Song Sing Kwee
Song Sing Kwee | |
|---|---|
| 宋新辉 | |
| Occupations | Lawyer, politician |
| Office | Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly for Maharani (1986–1990) |
Song Sing Kwee (Chinese: 宋新辉; also known as SK Song) is a Malaysian lawyer and former politician. He was a member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly for the Maharani constituency from 1986 to 1990 and served as chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in Johor. He later joined the Parti Rakyat Malaysia (People's Party of Malaysia), serving as its national deputy chairman and Johor state chairman. In 1980 he established the law firm SK Song Advocates & Solicitors in Johor Bahru.
Early life and legal career
[edit source]According to his law firm's website, Song studied at the English College in Johor Bahru and worked as a teacher for about 14 years before going to the United Kingdom in 1974 to study law. He obtained an honours degree and was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn. After being admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 1980, he established SK Song Advocates & Solicitors in Johor Bahru.[1]
In February 2017, following the deaths of eight teenage cyclists in Johor Bahru, Song acted as the lawyer for the driver, Sam Ke Ting. China Press reported on 18 March 2017 that, after police completed their investigation, Sam was to be charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (dangerous driving causing death), with the court date to be notified later; Song, as her lawyer, commented on the case.[2] In May 2017, reports said Sam had changed her lawyers.[3][4]
Political career
[edit source]Democratic Action Party
[edit source]According to a 2026 commentary published by Oriental Daily News, Song had been chairman of the Johor DAP before 1982. In the 1982 Malaysian general election, he contested the Kulai state seat as a DAP candidate, losing by 761 votes to the MCA-aligned candidate; it was the best result among Johor DAP candidates in that election. In the 1986 Malaysian general election, he won the Maharani state seat in northern Johor, becoming the DAP assemblyman for the constituency and serving until 1990.[5]
China Press commentaries have listed him among former Johor DAP chairmen who later left the party.[6][7] In a January 2024 interview with China Press, he said he had retired from elected office since 1990.[8]
Parti Rakyat Malaysia
[edit source]In January 2008, Song and Wee Choo Keong lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency alleging that Lim Kit Siang had sold Approved Permits (APs).[9]
Following the 2008 Malaysian general election on 8 March, Song, by then secretary-general of the People's Party, held a press conference in Johor Bahru on 11 March saying the party would decide within two weeks how to cooperate with the People's Justice Party (PKR) — whether by joining the party or forming an alliance. He acknowledged his own defeat in that election but welcomed the growth of the opposition.[10]
In March 2009, commenting as Johor PRM chairman on the government's RM60 billion economic stimulus package, Song said it was not the most effective or long-term approach and that the disbursement of funds needed strict oversight to avoid a national crisis from non-transparent operations.[11]
After PRM national chairman Hassan Abdul Karim resigned on 17 November 2009, Song, a party central committee member, told The Star that the party would restructure its top leadership within four to six weeks and elect a new national chairman and deputy chairman. He also revealed that he had resigned as national deputy chairman three months earlier to make way for other leaders, while remaining Johor state chairman and a central committee member.[12]
In January 2010, as Johor PRM chairman, Song criticised the real property gains tax measure in the 2010 federal budget (a fixed 5% tax on profits from property sales) as confusing, and said many government policies were introduced without thorough consideration.[13]
In 2017, as PRM national deputy chairman and Johor state chairman, Song acted as the lawyer for Sam Ke Ting in the cyclists case.[2]
In February 2019, after Court of Appeal judge Datuk Hamid Sultan filed a 65-page affidavit alleging that the judiciary was subject to political manipulation and judicial interference, Song, as PRM Johor chairman, called a press conference urging the government to investigate, suggesting an internal inquiry, a royal commission of inquiry, or a debate in Parliament.[14]
Community activities
[edit source]In December 2017, as a lawyer he was invited to be a sharing speaker at an exhibition and sharing session in Johor Bahru marking the 30th anniversary of Operasi Lalang.[15]
In July 2019, he took part in the launch of the book Chinese Festive Rites (《华人喜事节日礼仪》) organised by the Johor Bahru Chinese Association.[16]
In January 2024, he announced he would forgo his state assemblyman's pension and planned to donate it to temples and the needy. He said former state and federal lawmakers should not receive pensions after retirement, arguing that granting pensions to lawmakers was tantamount to depleting the public purse.[8]
References
[edit source]- ↑ "SK Song Advocates & Solicitors". SK Song Advocates & Solicitors. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
- 1 2 "律師：擇日上庭 女司機或控危駕". China Press (in Chinese). 2017-03-18.
- ↑ ""8少年騎士被撞死案" 疑似女司機面子書募款流傳". China Press (in Chinese). 2017-05-26.
- ↑ "疑撞夜骑少年案急需律师费 女司机6小时筹得6万". Nanyang Siang Pau (in Chinese). 2017-05-26.
- ↑ 郑名烈 (2026-04-04). "郑名烈：瘦田时期的柔佛行动党". Oriental Daily News (in Chinese).
- ↑ 林放 (2017-02-16). "林放：進入火箭廟不懂拜神就不妙". China Press (in Chinese).
- ↑ 歐國輝 (2018-04-17). "歐國輝：人才難留行動黨". China Press (in Chinese).
- 1 2 "前马哈拉尼议员 将捐出退休金". China Press (in Chinese). 2024-01-31.
- ↑ "黄朱强宋新辉投报反贪污局指林吉祥出售AP". Malaysiakini (in Chinese). 2008-01-29.
- ↑ "宋新辉：2周内决定．人民党要与公正党合作". Sin Chew Daily (in Chinese). 2008-03-12.
- ↑ "宋新辉：巨资拯救经济．须监管拨款流向实效". Sin Chew Daily (in Chinese). 2009-03-13.
- ↑ "宋新辉：全国主席辞职．人民党高层近期重组". Sin Chew Daily (in Chinese). 2009-11-29.
- ↑ "宋新辉：须缴固定5%让人混淆．产业盈利税不妥". Sin Chew Daily (in Chinese). 2010-01-06.
- ↑ "法官揭露司法被操控 宋新辉吁政府调查". China Press (in Chinese). 2019-02-19.
- ↑ "柔南黃色行動小組數造 辦茅草行動30週年活動". China Press (in Chinese). 2017-12-04.
- ↑ "新山中华公会推介新书 《华人喜事节日礼仪》". China Press (in Chinese). 2019-07-24.