This work is originally published by Cahya Mata Sarawak. DayakDaily has been given permission to share this story on our platforms.
By Martin Yee, Kenny Ee, and Marlynda Meraw
TALL, long-striding, and with a relentless work ethic, Latifah Chong Mei Ling embodied the essence of a middle-distance champion.
In the 400m and 800m—two of the most demanding events that require the swiftness of a sprinter and the endurance of a miler—she reigned supreme across Sarawak and Borneo during her time. Alongside fellow middle-distance runner Lee Nyuk Moi, Latifah was pivotal to the Sarawak women’s team that kept the Sarawak flag flying high at the Borneo Games during the 1960s and 1970s.
Together, they teamed up with their counterparts from the Peninsula, notably Selangor’s track queen Datuk Rajamani Mailvaganam, to form the national relay team at the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games held in Rangoon, Myanmar, in 1961.
From 1965 to 1966, Latifah dominated the 400m event at the Sarawak Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) Championships.
In the 800m track event, Latifah was champion for three consecutive years from 1965 to 1967, until Nyuk Moi broke her streak, winning in 1968 and 1969. Yet, Latifah’s record at the Borneo Games was even more impressive, with victories in the 400m from 1964 to 1966 and in the gruelling 800m from 1964 to 1967.
Latifah’s bronze medal at the SEAP Games in Kuala Lumpur stands as the zenith of her athletic career, a shining moment she cherishes. Standing 5 feet 6 inches–tall by the standards of Asian athletes–her first love was basketball. She never intended to pursue athletics, but her natural running talent caught the eye of the legendary coach, Lau Han Choon, who urged her to shift her focus.
“It was coach Lau who saw the potential in me while I was playing basketball at Sekolah Rendah Bantuan (SRB) Chung Hua School,” she recalled. “He advised me to make the switch to athletics, and it turned out to be the best decision of my life.”
Her success proved Lau right. Under the guidance of Teo Joo Teck, the school coach at Litah High School where she worked as a physical education (PE) teacher, Latifah blossomed into a formidable middle-distance runner. She initially focused on the 400m and 800m but later added the 200m to her repertoire.
For Latifah, athletics was more than just competition. It brought the thrill of victory, the chance to travel, and the opportunity to forge lasting friendships including her marriage to Latif Olen.
“There were no other forms of entertainment back then—sports was our only outlet,” Latifah said with a smile. Today, she is a proud mother of three children and grandmother to 18 grandchildren.
As she reflected on her high school days, she spoke of Litah High School being a sports powerhouse, having dominated the competitive games from 1963 to 1970.
Latifah met her husband, Latif, at an athletic meet in Kuching, and they later married in 1968. She retired from athletics soon after and moved to Miri, following her husband’s police posting.
Looking back on her career, Latifah has no regrets as she felt honoured and proud to have the opportunity to represent Sarawak and Malaysia. Today, she lives a peaceful life with her husband at Jalan Astana in Kuching, with her days on the track a cherished memory. –DayakDaily
