National Heroes Memorial

A paper cutting from Utusan Malaysia - courtesy of Mej (U) Nor Ibrahim's blog.

The picture above of Second Lieutenant Abdul Hamid's SP, neglected grave is taken from my squadmate, Major (U) Nor Ibrahim's blog. It shows the uncaring attitudes of Malaysians towards many things. If that can happen to one grave of the highest receipient of the nation's gallantry award, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Berani (SP), a Victoria Cross equivalent, it can happen to all the country's heroes' graves. Similar to LCpl Ungkok ak Jugam's roadside grave in Alor setar (Sarawak Rangers) which triggered me to embark on a mission to bring back all the remains of the Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers killed during the First Malayan Emergency 1948 - 1960 and buried in various parts of Peninsula Malaysia including Singapore back to their homeland, Sarawak, the neglected grave above has set me thinking of making a move to suggest to the Government to set up a National Heroes Memorial where all (if possible) the nation's heroes could be relocated and buried in one place. A body can then be tasked to administer it. Major (U) Nor Ibrahim (Retired) has brought out the question of a National Heroes Memorial where all the nation's heroes - the SP, PGB, JPP, PTU, Mention-In-Despatches etc, could be buried in one place (of course with the NOK's consent). This is a big task but who, other than the SP & PGB Association, should be burdened to shoulder the heavy responsibility? I see no other people / association is more appropriate. So, I started to contact fellow SP & PGB holders. They seemed to agree with my proposal. We feel we should have a preliminary meeting in KL, involving those in KL and other members outside KL who can make it. So, the second step has been taken - following the first step my squadmate had boldly taken to highlight Second Lieutenant Abdul Hamid's neglected grave. Followings were events / happenings that had led to my decision to realise a National Heroes Memorial (taken from Major (U) Nor Ibrahim's blog):

Pusara Pahlawan Negara

Saya dan 'squad-mate', Lt Kol Robert Rizal Abdullah PGB (B), telah berkomunikasi bermula dengan coretan ini... 18 September 2010 8:47:47... Just a proposal. Would you like to take the challenge: Make a study of all the PGBs & SPs graves throughout Malaysia - especially onn their state and suggest to the government to set up a Heroes Memorial such as Arlington and move all the graves to this National Memorial. I can assist you if you want. Respons saya pada 19 September 2010 06:55... Thank you for your proposal. Much as I like to accept your challenge, family commitments are the main constraints. As I stated in my 'coretan', i strongly feel that all those killed in 'real' actions should be buried in the 'National Heroes Memorial'. What I mean by 'real' is that those killed by the enemies and booby traps. As far as I'm concerned, those aircrew killed in aircraft crashed (not due to enemy's fire) were/are not heroes. Each recipient of the 5 Gallantry Awards is guaranteed a plot there, ie, if NOK permits. Respons Rizal selanjutnya pada 19 September 2010 8:08:18... I feel someone must take up the cause earnestly - rebury all the PGB and SP dead in a National Heroes War Memorial, ideally located in either KL, Terendak or PD. This could be a tourist attraction as well with its mini museum located within. I do not know whether I have the strength and stamina to see and carry it out. It will take a couple of years of instant "fight". Let's play it by the ear and circumstances. Definitely we must have a team. No one man can do it. Saya ambil petikan e-mel Mejar Ishak... '...beberapa minggu yg lalui saya ada termenonton satu LIVE oleh BBC worldnews.... Kerajaan Perancis telah menjumpai sebuah kubor besar di sebuah daerah. Apabila di siasat didapati kubor itu tertanam beratus ratus tentera British, australia, NZ dan France. Mereka terkorban dan ditanam disitu semasa perang Dunia Pertama. (WW1) Kerajaan kelima lima negara ini bersetuju membuat sebuah Pusara Pahlawan di daerah tersebut. Pada hari itu semasa saya termenonton LIVE dapat menyaksikan pembukaan rasmi pusara tersebut. Ada satu ceremony, simbolik....mayat di gali dari kubor besar dibawa dengan kereta kuda dan masukan dalam kubor baru dan di saksikan oleh waris waris tentera yg terkorban. Kebanyakan nya cucu tentera tu.......they came thousand miles away from home. Mat Salleh bab respect depa punya pahlawan memang kagum.' Berita mutakhir...saya menerima berita ini melalui facebook...

Robert Rizal Abdullah20 September 2010 at 07:23 Subject: Heroes Memorial for PGB & SP (and whatever else) I am thinking of picking this up from where you have left. I have been contacting buddy PGB & SP holders on this. Since we have an association (PGB & SP holders), I feel we are the right people who should take up and chase the matter seriously. An initial meeting is in the offing in KL soon to thrash the matter.

Squad...Terima kasih kerana sedia memulakan projek ini, Syukur Alhamdulillah. Maka bermulalah 'Fasa ke2'...Over to you, Squad. Saya cadangkan persatuan anda turut juga menjejaki pusara penerima JPP, PTU & KPK. Untuk makluman anda, pusara wira-wira TUDM:

· PGB - 1 ~ Kapt (U) Choo Yeok Boo (Sg Petani)

· PTU - 3 ~ Lt Jen (U) Mohd Taib (Rantau Panjang), Lt (U) Chung Min Teck (Klian Intan) dan Sjn Leong Yee Heang (Penang)

· KPK - 2 ~ Kapt (U) Wan Munsiff (Kangar) dan Kapt (U) Mustapha Kamal (Taiping)

Bayangkan.... Lt M Abdul Hamid Bin Ismail, L/Kpl Abdullah Bin Majid (Sapper), L/Kpl Suandi Bin Saim (ART), Sjn Leong Leong Yee Heang (AQM), Lt (U) Wan Munsiff, Kapt Hardev Singh, Rjr Dumbon ak Chek, Kpl Mohamed Adzahar Bin Mokhtar(Peninjau) dan ramai lagi, dengan izin waris mereka, semuanya disemadikan di Pusara Pahlawan Negara!! Saya akan e-melkan coretan ini ke KEMENTAH tetapi...FAHAM-FAHAM SAJALAH!! Atau sesiapa yang 'buddy-buddy' dengan PM/TPM? Hanya dengan campur tangan mereka ditambah dengan 'laporan' Persatuan SP & PGB, 'probability' impian ini menjadi kenyataan boleh 99.9% termakbul, InsyaAllah. Pembaca...Pada 18 Sep, saya telah menghantar e-mel kepada Penerbit "Galeri Nasional"RTM 1 mencadangkan agar RTM membuat liputan terhadap isu ini. Beliau berjanji akan membacanya pada hari ini (Isnin, 20 Sep). Sama ada dipersetujui atau sebaliknya...Wallahualam!

Terkini...19 September Jam 3215. Terima panggilan telefon bagi memaklumkan bahawa pusara arwah Lt M Abdul Hamid SP telah dibersih setelah diarahkan oleh PTD. 6 RAMD juga turut mencadangkan kepada Jatawankuasa madrasah agar ditukar nama kepada Madrasah Abdul Hamid...Terpulanglah kepada mereka. Syukur Alhamdulillah. Saya difahamkan arahan ini diberi setelah PTD terbaca surat dalam 'Forum' Utusan Malaysia...bukannya terbaca e-mel yang saya hantar. Sekarang terbukti e-mel yang kurang sedap diketahui oleh Bos tidak akan membolos 'gate-keepers'. Mana mungkin Bos ada masa untuk membaca e-mel...maklumlah, mereka sibuk memikirkan keselamatan negara daripada melayan perkara remeh-temeh ini!! Pelajaran dari episod ini...Untuk mendapat respons, lebih baik menghubungi media massa. Kalau nak hantar e-mel, dapatkan alamat e-mel peribadi mereka.

Posted by Mej (B) Nor Ibrahim Bin Sulaiman at 5:39 AM 0 comments Links to this post

Plight of an ex-British soldier

Abdul Rahim and wife

18191973 LCpl Abdul Rahim Bin Abdul Karim enlisted in the British Army on 24 August 1962 in Singapore and served as a driver in the Royal Army Ordinance Corps (RAOC). As fate had it, he was struck by a sickness that eventually paralysed him. He was medically boarded out and on 6 June 1969 he was discharged from service - after having served for 7 years and 73 days. He went home to his village in Kuala Kangsar. Paralysed and with three additional mouths to feed, he must had found the going tough. The British Army regulation of not giving any form of pension to medically-boarded out personnels whose sicknesses / injuries were not due to service seemed cruel indeed. Abdul Rahim was not paid any pension. Early this year, after 31 long years, the family was making an effort to find out whether Abdul Rahim is entitled to a pension. Late though it may seemed, it is better late than never. On 5 September 2010, his son Norazman who is currently working in Kuching called me to find out whether I could help out. I couldn't turn down the request of a person in need. So, the next day I drove over to locate his father's house in Kg Talang Masjid, Kuala Kangsar, Perak. I found it without much difficulty. After acquiring the relevant details and documents, I left for Taiping an hour later. The chances of getting a invaliding pension seems bleak as it is clearly spelt out in the regulation. We are hoping for a charitable Briton to bend the rules a little and give Abdul Rahim some form of monetary allowance / compensation. I have sent a letter to that effect to the relevant authority in the UK. Meanwhile let us keep our fingers crossed.

Update: 8 February 2011

Following my inquiry letter to Service Personnel & Veterans Agency in the UK regards gratuity payment to Abdul Rahim, I'm afraid, I have reached the end of the road to help this ex-British Army soldier. The explanations given by the SP & VA are very clear: He is not entitled to a Disability Pension and the gratuity, though the amount of $172 was negligible, nevertheless was already paid out to him. What remain is the hope of getting some little monetary aid that are being dished out to the ex-British soldiers in Malaysia at the moment.

An Update on Ops Ngerapuh

The 1st Experimental platoon Sarawak Rangers (the para-military Iban Trackers trained and reformed into Sarawak Rangers, which made them into full-fledged soldiers). Kpl Adrian ak. Tandang (seated extreme right was killed in a battle with the CTs on 27 January 1953). They were trained in Segenting Camp, Port Dickson.

The 2nd Experimental platoon, Sarawak Rangers. By the time Sarawak Rangers was disbanded on 15 September 1963, Sarawak Rangers had served with 42 British and Commonwealth Regiments. In the twelve years of fighting, their casualties were surprisingly low, considering that they were up front all the time. They suffered 20 KIA and 25 WIA. Taking into account that they were initially para-military (therefore enjoying less advantages and awards than regular soldiers), they had earned between them one George Cross (civilian equivalent of Victoria Cross), One George Medal, One Military Medal, One British Empire Medal and 23 Mention-In-Despatches.

Op Ngerapuh (renamed Ops Mai Pulai (Operation Bringing Home)) is on its final phase. The target date to bring home the remains of the twenty one Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers buried in Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore is 31 August 2010. A Sarawak State -level Committee has been formed to handle Ops Mai Pulai, headed by the Deputy State Secretary II, Datu Ose Murang. Its members are from Headquarters 1 Infantry Division, Sarawak Veterans Association, the Protocol Department, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation and the Chief Minister's Office. This is an appropriate and high-level committee who is empowered to make decisions and have the resources available on their hands. With this formation, my ad-hoc committee which I had formed in early 2009 is now dissolved. All matters are now at the hands of the State and Federal Committees. I have also washed my hands off any responsibility regards Ops Mai Pulai. Th following points have been decided: 1. The remains of the Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers will be buried in a cemetery located near to the present St Joseph's cemetery and the Sarawak Club and adjacent to the 2nd World War Heroes Memorial. The committee saw the site as suitable. 2. SEDC has been given the task of redeveloping the present Monument / Cenotaph at the Museum Garden to accomodate more facilities such as parade ground etc. 3. The target date to bring the remains home is set for 31 August 2010. Meanwhile ground works are being carried out by the various Federal sub-committees. Can they meet the target date? Let's keep our fingers crossed.

11 July 2011
I called one of the Sarawak State committee members and he told me the preparation of the reburial ground in Kuching, not far from the State Museum is in progress, He said it should be ready by 27 July 2011.

I can see that once it is ready, the Federal Committee in Kuala Lumpur will then begin the task of exhuming the remains, if any, and put them inside special boxes, to be transported to Kuching.

I have to document and record all these events for my own purpose and use. I don't know who are involved now as the officers and personnels are very mobile. Will find out.

12 July 2011
I have identified two officers involved in Op Mai Pulai.

I was told that the exhumation works will begin on 20 July 2011, including the 2 graves in Singapore. The remains will be flown to Kuching on 26 July 2011. The reburial will be done on 27 July 2011. I'm trying to get the Sarawak State Committee to sponsor my trip for the event - otherwise I'll have to make the trip on my own. I have to see the project that I had started in 2008 to the end.

I hope to witness the exhumation of the 4 graves in Taiping Christian Cemetery.

An overnight cruise in the Straits of Malacca

The starboard aisle at deck 8

In front of a lift at deck 10 where my cabin was.

The open deck where you could enjoy the fresh and cool sea breeze.

The hugh ship "Pisces" alongside its berth in Penang. It has 11 decks.

I and my house scientist (wife) were doing our daily morning walk in the Lake Garden of Taiping. We met a relative. In the short exchanges she told us about the cruise. It was planned for 30 July 2010 (but eventually brought forward to 29 July). The price was RM250 per person. The actual fare was only RM130.00. The RM250 was inclusive of the bus fare to and from Taiping/Penang. A bit on the high side, I thought. I will organise my own trips in the future. It sounded good. It offered a good opportunity for me to look for good subjects for my photography. My wife was not keen as she couldn't stand the ever-moving / bobbing / pitching ships. She had a bad experience in Kuching in the 80s. I didn't get all my wish granted. The cruise ship set sail at about 8 pm and returned to Penang at about 8 am the next day. In the inky darkness, there was no spectacular sight that I could catch with my camera. Anyway, there were plenty of activities on board - dining, musics, karaoke, duty-free shopping, massages and a casino. In the overnight cruise, you are not suppose to sleep. It would be an opportunity wasted. All too soon, the cruise was over - leaving a feeling that I had not achieved what I came for. Photography was my main intention. Cruising in an open sea at night was not a good choice anyway. It would have been better to go into the deep jungle.

The Last Post

A friend post this interesting article on the LAST POST - a hauntingly sad song played by a bugler or buglers at parades and funerals. I never knew of its beginning until now.

Last Post.

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which the Last Post was played; this brings out a new meaning to it. Here is something everyone should know. Until I read this, I didn't know about its beginning. But I checked it out and it's true:

We have all heard the haunting song playe3d by a bugler or buglers at parades and funerals - 'The Last Post.'

It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the American Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia . The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.

The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody, we now know as 'The Last Post' used at military funerals was born.

The words are: Day is done. Gone the sun. From the lakes From the hills. From the sky. All is well.. Safely rest. God is nigh. Fading light. Dims the sight. And a star. Gems the sky. Gleaming bright. From afar. Drawing nigh. Falls the night. Thanks and praise. For our days. Neath the sun Neath the stars. Neath the sky As we go. This we know. God is nigh

Repaying my brother's good deeds.

My eldest brother, Upi Langi, a retired Sarawak Police Constable.

Those who have read my book will know about him. One night, sometime in the early 50s, before the main Kuching - Sri Aman trunk road reached our long house, he and two other young men quietly left and abandoned our long house in the middle of night to look for greener pastures in the big towns. Their absence were quickly discovered the next day. For the next few weeks the long house was seemingly dead. The loss of the 3 young men were a big loss to the community. Nothing was heard of them for the next few years - until one of them wrote and sent us a letter. We were overjoyed to hear that two of them had became policemen with the Sarawak Constabulary. One of them was my brother Upi. The third young man? Nothing was ever heard of him. Was he still alive? No one knew. It was the best news ever. The long house was happy again. Then in 1954, my brother came home for a three-months leave. He brought along a young wife and a baby named John Jackson. He looked a changed man. He was like a "tuan besar!" The three months went by very fast and he had to return to Kapit. Seeing father's poor condition and his inability to feed his 6 children, after mother's death, he offered to take along our youngest brother Linggir. However, being the youngest, he was father's favourite child and refused to allow brother Upi to take him along to Kapit. My father offered me instead. As I was my eldest sister's favourite brother (she took care of me when mother died), my brother Upi had to make certain my sister Impo was not at home when he departed the long house. So, I began my long journey into the wide, big and open world. I would never be the same person - ever again. That was the beginning of my journey - a journey of "no return". Even after my retirement, I'm now in a land far away from home. Do I longed for my long house and folks? I do. But fate had taken me to where I am and I'm hapless. I leave my fate in God's hands. Brother Upi took care of my schooling in Kapit, then Lutong near Miri, then in a fishing town of Bintulu. In 1962, I had to leave him to continue my secondary schooling, as a boarder, in Tanjong Lobang School in Miri. The rest of my story was history. I had always dreamed of repaying him for what he had done to me. But alas! I have my own family to take care of and couldn't spare much more to offer him. Even that were far and few. I couldn't forget his words when he called me "kacang lupakan kulit!" (a nut forgetting its skin). I kept that cutting words in my heart and hoped one day I could do much more for him. I helped him in anyway I could - sent him some money whenever I have some to spare. I was hoping to bring him to see the old places where he had been working but his frail condition now does not allow it and his eyesight and hearing are also failing him. He is 84 years old now. A week ago he sent me a text message asking me to buy him a hearing aid as he has totally lost his hearing. I bought one and sent it by our Pos Laju, our National Courier. I hope he will find it effective on him. God bless him. An Update I called him on 4 August 2010 to inquire whether he has received the hearing aid I had couriered to him a few days ago. He has received the item and he now can hear well. What a relief and I am happy for him. But he is complaining the battery is going very fast.

The Grievances of a Blogger

I started my blog in 2008 with the sole aim of writing down my experiences while serving 25 years in the Malaysian Rangers, in particular 3rd Rangers. Though I have commanded 10th Rangers for four years in Sarawak and led it in operations against the communist terrorists in Sarawak, I have always considered myself as 3rd Rangers. Somehow, the experiences and memories I had gained in the Battalion were more everlasting. Three years into blogging, I seemed to have expended all my stories that I wanted to write down. It was my hope that they could benefit the younger generations or in the least, make them aware what we had done to defend the country from falling into the hands of the Communists. Furthermore, I have written my biography (My Adventure) and all that I wanted to say are in the book. So, where do I go from here? Articles are far and few now. It is not in my nature to write things that could be perceived as anti establishment. No, I do not wish to be seen as a disgruntled pensioner, though I have a few disgruntlements. Let me tackle my unhappiness in my own quiet way. I envy my friend (my squad) who is running a blog http://xnuripilot.blogspot.com who seems to write with ease on the little daily happenings in his life. I wish I could do the same but in the back of my mind, somebody is whispering: that is too trevial and who cares! But who cares and why should I care? Just keep on writing whatever comes to mind. It is after all your life's diary. Keep going man!