Commissioner-General for South East Asia Malcolm MacDonald, Temenggong Jugah ak. Barieng, Penghulu Jinggut ak. Penghulu Atan and Penghulu Sibat.Saturday, 4 July 2009
Tracker Penghulu Jinggut ak Penghulu Atan
Tracker Penghulu Jinggut ak. Penghulu Atan
- Leading the Way.
He was hand-picked by Britain's Commissioner-General for South East Asia, Malcom MacDonald, whom he called a friend to lead the first batch of Iban Trackers sent to Malaya six weeks after the Emergency was declared on August 8, 1948. He was only 17 years old. MacDonald knew, being a Penghulu and a leader of his community, he had the influence to attract the other able-bodied men to join him as Trackers.
Initially, according to Jinggut, it was difficult to get the young men to join. Possibily the idea of leaving their paddy fields, pepper gardens and family behind were the deriding factors. He was asked by Malcolm MacDonald to bring 300 men with him but he brought only 48 who were mostly elderly men. In his subsequent recruitment, he was more successful. He brought in about 200 young men and by this time too, other Ibans from the Second Division of Sarawak, including the only receipient of the highest bravery award of the Emergency, the George Cross (civilian equivalent of a Victoria Cross) also volunteered his service in Malaya. In fact, by the time the Iban Trackers was conferred a military status and reformed into the Sarawak Rangers in 1953, more than 1000 trackers had rendered their services to the Malayan Emergency. Of these, 20 were killed in actions and 25 wounded. The number of gallantry awards and certificates they had won, spoke of their courage and prowess in the battle fields.
Fate had forced Jinggut to be a man much earlier than others. In 1945, when he was just 14 years old, his brother, also a Penghulu, was killed by the Japanese when he resisted and fought them. Jinggut found himself became a Penghulu at this tender age. He was paid a handsome allowance of $15 a month.
Two years later in 1948, he answered friend Malcolm MacDonald's call to go to Malaya to become a tracker, which gave a better salary of $120 a month and a Patrol Allowance of $8 a day.
According to Jinggut, contact with the bandits were very frequent - almost everytime they went for patrol. He was caught in an ambush in Kampar, Perak once and was lucky to escape the hails of bullets. He jumped into a vehicle that was running away from the ambush only to ram into another military vehicle that suddenly appeared from a road junction.
For his services, Jinggut was awarded a number of awards which included a QMC and OBE. On his return to his long house he became a Temenggong and went on to serve his community when he was elected to become a Member of Parliament of Sarawak for two terms. He was awarded a Dato' by the State.
Commissioner-General for South East Asia Malcolm MacDonald, Temenggong Jugah ak. Barieng, Penghulu Jinggut ak. Penghulu Atan and Penghulu Sibat.
Commissioner-General for South East Asia Malcolm MacDonald, Temenggong Jugah ak. Barieng, Penghulu Jinggut ak. Penghulu Atan and Penghulu Sibat.
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Colonel Robert Rizal Sir,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for your effort to track some of the Iban trackers that are still alives.
You mentioned in your article about the number of Iban trackers served the British Army during emergency about 1000 of them ? Where are they now ?
During my military day, I only knew that Tracker Awang anak Rawang was awarded with galantary medal by the Queen. But you had mentioned that few Iban trackers beside Temenggong Jinngut were awarded with the galantary Medals by the Queen. Can we track all of these trackers? What have the government done to them ?
If BN government can pay RM1.2K to all the ex-policemen that served in the 60s, why can't they do the same to these trackers.
Efforts must be made to consolidate the real experiences of these trackers. If the history of Rosly Dhoby and ex-Sarawak TYT(both were criminals) can be re-written why no effort have been made to these warriors?
When I read your short article on Temenggung Jinggut, I felt proud about it, especially being myself an Iban.
Nowadays the perception of the (malay) generals against the Iban soldiers have changed. For them Iban soldiers only can creat trouble (I hope these generals served the services in the 70s and 80s) . I pray to God so that one day Malaysian Soldiers will go to the real war so that our real bravery prevails....thus change the perception of these (idiot) Malaysian generals on Iban Soldiers.
I wrote one article entitles Iban Dayak Has No Place in The Armed Forces in my blog ,http://www.bukittunggal.com.
Last but not least, keep up your good work..Keep Motivate our Serving brothers in Malaysian Armed Forces with your article on the Iban Warriors/ Trackers.
Mupok aku
"Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban"
Remaung,
ReplyDeleteI think we don't have to beat our own drums. People know who we really are. We are warriors and fighters. Look at the number of SPs and PGBs we have compared to the others.
God willing, after what I am about to do - setting a Heroes Memorial and to bring back all the remains of the Iban Trackers and sarawak rangers from Semenanjung and relocate them in this Memorial, I could do more for those who are still alive.
Dear Robert Rizal Abd.,
ReplyDeleteWhat you're doing about the Heroes Memorial is very commendable. I'll need to read more about the bravery of the trackers here before I could comment any further. But I do feel now that such a re-writing of Malaysian history need to be done regarding the true contribution of these men from Sarawak fighting in Semenanjung during those decisive years of Malaysian history.Probably what you have done is a very important step towards a re-interpretation of their role because they seemed to be the frontline fighters and deserve a better recognition and a proper placement in the annals of Malaysian history especially as freedom fighters in the eradication of communists terror and the downfall of Semenanjung to communism if not for the excellent services rendered by the Sarawak Trackers/Rangers.
Mahmud,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and commenting. The plan to set up the Memorial and bringing back the remains of the Trackers and Sarawak Rangers to Sarawak is still at an early stage. On 31 July we are launching the fund raising campaign in Kuching. Do come if you are around.
Saya memang kagum dan salute sama Iban Trackers! True heroes I must say.
ReplyDeleteKay,
ReplyDeleteThank you. As they were attached in small numbers to the Commonwealth Forces during the First Emergency 1948 - 1960, coupled with the fact that they were para-military, until they were reformed into Sarawak Rangers (Malayan Unit) in 1953, they were little-known. Their prowess in the battlefields, experts in tracking ability and the numerous bravery awards they had won, made them stood out.
What a great job you have done. It s very appropriate that these fine young men from Sarawak should be remembered and respected for the work they carried out in the Emergencey. Certainly we who served with them in 1951/54 will never forget their cheerfulness and great abilities.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robert for remembering the Iban Trackers kindly. The State Government of Sarawak is now fully in support of my plan. More help and recognition is on the way for those still alive. However, more importantly is the fact that their services is going to be remembered and acknowledged.
ReplyDeleteTERIMA KASEH KERANA TUAN MEMPERJUANGKAN PEJUANG YANG HAMPIR DILUPAI JASA MEREKA DALAM MEMBEBASKAN MELAYA (MALAYSIA)DARI CENKAMAN KOMUNIS DAN MEMBOLEHKAN MALAYA MENYAMBUT KEMERDEKAAN DALAM KEAMANAN.SEBAGAI SEORANG ANAK KEPADA SALAH SEORANG IBAN TRACKER SAYA BERASA BANGGA WALAUPUN KEPERITAN HIDUP, KAMI LALUI DENGAN TABAH.SAYA MEMILIKI SEORANG AYAH YANG BERANI DAN PENUH MISTERI, SEJARAH BELIAU BERSAMA ASKAR BRITISH MEMBUAT KAMI TERUJA. IA PERMATA BAGI KAMI DAN KAMI AKAN JAGA DENGAN PENUH KASEH SAYANG.SEMOGA USAHA TUAN DALAM MEMPERJUANGKAN PAHLAWAN NEGARA INI MENDAPAT KEBERKATAN ALLAH DAN SETERUSNYA BANGSA YANG TELAH MAJU SEKARANG MENGHARGAI PERKHIDMATAN PAHLAWAN-PAHLAWAN INI.
ReplyDeleteSYABAS DARI SAYA, ANAK KEPADA FF 1386 UNAU ANAK SAUH 1 ST BN THE COMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES)IBAN PLATOON.
Hi Nick,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for leaving your foot prints in my blog.
Yes, I'm on a mission to bring back the remains of the Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers killed and buried in Malaya back to Kuching.
It is all systems go . I have got the consent of the NOKs and I have formed a working committee in Kuching. I am waiting for Sarawak State Government to request for assistance from the Federal Government.