Flag of my heart

Dissemination of Preliminary Investigation Report without Permission

2015-05-28T08:34:00.002-07:00

The last 2 years, I've been receiving multiple messages that looks to have been written by investigation officer.

These messages received via whatsapp reads like preliminary investigation reports. Often, these reports contain information which are supposed to be embargoed from non-personnel like me.

Worst still, some of these messages share the name(s), identification document number(s), and age of either suspect(s)/victim(s). Some even managed to obtain photos of the suspect(s)/victim(s).

Let's see what law have you broken:

Official Secrets Act, for illegal dissemination of preliminary investigation papers.
If the victim's or suspect's name and identity document number are being shared, that is in contravention of Personal Data Protection Act 2010.
If the victim or suspect is below 18 years old, meaning he/she is a juvenile, that is in contravention of Children Protection Act.

If you recall, in the case of the late Nurin Jazlin, photos of her body was shared in the Internet. Her father rightly sued the govt for the case.

So if you don't want to be sued or prosecuted, stop sharing these information.

11th Malaysian Plan - First Glance

2015-05-22T04:09:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, the gist of 11th Malaysia Plan was first tabled by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. And it is disconcerting there is no mention of plans for defence expenditure.

While so-called pacifists and activists may sigh a relief that Malaysia is not going to be part of a global arms race, this may not bode well to our nation's sovereignty.

However, it is still all too early to throw in the towel and speculate. Let's be patient and see how well did Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had managed to convince Ministry of Finance for 11th Malaysian Plan.

Meanwhile at South China Sea, the Dragons of Middle Kingdom did not sit still...

Defending Malaysia - 11th Malaysia Plan

2015-05-20T09:58:00.003-07:00

Credit - Najib Razak's Facebook

Early today, I received excerpt of speech by our Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein in the Parliament with regards of the 11th Malaysia Plan. The content of the speech is to me very disturbing. I will let you be the judge of it.

________________________________________

KUALA LUMPUR: Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein hari ini berkata perbelanjaan untuk Rancangan Malaysia ke-11 (RMK-11) perlulah bersandarkan kepada kemampuan dan keperluan yang sedia ada.

Menurutnya, tiada guna pihak kerajaan membincangkan sesuatu perkara, sekiranya tidak mampu membiayainya kerana tindakan itu hanya akan menimbulkan masalah.

“Apa jua yang kita miliki mesti tepat dan berhubung kait dengan ancaman yang terpaksa kita hadapi.

“Dan ancaman hari ini mungkin berbeza daripada yang kita hadapi dahulu… kemunculan IS dan sebagainya,” kata Hishammuddin ketika ditemui pemberita di lobi Parlimen, pada Rabu.

Bagaimanapun, katanya tidak ada guna jika negara memiliki aset-aset yang canggih sedangkan ancaman yang diterima hanyalah ancaman yang asas.

Beliau mengulas tentang peruntukan RMK11 bagi sektor pertahanan, di mana beliau menekankan tiga prinsip yang perlu disandarkan iaitu kemampuan, tahap ancaman dan pihak-pihak berkepentingan.

“Masa untuk kita membeli aset dengan sewenang-wenangnya tanpa memikir kepada tiga perkara asas tadi telah pun berlalu di bawah kepimpinan saya dalam kementerian ini,” kata Hishammuddin lagi.

Selain itu, beliau juga berharap agar kesemua sasaran akan disesuaikan bersandarkan kepada apa yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib, yang juga Menteri Kewangan, akan membentangkan RMK11 esok di Parlimen jam 11.30 pagi.

Pembentangan pada persidangan Dewan Rakyat itu merupakan hala tuju negara untuk lima tahun akan datang.

________________________________________

This statement is very disconcerting.

As I have written before and will continue to write, regardless of opposition to what I have written, regardless of the ridicules I may be getting, regardless of accusations that I am a war-monger, any further cuts in budgets to Malaysian Armed Forces will cost us dearly in the future.

State of our Military

Our military is an aging military, with bulk of our main combat assets aging between 20 years to 40 years old. Most of these assets were bought during Tun Mahathir's era as the Prime Minister. An example would be the Sikorsky S61A4, better known as Nuri. Most, if not all the crews operating the Nuri helicopters today are just half the age of these once magnificent helicopters.

Many of these assets were also purchased in very small quantity, which contributes heavily to their wear-and-tear status. Our MiG29N Fulcrum numbered 18 units when the plane entered our inventory. After losing 2 to separate crash incidents, this left us with 16 to cover almost half of our country. I don't even want to comment how many are still flying.

Slapped with SLEP

Our navy had to undergo a series SLEP, or Service Life Extension Programme, just so our ageing Navy surface combatant ships can continue be used for another 10 years. Mind you that naval vessels are recommended to be replaced by the age of 30. And our ships' average age is 20.

On top of that, guided missiles and torpedoes on our ships have largely reached end of their service life. In other words, they are expiring.

Why is it a problem? We're Not Going to War

Cut the crap. We are not facing a war today. But can you guarantee tomorrow?

Lahad Datu Incursion - The Chinese Factor

Never say we never see it coming. A rag tag guerrilla fighters had forced the largest mobilization of combat units on home soil in 24 years. Most of our assets were mobilize to counter the threat from southern Philippines.

While our forces were concentrated in Sabah, 4 PLA - Navy ships entered our territorial waters at Beting Serupai, also known as James Shoal. This rocky underwater outcrop is located only a mere 80 nautical mile from Bintulu town, Sarawak. The Chinese calls this rocky underwater outcrop as Zhenmu Reef, and they are claiming this as theirs. Just a mere 80 nautical miles from Bintulu town, our Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) town.

During the last 2 years, the Chinese are getting more and more aggressive in the South China Sea, which they claim as theirs in their entirety just because it is named as South China Sea. While there are some in Malaysia that says China is a friend to Malaysia, do not underestimate their willingness to use force to enlarge their border. Vietnam learnt that the hard way in the Battle of Paracel Island.

With the current disposition of our navy, it will be very challenging for us to defend this rocky outcrop. You might say why defend this rocky outcrop? Because it is part of Sarawak, part of Malaysia, part of my home. Would you allow me to stay in your living room, coming in and out without your permission, without even paying rent to you?

At the current rate of our naval disposition, we are looking at a very grim picture. With Chinese naval vessels are largely missile-equipped, sending our mostly naval gun-equipped ships against the Chinese Navy to defend our territorial waters is akin to sending sheep to the slaughterhouse. Might as well to prepare the body bags firsts.

From the North They Came

Credit - The Philippines Senate

Just this week, Begnino Aquino III, the President of the Republic of Philippines, had reiterated that he will never drop the Philippines' claim over Sabah. The Philippines contended that Sabah belonged to them as it was previously part of the Sultanate of Sulu, which is now part of the Philippines.

Some took to this claim as being propaganda to scare Sabahans. The fact is he Philippines had this claim since 1963. And this was one of the reasons why the Philippines protested against formation of Malaysia together with Indonesia. A protest that saw the formation of Malaysia being postponed from 31st August 1963 to 16th September 1963, to allow the completion of referendum on the formation of Malaysia.

In fact, the Philippines had hosted to AM Azahari, the leader of Partai Rakyat Brunei, who had launched the Brunei Revolution, who was in turn, loyal to Indonesia.

When the Confrontation or Konfrontasi failed, the Philippines did not gave up. They launched Oplan Merdeka, or Operation Merdeka. Oplan Merdeka called for insertion of specially trained Filipino troops into Sabah and then to use these people to foment dissent which will end up with the so-called 'loyal' sons and daughters of Sabah to call for military assistance from the Philippines to stop the subjugation of Sabahan from the hands of Malayan. The plan had went well, till Jabidah Massacre happened. The young Filipino Muslim soldiers that were supposed to lead the attack were massacred, This precipitated the Mindanao conflict that has yet to end till today.

From the South, Comes The Garuda

Serumpun, they claimed. Which is true. But even serumpun, Indonesia launched a Konfrontasi against Malaysia in 1963. Only to end with the fall of Soekarno.

Till today, they have yet to formally drop their claim over Sarawak and part of Sabah.

And for those who had the opportunity to watch former president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's farewell parade held by TNI, you would be very disturbed to see the photo of SBY being superimposed on top of a map of Indonesia, with Sabah and Sarawak as part of the Indonesia.

Today, Indonesia's military has the second strongest teeth in Southeast Asia, second only to Singapore.

Preoccupation with Politics

Malaysia in the 1990's was a regional power. We were second only to Singapore. While Singapore has the equipment and manpower, we had the staying power.

But politics took over. We have an ineffective opposition who choose to oppose for the sake of opposing, and an ineffective government, who were concerned about military procurement becoming a political issue. And thus begin the journey that had slowly weakened our military.

Remove Wasteful Contracts, Send Amin to Jail

In my past articles, I had mentioned before the name of Amin Shah. A name so reviled in Malaysian military circle, that he single-handed destroyed Royal Malaysian Navy's plan to be the most powerful navy in Southeast Asia. Had he not squandered the billions, we would have sufficient surface naval vessels to protect our waters. Last was heard of him, he is still alive, and not yet prosecuted.

Credit to the photo owner

Next in line would be removal of wasteful contracts. As I had said earlier, the Navy was slapped with SLEP. The fact is nearly the whole military is being slapped with SLEP. The Army Air Corp requested for attack helicopters, which could be put to good use in Sabah, they were given S61A4 Nuri, painted in digital camouflague. They are now nicknamed Lego Nuri.

The Laksamana class, once RMN most potent vessels. Now some of them had lost their teeth. The missiles removed. Yet to be confirmed to be replaced.

Duty of Care

It is our duty of care to ensure the men and women that are willing to sacrifice their lives for us to get the best available equipment that our budget can buy. Not to give them some ageing equipment, hoping they can make best out of it. And when they fail (God forbid), we deride them for being useless.

What I had written today, will make some people be unhappy. So be it. Better to get someone unhappy than keeping peace, till the lives of our men and women are being put in danger.

Just yesterday, I walked passed a military hearse, carrying the coffin of one of our servicemen. I stopped by the roadside to give my respect. And it brought me back to the memory of the night that I attended Supt Ibrahim Lebar's funeral. A feeling that I wish I will never need to endure in the future.

And for those who keep on denying the need to upgrade our military assets, then you should not be bothered to buy insurance for yourself. As military assets are insurance to our nation's sovereignty as is insurance is to us.

NOTE: Crossing fingers for tomorrow.

2015-05-20T09:57:00.002-07:00

Dear readers,

I have actually moved to a newer blog. But my heart bugged me to reactivate this blog. So in a change of heart, I'll be using both blogs.

My new blog can be found here.

http://themalaysianpatriot.blogspot.com/

Happy reading.

Let the Jalur Gemilang fly high always

2012-09-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

Wednesday September 12, 2012

WHEN Malaya gained its independence in 1957, the whole nation was united under a single banner, then unnamed, that we now know as the Jalur Gemilang.
In 1963, the flag was slightly modified to accommodate the new nation that we now know as Malaysia.
It has been 55 years since the Jalur Gemilang was first flown in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad’s building.
Since 1957, thousands of young men and women have paid the ultimate price in the name of freedom and sovereignity of Malaysia.
Every single drop of blood that they shed ensured that the Jalur Gemilang would continue to be flown.
And on the day that their loved ones sent them off for the last time, the Jalur Gemilang had covered their coffins.
These young men and women were sons, daughters, or parents.
They came from different races, religions and backgrounds.
They see not the colour of their skin and religion when they were asked to put their lives on the line for the country they love.
Ask Capt A. Shanmuganathan, who died at the young age of 24 in 1973. Ask Ranger Mat Isa Hassan, a Chinese Muslim who died trying to rescue Capt Shanmuganathan.
Ask Trooper Matthew anak Medan, who were executed for refusing to divulge operational secrects while being tortured by the al-Ma’unah.
These are the true patriots.
But what happened on the eve of Merdeka is despicable.
To ask for the flag to be changed just to satisfy their political dreams only shows how much these people disrespect the sacrifices of these young men and women for our country.
Today, we decry the fact that the younger generation is not patriotic.
How can we get the younger generation to be patriotic when those who are in power or the power-to-be choose on their whims and fancies to change the images that symbolise the pride of this nation?
Leave the Jalur Gemilang alone. Let it be the only flag that our loyalty is to. Let it be that our allegiance is to Malaysia.
LIEW SHAN LEE
Kuala Lumpur

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/12/focus/12008930&sec=focus

Happy Birthday Malaysia! And to those who dislike this country's flag, get out of my country!

2012-08-31T06:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Malaysia.

55 years as an independent nation is not a long time. But this 55 years are not short years. Though independence was sought and obtained with negotiation with our former colonial power, the Great Britain, yet it was not as a smooth sailing as many of us had thought it was.
From 1948 to 1960, the country was in the midst of an insurgency that nearly engulf the whole country in fire. Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), with members made up most of newly arrived Chinese migrant from China and some local Chinese, sought to overthrow the government in line with the instruction received from Comintern. Thousands of lives were lost, people's livelihood were threatened.
On the other side, government forces consisted Malays, local Chinese and Indians, supported by the might of British Army, who in turn were also strengthened by soldiers from other Commonwealth nations and territories, including from future territory of Malaysia, Sarawak.
1955, the nation erupted in joy as Britain had agreed to assist the local population to gain self-rule. Still, the CPM sought to continue to fight for their version of independence.
August 1957 came, an army patrol stumbled upon a group of rubber tappers being surrounded by a bunch of communist terrorists. An intense battle was fought, but the terrorist bandits quickly slitthered away. The soldiers, concerned for the safety of the rubber tappers were surprised; all the rubber tappers had escaped and not to be found. But what were found were details and sketches of the Stadium Merdeka. The not-so-innocent rubber tappers were actually CT assasins planning to attack the event, hoping that they can prevent the independence, so that the British will stay and fight, and then to legitimatize their war (Source: Memoir Kapten Hassan).
1963 - 1966; the nation again faced a new threat, this time from its neighbour, Indonesia. Indonesia's then-president, Sokaerno had other plans. He wanted to create a much grander nation called Indonesia Raya, with the grand aim to be a super power in South-East Asia. His dreams ended in tatters as Malaysians stood together and fought back, hard.
1969 came. The darkest period in the nation's history as economic disparaty reared its head. Though there were many versions of the event, each blaming other party as the cause of the racial riots, the main cause was simple. It all boiled down to uneven distribution of wealth.
As dark as it was the event that nearly brought down the country, there was a silver lining to the event. The event caught the country's main enemy, CPM with their pants down. They had been planning to infiltrate their armed workers parties into the country to reignite the masses' support against the burgeoius government forces, as they say in their language. The riots threw a spanner into their plans; the army were immediately placed on alert all over the country as a result of the riot.
1970 to 1976/8. The second insurgency were no less fiery. But as the war was fought far from population area, many had forgotten. The threat of gangsterism were seen far nearer than the threat from Communism.
Late 1980's, CPM continued their war. This time, some of their best, amongst them Cheong Chor had infiltrated into the mass, no longer hiding in the forest, but amongst the people. Only after he was finally arrested, CPM was on the so-called final retreat.
1989, CPM surrendered to government terms. Then head of the Malaysian Special Branch, (Tan Sri) Rahim Noor was said to have prophesied; today the communist had surrendered. Tomorrow, our enemies will be harder to be defined. And amongst them, religious extremist.
1995 - 1996; a new threat emerged. Religious extremism began to rear its ugly head. An Islamic sect, al Arqam began to threaten the nation. They were said to have formed an army of Islamic warrior called the Badr Warriors. Numbering 300, they were said would be the forefront to overthrow the secular government of the day. And amongst them were at least a high-ranking navy official. The sect was banned; in essense, they were just using Islam and many of their teachings were not in line with Islam itself.
2001 - 2002, the nation faced threats from 3 different spectrum; religious extremist in the form of Al Maunah, foreign terrorist in the form of Abu Sayyaf, and local group with link with international terrorist in the form of Kumpulan Militan Malaysia, a group of former Afghan war volunteers. There were also links that showed that some of the September 11 event were planned in KL, but the links were tenous.
Today, the nation celebrates its 55th Independence Day. Unfortunately, on the eve of the great day, a group of people, hiding under the guise of Janji Demokrasi (Democratic Promise) had a demonstration at Dataran Merdeka. Though it may have been the noble intent of many Malaysians that had attended the event to show their support to have a clean and fair election, the event was badly marred by 2 incidents. A group of people finally decided to show their actual political leaning by displaying their version of Malaysian flag. Of all the images, they choose to attack the very symbol of Malaysia.
These group of shameless people choose to call for the change of the flag that we had all grown to love, to a generic flag. True, the flag represents the Nusantara element. But as a country still trying to create a strong national identity, this should not be done. Furthermore, the flag that they proudly took out bore resemblence to the very flag the leftist movements in pre-independence Malaya had wanted to use as Malaya's flag then. Amongst the leftist were CPM. Let me say this out clearly; if you dislike this country's flag, get out of my country!
Another event that marred the night was a young man who barred his bare butt to the photos of the Prime Minister. Young man, if you dislike your country's leadership, don't show your butt, but show your vote! The current establishment is also not my favourite. But I don't go show my butt to show my displeasure. If you get arrested, you deserve what will come your way.
Before today's event, I had been receiving information that some of the so-called pro-people events, Bersih amongst others had been infiltrated by left-wingers. Even during the last Bersih, one protester was seen shouting "Labor Party!". But there is no longer any Labor party in Malaysia. It was disbanded by the founder when he found out that his party had been infiltrated by Min Yuen. And now, the flag of the socialist left-wingers making their 'debut', or rather reintroduction after years in hiding.
Then, there was a local social activist who had wrote to an international website, mentioning that this country is a republic. Appalled, how can he not know that his own country is a constitutional monarchy and not a republic? Unless, that was his intention.
I ferverently hope that both sides of the political divide see that some of them are now being manipulated to bring forth their sick political dream. Let not it be because of their political dream, the dreams of 29 million citizens of Malaysia go down in flames!

The Passing of a Hero

2012-08-21T08:42:00.000-07:00

On 16 August 2012, another national hero had passed silently from this realm to the next. Retired Warrant Officer I Indang anak Engkas formerly of the 1st Royal Ranger Regiment had passed away due to heart failure in Kuching General Hospital.
The late Warrant Officer had led an audiciously brave ambush on an enemy unit consisting of 30 men when he only had 5 men on 20 May 1972. They had tracked a group of enemy from the North Kalimantan Communist Party in an operation in Tanjung Kunyit, Sibu. Soon they had lost the trails that they were following. Spreading out, they found 3 grains of rice in a newly opened trail and decided to follow the trail upon resting. It was not long before they found their targets. Despite the numerical advantages the enemy had, the late Warrant Officer II, then a sergeant, ordered his patrol of 5 men to spread out and slowly approached the enemy.
As soon everyone was in position, he fired his Sterling SMG and threw a grenade. His attack surprised the enemy but they fought back. Ranger Indang by
then had exhausted all 4 clips that he had and he had to replenished his magazines. As he was replenishing his magazines, a female terrorist pointed a gun at him to force him to surrender. Sensing the enemy wasn't really ready, he pushed the enemy rifle away and used his traditional Iban machete to slash the terrorist's head off.
The enemy seeing that the soldiers led by Ranger Indang were very adamant that to eliminate them despite the numerical disadvantages they had, decided that the game was up and exfiltrated from the battle ground.
As the fog of war slowly uplifted as the battle died down, 5 enemies lay dead. Of the 5, 3 were killed with traditional Iban machete instead of modern firearms that the soldiers usually carried. For leading his men into legend, he was awarded with the medal Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB).

A better version of the above action can be found here.
http://renjervalour.blogspot.com/2005/10/sergeant-indang-ak-engkas-pgb-in.html

He is buried at the Methodist Cemetary located on Jalan Kuching - Serian, Sarawak. May God bless his soul.

Trip to JB - Full of Adventure

2012-08-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

I recently had a trip down south to JB for some personal matters. And boy, was it full of adventure.

I took a bus down to JB on Friday night, hoping to reach before midnight. When I reached Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, or TBS, I went to the departure hall after having my dinner. Reaching there, the attendants there checked my tickets and flagged me to the bus. Before I entered the bus, I asked again, this time a lady waiting at the bus entrance. Again, I got the green light and happily I went into the bus, to my assigned seat.

Then the bus departed from the station, 20 minutes earlier than scheduled. Happily, I sent a message to my counterpart in JB. One and half hour later, I got the surprise of my life. The bus entered Malacca Sentral. I took the wrong bus, and not one of them even bothered to check my ticket.

Sounds bad, right? This pales in comparison with my return trip. Nothing could have prepared me for the return trip. First 3 hours of the journey was without any surprises. Then the driver pulled over for dinner break in Ayer Keroh R & R.

Food was quite nice, but as I walked back to the bus, I was shocked to see my bus leaving without me. And my bag was on the bus. I immediately sprinted, but to no avail. I was lucky that a driver of another bus saw me and took pity of me. He sent me all the way to Sungai Besi, and I can't thank him enough for taking me free of charge.

As much as I am unhappy with the bus driver who had left me, I was appalled of a possible security risk. Malaysia is lucky to not have any active terrorism threat, both internal and external. I shuddered to think the driver did not realized of my absence until he reached Puduraya station where his company had a pick and drop off point. The ticket checker at Puduraya pointed out to him that there was still a bag on board. Had I been a terrorist, that would not have been an empty bag.

As much as I wanted to file a complaint on the company, I feel it is worthless. But armed with this information, I shall write to SPAD on this.

Story of Datuk Paul Kiong, retired SB, (SP) by equally remarkable Lt Gen (R) Datuk Seri Zaini Mohd Said

2012-08-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

The article written by Lt Jen (Rtd) Datuk Seri Zaini Mohd Said below is on one of the most remarkable heros that Malaysia ever had. Datuk Paul Kiong ranks amongst the bravest. His courage is beyond doubt. How many would be willing to enter enemy territory wearing enemy uniform to be accompanied by friendly forces who months ago had been hellbent on having his head cut off? The most amazing thing about his work was, he never even need to fire a single shot in anger while managing to capture all his adversaries. His operation was part of the classical Q Ops that littered Malaysian Special Branch's history.

But Datuk Paul's story is only tip of the iceberg. I believe that there are many more SB personnels that was involved in the Q operation, and many more might had ended up KIA when their covers were blown. Reason being was during the first emergency, from 1955 onwards CPM had conducted an internal purge that resulted the deaths of thousands of their own ranks and files. Infiltration by special government agents (SGA) were so serious that Chin Peng had ordered an internal purge. The internal purge got out of hand that many of the executors themselves were later fingered by others as infiltrators. Of these, I remember most 2 stories that SB were able to piece out.

A father and son team joined the communist insurgences in the height of the communist rebellion. They may have thought that they were on the winning side. But the internal purge had begun. All the suspected infiltrators were forced to dig their own graves after a kangaroo court was conducted. No amount of evidence can be used to dismiss a charge. Both father and son cried as as they dug their own grave and were hugging each other as bullets from the executioners slammed into their bodies.

Paranoia gripped the communist terrorists (CT) when it comes to infiltrators. The second story was about a couple of cadres from Chinese Communist Party. They were a husband and wife team, both trained in medicine. They were sent as a support from CCP to CPM. Not even the fact that they were from China and were sent by CCP saved them both from the executioners' fingers.

So bad was the paranoia that Chin Peng even ordered the execution of 6th or 7th Regiment MRLA commander (if I don't recall wrongly, as I last read this more than 10 years ago). The jungle vine reached the commander and his men, and his would-be executioner turned executed instead. They later broke away from CPM, forming CPM - Marxist Leninism. In the end, the paranoia resulted in CPM breaking into at least 3 different factions, each looking at different communist nation as their compass (CPM looked up to Beijing, CPM - ML looked up to Moscow, with another faction, CPM, with the M representing Malaysia instead of Malaya, was believed to look towards Vietnam/Moscow). If they meet in the field of operation, they are more than likely to fight it out against each other due to the deep distrust enamating from the internal purge fiasco.

Back to the writer of the article. Lt Jen (R) Datuk Seri Zaini had also won the same medal for his action in the Sauk incident when he pushed aside an armed rifle held by crazed Amin, the leader of the Al Maunah as he (Amin) was about to shoot him. The bullet grazed his hand before felling one of Amin's men.

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01 August 2012 | last updated at 08:47AM

An unassuming warrior

By Lt Jen (Rtd) Datuk Seri Zaini Mohd Said | panglima_sauk70@hotmail.com 0 comments

LET'S REMOVE THE WRAPS: Honour the heroes who've kept us safe

Datuk Paul Kiong infiltrated a communist group in Perak for five years, during which time he captured 43 insurgents.

1 / 1

AT 3am yesterday, awake and in anticipation of the sahur meal, I read a post from a friend on Facebook which had a photo of some of our officers and men around a 105mm pack howitzer in an unspecified gun position.
I believe it to be in Sabah and that it was during the days of the Indonesian Confrontation. But the photo's caption read "the Battle of Kalabakan 30 October 1966" which is way off mark if he was referring to the Indonesian attack on the 3RMR position in Kalabakan which killed eight and injured 19 of the unit's personnel. That battle or attack occurred on Dec 29, 1963.
Such are the inaccuracies circulating on the Net, from where my friend had obtained the photo which, not unlike many other sources, does not help to give an accurate account of our warriors' contributions and sacrifices in defence of the country.
But Paul Kiong, a retired Special Branch police officer, was certainly more positive and accurate about his numerous exploits during the fight against the communist terrorists (CTs) in the early 1980s.
Meeting him again yesterday at the Warriors Day parade enabled me to know more about one operation executed in the second week of April 1981, when the SB silently and successfully captured 13 CTs, including an important leader, Cheong Kuen (CK), at the Stone Coffin camp deep in the Ulu Kinta forest reserve.
Not surprisingly, it was well planned. It involved specially picked SB operatives and the Special Operations Volunteer Force (SOVF) which was made up of captured and already "turned over" former CTs.
Members of this small team of SOVF docked up with the unsuspecting CK and in fact lured him into the Stone Coffin camp a few days before the SB raiding party moved in.
The move was in pitch black darkness and pouring rain up steep slopes leading to the camp's perimeter. Just after midnight and on a signal, the SB raiding teams crawled in.
Kiong led the first of the three- men teams to capture the sleeping CK. He and the other team leaders were the only ones armed -- with a pistol each.
As they were crawling in, one of Kiong's team members inadvertently kicked a drinking mug left on the ground. The loud noise woke up a female CT who called out loudly, "Who is there?" three times.
Everyone froze and prayed that she would not get up to investigate. Kiong's heart thumped so loudly that he felt that the CT might have even heard it.
He was fearful as the female CT was known to be a ruthless combatant. However, after some minutes everything became deathly quiet.
Kiong's verbatim narration may describe the subsequent events better.
"I then lifted my head and tried to peep into the darkness to assess the situation.
"Without seeing or hearing anything that would spell danger, I continued crawling and on half-crouch moved towards my target, that is CK. With our training and a swipe of a small torchlight emitting a thin beam under the hammocks of our respective targets we could make out where the head and leg was.
"We then launched the attack by overturning the CTs' hammocks and pinning them to the ground. Within 10 seconds, all the hostile CTs of CK's group of 13 were subdued and handcuffed."
Without a doubt, this was a fantastic operation, not unlike what could be done by the fictitious Hollywood Mission Impossible team. I would say it could not have got any more daring and spectacular and without a shot being fired.
Kiong certainly deserved the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) awarded to him in June 1983 and a Datukship awarded by the king recently.
The nation actually has many heroic persons like him belonging to that period of time. But for various reasons, they have not been made visible earlier.
Maybe now is the time for the wraps around these people to be taken away so that the rakyat can know of their feats and sacrifices in order to make this country secure.

Lt Jen (Rtd) Datuk Seri Zaini Mohd Said is a former army field commander.

Red White Blue and Yellow

2012-08-05T10:16:00.002-07:00

Red white blue and yellow. The colors that adorn Malaysian flag. The colors that many had fought for, and died for.

The notion that our independence was gained by the stroke of a pen had been planted into our minds from the day our former colonial power Britain had announced that they were going to give independence to Malaya (as our country was known then). It was half-truth then, it was half truth now.

The truth is, blood of many were spilt from 1948 to 1960 to protect the fledging nation from the threat of communism as it threatened to overwhelm this small nation. More than 10,000 lives from both sides were lost then. Surely, these 10,000 lives do not qualify as a bloodless independence.

The ensuing years lead to Confrontation with Indonesia. Even more lives were lost by the young men of this young nation, ensuring that this country stays independent.

The seventies arrived with the threat of Cold War imploding in South East Asia. So was it in Malaysia. The Second Insurgency exploded, with even more ferocity as compared to the first Emergency. Even with more ferocity, the nation continued as if none had happened. The first Emergency had taught the Communist an important lesson, not to harm the civilian population. But the harm had been done. The nation willed together as one to bring to the end the reign of terror that communism had brought to this country.

Then came 2001. For the first time, the country had to invoke the law on treason as 20 plus men stole more than 200 rifles from an army depot with the intention of formenting an internal rebellion. At least 4 lives were lost.

These men and women that had fought for this country so that we can sleep peacefully at night. They had proven that their blood is as red as the red color that adorn our flag. May they rest in peace and that those who took their place will be more than willing and able to do the same when the nation calls upon them in time of need.

Malaysia - My Home

2012-08-05T04:59:00.003-07:00

In 1957, many years before this pair of eyes first peeked into this world, a new country was born. A country of immense untapped wealth, this young nation set forth into the future with the great hope of her people, especially in the fight against communism. Fast forward into the future, the country which was once known as Federation of Malaya, is now known as Federation of Malaysia, or more popularly known as Malaysia.

From 1957 till today (2012), this young country had faced the ups and downs a country could have gone through. Threat of internal insurgency from communism in the height of Cold War, threat of invasion from neighboring country in 1963, racial riots in 1969, economic crisis in 1980's and 1990's.

Today, as the flag of this country flutters with pride, so it does in my heart. I may not have been in service for this country in the hours of its need, but I, as a small cog in this giant machinery called Malaysia still plays a part in bringing a new dawn to this country. This country known as Malaysia, this country, which is my home.

My Flag

2012-08-04T09:58:00.001-07:00

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/27/focus/11738510&sec=focus

As appeared in the Star

Friday July 27, 2012

Fly the Jalur Gemilang correctly and with pride

WITH Aug 31 fast approaching, the Government had been trying to fire up patriotism amongst Malaysians by promoting the Fly the National Flag campaign.
Sadly, the campaign has been marred not by the lack of eagerness by citizens at large, but rather the lack of knowledge in flag handling.
Go around the country and you will see some premises flying tattered remains of the national flag.
Some are using tattered flags as cleaning rags (I have seen this on two occasions).
One can even see the national flag being used as table cloth at a stall near the Wangsa Maju LRT station.
Some people choose to fly the flag on their cars.
But the flags were not properly fastened and fell off. I found one full-sized Malaysian flag and another small-sized Malaysian flag by the roadside.
Worse still are those who fly the flags at half staff (for state of mourning) and upside down (a country in distress or war).
But what broke my heart was seeing the Malaysian flags with wrong designs.
A common mistake is the width of the blue coloured section of the flag being shortened to seven stripes instead of the correct eight stripes.
Another mistake: the position of the red and white stripes have been switched.
And these flags are being flown at government buildings.
My rambling may seem to be petty to some.
But remember that there was blood spilt to ensure that this flag continues to be flown on this land we call home.
So if you want to fly the flag, please respect it.
LIEW SHAN LEE
Kuala Lumpur