The Early Malay Doctors: Matron Mariah @ Chong Nyet Lin

Mary Chong Nyet Lin @ Hjh Mariah bt Abdullah
@ Nenek Penang @ Nenek Cinderella
second wife of Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos 1919 - 1996

Biodata

A Chinese Christian, Ms Mary Chong Nyet Lin, was a nurse from Kuala Lumpur (not Johor). She worked at Bangsar Hospital.

It was at Bangsar Hospital that she met her future husband. She travelled widely with Dr Che Lah, a Penang Malay doctor who was on frequent transfers. She followed him when he worked at the Malayan Railway Health Office in 1948-1950.

At the time, Dr Che Lah was already married to his first wife, Daisy Catherine @ Daisy Maimunah and they had four grown up daughters and a young adopted Eurasian son when Dr Che Lah worked at Bangsar Hospital.

Dr Che Lah probably wanted to have his own son. He divorced his first wife after the war and married Ms Mary Chong Nyet Lin @ Mariah circa 18 May 1953. She married when she was 38 years old.

Kelantan 1945-1946

Railway Health Office in Kuala Lumpur 1946-1948

After the war, Dr Che Lah was first posted to Kelantan 1945-1946, and then the Railway Health Office in Kuala Lumpur 1946-1948.

Postgraduate

Even though he had filled in his application forms to attend the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), a check with LSHTM confirmed that he did not do his postgraduate studies there.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

University of Malaya, Singapore

Dr Che Lah did a short course at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and spent his postgraduate studies at the University of Malaya in Singapore 1948-1950. He obtained the MRCP by 1951 and was on 3 months long leave (for British officers) in England and continental Europe - Holland, France and Switzerland.

MRCP 1951
furlong: 3 months leave in England and continental Europe

Resumed Government Service in Singapore

University of Malaya, Singapore

Kuala Lumpur

Klang Valley

Dr Che Lah returned to the University of Malaya in Singapore, before he worked in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley.

Dr Che Lah's second marriage 1953

General Hospital, Melaka 1953-1955

Son born at Bangsar Hospital 1955

They married and honeymooned in Europe in October 1953. They returned to Malacca 1953-1955. Their son was born in February 1955 at Bangsar Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

CMHO Pahang 1955-1958

Kuantan

Royal doctor to Sultan Pahang (Sir Abu Bakar)

In November 1955, he was posted to Kuantan where he was CM&HO Pahang 1955-1958 and a royal doctor to Sultan Sir Abu Bakar.

Retirement

Dr Che Lah retired on 30 June 1958. He was awarded by Sultan Pahang.

After three years, Dr Che Lah retired on 30 June 1958, and returned to Penang in July 1958. Sultan Sir Abu Bakar bestowed him a meritorious award.

Maternity Hospital @ General Hospital Penang

In June 1958, Matron Mariah also moved from Kuantan to Penang to follow her husband, Dr Che Lah. Matron Mariah worked at the Maternity Hospital of Penang General Hospital till she retired in 1966. Her nursing uniform changed from initially white to light navy blue to dark green.

Matron Mariah's sister, Chong Chung King (CK Chong), also followed her to Penang. Dr Abdul Wahab's wife (Datin Intan bt Mustapha) said she had always seen this "Chinese lady" (CK Chong) everywhere Mariah went. She did not know that CK Chong was the blood sister of Matron Mariah.

Matron Mariah also had a close Chinese friend name Yap Fah Thye. I met aunty Yap Fah Thye once or twice before I left for California in 1976. I met her kids when they were still small when aunty Yap lived in Petaling Jaya. I watched her son Paul played outside in the backyard and she called him into the house. I visited her and her children in their Adelaide home. Both her children are doctors - Dr Paul Yap and Dr Pauline Yap.

Demise of Dr Che Lah and Matron Mariah

Dr Che Lah remained with Matron Mariah till he passed away on 23 January 1986 at the General Hospital Penang. Matron Mariah passed away on Wednesday, 2 October 1996 of chronic liver problems.

Graveyard and burial

Dr Che Lah and Matron Mariah are interred next to each other at Kubur Masjid Jamek Sg Gelugor, Penang. Their graves are near the front entrance to the old green masjid grounds. The new blue-white masjid was under construction, and completed in 2014.

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A CHINESE FAMILY FROM KUALA LUMPUR

Kong Kong's birthday 1964

Ms Mary Chong Nyet Lin's family in Kuala Lumpur, 1948. Mary is seated at far right. Her father Kong Kong is in dark jacket. Kong Kong's new wife is on his right.

Dr Che Lah with his two children (seated far left and at his feet) and Ms Mary Chong Nyet Lin's (seated second right) family at Kong Kong's birthday. 17 June 1964.