Sabahan Fisheries Legend Who Lived Up To 100 Was A British Spy


In the tropical coastlines of Sabah, fish and marine life had one of their greatest champions in Datuk Chin Phui Kong -- an ichthyologist, civil servant, and author whose calm, scholarly life belied a daring secret-agent past. Born on 26 December 1923 in Sandakan, British North Borneo (now Sabah), Chin would go on to celebrate his 100th birthday with little fanfare -- a milestone few reach.

 

From Student to Secret Agent

Chin Phui Kong’s early years were quiet and studious: schooling in Sandakan before being sent north to China in 1941. But when WWII broke out and the Japanese invasion altered lives and frontiers, his fluency in English, Malay, and Chinese (including dialects) caught the attention of British intelligence. 

Recruited by what became Force 136 -- the clandestine World War II arm of Britain’s Special Operations Executive in Malaya -- Chin underwent commando, parachute, demolition, and jungle warfare training, serving as a First Lieutenant. His mission: to parachute into jungles, train resistance fighters (notably the MPAJA), and help prepare Malaya for liberation from Japanese forces. 


Scholar of Fish and Fisheries

After the war, Chin turned back to a very different kind of life: that of a scientist. He studied marine biology at Xiamen University (China) and later joined the British colonial fisheries department in Sabah in 1950. Over the decades, he became Director of Fisheries (Sabah) from 1970-78. His books, research, and teaching shaped the understanding of both freshwater fish and marine food fishes in Sabah. Three species of fish were named in his honour -- Betta chini, Osteochilus chini, Neogastromyzon chini -- tribute to his contributions. 


Quiet Hero, Lasting Legacy

Chin never sought the loud spotlight. Even in his later years, his work quietly influenced students, policy, and public awareness of Sabah’s aquatic biodiversity. When Macva (the Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association) honoured him as an “Honorary Member” close to his 100th birthday, many Sabahans learned about his wartime exploits for the first time. 

He passed away on 20 January 2024 -- aged 100 -- leaving behind three children, a lifetime of scientific output, and a legacy both in history books and fish taxonomy. From secret agent operations in the rainforests to authoritative textbooks in fisheries, Chin Phui Kong embodied many lives, all serving Malaysia in very different ways.

Pic credit: Daily Express

Sources: https://youtu.be/dz4HqoMd6Iw?si=TjaX1CVzEN-c2MMm & https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/226064/former-fisheries-director-turns-100/

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