful clan who have significant control over the state and its economy.
That Penny Wong's brother is active in a China sponsored entity is a link between the Wongs and the Communist Party Of China and its entities which further complicates the relationship between the Australian Secret Intelligence Service and Penny Wong, who is now the Minister in charge of ASIS.
Penny's Malaysia Chinese heritage and Sabah Hakka antecedents by themselves ought to have been a security red flag, with regards the threat from China.
TO BE READ WITH
Penny has her family at heart
By
MUGUNTAN VANARWednesday, 25 May 2022
Bonding time: Penny and James during a family barbecue gathering. — Picture courtesy of James Wong
KOTA KINABALU: For many around the world, Kota Kinabalu-born Penny Wong, Australia’s newly minted foreign minister following last weekend’s national election, is a tough-talking, hardball politician.But to her family in Sabah, Penny remains a kind, loving and protective woman – a far cry from her public persona.
For her younger brother James, Penny is no tough cookie but one who speaks up for the voiceless and defenceless.
“It is in her nature to defend the weaker people. She does not do it aggressively but will stand up for them on principles.
“Penny is loving and genuine ... real genuine and has a very soft side.
“Even when we siblings were having minor fights among ourselves, she would defend the weaker among us. She was never authoritarian,” said the 35-year-old architect here.
Giving a further glimpse into Penny’s private self, James – the only sibling from the Wong clan still in Sabah – said his sister was down-to-earth, had no airs and would not insist on protocol.
Penny, 53, is the eldest in the family of seven siblings from their father Datuk Francis Wong’s two marriages.
She is one of two children from the first marriage between Francis and his Australian wife while James is from Francis’ second marriage.
She studied at the University of Adelaide and later represented unions and workers as an industrial court lawyer in the South Australian capital.
Under the Labor Party, she had served twice as a federal minister, for climate change and finance.
James said Penny, though much older than him, was very much part of the Wong family who spent a lot of time together, be it in Sabah or Australia.
“We all grew up together as one family; she made many trips to KK (Kota Kinabalu).
“She loves to keep her visits to KK low-key and walks about like a normal tourist,” said James.
He remembered when Penny came for a holiday in Kuala Lumpur during her stint as Australian finance minister (under Julia Gillard’s premiership).
“We were quietly hanging out in KL. When our Malaysian government became aware of her presence, almost immediately there was security put around the hotel. We just had a good laugh when it happened,” James added.
Needless to say, he and the rest of the family are truly proud of Penny as she continues to progress in Australian politics through the Labor Party that won the recent election with its leader Anthony Albanese sworn in as prime minister.
James said Penny’s big win under the Labor Party showed the amount of support for her.
“That was very surprising to me. It (her win) is testament to her capability.
“It was good to hear reports that she had been considered for the deputy prime minister’s post. It shows she has done well and we are proud of her,” he said, referring to the immediate post-election political chatter.
“Penny’s story should be an inspiration to our young Sabahans. Looking at the rise of a simple Sabahan girl in Australian politics, it means that Sabahans have the potential to succeed and should not underestimate themselves,” he added.
James’ other siblings have left Sabah to live in Australia and similarly, his father and mother are there too with all their grandchildren.
“I am the only one left here. I love Sabah,” said James, who heads the Sabah branch of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce-Young Entrepreneurs Committee aimed at helping young entrepreneurs.
Francis was a respected Sabah architect who, among others, was involved in contributing technical advice to the Kota Kinabalu town and city development over the years, prior to his retirement.
For James and the rest of the family, no matter where Penny’s political fortunes take her, she is one great and loving sister who will always be there for them
