While many people might immediately think of James Bond or Charlie's Angels when the word ‘spy’ pops up, did you know Malaysia had its very own spy, so good at her job that even the pimps in Kuala Lumpur feared her back in the day?

Early life

Believed to be in her late 80s now, Blossom Wong hadn’t always dreamed of becoming a police officer—let alone a spy.

Image Credit: Blogspot

Born Wong Kooi Fong, she earned the nickname ‘Blossom’ from a neighbour in Sungai Besi, KL, thanks to her love of gardening.

After completing her Senior Cambridge examinations in the 1950s, Wong found herself at a crossroads, contemplating a career as a teacher or secretary, common choices for women at the time. But Wong, a tomboy who was active in sports, debate, and geography societies in school, felt neither path suited her.

“To me, teaching is boring. And to become a secretary—well, you have to please your boss and stay in the office. I'm an outdoor person,” Wong said.

Her parents weren’t keen on her becoming a policewoman

Wong’s interest in law enforcement sparked when she saw a policewoman patrolling the city.

She recalled how smart the officer looked, sitting in the front seat of a patrol car with her cap on.

“She looked at me and smiled. From that moment, I was sold. I wanted to be a policewoman. Plus, if I joined the force, I’d get to ronda (go around) Kuala Lumpur in a police car every day.”

While some families might celebrate or tolerate such a career choice, Wong’s family was against it. Her decision was also unconventional for women at the time.

Image Credit: NST

Despite the opposition, Wong remained steadfast. She secretly applied to join the police force and underwent six months of training. On August 1, 1957, she was officially inducted.

Although she had become a police officer, Wong said the hardest part was learning Bahasa Melayu from scratch. Yet, after completing her training, she mastered the language and was selected as an Inspector in the Special Branch in Penang.

First dive into the undercover world

One of Wong’s earliest undercover assignments involved disguising herself to gather intelligence on the communist movement.

Image Credit: The CEO Malaysia

She embraced her nickname ‘Blossom’ as her alias and ditched the standard PDRM uniform for a cheongsam. Wong was so effective that neither the communists nor her fellow officers suspected she was a spy.

While spy work is often glamorised on screen, Wong said it was far from glamorous in real life.

Working undercover meant sacrificing her social life to protect her identity. She was also prohibited from mingling with uniformed officers to avoid blowing her cover.

More than just an undercover officer

After four years in Penang, Wong was transferred to Ipoh, where she became Assistant Area Inspector, overseeing five police stations.

In 1962, after getting married, she returned to Kuala Lumpur and took on the role of prosecuting officer in the magistrate’s and juvenile courts.

During this time, she was also tasked with escorting prominent figures.

Image Credit: The CEO Malaysia

Clad in her signature cheongsam, Wong escorted dignitaries such as the wife of South Korean President Park Chung-hee, former Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, and most notably, Robert F. Kennedy and his wife Ethel during their 1964 visit to Malaysia.

An offer to join the CID

Wong’s undercover prowess caught the attention of OCPD Albert Mah, who invited her to join the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He believed she could help dismantle illegal operations in Kuala Lumpur.

Image Credit: Al Jazeera

Wong joined the ‘Black Cats’ and worked undercover to crack down on prostitution rings. Her team successfully raided notorious brothels in Jalan Ampang, Jalan Walter Grenier, Jalan Alor, and more. Her reputation was so formidable that even pimps feared her.

One brothel she uncovered was disguised as a Chinese coffee shop.

“The shop had multiple rooms upstairs. While undercover, a colleague and I discreetly went up and saw several girls seated on beds. We later carried out the first anti-vice operation, arresting a van full of girls—some underage, one pregnant. They were all locals.”

As if her resume wasn’t impressive enough, Wong was later called by Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Hanif Omar to lead PDRM’s first Rape Investigation Unit. She and her team received training in DNA technology from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Where is Blossom Wong now?

Image Credit: NST

Wong retired in 1993 after 36 years of service, ending her career as a superintendent of police. While her current whereabouts are unclear, sources say she now spends time with her veterinarian daughter and has returned to her first love—gardening.

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Featured Image Credit: NST, Blogspot