A lifetime dedicated to documenting OneMalaysia

Michael Wong Swee Lin was born in Kuala Lumpur on October 3, 1926. His father was with the telecommunications department in Rasah, Kuala Kubu, Selangor area. His mother’s family lived in Kepong. When his father was transferred to Muda Hulu to Tapah Road, Ipoh, Wong studied at the Government English School and the Anderson School, Ipoh. (January 1, 1933 – December 12, 1938. When the Japanese occupied Malaya, Wong worked with the Tokyo Bus Company (January 1, 1939 - December 12, 1941, as a clerk, in charge of petrol for the company’s consumption.


When the British returned, he was employed as a temporary English teacher at a public Chinese school at Rasa from July 1, 1946 to December 31, 1946 earning $130 a month. Wong then taught English at Xu Hua Chinese School from January 1, 1947 to May 30, 1948, earning about $140 a month.



Joined the Department of Public Relations as a temporary clerk, earning $120 a month from August 26, 1948 to end of 1949 and was employed as a State Clerical Officer after passing a special examination. He was then appointed as Photographer in 1950 with the Public Relations Department after passing a special photography examination conducted by the government. During that time he had to support 8 people – his grandmother, mother, four sisters and two brothers.