A golok is similar to a machete and originated in Southeast Asia. As with many of the weapons from Silat, the golok was originally a farming tool used to cut brush and branches- it is particularly useful due to its shape, as its less likely to to get stuck in green wood then a machete, which is usually flat-sided.
Traditionally, goloks are made with a softer temper then most other knives, making them easier to sharpen in the field but also less likely to hold their edge.
Source: wikipedia
(Re-produced under fair-use and with credit)