Bong Kee Chok
Born(1937-10-04)4 October 1937
Kuching, Raj of Sarawak
Died6 February 2023(2023-02-06) (aged 85)
Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia
Burial placeChinese Cemetery, 26th Mile, Jalan Kuching-Serian
CitizenshipMalaysian
Alma materChung Hua Middle School
Known forLeader of North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP)
TermSecretary of the Second Bureau of the Central Committee of the North Kalimantan Communist Party (1965-1973) Commander of the North Kalimantan People's Army (1965-1973)
Political partyNorth Kalimantan Communist Party
Other political
affiliations		Sarawak Liberation League (1953-1965) Sarawak United Peoples' Party (1959-1962)
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese黄紀作
Traditional Chinese黃紀作
Hanyu PinyinHuáng Jìzuò

Bong Kee Chok (黄紀作; 4 October 1937[1] – 6 February 2023)[2] was a Malaysian political activist who was the main leader of the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP).[3][4]

Political career

As Bong was opposed to the formation of Malaysia, he was arrested on 22 June 1962. After his release, Bong formed the NKCP on 19 September 1965 in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.[5]

On 27 May 1972, Bong led a small group of cadre and a team of self-defense force from Second Division of Sarawak Sri Aman Division to a communist base at Samarahan Division to attend a central committee meeting.[6]

After a series of insurgencies, and the Indonesians' decision to stop aiding the Communists, Bong decided to surrender and signed an agreement to lay down arms to Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Rahman Ya'kub on 20 October 1973 which signified the end of further major battles in the Sarawak Communist Insurgency.[7][8][9]

After the Sri Aman treaty was signed, the local population, especially the people of the town of Simanggang (known as Sri Aman from 1974 to 2019) generally held skeptical attitude towards Bong, accusing him of collaborating with the government for material wealth. Bong also retreated from the public view since then.[10]

In 2014, Bong paid a visit to a former head of Special Branch Sarawak during Hari Raya celebration, Dato Sri Alli Kawi, 40 years after they met for a peace talk on 20 October 1973.[11]

Personal life

After laying down his arms, Bong worked as a rubber tapper, and a hawker, sold insurance, and later started a pig-rearing business.[2]

Bong's wife died in 2019.[2]

Bong suffered a stroke in April 2022.[2]

Death

Bong died in his sleep at 6 am on 7 February 2023 at his own residence.[2] He had four children.

References

  1. ^ Porritt, Vernon L. (2004). The Rise and Fall of Communism in Sarawak, 1940-1990. ISBN 9781876924270.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Ex-communist leader Bong Kee Chok passes away aged 91". The Borneo Post. 7 February 2023. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  3. ^ Chan, Francis; Wong, Phyllis (16 September 2011). "Saga of communist insurgency in Sarawak". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  4. ^ Hara, Fujio (2005). "The North Kalimantan Communist Party and the People's Republic of China" (PDF). Institute of Developing Economies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  5. ^ Tan, Chee-Beng (2013). Routledge handbook of the Chinese diaspora. Abindgon, Oxford: Routledge. p. 333. ISBN 978-0-203-10038-7. OCLC 827947167.
  6. ^ 李 (19 September 2006). "动荡十年 (A turbulent decade)". International Times (Sarawak). Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  7. ^ Pilo, Wilfred (3 November 2013). "The day the insurgency ended". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Treaty with Bong Kee Chok most profound feat by Tun, says Mawan". The Borneo Post. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Merdeka amat bermakna bagi Alli". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). 16 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  10. ^ Howe Yong, Kee (2013). "3: The Sri Aman Treaty". The Hakkas of Sarawak - Sacrificial Gifts in Cold War Era Malaysia. University of Toronto Press. p. 70. doi:10.3138/9781442667976-005. ISBN 9781442667976. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  11. ^ Pilo, Wilfred (5 August 2014). "Former enemies meet as friends 40 years later". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.


Categories