Roderick Yong

Roderick Yong Yin Fatt (; born 6 November 1932) is a retired Bruneian educator and diplomat who made history as the first Bruneian and the seventh Secretary-General of ASEAN, serving from 1986 to 1989. He played a pivotal role in Brunei's education system, becoming the first English-medium teacher with secondary qualifications and later leading the Chinese School Division, where he oversaw curriculum development and teacher registration.

Early life and education Yong Yin Fatt, born on 6 November 1932, is the eldest of ten siblings. He began his education at Chung Hwa School in Brunei before moving on to Chi Wen Chinese Primary School in Labuan. After the Japanese invasion in 1941, he returned to Brunei but was unable to continue his studies during that tumultuous period. In 1947, he resumed his education at St. George's School in Brunei Town, ultimately completing his secondary education in Jesselton, where he earned his Cambridge Senior School Certificate. Yong later pursued his college and university education through Brunei's in-service training program. He benefited from the significant political changes in Brunei, particularly those initiated by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, who championed the country's transition to internal self-government in 1959 and independence in 1984. The Sultan's commitment to educating Bruneians played a crucial role in shaping Yong's opportunities to contribute to the nation’s governance. and eventually rose to the position of director. where he immersed himself in the organisation by attending various meetings and engaging with representatives from other ASEAN member states. His role also extended to representing Brunei at the United Nations General Assembly that same year. In 1986, Yong was nominated by Brunei to serve as the Secretary-General of ASEAN in Jakarta, a position he held for three years. During his tenure, he managed significant ASEAN meetings and discussions with key partners, including the United States, the European Union, and Japan. His efforts not only enhanced Brunei's global influence but also facilitated economic concessions and development in human resources across the region. His nomination allowed Brunei to engage with its Southeast Asian neighbors diplomatically without compromising its stance. Notably, he presided over the seventh ASEAN Economic Ministers' meeting on energy cooperation held from 7 to 8 April 1988, where Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah officially opened the proceedings. Yong's term concluded on 16 July 1989, when he was succeeded by Rusli Noor from Indonesia.

Personal life Yong's ancestry traces back to Ruijin in Jiangxi province, located in the Yangtze River valley of Eastern China, setting him apart from many Chinese Bruneians whose roots lie in the southern provinces of Guangdong and Fujian. Ruijin, often referred to as the "Red Capital," holds historical significance as a key site of the Chinese Communist Revolution, which played a crucial role in shaping modern Chinese history. In 1927, Yong's father, the youngest of four brothers, was brought to Brunei by a relative who had prospered there to manage his rubber plantations. After several years of hard work, he established his own business as a rubber and vegetable farmer in Kampong Subok, located about from Brunei Town. Eventually, he married a Hakka woman from Labuan, and together they had ten children—six daughters and four sons. which came with a gold medal, a certificate of honor, cash in the amount of $4,000, access to a first-class ward at the government hospital, and free medical care at home from a government nurse.

Honours Throughout his career, he has achieved the following honours: