MM Online - Last survivor of Bukit Kepong incident bemoans fading memory of sacrifice (extracts):
It should also be noted that two Special Branch police officers who are still alive today were awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), namely SP Paul Kiong and DSP Sia Boon Chee.
Let's not forget Indian Malaysians. Captain Mohana Chandran al Velayuthan, like 2nd Lt David Fu also of 4th Battalion Royal Rangers, was posthumously awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) on 3 June 1971.
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Sole living survivor of the Bukit Kepong tragedy, Jamilah Abu Bakar, shows two photographs of her late father marine policeman Abu Bakar Daud during a visit to her home in Johor Baru |
JOHOR BARU, Feb 28 — For the past 61 years, septuagenarian Jamilah Abu Bakar had given up hope that Malaysians would remember her late parents’ sacrifices in battling communist insurgents in Bukit Kepong, Pagoh.
While the 1950 incident remains a key part of the nation’s history, remembrance of the policemen who lost their lives as well as the survivors of the communist siege is less prominent.
“Not many actually knew or remember about my late father, marine police constable Abu Bakar Daud and my family, for the sacrifices during the Bukit Kepong police station raid by communist insurgents back in 1950.
“Even later in life, my late father shied away from policemen who at times wanted to visit the family as he mostly kept to himself and was said to have been saddened for being forgotten as a survivor of the Bukit Kepong tragedy,” said Jamilah at her home in Bandar Baru Uda here.
The 73-year-old grandmother of 13 grandchildren said her father never recovered emotionally from the traumatic incident; his wife, Fatima Yaaba, and two-year-old son, Hussin, were both executed by the communists on that fateful February 23, 1950 day.
The Bukit Kepong incident was a pre-dawn raid by the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) on the police station manned then by Federation of Malaya Police, during the height of the Emergency.
The armed conflict took place within the perimeter of the wooden police station adjacent to the Muar River, about 60km from Muar town, in Johor.
The aftermath saw more than 20 people killed on each side.
While the 1950 incident remains a key part of the nation’s history, remembrance of the policemen who lost their lives as well as the survivors of the communist siege is less prominent.
“Not many actually knew or remember about my late father, marine police constable Abu Bakar Daud and my family, for the sacrifices during the Bukit Kepong police station raid by communist insurgents back in 1950.
“Even later in life, my late father shied away from policemen who at times wanted to visit the family as he mostly kept to himself and was said to have been saddened for being forgotten as a survivor of the Bukit Kepong tragedy,” said Jamilah at her home in Bandar Baru Uda here.
The 73-year-old grandmother of 13 grandchildren said her father never recovered emotionally from the traumatic incident; his wife, Fatima Yaaba, and two-year-old son, Hussin, were both executed by the communists on that fateful February 23, 1950 day.
The Bukit Kepong incident was a pre-dawn raid by the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) on the police station manned then by Federation of Malaya Police, during the height of the Emergency.
The armed conflict took place within the perimeter of the wooden police station adjacent to the Muar River, about 60km from Muar town, in Johor.
The aftermath saw more than 20 people killed on each side.
I would like to contribute one name to the memories of the policemen killed by CT at Bukit Kepong station in 1950.
That policeman was Koh Ah Cheng.
As I mentioned in my post Chinese policemen (published 04 March 2013) it was ironical that while a Chinese policeman among his compatriots were killed by communist terrorists (CT), the communist assailants were led by a Malay, Muhammad Indera - not unlike today's Muslim-Filipino Malay assailants of our 8 policemen in Lahad Datu.
That policeman was Koh Ah Cheng.
As I mentioned in my post Chinese policemen (published 04 March 2013) it was ironical that while a Chinese policeman among his compatriots were killed by communist terrorists (CT), the communist assailants were led by a Malay, Muhammad Indera - not unlike today's Muslim-Filipino Malay assailants of our 8 policemen in Lahad Datu.
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police in Lahad Datu |
It's important to point this out so as to correct the erroneous but archetypal Malay belief is that CT were Chinese and victims were Malays. In my post listed above, you will discover the many Chinese heroes of Malaya-Malaysia.
That post of mine rebutted the somewhat racist accusations of A Kadir Yassin, formerly a big timer in the NST group and one of Mahathir's staunchest supporter and at times mouthpiece. Despite his literary and journalistic knowledge and memories he painted Chinese Malaysians as reluctant to serve in the police or military.
The truth has been the military and police until very recently but since 1981, did not wanted Chinese in its midst, as has been highlighted by veteran organisations recently.
As I've often written, Malaysia's war against the CT could and would NOT have been won without the sterling and daring role of the police special branch (SB).
As I've often written, Malaysia's war against the CT could and would NOT have been won without the sterling and daring role of the police special branch (SB).
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From Star: IGP: Yuen Yuet Leng to be buried with full police honours |
It should also be noted that two Special Branch police officers who are still alive today were awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), namely SP Paul Kiong and DSP Sia Boon Chee.
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Superintendent of Police Paul Kiong, SP |
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Deputy Superintendent of Police Sia Boon Chee, SP |
Without exaggeration, I would consider these two officers’ contributions (presumably still under secret classification) as pivotal to the defeat of the communist terrorist movement in Peninsula Malaysia.
Of the several Chinese policemen killed by enemies of the state that I mentioned in my post, five (5) of them were awarded the nation's highest gallantry award, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), with two posthumously.
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SP - awarded for act of extreme bravery and valor Nation's highest award for gallantry |
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Fong Thean Kit SP |
Then there were Chinese in the Armed Forces who showed their loyalty to their nation by making the ultimate sacrifices, TUDM officers like the late Lt Choo Yoke Boo and the late Lt Chang Tatt Min who were both awarded the Panglima (or Pingat) Gagah Berani (PGB) posthumously. It's said that the PGB is next in gallantry honours to the SP.
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PGB - awarded for act of extreme bravery and valor |
One Ranger officer, 2nd Lt David Fu Chee Ming who I believe is still alive today, was also awarded the PGB. I won't go into his citation again.
But he wasn't the only Chinese military offer awarded bravery medals, from valor during operations in Peninsular, Sarawak and Sabah, and overseas (Congo under the UN flag).
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Kapt David Fu Chee Ming PGB |
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Kolonel Maurice Lam Shye Choon PGB |
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Mejar Lee Ah Pow PGB |
Let's not forget Indian Malaysians. Captain Mohana Chandran al Velayuthan, like 2nd Lt David Fu also of 4th Battalion Royal Rangers, was posthumously awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) on 3 June 1971.
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Kapt Mohana Chandran SP |
Alas, Pak Kadir has not been unlike Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi, who on 09 Nov 2010, as to be expected for the archetypal UMNO ‘patriots’, stated in response to a question in Parliament that the low number of Chinese and Indian recruits in the military could be due to the Chinese and Indians [being] 'not patriotic enough'.
In January this year Mina Ismail, chairperson of Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah defenders movement) said only the Malays had sacrificed their lives for Malaya.
He should f**king bloody apologise to Chinese Malaysians. Where the f**k was that ignorant racist when Chinese were spilling their blood for Malaya-Malaysia?