KUCHING, Nov 27 (Bernama) — War veterans in Sarawak should write about their contributions to the defence of the country for the benefit of future generations, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said today.
Dr Chan, who is also state Tourism and Heritage Minister, said the people must appreciate how fast the armed forces veterans had held on to their “esprit de corps” motto and, in the case of the Sarawak Rangers, their battle cry of “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban (Fight to the death),” which was still valid today.
“Our past fighters and trackers are famed for their bravery and won admiration from all during the Malaysian Emergency and these commendable values of selfless devotion and bravery should be passed on to the young people in our society,” he added at the war memorial wreath laying ceremony for Commonwealth war veterans here.
Twenty-one war veterans received the Pingat Jasa Malaysia at the ceremony, which was also attended by the British High Commissioner to Malaysia Simon Featherstone, Australian Defence Advisor Commander Nick Hart, Third Malaysian Infantry Brigade commander Brig-Gen Datuk Mohd Ramli Jaafar, Sarawak Police Commander Datuk Mohmad Salleh and Defense Attache of the United Kingdom Colonel Jacques Lemoy.
Dr Chan found it heartening that, more than 43 years after security operations in Sarawak, Commonwealth veterans and their families came back to visit former campsites in the border areas and meet old local friends.
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CHAN-VETERANS 2 (LAST) KUCHING
In conjunction with the “Visit Sarawak Year 2011”, he hoped that the strong bond of comradeship would continue to be fostered.
The commonwealth armed forces, including Malaysians, displayed the spirit of sacrifice, devotion and heroism with unity of purpose throughout the military operations, including during the Confrontation with Indonesia, he said.
Dr Chan said the patriotic spirit demonstrated by the local forces, police, rangers and civil administration during the communist insurgency, especially within the Rejang security Command, was an important “life foundation” in the current era of globalisation and rapid changes. Many brave and dedicated armed forces members had been killed in defending the country, but in death they showed their selfless devotion and sacrifice for the cause of peace and nation, he said.
Over the past 30 years, Dr Chan said, the nation had undergone rapid socio-economic development and transformation, which would not have been possible without peace, stability and harmony.
— BERNAMA
