Robert Lau

In this Chinese name, the family name is Lau (刘).

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Robert Lau PGBK
刘会洲
Deputy Minister of Transport
In office 11 April 2009 – 9 April 2010 Serving with Abdul Rahim Bakri
Monarch	Mizan Zainal Abidin
Prime Minister	Najib Razak
Minister	Ong Tee Keat
Preceded by	Lajim Ukin
Succeeded by	Jelaing Mersat
Constituency	Sibu
Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government
In office 27 March 2004 – 9 April 2009 Serving with Azizah Mohd Dun (2004–2008) Hamzah Zainudin (2008–2009)
Monarchs	Sirajuddin Mizan Zainal Abidin
Prime Minister	Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Najib Razak
Minister	Ong Ka Ting (2004–2008) Ong Ka Chuan (2008–2009)
Preceded by	Peter Chin Fah Kui
Succeeded by	Lajim Ukin
Constituency	Sibu
Chairman of Sibu Municipal Council
In office April 1999 – 29 March 2004
Preceded by	Kong Sien Han
Succeeded by	Tiong Thai King
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Sibu
In office 21 October 1990 – 9 April 2010
Preceded by	Tiew Sung Seng (SUPP–BN)
Succeeded by	Wong Ho Leng (DAP)
Majority	2,008 (1990) 4,845 (1995) 9,142 (1999) 3,340 (2004) 3,235 (2008)
Personal details
Born	(1942-09-15)15 September 1942 Sibu, Japanese occupation of Sarawak (now Sarawak, Malaysia)
Died	9 April 2010(2010-04-09) (aged 67) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Political party	Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP)
Other political affiliations	Barisan Nasional (BN)
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)
Occupation	Politician

Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chiew (simplified Chinese: 刘会洲; traditional Chinese: 劉會洲; pinyin: Liú Huìzhōu; 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).

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. 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.

Death

Lau died of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) in his home in Kuala Lumpur on 9 April 2010. 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.

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1990	P172 Sibu, Sarawak		Robert Lau (SUPP)	11,914	54.20%		Ling Sie Ming (DAP)	9,906	45.06%	22,208	2,008	68.60%
							Tang Lung Chiew (PLUS)	162	0.74%
1995	P184 Sibu, Sarawak		Robert Lau (SUPP)	15,317	57.31%		Wong Ho Leng (DAP)	10,472	39.18%	27,316	4,845	69.39%
							Narawi Haron (IND)	937	3.51%
1999	P185 Sibu, Sarawak		Robert Lau (SUPP)	23,227	62.25%		Wong Sing Nang (DAP)	14,085	37.75%	38,521	9,142	67.66%
2004	P211 Sibu, Sarawak		Robert Lau (SUPP)	20,501	54.43%		Wong Ho Leng (DAP)	17,161	45.57%	38,216	3,340	62.82%
2008	P212 Sibu, Sarawak		Robert Lau (SUPP)	19,138	53.38%		Wong Ho Leng (DAP)	15,903	44.36%	36,379	3,235	67.77%
							Lim Chin Chuang	812	2.26%

Honours

• Sarawak :
  • Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (PGBK) – Datuk (2002)