KUALA LUMPUR: Her work as a Special Branch officer at the height of the Communist insurgency was challenging but it was vital, as intelligence gathering was critical to national security.
Due to the sensitive nature of her role, much of the work Blossom Wong undertook could never be revealed, leaving her contributions largely out of the public eye.
But Wong, 87, who breathed her last on Friday, was never one to seek recognition.
Instead, she remained focused on breaking down enemy networks with her sharp instincts and espionage skills, earning a reputation among colleagues as a hardworking and highly efficient officer who delivered accurate intelligence.
On Sunday, family, friends and former colleagues who gathered at Wong’s wake at Nirvana 2 funeral parlour in Bukit Seputeh spoke of a woman who served the police force for more than 36 years with distinction while carving out an illustrious career.
Former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Meor Chek Hussien Mahayuddin said Wong was a hardworking and highly efficient police officer.
“As the tasks she undertook were classified, many of her finest achievements were never made public.
“She was an unsung hero. A very disciplined and meticulous officer who was very humble and low profile.
“When she took up undercover roles during the insurgency, she blended seamlessly into the environment.
“This is why she was among Tun Hanif’s most trusted officers whom he could count on,” he said, referring to former Inspector-General of Police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar.
Former police senior assistant commissioner John Ratnam Jaya Raj, who retired as Penang CID chief, said he worked under Wong when she led the KL anti-vice division.
“She was a very experienced officer and struck fear in the syndicates behind vice activities.
“Although she was strict, she always cared for her subordinates and had a good sense of humour,” he said.
Wong, the fourth of 12 close-knit siblings who grew up in Sungai Besi, joined the police force soon after leaving school in the 1950s.
She retired in 1993 with the rank of superintendent.
According to her siblings, their parents were initially reluctant to allow her to join the police force, fearing for her safety.
“Being a young girl and at a time when the police were engaged in high risk operations, our parents were worried.
“However, when we learnt later of what she had achieved, we were so proud of her,” said Wong’s youngest sibling Ket Sing, 77.
Ket Sing said he last met Wong for lunch just days before her death.
“When I asked about her wellbeing, she told me she was fine. But two days later, she suffered a stroke,” he said.
Another sibling, Dr Wong Ket Keong, 85, said his sister was a no-nonsense cop who did not tolerate bribery.
“The syndicates offered her money to back off from anti-vice raids but she refused and would go after them instead,” he said.
Wong’s daughter, Dr Christina Blossom Welch, said her mother loved her job very much and was proud to serve the nation.
“She was not the type to seek glamour or public recognition,” she said, adding that her mother just wanted to retire quietly and enjoy a peaceful life.
Wong is survived by her daughter Christina and her son, Christopher Welch.
