Utuh Paloi Banjar Blog

“Had we called for an open tender, we would have exposed our defense secret to the enemies”.

That was the reply from deputy defense minister to a question from the opposition member of parliament on Thursday, 22nd October. My first impression was that the online news portal had erred. How could a deputy minister with a prefix Dr before his name eke out such reply? Or was it excuse.

The following morning, I hurried to the nearest 7 Eleven store to pick up the Sun and Star newspapers. Both quoted similar line. I wonder how it would appear in the Malay newspapers. Will it be similar or different ? I could not envisage because I have lost touch with both publications.  

“Sekiranya kita menawarkan tender terbuka, kita akan mendedahkan rahsia pertahanan kepada musuh”. That could have possibly been the translation.

Fortunately, the DAP Parliamentarian who raised the question did so just for the sake of asking. Or perhaps he was just another preprogrammed robot. As long as there is a question, his parliamentary responsibility is done and dusted. The reply, be it relevant or otherwise is of secondary importance. No wonder, the person providing the answer has no reservation to endorse the saying ‘in the world of the blind, the one-eyed is king’.

Enemy ? Which country are our probable enemies. Perhaps it was just a slip of the tongue. Or maybe, it’s true that Malaysia is surrounded by enemies..

Is it Israel or a neighboring country or countries which are closely associated with Israel? Should that be what he meant, the scorpene specifications as well as its strength and weaknesses are no more secret. Remember how Israel annihilated the Egyptian air force during the six day war of June 1967 with pre-emptive strike that obliterated the entire Egyptians striking and defense capabilities. And that happened well before the existence of what is now known as ‘cyber terrorism’.  

Remember how hackers breached the supposedly impregnable high-tech jet fighter program in Pentagon ? Similarly, the so called secret information that would have been exposed through open tender could simply be extracted by clicking the keyboard.

Or perhaps, what is meant by enemy is in reality ‘the enemy to the company that was given the contract on a silver platter’. Had there been an open tender, there will surely be a competitor or competitors that can quote competitive price with identical package. And when the bidder that quoted the highest is given the job, those rejected will not have second thought of disclosing the irregularities. The Eurocopter tender is a case in point.

In today’s fast pace information age, the old adage, it is not what you know, but who you know, is truer than ever.

“Exposing our defense secret to the enemy” ?

‘Jane’s Fighting Ships’ is an annual publication that came into existence long before we hear of ‘Google’. It provides reference for those who are interested to know about warships dating as far back as the nineteenth century. It publishes comprehensive information – displacement, propulsion, armament, electronic, etc - of more than one hundred sixty navies of the world including Malaysia. With the advent of the internet, its website is opened to subscribers all over the world. What was once considered secret has now become an open secret.   

KD Rahmat, Jebat and Lekiu, the three frigates that were specially built and tailor made for the Royal Malaysian Navy could, in its initial stage, probably be classified as secret. Secret in the sense that the three ships were the only type ever built. Since the three were prototype, it took Yarrow Shipyard in Glasgow more than six years to complete – three agonising years behind schedule. Even then, which country or which ‘enemy’ that do not know KD Rahmat is the first warship in South East Asia to be equipped with ‘Seacat’ surface to air missile (SAM). The only secret, if it can still be termed as such, is the number of hits the three frigates ever registered. Perhaps, RTM which covered the first (or was it the last) launching of the Seacat missile in 1976 still kept in its archive the footage with the headline “TLDM (KD Rahmat) had ‘successfully launched’ her surface to air missile…”

Ironically, six years later, the quadruple launcher was discarded in favour of more conventional weaponry, a 40/70 Bofors.

As for scorpene, it is no secret that the shipyard built three versions with varied specifications namely Basic, Basic-AIP and compact. Since Malaysia is not the only operator of the scorpene, the question of secrecy therefore has become irrelevant. What is of prime importance is the efficiency of the sailors manning the boat. Hopefully, what was depicted in the 1958 film ‘Run Silent Run Deep’ whereby the submarine’s own torpedo made an about turn is just a comedy to tickle our funny bones.

After what happened to KD Seri Inderapura, I dread to think of the probabilities.

“Exposing our defense secret to the enemy” ?

The widely publicized scandal between John Profumo and Christine Keeler in 1963 that rocked the British Government should never have happened. Profumo failed to screen the background of the woman he was sleeping with. His thoughts were clouded by lust. Little did he realize that Christine Keeler is closely associated with Ivanov, a senior Soviet Naval Attache based in London.

John Profumo, the secretary of state for war did not only lose his job but also his dignity. Had he been a Malaysian politician, he would surely be forgiven and spared the humiliation and agony. Unfortunately, the British are not as forgiving as the Malays. The Malays are well versed in selective prosecution as well as selective practice of “forgiving and forgetting”.

The John Profumo and Christine Keeler affair should have made our politicians realized that eternal vigilance is the ultimate price of liberty. The consequences of neglect are incomprehensible.

What did we learn from JP and CK affair ? Nothing.

If the defense ministry is really serious about the security of the country, and hence the close tender, why did it allow a foreign lady to be the interpreter. Was it not possible to find a Malaysian who is well versed in French? Did it not cross the mind of those people that the foreign interpreter could have been a clone of Christine Keeler? Or has similar DNA.

We can fool some of the people all of the time, and all the people some of the time, but lest we forget, there are time when we make a fool of ourselves.

“Had we called for an open tender, we would have exposed our defence secret to the enemies…”

Ketika terbaca jawapan  timbalan menteri pertahanan kepada soalan yang diajukan wakil DAP di Parlimen pada hari Khamis 22hb Oktober, saya menyangka penyelenggara berita online tersilap. Mustahil seorang timbalan menteri yang ada gelaran ’Dr’ di hadapan namanya memberi jawapan sedemikian. Atau alasan.

Pagi hari berikutnya, saya bergegas ke kedai 7 Eleven berhampiran untuk mencari kepastian. Akhbar Star dan the Sun pun membawa ungkapan serupa. Apalah agaknya ayat yang diguna oleh akhbar berbahasa Melayu. Mungkin berbeza mungkin sama. Sejak kedua-dua kumpulan akhbar ini terpaksa menukar kiblat ke Menara Dato Onn, saya sudah tidak lagi mengikuti omongan pemberita, penulis dan pengarangnya.

“Sekiranya kita menawarkan tender terbuka, kita akan mendedahkan rahsia pertahanan kepada musuh”. Mungkin begitulah lebih kurang maknanya jika diterjemah ke Bahasa Melayu.

Mujurlah wakil DAP yang mengajukan soalan sekadar melepas batuk di tangga. Ataupun macam robot yang telah diprogramkan. Asalkan ada soalan sudah memadai. Ketepatan dan kesahihan jawapannya tidak perlu dipersoal. Maka yang menjawab pun yakin ‘dalam kelompok orang-orang buta, yang celik sebelah mata menjadi raja’.

Musuh ? Malaysia bermusuh dengan negara mana agaknya. Tak mungkin. Rasanya beliau tersalah ungkap. Atau memang ketika ini Malaysia sedang bermusuhan dengan negara lain.

Israel ? Atau negara jiran yang mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan Israel ? Kalaulah itu yang dimaksudkan, bukan setakat spesifikasi scorpene, kekuatan dan kelemahan kapal selam itu sendiri pun bukan lagi rahsia. Lihat sahajalah bagaimana mereka memusnahkan hampir keseluruhan kekuatan pertahanan udara Mesir pada bulan Jun 1967 dalam apa yang dinamakan sebagai ‘peperangan enam hari’.

Atau, apa yang dimaksudkan sebagai musuh itu sebenarnya lebih merupakan ‘musuh kepada syarikat yang mendapat durian runtuh’. Kalau dibuat tender terbuka, tentunya ada yang boleh menawarkan pakej yang lebih kompetitif. Dan bila mana tender diberikan kepada syarikat yang menawarkan sebut-harga yang lebih tinggi dengan pakej serupa, maka terjadilah seperti mana yang berlaku dengan cadangan pembelian Eurocopter.   Kerana tender terbuka, semuanya terbuka. Dan syarikat yang gagal, yang merasa mereka tidak diberi peluang beraksi di gelanggang yang sama rata, tidak teragak-agak mendedahkan apa yang kononnya rahsia. ‘Siapa yang anda kenal lebih bermakna dari apa yang anda tahu’. (Whom you know is more important than what you know).

“mendedahkan rahsia pertahanan kepada musuh” 

Sebelum adanya kemudahan internet, ‘Jane’s Fighting Ships’, sebuah terbitan tahunan (annual publications) menerbitkan senarai komprehensif kapal dan spesifikasi tentera laut lebih seratus enam puluh negara. Termasuklah TLDM. Kini, diera dunia tanpa sempadan, siapa yang berminat boleh melayari laman web ‘Jane’s Fighting Ships’ asalkan sanggup membayar yuran langganan. Apa yang dianggap rahsia sebenarnya sudah lama menjadi rahsia terbuka atau open secret.

KD Rahmat, Jebat dan Lekiu, tiga buah frigate yang ditempah khusus mengikut spesifikasi TLDM mungkin, diawal pembinaan, boleh dikategorikan sebagai rahsia kerana ketiga-tiga buah kapal perang tersebut adalah prototype. Kerana keprotoan itulah, ia mengambil masa enam tahun untuk disiapkan. Tiga tahun lewat dari jadual. Pun begitu, negara mana atau ‘musuh’ mana yang tidak tahu KD Rahmat adalah kapal pertama di Tenggara Asia yang dilengkapi peluru berpandu ‘Seacat’ laut ke udara (SAM). Apa yang masih menjadi rahsia hanyalah jumlah ‘sasaran’ yang dimusnahkan peluru berpandu KD Rahmat, Jebat dan Lekiu.  RTM yang membuat liputan ketika pertama kalinya (dan mungkin terakhir) KD Rahmat menguji peluru berpandu pada tahun 1976 tentu masih menyimpan rakaman yang begitu gah bunyinya “TLDM Berjaya melancarkan peluru berpandu laut ke udara…”

Kerana kejayaan itulah agaknya, maka enam tahun selepas peristiwa itu, pelancar kembar empat (quadruple launcher) KD Rahmat berpindah ke muzium.

Berbeza dengan scorpene. Siapa pun yang melayari internet akan dapat mengetahui bahawa syarikat pembuat kapal selam tersebut mengeluarkan tiga versi. Basic, basic-AIP dan compact. Malaysia pula bukan negara tunggal yang memiliki kapal selam jenis ini. Yang membezakan antara scorpene milik Malaysia dengan yang dimiliki negara lain cuma kecekapan crew mengendali kapal itu sendiri. Harap-harap, janganlah ada kejadian lawak seperti dalam filem ‘Run Silent, Run Deep’ yang hampir memusnahkan kapal selam mereka sendiri.   

Selepas kebakaran yang memusnahkan KD Seri Inderapura, tidak mustahil yang mustahil menjadi kenyataan.

“mendedahkan rahsia pertahanan kepada musuh”?

Skandal John Profumo dan Chritine Keeler di Britain pada tahun 1963 sepatutnya dijadikan iktibar betapa pentingnya pengasingan mereka yang terlibat dibidang pertahanan dengan wanita ‘asing’. Ketika kewarasan fikiran dikuasai nafsu, pandangan jadi kelabu. Profumo hilang pertimbangan. Dia tidak terfikir untuk mengetahui latar belakang Christine Keeler. Fikirannya hanya tertumpu pada tubuh perempuan itu. Walaupun warga Britain, tapi CK juga ada hubungan rapat denga Ivanov, seorang attaché tentera laut Rusia (ketika itu Soviet Union) di London.

Malang bagi Profumo kerana orang Inggeris tidak pemaaf seperti orang Melayu. Jawatan sebagai setiausaha pertahanan terpaksa dilepaskan. Kalau di Malaysia tidak jadi masalah untuk dia mengekalkan jawatan kerana orang Malaysia mengamalkan (secara terpilih) budaya ‘maaf dan lupakan’ atau forgive and forget.   

Kalau benar kementerian pertahanan menganggap pembelian scorpene perlu dirahsiakan demi keselamatan negara, kenapa pula syarikat yang dianugerahkan tender mengguna khidmat juru bahasa perempuan dari negara luar. Tidak adakah orang Malaysia sendiri yang fasih bertutur dalam Bahasa Perancis. Tidakkah terfikir kemungkinan orang luar itu adalah klon  wanita yang ditiduri Profumo. Ataupun mempunyai DNA yang hampir sama.

Kita boleh perbodoh sekelompok manusia setiap masa, dan semua orang  pada satu-satu ketika, tapi jangan lupa ada masanya kita pula yang memperbodoh diri sendiri.

Mungkin ada hikmah disebalik keputusan aneh itu?

Selang seminggu, aku dipanggil lagi.

Keputusan untuk bertukar cawangan mendapat kelulusan. Aku diarah menemui senior instructor officer (SIO) Lt Mui Sam Loong. Ada tiga orang yang memohon termasuk dua orang keturunan Cina.

Kami dikehendaki menduduki peperiksaan matematiks dan fisik dan diberi tempoh seminggu untuk mengulangkaji. Mungkin kerana cukup persediaan, aku tidak menghadapi masalah untuk lulus cemerlang. Malah, Lt Mui sendiri terperanjat kerana aku memperolehi markah penuh untuk matematiks dan cuma kurang dua peratus untuk fisik. Dua orang lagi gagal.

Pengambilan fasa ketiga bulan September akan tamat latihan pada bulan Disember. Kelas ‘basic electricity’ akan bermula pada 3hb Januari tahun berikutnya. Sementara menunggu tarikh penghijrahan, aku meneruskan tugas-tugas di pejabat rekod di bawah penyeliaan POWG Mokhsin - ketua yang diserap dari RMNVR dan sentiasa bermuka masam. Jauh berbeza dengan Chief Amir, ketua keseluruhan pejabat di Admin Block.

Yusuf Putih, kawan seangkatan dan sepejabat, gemar menyelongkar fail-fail peribadi laskar. Kerana sifat ingin tahu inilah dia terbuka dua fail peribadi berkaitan insiden penting yang berlaku sebelum kami menjejakkan kaki di KD Malaya. Kami sama-sama meneliti butiran yang tercatit.

Pada tahun 1963, TLDM atau RMN ketika itu mula membawa  balik bot ronda (patrol craft) dengan belayar dari England ke pangkalan di Woodlands. Orang Inggeris sendiri pun kagum bagaimana kapal yang beratnya lebih kurang seratus tan dan panjang sekitar 31 meter boleh belayar melalui ‘Bay of Biscay’ yang terkenal dengan gelora laut dan gelombang ganas.

Semasa belayar melewati Lautan Hindi, cook atau tukang masak salah sebuah bot ini telah hilang. Pada zahirnya, kehilangan tersebut dicerminkan sebagai ‘terjatuh’ tapi cerita dari kawan-kawan sekapal mengatakan dia membunuh diri dengan terjun ke laut.

Setelah membaca surat-surat yang dihantar laskar ini kepada keluarganya di kampung, ternyata dakwaan kawan-kawan sekapal ada asasnya. Kehidupannya sejak di UK lagi sudah tersiksa. Pegawai Laksana (XO) berbangsa Melayu berasal dari Negeri Sembilan selalu menderanya sejak kapal masih berada di limbungan. Setelah belayar, keadaan semakin teruk. Tak cukup dengan arahan membersih ‘galley’ dan kawasan sekitar ketika kapal sedang bertarung mengharung ombak, maki hamun pula menjadi santapan telinga. Dalam suratnya, dia memberitahu keluarga, “daripada terus hidup terseksa, lebih baik mati”.

Mulanya, sukar jua percaya kalau tidak melihat sendiri pekerti pegawai berkenaan. Suatu hari, kapal ronda kami sama-sama bertambat di Port Dickson. Mungkin Allah ingin menunjukkan kepada kami tentang peribadi pegawai memerintah (CO) bot ronda ini atau mungkin juga Allah ingin menunjukkan kepadaku bahawa apa yang pernah ku baca di pejabat rekod dulu bukan rekaan.

Ditakdirkan, ibunya datang untuk bertemu anak yang mungkin entah bila kali terakhir dijengahnya. Tidak menjemput ibu untuk naik ke kapal taklah menghairankan. Membiarkan ibu menanti di jeti pun masih dikira OK. Tapi membiarkan ibu menjinjing dua buah bakul dengan kepayahan dan anak jalan berlenggang di sisi ketika sama-sama berjalan meninggalkan jeti…jenis manusia apakah orang ini? Apakah akan turun martabat seorang pegawai kalau membantu ibu yang bersusah payah menemui anak, mungkin untuk melepas rindu? Entahlah. Melihat peristiwa itu, teringat pula kisah Nakhoda Tanggang.

Penubuhan Malaysia mendapat tentangan dari negara jiran Indonesia. Dan Filipina. Presiden Soekarno melabelkannya sebagai ‘neo kolonialisma’ atau penjajahan bentuk baru. Dan mengisytiharkan manifesto meng ‘ganyang’ Malaysia.

Susulan daripada pengisytiharan itu, ramailah komando-komando Indonesia yang lebih dikenali dengan gelaran (ka ka o) menyeludup masuk sama ada menerusia udara atau laut. Yang terpopular ialah Lt Soedjipto yang ditawan oleh askar Malaysia di Johor pada tahun 1964.

Di laut pula, pertembungan antara bot ronda KD Seri Selangor dan KD Seri Perak dengan bot laju komando-komando Indonesia mengorbankan seorang laskar bernama Abdul Samad yang berasal dari Batu Pahat. E.M. atau electrical mekanik Samad ialah abang kepada R.M. atau radio mekanik Abdul Aziz. Walaupun abangnya terkorban ketika bertugas, itu tidak menghalang si adik untuk berkhidmat dengan TLDM.

Kenapa Abdul Samad terbunuh? Di atas kapal ronda, semua anak kapal ada tugas masing-masing. Dalam keaadaan ‘action station’, tempat mekanik elektrik dan radio adalah di ‘bridge’. Dan E.M. ditugaskan mengendali ’spot light’ manakala R.M. pula mengendali ‘machine gun’ atau pada masa itu cuma HBSLR (heavy barrel self loading rifle). Target atau tumpuan KKO tentunya memadamkan spot light yang bukan sahaja menyilaukan mata mereka tapi juga membuatkan mereka tertedah kepada tembakan senjata anak-anak kapal.  

Membaca laporan rasmi kadangkala mengelirukan. Mendengar cerita dari anak kapal yang berada di ‘bridge’ ketika kejadian lagi mengelirukan. Umum difahamkan bahawa C.O. KDSS mengambil tindakan merempuh bot yang sedang memuntahkan peluru ke arah KD Seri Selangor. Anak kapal pula mengatakan C.O. tergamam, mencangkung ketakutan ketika bridge dihujani peluru. Pegawai laksana atau X.O. keturunan Cina yang tenang mengawal keadaan. Dialah yang bertanggung jawab mengubah kedudukan throttle dari neutral ke astern atau reverse dan merempuh bot tersebut. Akhirnya, semua komando Indonesia menemui ajal.

Kerana tiada kemalangan jiwa di KD Sri Perak, maka ia ditugaskan mengambil mayat-mayat di laut dan disusun di buritan untuk dibawa ke darat.

Untuk beberapa tahun selepas kejadian, ramai krew yang meremang bulu roma jika berada pada waktu malam di sekitar ‘Y’ gun atau meriam di buritan KD Srri Perak. Ramai yang ternampak kelibat orang dan ada pula yang menepuk bahu tapi bila ditoleh, orangnya tak kelihatan.

Entah betul entah tidak tentang cerita lembaga di buritan kapal Sri Perak atau cerita tentang gelagat C.O. di ‘bridge’ Sri Selangor, aku pun kurang pasti. Yang pasti, aku mendengar sendiri dari mulut mereka yang pernah bertugas di Sri Perak. Aku juga mendengar sendiri dari mulut anak kapal yang sebangsa dengan C.O. dan berada di ‘bridge’ ketika Sri Selangor dihujani peluru.

Andainya betul, maka terbuktilah kebenaran pepatah Melayu “lembu punya susu, sapi dapat nama”.

The Ex-Servicemen’s Association has called on the government to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) against anyone, including politicians, who proposed or supported a move to allow former communist leader Chin Peng to return to Malaysia.

On June 1st, the president of ex-servicemen association flanked by two ex-soldiers held a press conference and issued the following ‘battle cry’. Or is it tantrums?

“If possible, use the ISA. We do not want the communist ideology to grow in Malaysia”. said the president.

So deep-rooted was his hatred towards a ‘former’ enemy that his vision was distorted. He could not think of any other means other than to dispatch peace-loving Malaysians to Kamunting. And if this man was an officer in the armed forces, I dread to think what would have been his reactions in the face of enemy fire.

And is he not aware that once a peace treaty is signed, the animosity should and must end.

“However, we, as ex-servicemen, will feel insulted if they were allowed to return as Malaysian nationals,”

Insulted? Who should feel insulted?

The two retired armed forces personnel and many others should. For all the sacrifices, losing limbs and eyesight, they only receive RM 429 and RM274  monthly pensions, barely or perhaps insufficient to make ends meet.

Who else should feel insulted?

The ex-servicemen who rely on their president to bring meaningful changes that could improve the lives of disabled comrades instead of goading them by stoking the ember of hatred.

By implying that the voices that supported the return of Chin Peng are communist sympathizers and therefore should be locked in Kamunting reflects the capacity of the person.

By implying that the return of a man who is deep in his twilight years and  ’could hardly summon a meeting of two people’  will spur the growth of communist ideology is insulting the intelligence of broad minded Malaysians.

As an ex-serviceman who opted to dissociate from the association, one could not help but feel vindicated for spurning the widely accepted notion that one has more to gain by being a member. As it stands, regrets could have been appropriate. How could an association move forward if its rudder is helmed by someone who despises the opinion of others. Wonder how many enemies had he killed or shot or ever being shot at all.

By harping the blame solely on the communists for the conditions they are in is synonymous with electricians blaming TNB for electric shocks or electrocutions, or machine operators blaming the machine for mishaps that caused the loss of  limbs, or motorists blaming the road for accidents that disabled them for life.

Did  Wayne Rainey ever blame the bike’s manufacturer  for the crash during the 1993 Italian MOTOR GP race that paralyzed him waist down? Did the legendary Muhammad Ali ever blame the promoter for pitching him against tough opponents that lead to the Parkinson syndrome that restricted his mobility? Did the family of Ayrton Senna ever prohibit other family members from pursuing F1 racing just because Senna was killed at Imola in 1994?

No. They did not. And they don’t lament on ‘what could have been’.

Wayne Rainey is now managing a motor GP outfit. Muhammad Ali is busy travelling world over promoting racial goodwill. A nephew of Ayrton Senna was racing for the Renault F1 team.

The two soldiers and those that bemoaned the tragedy that befell them should take a leaf out of those who live their dreams by turning adversities into opportunities. Harbouring grudges will not help them overcome difficulties. If he could restore his vision by gouging Chin Peng’s eyes, then go ahead. Otherwise, keep the desire tightly locked in the subconscious.

Failure to keep emotions in check during press conferences more often than not exposed one’s weaknesses. For ordinary men, such failures are not uncommon. But for a soldier or an ex-soldier, it is tantamount to self-degradations.

True fighting men are those who respect the enemy and vice versa. In every encounter, there are the victors and the vanquished. If we cannot accept that ’unwritten law’ of battle, then do not disrespect the uniform that we once proudly donned. It is a disgrace to be still moaning  long after the duel or hostilities are  over.

Perhaps if they are bestowed with honours similar to the living legend, the indomitable Iban Warrior Kanang anak Langkau, or Victoria Cross like the one bestowed by the Queen on Lance Corporal Rambahadur Limbu from the 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha’s Rifles  during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation in 1965, then they might have strung a different chord.

Perhaps, the words of Professor Sir Ralph Turner who once served with the 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles during the First World War could serve as reminder of how true fighting men should be:

“As I write these last words, my thoughts return to you who were my comrades, the stubborn and indomitable peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with which you greeted every hardship. Once more I see you in your bivouacs or about your fires, on forced march or in the trenches, now shivering with wet and cold, now scorched by a pitiless and burning sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and wounds; and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you”.

What an epilogue.

Question to ponder. What virtue that seperated the Gurkhas from the rest? Or Kanang anak Langkau from the rest of us.

Right - SC of 2nd paltoon and good friend of uncle Hamdan. Center - eldest daughter of Naib Hassan. Left - the scribe

Sometime in August 1945, a village head in a remote settlement outside the sleepy town of Air Hitam was ‘persuaded’ to attend a meeting with PKM personnel in an unknown location. That was the last time he was seen by his family.

Earlier in the week, he was advised by the Chinese villagers to leave the village, albeit temporarily because there were rumours that the communists were after him. Being a ‘Banjarese’ who migrated to Malaya in the early thirties, and having fought the Dutch colonialists in Kalimantan, Indonesia, he was adamant to stand his ground and overcome adversities, come what may. Little did he know that there were Malays and Banjarese in the communist camp.

Many ‘Banjarese’ of yesteryears were well known for their bravery as well as in depth spiritual knowledge and fighting skill. The exploits of ‘panglima’ Salih and Ijam in Muar/Batu Pahat and HJ Bakri and his men in Sungai Manik are testimonies of their saga.

Without the help of the Malays/Banjarese, the communists would not have been able to inflict injuries much less the premature demise of this village head.

That village head is naib Hassan bin Abu Bakar, the scribe’s grandfather.

Nyior Estate, 1950 or thereabout. A full platoon of special constable personnel was ambushed and virtually wiped out by the communists. Another platoon that came to the aid of their comrades hours later saw dead bodies, most of them with ‘complimentary’ stab wounds. According to the sole survivor who outfoxed the communists by feigning death, the injured were kicked and stepped on mercilessly for any sign of life upon which, the living wounded would be dispatched to the Creator with their bayonets.

A week or so before the encounter, a group of terrorists headed by a well known ‘one eyed’  communist  leader in the area, a Malay nicknamed ‘Man Cilak’ surprised a platoon of special constables who were resting in a rubber plantation. The manner in which Man Cilak and his men appeared and disappeared in a blink of an eye behind ‘a’ tree were the talking point for years to come. Such were the prowess of Malay communist leaders then.

And fortunately (or otherwise) for that platoon, Man Cilak did not just spare them the ignominy of being caught with their pants down but also advised them to be vigilant in future only to return, days later,  and witnessed the brutal massacre the communists inflicted on their comrades.

In 1953, the lone survivor from that encounter in Nyior Estate came to visit his friend who by then had opted to start life anew in the village.

That man who lost his right leg on that fateful day was uncle Hamdan and the person he visited was his good friend in the second platoon. And his good friend is the scribe’s father.

And Chin Peng is regarded as the person responsible for the unnecessary loss of lives and limbs including that of naib Hassan and uncle Hamdan.

Why Chin Peng? And Chin Peng alone!

Could the communists have found the formula to neutralise the ’spiritual prowess’ and invincibility of naib Hassan? Could Chin Peng be as ’brave and powerful’ without the collaborations of the Malays?

An honest answer will be a big NO.

Why then only Chin Peng is prohibited from returning to his birth place while the ’collaborators’ were treated differently?

Is the scribe less of a patriot for questioning the wisdom of fellow Malaysians?

During the height of the Indonesian Confrontations, and with respectable Senior Cambridge and Federation of Malaya certificates, the scribe decided to answer the call of duty by joining the armed forces. Offers to pursue teaching profession and desk jobs in the civil service were put aside for the sake of the country.

Is that not patriotic?

And how many of those ‘very patriotic’ Malaysians dare risk life and limbs serving the front line in defense of their beloved country?

And why should fellow Malaysians practice ‘forgive and forget’?

As obedient servants of God, Muslims are guided by the teachings of Quran and practice the sunnah or preaching of Prophet Mohammad. And the majority of those who strongly opposed the return of Chin Peng are Muslims.

Have we not heard how Prophet Mohamad forgave his enemy Abu Sufian and many others, and Saidina Ali who forgave the enemy whom he was about to kill? Those are just a couple of the countless examples of forgiving the enemy.

As Muslims, we ask for forgiveness from God and hope to be forgiven. But why the reluctance when it is our turn to forgive others?

As human beings, it is never easy to erase the pain from memory but it does not take super human effort to forgive. After all, Islam as well as other religion and teachings encourage the faithful to be forgiving.

So fellow Malaysians, why not give a thought?