Malaysian Heros

It's time to stop reading trashy medical reports, bias news on politicians with their racist policies, serving only themselves together with whatever crap we pay RM1.20 (some pay more) for everyday. Read this!

I picked this story Call to recognise the nation's highest gallantry award and found this to be inspiring and timely. It's great to know there are (were, in some cases) heros in Malaysia. These people sacrificed themselves beyond the call of duty - for the country serving beyond race and religion. They were awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), Malaysia's highest gallantry award.

Less then 20 people ever received this award. They do not get any honorific like Tun, Tan Sri, Datuk.....etc. The are just called by their names for who they are - heros! Let's go tell our children about them. To these brave Malaysians, and many more unsung heros, I salute you!

Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP)

• Warrant Officer 2 Lenggu anak China 1971

Even though the enemy outnumbered the Security Forces, and having managed to destroy the forward boat, the fighting spirit of Warrant Officer 2 Lenggu anak China was not affected. In fact, it had the opposite effect. With determination and a very high spirit, in the highest traditions of the Ranger Corps, he launched a determined assault single handedly against the enemy. He managed to kill 4 of the enemy. In this action, Warrant Officer Lenggu anak China fell beside the enemy he had killed.

• Supt Paul Kiong

Kiong was an Inspector with the Special Branch in Ipoh. In 1981, he was part of several operations to cripple communist activities during the communist insurgency between 1966 and 1989. This involved infiltrating the organisation, operating in the jungle, capturing the terrorists alive as well as being involved in direct confrontations with them. He was conferred the SP on June 1, 1983. Kiong was also awarded Perak's highest bravery award in 1988 for three other operations. He retired as a Superintendent of Police in 1997.

• Deputy Superintendent Sia Boon Chee

Sia was an Inspector with the Special Branch in Ipoh and was part of the same operations to fight the communist threat. These operations required him to gather intelligence by infiltrating enemy lines, operating in thick jungle, capturing terrorists alive and engaging them in direct battle. He was awarded the SP on June 1, 1983. He retired with the rank of DSP in 1994. He read law the following year and is currently a practicing lawyer.

• Captain Mohana Chandran al Velayuthan (alternate spellings: Mohana, Velaythan, Mohanachandran Velayutham)

Captain Chandran received his award for actions on 3 June 1971. Leading a unit of ten men of the 4th Battalion Royal Rangers on a reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of the Ulu Kinta forest (Perak), he happened upon a group of communist insurgents numbering approximately 40 men. This occurred on the tenth day of their mission and 4 hours after they had located the first enemy tracks. Coming under murderous fire after detection by an enemy sentry Captain Chandran rallied his squad and advanced on the enemy. The encounter with the well-entrenched enemy led to the death of Captain Chandran at the age of 27 and he was posthumously awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa.

Captain Chandran was an alum of Royal Military College. Attached to Alpha company and remembered by his batchmate as V.M. Chandran and later in the army as Ray Chandran. He is from the 1963-1964 batch.

• Warrant Officer 1 (901738) Kanang anak Langkau

Kanang anak Langkau of Simanggang, Sarawak was a Malaysian Ranger from the 8th Battalion Royal Rangers (now known as the 8th Paras) is the first and only living recipient of both the "Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa" and the "Pingat Gagah Berani." He is the first and only person thus far to have received two gallantry awards in the Malaysian Armed forces.

He joined the service with the Sarawak Rangers as an Iban Tracker on the 21 April 1962. He was absorbed into the Malaysian Rangers when Malaysia was proclaimed on the 16 September 1963. He retired as a Warrant Officer 1 after 21 years in the service.

Following the death of one soldier in the Tanah Hitam area of Perak in enagagement with communists on the 8th February 1980 the Unit Combat Intelligence Squad (UCIS) of 8th Battalion Royal Rangers under the leadership of Kanang anak Langkau was tasked to seek and destroy the group. They tracked the enemy over 11 days on terrain familiar to the enemy. On the evening 19th February 1980 at around 1500 hours his platoon managed to estimate the location of the enemy, who were close by.

Unfortunately, Kanang's group was mistaken as they were already within the enemy's perimeter, which they realised when they found a communications cord connecting the sentry outpost to the main force. The cord was usually connected to a bush or empty cans so that a sentry could use it to alert the main force of intruders.

Kanang, 8 metres from the enemy sentry position, launched an attack to his right flank. It then became apparent that the main force lay to the left. They assaulted the left and routed the enemy taking one casualty and killing five communists. One soldier was seriously wounded and Kanang himself took three rounds but survived and eventually returned to active duty. Kanang anak Langkau was conferred the "Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa" for valour in decimating the enemy on 3 June 1981.

• Velu Rajavelu

• Gean Kartar Singh

• Ngalinuh Bala, at Kilah Atu

• Etin Bijam

• Reggie anak Deli

• Nuing anak Saling

• Saimon Tarikat

• Yeap Sean Hua

• Fong Thean Kit

• Chin Chin Kong

• Jalil Ibrahim - Civilian (an alum of Royal Military College, Year 1964-65, Hotel Company)

Not many remember the bespectacled former student of the Royal Military College who was killed in Hong Kong in July 1983 while investigating a case involving the fraudulent award of RM2.5 billion (then) in loans by Bumiputra Finance Berhad to the Carrian Group helmed by Malaysian businessman George Tan.

To date, he is the only civilian to receive the award.

• Mat Aznan Awang - killed in action during the Battle of Mogadishu under the United Nations' banner.

Source & more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seri_Pahlawan_Gagah_Perkasa and http://www.malaysianmonarchy.org.my/portal_bi/rk6/rk6a.php?id=rk6_18

(Random Thoughts)

History Lesson in the Future

Our country is in nothing short of a mess and totally screwed-up at this point in time. While political leaders fight it out, all the basics of (good) governance is thrown out of the door. It seems that things are running"auto-pilot" mode, only problem is this autopilot mode is taking the plane nowhere. Economic policies remains unseen but somehow our political leaders have all the funds to weather through an impending economic crisis while the people on the street struggles to make ends meet. I wonder where they get all the money from?

Our education system remains in the dumps making our schools a hotbed for racial intolerance, our graduates cannot find employment (some could hardly speak English). The constant debates on education policies with no firm action or commitment is not helping. Take the teaching of maths and science in English, the debates continues while generations are wasted away. Each Minister wants to make their mark - with no idea as what they are doing. Take "smart schools" of example. Before it was fully rolled out, came the "vision schools". Before we can take stock, now we have "cluster schools". What are our leaders (education ministers especially included) do about the declining quality of education? They acknowledge this problem it by sending their children overseas (instead o fixing them), bypassing even the SPM!

On national unity, instead of fixing it, they have decided to fix Malay unity, I am sure it is not for the benefit of the Malays. I think it is much more to do with the preservation of their own power. Power that have been used to benefit themselves and their cronies. In a fifty to hundred years from now, children will be learning about this in history books - they will learn about how our political leaders plundered the nation's wealth. They will be classified in the same league of pirates of the high-seas! Especially when there were opportunities to make amends and change the course of history, they squander them. Sadly, they reverted to saving themselves and (what's left) of their political career and to please others to support them.

This is how history will remember them, this is what our future generation will be reading about. Sad isn't it?

What's happening to our country?

Since the March 8 elections, it seems that our elected leaders have forgotten about us - the people. With political fighting, in- and out-fighting each other, raising of fuel prices, we are are experiencing an increase of prices, are we heading for economic downturn? Policies and explanations coming from the government seems to lack substance and direction. Read the blogs and online media.

The fuel price increase, the accompanying price increases of almost all essential stuff, the (massive, massive) traffic jam created by the police in KL every time some demonstrations (real or otherwise) are planned, Anwar Ibrahim arrested, RPK likely to be arrested.... Is it true we are being punished as one of my friends strongly believe or our government is not unable to govern?

Can someone tell me what's happening to our country?

For the convinence of few, the city suffers

Traffic Jam caused by police roadblocks. Where's the street demonstration, where's the protest - nothings was on the news and blogs. Did I miss something?. Haris could not find anything either.
Lim Kit Siang anounced that there was nothing of such planned. Nobody knows.

If this a reflection of the country's administration, it sure tell us that they are prepared to inconvinent the entire city of KL (and Klang Valley included) for the comfort of few. Sounds like this has been going on for the past 50 years - the people and common citizens are not important it seems. I wonder when our leaders will really get their act together and run this country. What's happening is out country are being run downed! Just like how the roadblocks screwed up
businesses and everything on a Monday morning.

People are fuming mad, I am truly upset.

This is CRUELTY!

(a father's belated farewell)


It always hurts me when I see suffering especially to children and families. Punishment is separating fathers from their children is painful especially a one is detained of 7 years without trial. Cruelty is not allowing such a person to see his dying daughter. This is the story of Shahrial Sirin, detained for 7 years WITHOUT TRIAL. The authorities delayed the decision to allow him to return to visit his daughter who was in come at the Kajang Hospital after falling on July 2. His Daughter died 3 1/2 hours after her father arrived.

Why the delay? It seemed that our Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, did not sign the release papers on time. 

 Give this man a decent hearing and a trial not subject him and his family to such cruelty! For this incident alone, ISA NEEDS TO BE ABOLISHED!

stories here, here and here and an open letter to our Home Minister here

Great to be in Penang again

Despite being messed up by Airasia - twice (first time cancelled flight, second delayed) I finally made it to Penang. Had good meetings and above all, met old friends, where else but with great Penang food!

This is the life.

Our Children Unites and Motivates Us

It is really depressing these days to read about our leaders are busy playing politics, fighting for positions and forgetting that we the people are suffering.

However, there is a glimmer of home when Wai Leng and I were in Ipoh recently to talk to homeschoolers and potential homeschoolers. What brought us all together were our children and our concern about their future. We, do not need to fight the system but instead thread a separate
path of alternative education. Moving the goal-post as it were. Most of us have given up hope on the current education system already.

We are not happy to merely "out-source" this critical function. It is sad that our world is moving so fast ahead in all aspects while our leaders here are still squabbling of what language to use to teach science and maths! The situation is so bad that even our education ministers (past and present) do not believe in it anymore. I am glad that glad that some of us do not need to worry about this anymore. Perhaps this is our contribution to social change. With our kids leading the way, it compels parents like to be empowered to take a greater responsibility in the education process of our children.

Something can be done and people are doing it. Most parents walked out happier and saw that they were not alone. If we all (squabbling leaders included), think of their children and sincerely want to do something for them, we probably will not be in this political mess we are in right now.

Our children can truly unite and motivate us, if we allow it.

Politics in Schools: THERE IS HOPE

In my earlier blog, some people have criticized for me being harsh. I have been proven wrong and that there are people stand up for what they believe. I stand corrected from my earlier post. I also heard it was a great event.

I believe there is much hope, although there the forces against change are still strong. Let's keep it up!