CJMY
Former OCM secretary general, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi has died on July 16. He was 83 years old.
Kok Chi is one of the most recognised sports administrators in the country.
He served as honorary secretary and secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Malaysia.
The former water polo player contributed significantly to sports development and advanced the Olympic movement in Malaysia.
According to sports journalist Haresh Deol, Kok Chi had been in a long battle with fibrosis, which left him frail recently.
Humble life
Kok Chi was born on November 8 1938, in Kuala Lumpur.
In an interview with Haresh Deol, Kok Chi mentioned that his parents sold bags in Petaling Street, and they saved up enough money to buy this house,
Despite humble beginnings, sheer perseverance, grit and determination ran in Sieh’s DNA.
He graduated with a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Malaya and joined the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) as an engineer.
As a sportsman, he competed in water polo in the SEAP Games in 1965 in Kuala Lumpur, 1967 in Bangkok and 1969 in Rangoon, Burma. He was part of the team that won silver medals in all three meets.
He last competed in Asian Games in 1970 before retiring at 32.
The rise through the ranks
Kok Chi was the secretary of the Selangor Amateur Swimming Association from 1971 to 1974. He held the position of the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary from 1975 to 1982.
Starting in 1974, he volunteered his services to the OCM. He served in various committees and task forces and helped the OCM secretary at the time, Thong Poh Nyen.
In 1992, Kok Chi was elected to fill the secretary seat of OCM.
He served OCM until 2015, making him the longest-serving secretary general.
An enormous contribution to sports
Kok Chi led the Malaysian contingent as the Chef de Mission (CDM) to the 20th SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam in 1999.
At the National Sports Council, he acted as the advisor to the institution in the hosting policies and organising of games.
OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria expressed gratitude to the long-serving former secretary-general.
“He is known by many as one of the individuals responsible for the prospering of OCM, having been there from its early years to the institution that stands strong today,” said Norza.
“Kok Chi left behind incredible legacies, such as the establishment of OCM’s administrative structure, the OCM annual dinner and awards night, the Olympian of the Year Awards, the OCM Hall of Fame, and the Marketing and Sponsorship Programme of OCM.”
Kok Chi was also awarded the “Tokoh Sukan” Award 2019/2020 which was presented by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan on, 22 March 2022.
“On behalf of OCM, we wish to express our deepest condolences to his family members and may his soul rest in peace.”
The funeral service will be held on Friday (July 22) at 10 am. The cortège will then leave for the Nirvana Crematorium Shah Alam.
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