Leong Chee Woh
SAC (Rtd) Datuk Leong Chee Woh (11 November 1929 – 18 July 2021) was a Malaysian police officer.
Leong Chee Woh | |
---|---|
Born | Taiping, Perak, Federated Malay States | 11 November 1929
Died | 18 July 2021 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia | (aged 91)
Allegiance | Malaysia |
Service | Royal Malaysia Police |
Years of service | 1950–1984 |
Rank | Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police |
Unit | |
Battles / wars | Malayan Emergency Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–1989) |
Awards | Star of the Commander of Valour Order of the Territorial Crown |
Spouse(s) | Datin Liew Kim Har |
Children | 3 |
Early life
[edit]Leong Chee Woh was born on 11 November 1929 in Taiping, Perak. He was adopted by a Chinese family of Baba-Nyonya descent. He furthered his studies at the King Edward VII School before his studies were interrupted by the Japanese occupation of Malaya.
After Japan surrendered, he sat for the Senior Cambridge Examination or also known as the Overseas Schooling Certificate Examination in 1949.
Prior to joining the police force, Leong initially worked as a Taiping Town Council clerk after the Japanese occupation, before serving as a chief clerk at the Selama Police District Headquarters.
Police career
[edit]Leong joined the Federation of Malaya Police on 1 December 1950 as Probationary Inspector and has undergone basic training at the Police Training Center in Jalan Gurney, Kuala Lumpur. Since he joined the police force during the Malayan Emergency, he naturally participated in the work against the Communists, he joined the Police Field Force in December 1951 to 1953.
As a result of his hardworking efforts, it led him to be transferred to Kuantan Special Branch on 1 April 1954. On 1 February 1956, he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police and posted to Perak Special Branch. Leong was involved in several operations to eliminated Communist Party of Malaya such as Operation Ginger, Project Jukebox and Project Jujubes.
On 1 March 1968, Leong was posted to Sarawak Special Branch and facing the Sarawak Communist Organization. In addition, he was the founder of F team, the most elite undercover task force in Special Branch in March 1971 and was holding the rank of Superintendent of Police at that time.
Leong was promoted to Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police in the end of 1978 and served as deputy director (Operations) of Bukit Aman Special Branch. Subsequently, Leong was retired on 10 November 1984.
Death
[edit]At 18 July 2021, Leong died due to stroke in his residence at Seri Kembangan, Selangor.[1][2]
Honours
[edit]Leong has been awarded:[3]
- Malaya :
- Recipient of the Mention In Despatches (KPK) (1959)[4]
- Malaysia :
- Companion of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (JMN) (1981)[5]
- Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1975)[6]
- Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1966)[7]
- Medal of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PPN) (1984)[8]
- Recipient of the Star of the Commander of Valour (PGB) (2017)[9]
- Recipient of the Loyal Service Medal (PPS)
- Recipient of the General Service Medal (PPA)
- Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Bronze) (PPM)
- Recipient of the National Hero Service Medal (PJPN)
- Federal Territory (Malaysia) :
- Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (PMW) – Datuk (2010)[10]
- Pahang :
- Member of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (AMP) (1980)
- Sarawak :
- Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (JBS) (1983)[11]
- Member of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (ABS) (1973)
- Recipient of the Commendable Service Medal (Bronze) (PPT)
Foreign Honours
[edit]- Thailand :
- Commander of the Order of the Crown of Thailand (1973)
- United Kingdom :
- Recipient of the General Service Medal with "MALAYA" clasp
Bibliography
[edit]Leong, Chee Woh (2015). Scorpio: Against the One-eyed Dragon. ISBN 978-0-9961501-1-8.
References
[edit]- ^ "King conveys condolences to Leong Chee Woh's family". The Star. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
- ^ David, Adrian (2021-07-18). "Elite F-Team covert ops mastermind Leong dies". www.nst.com.my. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
- ^ The medals, colours, honours and police peak cap with a portrait of the late retired Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Leong Chee Woh. New Straits Times. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
- ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1959" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat Tahun 1981" (PDF).
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat Tahun 1975" (PDF).
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat Tahun 1966" (PDF).
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat Tahun 1984" (PDF).
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Panglima Gagah Berani Tahun 2017" (PDF).
- ^ "Tun Abdullah Ketuai Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Wilayah". www.mstar.com.my. 31 January 2010.
- ^ Awards For 25 From Sarawak Chief. New Straits Times. 1 September 1983.
- 1929 births
- Malaysian people of Chinese descent
- 2021 deaths
- Malaysian police officers
- People from Taiping, Perak
- Companions of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
- Officers of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
- Members of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
- Medallists of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
- Recipients of the Star of the Commander of Valour