KUCHING, Apr 15 (Sin Chew Daily) — "Is this patriot enough?"

Lee Wong, who shot to overnight fame with his act of unbuttoning his shirt in a West Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting in late March at the height of anti-Asian sentiment to reveal the scar on his chest sustained through his service in the US military, was actually from Sibu, Sarawak.

His grandfather Wong King Huo, who responded to the call of Wong Nai Siong to travel from China to develop "New Foochow" Sibu, was among the early pioneers of the Sarawak city.

During an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Lee Wong, 69, said he hoped to remind all of the unfair treatment received by the Asian American community as well as the long-standing problem of discrimination in America through the power of the media.

He hoped a solution to this problem could be reached through genuine dialogue and communication in a rational, civilized and mutually respectful way.

Wong flew to Chicago to pursue a course in pharmacy after graduating from a high school in Sarawak in the 1970s.

He had planned to become a pharmacist but a race-motivated assault he encountered in the street had since changed his life.

"I used to have a lot of expectations from the United States, but the racist attack opened my eyes to the other side of America."

A police movie he watched later prompted him to want to become a cop to uphold justice for the people.

By chance he came to know a military recruitment officer who asked him whether he was keen to join the service. The officer even gave him a military police arm band.

"The feeling came up to me as soon as I put on the arm band at home, and I enrolled myself immediately."

He retired after serving in the military for 20 years.

Wong confessed that life in the military changed him tremendously and he was no longer eager to revenge his attacker but try to understand the American spirit and the meanings of democracy.

He has decided that wherever he goes, he would do his utmost to make the community a better place for all.

The scar on his chest was actually the result of infection of an injury he sustained during military training back in 1975.

Early life

Lee Wong was born in a place called Three Rivers Village near SJK (C) Kwong Hua in Sibu, Sarawak. He was schooled in SJK(C) Methodist before attending St. Joseph's Private School in Kuching and then SMK Kwong Hua in Sibu.

There is a road called Jalan Wong King Huo named after his grandfather.

Wong recalled that his late grandfather was a pastor who donated all his salary to the church and other organizations that needed his help.

His said his grandfather had advised him to be kind and humble, always treating others as if he was treating himself.

Wong's grandfather followed the footsteps of Wong Nai Siong to come all the way from China to help develop Sibu. Besides, he also devoted himself to education and helped build SJK (C) Kwong Hua, SJK(C) Methodist and the local church.

"He was a very humble and low-key man who made generous contributions towards charity and community services."

After high school, Wong furthered his studies in the US because there wasn't any institution of higher learning in Sarawak at that time. Besides, his elder brother was already in the States.

He admitted that the US military provided him very attractive perks, including good remunerations, free hostel accommodation, free opportunity to further his studies, and a shortcut to US citizenship.

"Most importantly, in the military I learned to confront injustices and speak up fearlessly."