A Mysterious Sarawak Rangers Grave.
According to the record, there are only four Sarawak Rangers buried in Taiping Christian Cemetery. When I visited the graves on 3 December 2009, I saw a fifth headstone with the inscriptions (some words were missing):
".............Malaysian Rangers died on 16 Jul 1958
11 months 10 days
Rh Gawang, Sg Pakan, Julau, Kanowit."
Firstly, the 1st Battalion Malaysian Rangers was only formed on 16 September 1963, when Malaysia was formed. If any members of the Rangers had been buried there on 16 July 1958, it definitely was not a "Malaysian Rangers" but a "Sarawak Rangers". Who could have been buried there?
This headstone is not the usual standard granite with the Sarawak Rangers badge inscribed on it. Even the words are roughly written.
As the age of the deceased was 11 months and 10 days, could it be the child of one of the Sarawak Rangers? Following this, there are a lot of questions in my mind. Were Sarawak Rangers allowed to bring their wives/families along with them to Malaya? Were they given proper housing? Where were they based at that time? Were there any of them in Taiping, Perak?
As of now, we do not know. There are very little documented records kept by the Malaysian Army. Most, if not all are kept by the British Army/Administration in various archives in London.
The four Sarawak Rangers Graves with a fifth mysterious grave.
The mysterious Sarawak Rangers grave
900815 Pte Kumpang ak. Tinggi
900665 Pte Nyambik ak. Pasang
900601 Pte Letan ak Kusing
900172 Pte Ugap ak Utut
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OTGE,
ReplyDeleteThank you. As you can see from my blog, the ultimate aim is to establish a Heroes Monument in Kuching and move all the remains of the Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers buried in Malaya and Singapore and rebury them there.
Yes, Tuan Rizal...today (26th July 2011), your efforts was realised. They (21 Bujang Berani) landed in Kuching, to a hero welcomes. I will definitely, visit the Hero's Monument when I'm back in Kuching. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAdam/Andrew,
ReplyDeleteThis is what I have dreamed about. Our Bujang Berani will never be forgotten. Relatives and visitors will continue to visit them in their final resting place and they will continue to be a beacon to the new generations.
Tabi basa ngagai nuan Tuan,niang akik ku suba Gerinang Anak Sibat ari Kerangan Bungkang Tapang Nawi Katibas Song,di bai ngagai Malaya oleh sida ari New Zealand ( bala orang putih meh nyak )maia nya apai ku baru berumur 2 tahun ( 1943 )dibai nyadi soldadu ( ko niang inek ku ) pengelama nyak ia semina bisi sekali aja pulai maia sebedau ia nurun ngagai singapore..udahnya ia lalu nadai didinga rita enda temu agi idup tuaka udah nadai. Berita pen nadai diterima nyentuk ke sarito. Engka laban kebuah menua kami kelalu jauh di ulu sungai nyak kebuah pedis amai ke madah ke berita niang aki ku nyak suba. Aku kala meda gambar ia bgulai enggau orang putih maia ba Papua New Geniue..nangkin senapang..pakaian kena ia enda nyalah-nyalah baka kena Sarawak Ranger dalam blog nuan tuk Tuan. Nyadi aku tok minta kasih enti uleh nuan nyelidik previous rekod ba sida Defend Ministry din.Kasih amai aku meda apai enggau bala ayak ku enda nemu kebuah pemati niang apai sida.( enti amai ia udah mati dini endur pendam ia ) Nyentuk ke niang inek aku nadai taun 1987 suba pen ia agi ngasuh kami menyadi nyidi serta mansik kini ke penunga niangn akik kami...minta komen ari nuan tuan.
ReplyDeleteemail aku :maruni@kpdnkk.gov.my
phone : 014 5883350
012 8526506
Terima kasih Ronnie. I'll see what I can do. I have a contact in NZ. I'll write to him and ask for his help to trace your Aki.
ReplyDelete