Budaya ‘kurang ajar’ sudah menjadi darah daging orang Melayu. Lagi pun bukan ada fatwa yang mengatakan ianya Harus, Makruh atau Haram. Tak percya cuba ajukan soalan kepada Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan atau tanyakan terus kepada TS Harus-sini.

“‘Bersih’ itu haram, tunjuk isyarat lucah hukumnya Makruh, atau Harus, dan ada masanya boleh dapat pahala – Sunat atau Wajib”.

Mei 2006…DS Adnan membuat demonstrasi untuk diwariskan kepada generasi hari ini dan akan datang. Oleh kerana dilakukan oleh MB, hukumnya ‘WAJIB’

Disember 2009…Datuk Azhar tunjukkan punggung dalam sidang DUN Pulau Pinang. Disebabkan pelakunya seorang YB, hukumnya ‘SUNAT’.

Datuk ‘klon’ menunjukkan cara yang diajar ATM…teknik mendapatkan gelaran Datuk ‘original’. Bila dilakukan oleh Datuk ‘klon’, hukumnya pula “HARUS’.

Bekas anggota ATM yang terlatih mengikut perintah “seperti kerbau dicucuk hidung” sedang menunjukkan cara membuat benteng bila diserang musuh. Kalau dilakukan beramai-ramai dan dihalakan kepada kaum wanita maka hukumnya ‘MAKRUH’.

Pelik tapi benar…kenapa veteran tentera mesti mengikut telunjuk presiden yang terang-terangan sanggup merasuah untuk mendapatkan gelaran Datuk! Kalau pun PiEm akan memberi anugerah atau imbuhan kerana keberanian kalian terhadap wanita, apa yang kalian dapat? Abuk pun tarak! Presiden PVTM juga yang kenyang.

Admin teringat perbualan dengan pegawai yang pernah terlibat dalam pemilihan/pengagihan pegawai kadet: Cream atau yang terbaik diserap ke dalam TUDM/TLDM, yang selebihnya…..!!!!!

Bersandarkan kata-kata pegawai tersebut, aku yakin tak seorang pun bekas anggota RMN/TLDM atau TUDM dalam kumpulan ‘tonggeng’ di atas.

Since the equipment arrived when his wife was out of town, he decided to test it on himself first.

So, he inserted his ‘manhood’ into the equipment, turned on the switch and everything else was automatic.

Soon, he realized that the equipment provided him with much more pleasure than his wife did. When the fun was over, though, he quickly realized that he couldn’t remove the instrument from his ‘member’.

He read the manual but didn’t find any useful information on how to disengage himself. He tried every button on the instrument, but still without success.

Finally, he decided to call the supplier’s Customer Service Hot Line with his mobile phone (Thank god for mobile phones!).

“Hello, I just bought a milking machine from your company. It works fantastic, but how do I remove it from the cow’s udder?”

“Don’t worry,” replied the customer service rep, “The machine will release automatically once it’s collected two gallons.”

KD Sri Trengganu is patrolling in the Malacca Straits.  Everything is going smoothly.  Which port should we go into for our coming Days Off!  Port Klang or Port Dickson!   What Drill or Exercise shall I give the Crew!   Where do we patrol tonight!  These questions keep me occupied when all is taken away – a Signal is received instructing us to proceed to Penang and R/V with KD Sri Negri Sembilan there.  We wonder what is in store for us. So we proceed to Penang and there I am given the full Instructions.

They are going to close the Kedah River by erecting a Dam for agriculture and before this happens, they have requested for two Navy Ships to visit Alor Star, the capital of Kedah for the last time.  Well, a nice break to our tedious schedule. An official flag-showing duty. However, the first thing on our agenda is to stock up from the NAAFI there in Penang. We are to host a Cocktail Party on board on arrival.  The two X.O’s get busy and we leave them to organise everything.  Cox’n organises his provision buying. We also top up our fuel tanks.

The next day, we are fully stocked up — including fresh provisions purchased, and we proceed to a position off Kuala Kedah where the local Pilot meets us and directs us up river.  There are NO repeat NO charts and we rely on his expert knowledge.  It is a narrow river nothing like Rejang and we have the Echo Sounder running the whole way in. Well, the Local Pilot does know his stuff and with intimate knowledge brings safely into Alor Star where we berth along the town’s wharf.  This is right in the middle of the town.  I believe that this was a Friday and it’s a weekend in this state.  Our visit is a big event for the town.

First, we organise for our Cocktail Party.  The Forecastle Awnings are erected.  Small eats and nibbles arranged.  The deck scrubbed down and we have our ships looking very smart.  Next, the C.O.’s are required to pay their respects to the local Dignitaries and VIP’s in Town.  There are other functions to organise ashore too and our X.O’s sort these out. The RMAF have a Base here and they have organised many outings for the crew too.  Joy Flights are on the agenda. Lists are made up.  We are advised of a Fancy Dress Football Game.  Where are we to get ‘Fancy Dress’ costumes??  There is a Blood Donation request too from the local hospital.  It is quite full on.

The visit is going full swing with a day set where we open both ships to visitors.  This keeps the crew busy.  The whole town will be coming to visit the ships. Look smart Boys!!!

Every one is enjoying himself and we are invited to the Officers Mess at the RMAF Base on Saturday after the football game.  It is good there and late at night someone suggest we go for supper!!! It is the in thing there — ‘Nasi Lemak’ for supper!  So we hop into cars and are taken to the town.

We choose a Restaurant and the welcome is astonishing.  In our haste to move tables, someone pushes the marble top of a table, off its frame and it shatters on the floor. Oops!! How much does a marble top cost?  We are in trouble! Never mind. Never mind.  Smiles all round.  This seems strange.

We enjoy our supper and get dropped back at the wharf.  This is puzzling.  The next morning we discover why practically the whole town are so generous with us.  ‘Dari Kapal?’  ‘Masuk, masuk’.   This greets us when we walk around the town.  The crew are invited into coffee shops and restaurants for drinks and food and its all free !!!  It appears that practically everybody in the town had placed bets on the ‘Empat Ekor’ using the Pennant Numbers of both ships.  Well, the Pennant Numbers of Sri Negri Sembilan came out Second Prize that night.  Everyone in town won some money.  And guess what?  Not a single person from both our ships thought of even placing a small bet.

I told myself, Hmmmmm!  The next time you go into any port for such a visit, DON’T forget to place a small bet on your Pennant Numbers.  So this I did.  Every port I visited for some official reason would see me place a small bet on the ‘Empat Ekor’.   Guess what — not a single win throughout all the remaining years of my service.  Well such is fate!!!

More Amusing Yarns.

We were at the Dockyard in Prai for a refit and on completion had a new Midshipman appointed to our ship, for training.  It was standard procedure then on all Patrol Craft, to give the Midshipman on board the job of Navigator.

So, the first task he is given is to prepare all the Charts for our return passage to MBJ.  Draw the courses have the charts placed in order.  We would be steaming at 14 knots. Work out our ETA.  And advice the tide on arrival.  Simple!!  This is a real easy task as the required charts would show the indentations of old courses in spite of them being erased.  He get to the Bridge and is very busy with the charts.

We had done this trip many times before and knew that it would take us ‘X’ hours to get there.  Be at Changi Buoy at this time and allow this time to move up the Straits to MBJ.  Later,  when the Radio Operator brings all the signals received that day for my attention, I unconsciously write out a signal reporting our intended ETD and the ETA at MBJ.  This was safe and would not get us into any strive.  It should be reminded that we all took great pride in meeting our reported ETA’s.   A five (5) minutes margin was all we were allowed.

We sailed from Penang the following morning as per our schedule and once clear of the harbour the Midshipman was asked at what time he had worked our ETA at MBJ  to be.  He very confidently advised a time which simply raised Alarm Bells.  His answer was three (3) hours earlier than what I had worked out.  So he is asked to present all the charts he had worked on.  All appeared in order until past Tanjong Piai.  He had diligently drawn courses to MBJ using the West Johore Straits!!!  So he is asked where were we to request a Large Crane from.  To this he wonders why.  Confused!!!  So I ask how are we to get over or through the Causeway because he had drawn a course on the chart right across the Causeway to reach MBJ!!! Brilliant!!!  Thank goodness I had not accepted his ETA when I had signalled earlier.  Three hours adrift from your ETA was a big NO NO.  We can easily ‘lose’ time, but it is near to impossible trying to make up time.

Here’s another Funny.

K.D. Ledang was on passage from Tawau straight back to Singapore.  While on passage, we were required to report our Position, Course and Speed every day at 0800 hrs. and at 2000 hrs.

That morning I prepared the Signal with all the Data for the C.O. and he only had to sign his approval.  However, he advised that from his experience, the Operations Room would not actually Plot the Position reported by the Ships, as they were only interested in receiving the signal.  This indicated that we were en route.

To confirm his theory, he asks me to give the Latitude and Longitude of Gunong Kinabalu.  I then get this information from the Chart.  We of course can see the top of this great Mountain from the sea.  This is the position we reported in our signal that morning.

Well, you guessed it.  No one picked it up. You bet, there were a few Red faces in the Operation Room when we returned and the Captain reported to the Operations Room as the normal procedure.  He then mentioned the ‘gaffe’.  The problem with this caper was that since then, the Ops. Room Staff painstakingly plotted all our reported positions.  No more nonsense.

LET there be no mistake. Malay or Bahasa Malaysia is the national language. It will continue to be the medium of instruction in our schools notwithstanding the existence of Chinese and Tamil schools. The Education Ministry has made attempts, albeit feeble ones, to improve the proficiency of the English Language by introducing the “Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening the Command of English” policy, but its results leave much to be desired.

Every attempt to make the younger generation competent in the universal language of English has been thwarted by self-proclaimed defenders of culture, heritage and language.  

Mereka inilah yang kononnya memperjuangkan budaya, warisan dan bahasa, tapi disebalik itu mereka jugalah  yang membuat penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris sebahagian besar pelajar Melayu  jadi hancur. Akhirnya bukan sahaja Bahasa Inggeris mereka hancur, Bahasa Melayu juga turut lebur. Bak kata pepatah “yang dikejar tak dapat, yang dikendong berciciran”.

There is overwhelming evidence of a lack of basic skills such as reading and writing in English. Last week, the Dewan Negara was told that about 76,200 graduates are unemployed because they do not possess job hunting skills and are too dependent on others to convey information on job opportunities.

This reflects the situation. If you can’t prepare a decent CV for a job application, it’s bound to end in failure. On the net, there are hundreds if not thousands of tips, advice and even samples of CVs. Yet, our graduates are unable to use such information. Not because they do not have IT skills but because they do not understand the language. About four years ago, I was shown a job application from two graduates of a local university. They had attached two photographs, two CVs and sent in a “joint application”!

We have students in Form Four who can’t write a simple sentence in English without grammar or spelling mistakes. They have not been given a good grounding in the language to take them forward when they leave school or university.

Tepat sekali…setelah 3 bulan menamatkan pengajian dalam bidang kejuruteraan, dan setelah menghantar berpuluh permohonan, tapi satu pun tak ada jawapan, akhirnya terbuka juga mulut bertanya pada anak “Boleh abah tengok surat permohonan?”

Setelah membaca surat dan resume anak, admin terfikir bagaimana siswa zaman ini boleh lulus peperiksaan M.U.E.T. !!! Mungkinkah soalannya semudah soalan hari pertama admin memijakkan kaki di Remove Class dekad 50an “What is your name”, “How old are you”, “Where do you live?” 

Kalau tidak, bagaimana pembuka ayat surat permohonan kerja pemegang ijazah BSc 2nd class upper boleh berbunyi “I am graduated from University…” (Ayat itu masih lekat di kepala seorang bapa yang hanya memperolehi P7 dalam kertas Bahasa Inggeris peperiksaan Senior Cambridge dekad 60an, dibanding dengan anak yang mendapat A2 dalam peperiksaan kertas Bahasa Inggeris Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia!)

Therefore, the announcement by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong that the introduction of English-medium schools in addition to national-type Chinese, Tamil and religious schools has to be discussed in depth is indeed welcome.

The question previously asked in this column was: If Chinese and Tamil schools can exist, why not English schools? This rather obvious question was met with typical official replies of “we are studying the matter”.

However, Wee’s answer in the Dewan Negara last week that stakeholders will be consulted is good news indeed. The government has finally realised that policies cannot be shoved down people’s throats without seeking their views and explaining the issues to them.

But then, the next question is: Who are the stakeholders? Definitely, they cannot be confined to some high-nosed politicians wearing blinkers who see the existence of English schools as a “threat to the national language”.

The biggest stakeholders are people like you and me – parents – who want to be a given a choice.

I belong to a generation which studied eight subjects in English and one in Malay which was called Bahasa Kebangsaan. A pass in the latter was compulsory for the Malaysia Certificate of Education and a pass in the former necessary for the Senior Cambridge Certificate.

In our time, for Geography, we used books by G. E. D. Lewis. In primary school, we learnt about Ah Chong the gardener, Awang the fisherman, Ramasamy the dock worker and so on.

During history lessons in primary school, we learnt about the great religious leaders – Prophet Muhammad, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ etc. We learnt about great nationalists – Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sun Yat Sen, Mahatma Gandhi etc. We also learnt about the explorers – Francis Drake, Magellan, Christopher Columbus etc. All these gave us an understanding of the world around us and the events that helped shape the future.

It was not just that we learnt history, but we acquired knowledge. These days, what we learn and the knowledge we acquire is dictated by a few who have adopted the “we know best” policy. When the syllabus was changed, there was no consultation whatsoever and the powers-that-be decided what we need to know and what we need not.

The education system has been changed, tinkered and messed around without consultation. This time around, there is reason to believe that the ministry will take views into account and perhaps publish a Consultation Paper before a decision is made either way. But do not expect change overnight or for that matter, in a few years. The whole process may take longer than that.

First, there is the issue of finding teachers who are proficient in English, and let us not fall back and say “getting foreign teachers is too expensive”. If at all there are plans for English medium schools, let us start training the teachers for such a change. I remember my teachers having spent two years at teacher training colleges before their posting.

That was at a time when English was the medium of instruction in schools and trainee teachers themselves were proficient in the language.

We now have a generation of school leavers, for the majority of whom, English seems to be a problem. Hence, it may take one year to get them to just brush up their language skills before the training proper starts. So let’s not use these issues as excuses for not setting up English-medium schools.

Then there’s the issue of textbooks and syllabus. The Malaysian pride would not allow us to use or even emulate textbooks that Singaporeans use. The “face saving” issue will come into play. But all said, let’s grit our teeth and accept the fact that the system, the syllabuses and textbooks used across the Causeway are superior ones.

As parents, we must be given a choice. Closing our eyes and ears and being oblivious to the ever-changing world would be disastrous to the future generation. For the sake of the kids, let’s give this proposal a thorough look.

Seperti yang pernah dimaklumkan di blog ini, MCPO Noordin kembali ke Rahmatullah pada 29 September 2011. UPBB difahamkan isteri/balu Allahyarham dijemput Ilahi semalam 14 Mei 2012. Sesungguhnya dari Allah kita datang, dan kepadaNya jua kita dikembalikan. Alfatehah.

Disamping berkongsi kesedihan, UPBB memanjangkan ucapan takziah kepada keluaraga Allahyarham Haji Noordin dan Allahyarhamah Hajah Halimah dengan doa semoga roh mereka dicucuri rahmat.

Dikesempatan ini, UPBB teringat untuk memuat naik beberapa keping gambar/memorabilia milik Allahyarham untuk tatapan semua.

‘Wheel’ - dari kapal RMN (IMS atau SDML) yang sudah dilucut tauliah.

Lifebuoy yang terlekat di tiang rumah MCPO Noordin menceritakan segalanya.

KEDIAMAN PAHLAWAN…tak ada siapa yang boleh mempertikai. Khidmat beliau mencakupi dua zaman – Komunis dan Konfrontasi.

Memorabilia dari Pusat Latihan Kadet dan Rekrut KD Pelandok Sembawang.

Oleh kerana perkara ini sudah lama berlalu, maka aku cuma boleh mengingat deraan hari dan minggu pertama di Kinrara MCTC (Military Correction and Training Centre) seperti yang diceritakan oleh Salih.

Menurutnya, tiap-tiap hari selama seminggu dia dipaksa menggalas haversack yang diisi batu bata dan diarah berlari dalam cuaca panas satu jam sebelah pagi dan satu jam sebelah petang sebelum diarah membuat kerja-kerja membersih kawasan sekitar. Setelah menjalani latihan atau deraan selama 28 hari (tolak cuti hujung minggu dan cuti umum) Salih balik ke KD Malaya dengan rambut yang sangat pendek, badan susut dan warna kulitnya yang kuning langsat bertukar gelap.

Begitulah sedikit sebanyak kisah kehidupan harian yang diceritakan oleh Salih sekembalinya dia dari MCTC Kinrara pada tahun 1965.

Dua kisah berikut ini adalah pengalaman Ali ‘peng’ J11xx dan ‘Jack Harris’ J20xx yang bertuah dapat merasa kehidupan sebagai ‘tetamu istimewa’ di Batu Cantonment Detention Centre.

Ali ‘peng’ adalah salah seorang pioneer MSSU (Green Beret) bersama Black Joe, PTI Bashah, Engku Haron, dll. Dia pernah dua kali ‘bercuti’ di Batu Cantonment – 42 hari untuk sekali cuti. ‘Cuti’ kali pertama adalah sebagai ‘imbuhan’ kerana gagal mengawal rasa marah dan memukul senior – Leading Seaman sama kursus komando - manakala ‘Cuti’ kali kedua sebagai ‘imbuhan’ membelasah Cox’n sebuah CMS.

Menurut cerita Ali ‘peng’ yang diceritakan kepada PRI Hamzah beberapa hari yang lalu…sesampainya di Main Gate Batu Cantonment, koperal MP sudah sedia menanti untuk menurunkan ilmu ‘tahan lasak’ yang dimulakan dengan quick march disusuli dengan on the double…sampai black-out. Selagi belum ‘pengsan’ selagi itulah dia kena berlari memikul kit bag warna hijau.

Deraan hari pertama dengan pakaian baju square neck masih kira OK. Deraan hari kedua lagi teruk.

Selepas sarapan pagi, dia diarah memakai baju hujan tentera (Poncho Raincoat) dengan serkup kepala. Selepas itu, baldi pemadam api (Fire bucket) diserkupkan ke kepala dan diarah berlari di atas ‘padang’ simen di bawah terik matahari…sampai pengsan lagi. Dan itulah rutin deraan minggu pertama. Quick March, On the Double, pitam dan pengsan sudah jadi ritual harian.

Minggu kedua dan minggu seterusnya, deraan fisikal dikurangkan. Selepas membersih kawasan sekitar, dia diarah mengilatkan but dan kasut setiap MP yang bertugas, sampailah waktu makan tengahari.

Sebelah petang dia diberikan sebuah tin kiwi dan sebuah baldi ‘zink’ dan diarah untuk mengilatkannya sehingga gambar/cat di tin kiwi hilang, dan tin kiwi boleh dibuat cermin. Begitulah juga dengan bontot baldi…dikilatkan sampat ‘mengerlit’.

Oleh kerana dalam bilik tahanan tak ada almari, maka pesalah diarah menyusun (kit muster) pakaian seragam di atas katil untuk diperiksa oleh MP dua kali sehari – sekali sebelah pagi dan sekali sebelah malam.

Selepas pemeriksaan sebelah malam, pakaian yang tersusun di atas katil di alih dan susun semula di atas lantai. Selepas itu barulah boleh baring di atas katil untuk merehatkan badan dan menikmati mimpi-mimpi indah di belai bidadari berpakaian seragam hijau bermisai lentik. Dan pintu dikunci dari luar.

Jam 0500 MP kejutkan untuk mandi pagi, kit muster dan sarapan jam 0700.

Itulah rutin kehidupan yang diamalkan Ali ‘peng’ selama 42 hari di Batu Cantonment.

NOTA: Semasa Ali ‘peng’ dalam tahanan sekitar Feb/Mac 1969, ABSM Yusuf J15xx (Singaporean) berjaya meloloskan diri melalui tingkap kecil yang terletak tinggi di dinding bilik tahanan. Difahamkan, Yusuf selamat sampai ke Singapura, dan seterusnya bertukar status kepada orang awam secara tidak rasmi. Untuk beberapa bulan berikutnya, kisah kejayaan ABSM Yusuf melepaskan diri dari penjara ala ‘Alcatraz’ menjadi bualan MP Batu Cantonment.

Itu kisah pengalaman Ali ‘peng’. Berikut ini pula adalah pengalaman yang diceritakan sendiri oleh kawan sama intake kira-kira seminggu yang lalu. Walaupun ketibaannya di Batu Cantonment hanya beberapa hari selepas Ali ‘peng’ balik ke KD Malaya, namun hukuman yang diterimanya tidaklah seteruk mana.

Kenapa berbeza? Apakah ada kemungkinan hukuman didasarkan dari jenis kesalahan yang dilakukan. Ali ‘peng’ membelasah senior maka tuduhannya ialah ‘striking a superior’ manakala Jack Harris hanya melawan dengan kata-kata dan tuduhannya pula ialah ‘behave with contempt’.

Kenapa dia dituduh ‘behave with contempt’?

Hari itu, petugas duty watch KD Tahan yang sedang bertambat di MBJ diarah untuk naik ke geladak atas lebih awal dari rutin latihan harian memadam api yang selalunya diadakan jam 1700.  CPOERA yang bertugas sebagai OOD memarahi Jack Harris kerana terlambat naik untuk mengangkut wet rations yang baru dibeli Cox’n di pasar besar JB.

Entah kenapa petang itu terkeluar dari mulut Jack Harris kata-kata “eleh, pigi daa” yang menimbulkan kemarahan CPOERA / OOD.

Setelah mendapat aduan dari CPOERA, Cox’n CPOSM Gxxxxx yang terkenal dengan kegemarannya mebuat caj tidak melepaskan peluang. Dengan muka yang masih merah dan mulut mamai kerana terlebih minum air ‘brek kapal’ hasil belanja tauke tempat dia selalu berbelanja, dia memanggil Jack Harris.

Esok pagi, setelah mendengar caj ‘Behave With Contempt’, CO menjatuhkan hukuman “28 days detention”. Hari itu juga Jack Harris disumbat dalam cell di Main Gate KD Malaya sementara menunggu BCC menyediakan waren tiket flight to Danang, dan pengesahan kekosongan bilik penginapan di hotel 5 bintang, @ Batu Cantonment Detention Centre.

Setelah satu malam menghuni cell Main Gate KD Malaya dan satu malam lagi tidur di sleeping berth Koc kelas 1 KTM, maka sampailah Jack Harris dan pengiring (LRSM ‘torpedo’) di Batu Cantonment.

Seeprti juga Ali ‘peng’, deraan hari pertama tidak berbeza…quick march dan on the double dengan menggalas kit bag.

Pada hari kedua, dan hari-hari seterusnya, Jack Harris tidak lagi didera macam Ali ‘peng’. Sebaliknya dia hanya membuat kerja-kerja biasa seperti kit muster, membersihkan kawasan sekitar, mengilatkan but/kasut MP, mengilatkan tin kiwi dan bontot baldi.

Masa mula-mula sampai di Batu Cantonment, Jack Harris ada membawa satu carton rokok dalam kit bag, dan rokok itu disimpan-ration oleh MP. Walaupun peraturan hanya membenarkan pesalah menghisap dua batang rokok sehari – sebatang rokok selepas makan tengahari dan sebatang lagi selepas makan malam - namun dia diberi kelonggaran oleh MP. Bukan setakat berkongsi rokok Lucky Strike dengan MP malah beberapa kali MP berkongsi ‘rokok daun’ dengannya.

Pada hari terakhir, Jack Harris dipanggil ke pejabat dan diberi taklimat serta nasihat agar tidak lagi melakukan kesalahan yang memungkinkan dia kembali bertamu di Batu Cantonment.

Seorang lagi kawan sama intake LRSM Samad J20xx pernah dijatuhkan hukuman 28 hari detention tapi tak sempat memikul kit bag/quick march/on the double kerana MP di Batu Cantonment enggan mengambil risiko.

Kenapa?

Adalah menjadi kemestian, sebelum dihantar ke Batu Cantonment, setiap pesalah diwajibkan menjalani pemeriksaan kesihatan. Doktor yang memeriksa mendapati kesihatan Samad tidak berada pada tahap yang diwajibkan. Namun, mereka yang bertanggungjawab meneliti laporan doktor di pangakalan Sungai Nyior (tempat Samad dituduh) terlepas pandang (overlooked). MP di Batu Cantonment yang menjalankan tugas ‘iktu buku’ tak sanggup mengambil risiko.

Bolehkah Senior Rate ditahan di detention centre?

Boleh! Mereka ini selalunya terdiri dari qualified artificers.

Kenapa tidak di disrate sahaja (kopak pangkat)?

Sudah termaktub dalam undang-undang bahawa pangkat paling rendah untuk seorang qualified artificers ialah Petty Officer. PO Shipwright ‘apek taik’ pernah di hantar menjalani hukuman di Batu Cantonment tanpa kehilangan pangkat.

NOTA KAKI:

Kesalahan LRSM Samad sama dengan kesalahan ODRM ‘aku’, tapi hukuman yang dijatuhkan berbeza. Samad kena 28 hari detention/disrate kepada Able Seaman, tapi ODRM ‘aku’…baca DI SINI.

Mungkin dari kisah di bawah ini kita dapat mencari sesuatu yang tersirat.

Satu hari menjelang pilihanraya seorang YAB bersama entourage datang membuat lawatan rasmi ke Hospital Bahagia. Untuk meraikan YAB dan konco-konconya, pihak hospital menyediakan pertunujkan sebagai gambaran tentang aktiviti harian di hospital tersebut.

Dari satu wad ke satu wad YAB melawat sambil diberi penerangan oleh ketua wad. Apabila sampai ke tempat seorang pesakit yang sedang asyik mencedok dan membuang air dari besen menggunakan sudu, YAB bertanya tujuan disebalik perlakuan pesakit tersebut.

Ketua wad menerangakan…untuk menguji tahap pemikiran dan kemajuan rawatan terhadap mereka yang mengalami gangguan mental, setiap hari pesakit diberi satu besen besar berisi air, sebatang sudu dan sebuah gayung. Pesakit disuruh mengosongkan air dalam besen secepat mungkin.

Sambil tersenyum dan menganggukkan kepala tanda faham, dan tanpa berfikir panjang beliau bersuara “Kalau siuman tentu dia gunakan gayung…” YAB membuat kesimpulan.

“Maaf Datuk Seri, kalau orang waras dan berakal, dia akan buka ‘drain plug’ di tapak besen” ketua wad menjelaskan.

Lepas itu, dengan jawapan ketua wad masih berdesing di telinga, YAB menghampiri seorang pesakit yang sedang membuat pertunjukan memancing kertas di atas lantai.

“Banyak dapat ikan?” YAB bertanya.

“Awak gila ke, itu kan kertas, kat sini mana ada ikan!” si pesakit mental menjawab.

YAB  menamatkan lawatan dengan membawa seribu satu kenangan. Dan persoalan!

As we patrol the areas and the seas, we do not realise much about what it is like ashore apart from the Ports or large Towns that we call regularly at.

What is beyond the tree line off the beaches?

I never gave this much thought but was glad and totally surprised when given the opportunity to check this out first hand.

We were patrolling the area from off Sandakan to Darvel Bay and the surrounding Islands.  We were on our Off Days in Sandakan when the army requested us to ferry some of their soldiers and stores from Sandakan to a location on the northern shores of Darvel Bay.  Off course we will help.  They in turn have been ensuring that all our Mail forwarded to them from Labuan or Tawau were delivered to us whenever we came into Sandakan for our break.  It was also a chance to build better relations with our two Services.

So, on completion of our days off, the Troops arrive at the Wharf with all their stores.  They decide that they would keep their equipment and stores on the Forecastle.  They also agree to relax on the deck there although invited by the Crew to move below deck to the Messes.

We sailed out of Sandakan in late morning and all are happy. It is an experience to the soldiers travelling by Ship, but as soon as we exit the harbour and turn to the south, the seas get a bit choppy with some 2-foot waves and this affects all the soldiers badly.  I feel sorry for them and even the crew feel the same.

Assistance is offered but they refuse to move below deck.  We try to make the ‘journey’ as smooth as possible but it is of no use.  They are just not accustomed to the movements of the ship. They do make sure that with the wind coming from the Port side, to use the Starboard side to ease their queasiness.

Anyway, we soon arrive at the north of the bay and I proceed to anchor as close to the shore off the location given me.  There is nothing to denote that there is an Army Camp is in the area.  The Beach is clear.  Pristine white sand  with just a trickle of a stream flowing into the sea.  Is this the location I inquire and the Officer in Charge confirms it is correct. We lower the dinghy and start ferrying the soldiers ashore. Soon this task is completed and I am invited to visit their camp by the Officer in command.

It amazes me that a few meters beyond the fringe of trees on the shore is their Camp.  Well laid out and protected and fully camouflaged from the sea.  Their Camp is there to protect the area  with Tunku Point and Lahat Datu a few miles away by land.  There had previously been landings by Pirates in the vicinity.  Foot Patrols are conducted from their Camp regularly.

They have placed their tents near a large lagoon.  I am told that the waters from a large swamp inland drains into this lagoon which is quite deep before trickling out to the sea. The interesting thing is that the lagoon is full of fish.  All types are caught including ‘Ikan Pari’.   I am shown some fish drying outside tents and also fish roe being salted and from what I see I can confirm the size of the fish they keep catching – some 2 to 3 feet long fishes.  When I ask if they have ever tried dropping a grenade to catch fish, I am told that they do not do so as there is no need for that.  Hand and line was their method.  Should they hook an ‘Ikan Pari’ they have to be fast or it would move to the bottom and spread its body out on the mud thus causing suction and they would not be able to bring it up.  However, they advise that should this happen, then a round or two shot skimming the surface does the trick for them.

They are regularly supplied by a Helicopter and supplement their rations with fish caught and with what they find in the jungle.

I have some new respect for our friends in Jungle Green.

I learnt something that day and make a mental note of this Camp’s location as it could come handy for us at a later date when on Patrols.

What can happen on our Day Off from Patrol ?

Well  here is an example.

K.D. Sri Negri Sembilan, K.D. Sri Melaka and K.D. Sri Trengganu are on duty in East Malaysia.  Sri Melaka is in Tawau having her second day off.  She has a defective Radar and her Gyro is also out of commission.  Spares have not arrived yet.   Sri Negri Sembilan has completed her days off and has decided to proceed on Patrol late that Night.  Sri Trengganu is just starting her days off at Tawau and she has a defective Gyro too.  We are awaiting spares that are being sent to Tawau.

On arrival at Tawau I pay a courtesy call to the two ships and we exchange information garnered during our patrols.  C.O. of Sri Negri Sembilan is Lt. David Poole R.N. and he tells me that he has bought a bottle of Glenfiddich from the NAAFI. ‘Come on board tonight for a shot or two’.  Lt. Chris Morgan R.N. is C.O of Sri Melaka.  You bet we accept.  So, after an early dinner, there we are in the Wardroom of Sri Negri Sembilan telling yarns and seriously trying to lower the level of this bottle.  Our enjoyment is short lived.  The RNO appears and is sorry to break our ‘party’.

Information has just come to hand.  They are expecting Pirate Raids from the Philippine Islands —- either at Semporna, Lahat Datu or Tunku Point.  Sorry but you all have to go out.  We sober up at once.  David Poole the senior amongst us takes charge.  In view of our defects, I was to lead the ‘blind’ Sri Melaka slowly to Semporna by the inner channel between the reefs.  I have my Radar and can use it despite the Gyro being out. We can communicate by Radio.  Sri Negri Sembilan the only fully functioning Ship will proceed to the furthest Patrol ‘line’ off Darvel Bay.  I advise him of the Army Camp and its location.  Good, he can adjust his Patrols.  Soon he departs.  We will depart later when everyone returns from shore.

We proceed as directed.  Very cautiously we move – Sri Melaka keeps right astern – half a cable away and we put our stern Navigation Light on to assist them.  Apart from this we are all darkened.  Slowly, we move up the channel and thank goodness they have marked the channel with beacons.  It is quite hair raising but we succeed and reach Semporna.

We light up the Jetty with our Aldis Lamp and Sri Melaka thanks us and proceed alongside.  This is their station for the night.  They will remain there keeping watch with their Guns ready should Semporna be attacked.  We continue on past Semporna and head to the centre of Darvel Bay where we can keep a Radar watch and protect Tunku Point and Lahat Datu should they be attacked.   It is calm so we stop and drift.  I order the Duty Watch to keep a Radar Watch and tell the look outs to keep their eyes peeled.  I go down and crash out.  It has been a very tiring day for me.

It turned out that there was no attack at all but how were we to know.  If it did occur, well were ready having responded to the call.

Selepas posting itu, aku menghubungi kawan-kawan lama yang pernah di beri ‘penghormatan’ merasa pahit getir kehidupan sebagai penghuni ‘istana hinggap’ yang suatu masa dulu popular dengan nama jolokan ‘Danang’.

Sebelum menceritakan apa yang diceritakan kawan-kawan, terpanggil pula untuk berkongsi maklumat tentang sebuah lagi tempat tahanan sebelum wujudnya Batu Cantonment Detention Centre.

Dari perbualan dengan OTAI-OTAI RMN Woodlands, ternyata ramai yang keliru bila diajukan pertanyaan “Ingat tak Kinrara?”

“Kinrara dan Batu Cantonment tu sama…” salah seorang kawan menjawab.

Sama? Mana boleh sama kerana Kinrara letaknya di Puchong sedangkan Batu Cantonment di Jalan Ipoh. Untuk mencari kepastian, aku terus men-google.

Dan hasilnya, aku membuat rumusan:

KINRARA…

Walaupun pada umumnya Kinrara adalah sebuah Hospital Tentera British @ British Military Hospital (BMH) sama seperti BMH Kluang, Terendak dan Kamunting, namun Kinrara ada satu kelebihan dibanding dengan tiga buah BMH tersebut. Selain menempatkan dan merawat pesakit tentera, BMH Kinrara pernah dijadikan tempat tahanan pesalah tentera – sebelum Batu Cantonment mengambil alih peranan.

Apa yang membezakan antara Kinrara dan Batu Cantonment ialah nama yang diberikan: pada mulanya tentera British (British Army) menamakan tempat tahanan Kinrara sebagai Military Corrective Establishment (MCE) yang kemudiannya ditukar kepada Military Corrective and Training Centre (MCTC) manakala ATM menamakan tempat tahanan yang menggantikan MCTC sebagai Batu Cantonment Detention Centre.

Untuk mengesahkan apa yang ternukil di atas, aku copy & paste (dengan suntingan) kisah pengalaman seorang doktor bangsa Inggeris yang pernah berkhidmat di BMH Kinrara.

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I discovered that not only was I to be a pathologist, but also blood transfusion officer, MO to the adjacent Military Prison…

The prison job was bizarre – every morning I went into the corrugated-iron and barbed-wire compound to hold Sick Parade. This was usually a bunch of hopeful malingerers lined up outside the sick-bay, under the scarifying tongue of an abusive MP sergeant. Most were suffering from severe sunburn, from grass-cutting along the monsoon drains – or festering foot-rot.

I had little say in diagnosis or treatment, as the procedure was streamlined by an elderly RAMC corporal, who had each man quick-marched in, slapped his ‘crime sheet’ in front of me and promptly suggested one of the only two forms of treatment he allowed – either calamine lotion or ‘excuse boots’!

The prison was then called the ‘MCE’, – the ‘Military Corrective Establishment’ but they later changed it to ‘MCTC – Military Corrective and Training Centre’. It was useful in another way, being next door to the hospital, as I kept my Blood Bank there – not in bottles, but in bodies. When a transfusion was needed, I looked down the list of names in my WD notebook and found a prisoner of the right blood group, then had a couple of MPs escort him across to my palm-leaf ‘basha’ where I sucked off a pint from his veins. In return, he got a bottle of Anchor or Tiger beer, so there was no shortage of volunteer donors – in fact, I had to ration them or they would have bled themselves dry!

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Untuk mengikuti nukilan lanjut doktor tersebut, sila klik DI-SINI

Hanafiah K20xx dari intake 1/65, dan Salih J21xx dari intake 2/65 adalah orang pertama dari intake masing-masing yang pernah merasa pahit manis (lebih banyak pahit agaknya) suasana kehidupan di Kem Tahanan Kinrara, dan Batu Cantonment. Mungkin orang lama yang terbaca posting ini dapat memberi input tentang pusat tahanan yang dimaksudkan.

Berapa lama tempoh tahanan yang selalunya dijalankan?

Tempoh minimum hukman yang lazimnya dijatuhkan ialah 28 hari atau 42 hari, atau worst case scenario selama 90 hari.

Kenapa 28 hari (4 minggu) atau 42 hari (6 minggu), dan tidak 30 hari atau 40 hari/45 hari?

‘Mahaguru’ dan ‘kiblat’ RMN masa itu ialah Royal Navy manakala ‘kitab’ yang dijadikan rujukan dan panduan ialah ‘Queen’s Regulations’. Oleh sebab kiraan orang Inggeris dipaksikan kepada ‘minggu’ dan bukan bulan, maka itu tempoh tahanan juga dikira dalam minggu.

Sebelum menceritakan rutin harian kehidupan mereka yang pernah dihantar menjalani hukuman di Batu Cantonment (detention) atau di Kinrara (corrective and training)  ingin aku kongsikan kesan sampingan extreme yang menimpa sebilangan kecil ‘ex convict’ yang ‘kami’ kenali.

ODME Hanafiah memegang rekod sebagai anggota RMN yang paling kerap menghuni detention centre. Dalam tempoh kurang dari dua tahun, tiga kali dia dihantar ke sana. Selepas kali ketiga dan terakhir, entah disengajakan atau memang otaknya sudah mereng, tiap-tiap malam dia buat kit muster di mes belakang KD Sri xxxxx. Akhirnya dia dapat anugerah SNLR.

Seorang lagi bekas penghuni Batu Cantonment – ODRG – pura-pura tidak siuman. Dia dihantar ke Hospital Bahagia, Tampoi. Di sana dia meminta jasa baik doktor untuk menulis surat sokongan discharge from service. Selang tak berapa lama, dia meninggalkan RMN sebagai manusia biasa yang siuman.

Kawan-kawan yang lain tidak nampak perubahan ketara. Malah ada yang menganggap tempoh berada di Batu Cantonment sebagai ‘vacation’. 

‘Flight to Danang – 3′ akan mengkisahkan pengalaman beberapa orang kawan yang pernah ‘bertamu’ di Kinrara (1965) dan Batu Cantonment (1969).

Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles.

Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts.

After months of careful research, “MALE & FEMALE” procedures have been developed. Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender.’

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MALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to the cash machine.
2. Put down your car window.
3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.
5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
6. Put window up.
7. Drive off.

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FEMALE PROCEDURE: (What is really funny is that most of this part is the truth!!!!)

1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.
5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.
6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.
8. Insert card.
9. Re-insert card the right way.
10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.
11. Enter PIN.
12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.
13. Enter amount of cash required.
14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.
15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of check book.
18. Re-check makeup.
19. Drive forward 2 feet .
20. Reverse back to cash machine.
21. Retrieve card.
22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!
23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.
24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.
25. Re-dial person on cell phone.
26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles .
27. Release Parking Brake.