Tet Tshung Pang

Tet Tshung Pang (Datuk Pang Tet Tshung), 94, of Phoenix, Arizona, died peacefully July 30, 2018, surrounded by family.

Tet Tshung was born in 1923 in the territory of British North Borneo, in what is now known as Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. He attended secondary school in Singapore where, in 1942, he and his classmates were forced to flee, for months, into the jungle following the Japanese invasion of World War II. He inherited a legacy of public service from his father, Vui Chau Pang, who was named a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his medical care of Australian troops in North Borneo during the war.

After the war, Tet Tshung became active in world politics and was among a handful of men responsible for securing, in 1957, the independence from Great Britain of North Borneo and other federated colonies, and later forming the independent nation of Malaysia in 1963. For his service and founding contributions to the nation, he was bestowed the honorific title of “Datuk” by the Malaysian government.

Tet Tshung was a Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister of Finance, and Minister of Communications and Public Works for Sabah. He was the founding Chairman of a committee to create a secondary school for excelling students in Sabah, which opened in 1965 as the “Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School.”

Tet Tshung is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nyuk Kong Chin; six children – daughter Li Jin Pang (Anthony Chang), daughter Li Chu Pang (Chong Chai Tan), son Yin Ka Pang (Jenifer), daughter Li Kiun Pang (Bob Yen), son Nicholas Pang (Sophie), and son Terence Pang (Veronica); eleven grandchildren – Christopher Yen (Erika), Michael Pang, Sara Chang, Emily Yen (Matt Young), Kalia Pang, Nicole Tan, Nathan Pang, Corey Pang, Jeremy Pang, Joshua Pang, and Claire Pang; and two great grandchildren – Levi Yen and Margot Yen.

Tet Tshung is also survived by his brother Tet Chong Pang of Tempe, and sister Yap Oi Tsu of Singapore. He was preceded in death by siblings Dr. Tet Hyun Pang of San Francisco, Tet Fui Pang of North Borneo, Tet Kong Pang of Chicago, and Nyuk Tsu Pang of North Borneo.

A private visitation and private services will be held on August 11, 2018, at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery, 401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85257.

Donations may be made in Tet Tshung’s memory to Sherman Home, Hospice of the Valley, 5801 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, Arizona 85054.