Chen, who was a lifelong DAP adviser, was also a former MP and assemblyman.

He was the Rahang assemblyman between 1965 and 1982 and also served as the MP for Seremban Timor (1969-1974) and Seremban (1974-1982 and 1983-1990).

In a Facebook post, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng said he was deeply saddened by Chen’s passing.

“On the way to Seremban from Penang to express our heartfelt condolences to his family. Rest in peace,” wrote Lim.

DAP’s Kampar MP Thomas Su described Chen as a “towering Malaysian”.

“A principled and humble founder of DAP, we owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Former Paloh assemblyman Sheikh Omar Ali said Chen had always fought for democracy and fairness for all Malaysians.