Stories and Memories of Fr. Chong

A Father To All

 “Fr. Chong loved Kota Bharu more than anywhere else in Malaysia. Many times, he had expressed his intention and hope to be able to retire in KB as he considered the congregation and nuns at Our Lady of Fatima church like his family. After serving the Catholic Church for so many years, one would have thought his wishes would have been granted but alas, that was not to be. Many a times, he did sneaked back to KB from Ipoh, even for a day or two, in between weekend masses to meet up with church members, and of course, do a bit of his favourite fishing or hunting. Many homes have received his generosity of fish, meat and pigeons. A simple man of God, humble parish priest, quiet yet strong and consoling. Here is a man of the people and ever ready to serve and much loved by all. Jesus must really be proud of Father Chong as he has served the Lord unconditionally and epitomises the role of a good father to all his congregation(children) and that's why he truly deserves to be called Father.    Thank you Father Chong. –Rachel Tan

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When you talk about Fr Chong, you know for sure that he has shared his life without making a big fuss about it. Each of us definitely has tons of stories to share. And I am definitely sure that we all would love to hear .... so share them, its uplifts the soul –Francis Lai

Many talk about "UBAH" nowadays, but do we think one can achieve it just by a tick, once in 5 years? Fr Anthony Chong is one person, i have witnessed, making people's life "UBAH" just by his love and kindness. He is no Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela, but I'm sure there are many, many and many who would agree with me, and who have, in one way or another, experienced that "UBAH" in his/her life. We too can do it, so silently, yet so effectively, just like him. Let's make a difference, for ourselves, for our future generation, and for God's glory, just like him. 
God bless Fr Chong  -Francis

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My Fishing Experience
I caught my first and biggest fish in life with Fr Chong. What an experience, going into the sea and staring into the water and sea, nowhere to run, no appointments to catch, no phone calls to answer, no teeth to remove!!
One should see his excitement when he helps you bait a fish, but he is also similarly excited when you go with his into the interiors to visit his "friends". There was this family, one day, he took Dr Foong and me to visit, whose child was not well. Later Foong arranged for the child to be seen at HUSM. There are many instances when he does these little, little things that makes a big difference in some insignificant people.  – Jacob

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New Life

Once after Friday mass, Fr Choong brought us to see a Siamese lady with huge uterine fibroid n prolapsed. I think her husband left her because of that. We referred the patient  to HUSM. Operation done funded by the PHDC.
After OP the lady was very happy and said 'Banyak Terima kasih, kamu semua bagi saya hidup baru'. 
So nice of Fr Chong identifying  with and caring for the needy. - Dr. Minsyeh

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I first met Fr. Chong when i was sent here as a pre- novice to learn how to sing the psalm for the office...i met him just coming back from fishing then the next thing i knew he was up at the altar....then only i realized that he was the parish priest...i will never forget him coming outside at my window and asking me to open the door coz he has some herbal soup....i told him everyone was asleep but he insisted and made me wake the sisters up to drink the soup...but i was reluctant to drink coz he would not tell me what was in it..I remember him as a kind and humble person...ever ready to stop and help people..he live a real simple life which i really admire..the teachers at the kindergarten will remember him all the time...they told me they use to see him cleaning the fish and just throwing all the scales and other stuff at the tree near the sink and also they remember seeing a snake skin hanging on the tree. They too said that he would be the only priest that will come and speak to them and before they can wish him,....he would wish them first..all of them are praying for him.   - Sr. Jackie Pan

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Cure for Asthma by Fr. Chong

I have so many stories to tell. I am sure all of us have so many stories to tell about Fr Chong. Back in Kelantan my son Isaac had hyperactive airway. Fr Chong believes the squirrel can cure asthma so he always give us squirrel. I never think the squirrel heals but for sure now Isaac is free of airway problem. 
I remember a few times Fr. Chong came to visit our rented house in Kelantan. he just came, knocked at our door and once the door was opened he would go straight to the fridge and put in all the fish, vegetables, oyster and fruits and left. He was like a father figure. 
We are so blessed to have Fr Chong in Ipoh. Often he called to take wild boar from  his fridge...fresh one. The other day during mass, all of us lining up to receive communion. Before he give the host, he said to Foong 'see me after church' and rezeki besar he gave us fresh wild boar again. 
He loves everyone. After mass he always stand at the exit/entrance and offer everyone a sweet. So sweet of him. 
He is very simple, when we call him to have an appointment to bless the new house immediately he said “ Come let's go now. When we told him the house is still in a mess, he said 'Who is complaining?' ..He was a great man.  –  Minsyeh

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We would be fishing at sea, in the dark , with just some lighting from the generator. It was about 3-4 am, and I look across the other side of the boat and  I see an old man without a shirt on, fishing and holding on to his hand-line. He seems half asleep and tired, or that's what I thought ........ a few minutes later...I  heard a big splash like something had fallen overboard from the boat... panic all over !!!! darkness and fear..... then I see a body - that of Fr Chong in the sea at 3-4 am and he said to me...” hot, need to cool down a bit. !!!! “  -Francis Lai

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The Power of Prayer

I  remember one day a patient named Jesus, a Filipino dying in HUSM due to bleed in the brain. Someone unknown Filipino called me if I knew any priest to anoint/bless this patient. So I called Fr Chong. His response was instant. He came within minutes. The patient was pronounced dead not long after the blessing. 
And yesterday we went to visit Fr Chong we met an elderly couple. They were telling story, that They are thankful for the blessings they have received thru Fr Chong. Apparently the old lady had a stroke with half of the brain affected last month and was in coma and intubated for 4 days. Doctors told the husband she might not make it. Even if she regained consciousness she might be vegetative. Fr Chong came to bless her in the Hospital. After 4 days she regain consciousness and now walking without limbs, slight weakness only and her vision a bit blur according to her. I was speechless.. Praise The Lord!  -  Minsyeh

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True Faith from Fr. Chong

I could still vividly remember one fishing I went with Fr. Chong... Kiong was still in Jakarta so he couldn't join us back then. We went with his good friend Pakcik Alias of Pantai Senok. After an hour or two we reached the famous sunken British ship near Suri. Stories came to my ears that that area was haunted. 
It was midnight and I was already down with seasickness vomiting all the goodies I ate along the way. Fr. Chong loved to bring along all sort of local delicacies. 
Suddenly, a cool wind started to blow and within minutes we were caught in the muddle of a storm. Sea water was smashing the windows and I thought I better make peace with God if we were not going to make it.
That day I learnt true faith from Fr. Chong!!! He was standing ar the bow of the boat shouting away "ya hoo...ya h...  Edmund Yeo

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A Shark for Dinner

Fr Chong has been like a family to all in Kota Bharu..one fine day he came back from his fishing trip n brought a huge shark at our convent porch and said share with the people I have to rush back to Ipoh...I said “Father how to cut this big fellow?”....and he said “ Figure it out”. Sr Lucia and myself stood in front of the shark and we used all kind of knives but it did not cut, in the end we used a saw.!!...  Sr. Jackie

Looks like we were luckier, there was this time Fr came home with his supply of fish. Our maid Su, had gone home for holiday, and we told him we don't know what to do with it. "No problem" he said. Fr told me to get the knife and come, and u all should know what would have happened next.... Jacob

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I just came back from Pok Teh's place and told him of Fr. Chong condition. He was sad to receive the news but he say to tell Fr that his family will doa for him. He says that though he is a Malay, he considers like his brother. He said Fr would come over and bring things to help him and also food- he mentioned that Fr ate budu too. So pls whisper to Fr Chong that the Ikan Bawal Merah and patin that are in the pond is about 10 kg heavy.. and that Pok Teh is waiting for Fr Chong to come help him fish them. - Francis

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Many times I tumpang Fr. CHONG balik Kuala Krai on Friday during my stay at the 'hostel'...once while on they back to my home town through Machang. We saw a big 'bewok' hit by a trailer...eerrr....u can imagine how his reaction  -Frederick

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Gone Fishing- Finally Fr Anthony can go fishing /hunting and do the things he likes without having to worry or rush back. TQ Lord for giving us the oppurtunity to have known a great simple man who has displayed your prescence in him. RIP  Francis

 Fr. Anthony Chong, who is so much loved by all who encounter him, for his simplicity, kindness and humility, is now at 'home' with our God and Creator.... May his soul rests in peace ....

Compiled from Facebook website: olfkb.com and Fr.Anthony Chong