The Passing of My former CQMS of the 70s, SSgt (Rtd) Mohammad Rahmat

Everything happened so fast. Only a couple of months ago, when I last met him, he was very healthy and was going about his job (he was doing minor house repairs and renovations) as usual.                                         

A month ago he complained of being drained out after the day's job - something he had never felt before. The family suspected something was wrong when his skin began to turn yellow. They sent him to Lumut Naval Hospital but surprisingly it lacked the expertise and he was referred to General Hospital Selayang in Kuala Lumpur which diagnosed him for a 3rd degree cancer of the spleen.                                                 

He was given a 0% chance of recovery and after a week there he was sent home where he was cared for by his children. After a week, he seemed to react favourably to the medicine the Hospital gave him. His swollen legs had subsided and the yellow colour in his eyes had gone. He even could mumble some words and talk to his children.                                                                                                                                       

Upon a friend's advice, the children took him to an Islamic faith healer. It was upon his return that his condition took a turn for the worse. He was still very much with the Army - in his mind and spirit. Just before he drew his last breath, he told his children to call for me so that I could bring him to the hospital. "Quickly" he whispered, "there are many soldiers waiting for me." He drew his last breath peacefully at 13.30 p.m on 21 April 2011.                                                                                                                                         

Dear God, how he must had cherished the days and friendships when we were serving in 3rd Malaysian Rangers. Like me, and many of us, our short yet unforgetable lives in 3rd Rangers in the 70s were something that we will cherish till our dying days. Allahyarham SSjn (Rtd) Mohammad Rahmat (Mat Bond) had shown us. God bless his soul. Al-Fatihah.