I Bent The Rules...

L to R: Lt Fong, Nor Ibrahim, Arwah F/Sgt Hamzah de Souza with Banding Bridge in the background

"East-West Highway...The East-West Highway was built in the 1967 as a defence-related highway. In the early stages, there was military presence in every kilometre. The road was built to cut off the Communist Party of Malaya from the safe havens in Thailand. During construction, the highway was sabotaged by the Communist terrorists during the Communist insurgency from 1967 to 1980. Many of workers were killed and the buildozers was seriously damaged. The East-West Highway was put under strict security control by Malaysian army when the highway was opened. Motorists were allowed to use the highway at daytime only due to security reasons. The military control of the highway was lifted after the insurgency war was ended in 1989.

The Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) monument was erected in Pulau Banding near the Lake Temenggor Bridge on 1982 to commemorates those who died during construction of the East-West Highway and lake bridge."...Wikipedia

I can proudly say that I was 'involved' directly in its construction. But, sadly, to date I'm yet to have the pleasure to drive along the most picturesque and the first highway of Malaysia. And...constructed by JKR/PWD...what an achievement considering working under hostile environment those days. My involvement was through providing air support to the ground troops who were located around the area. They were stationed there to prevent the communist terrorists (CTs) from causing damage to the heavy equipment and killing the workers.

Look at the Banding Bridge spanning across the man-made lake...what an awesome sight! Do you know what Banding was to me before the construction of the bridge? It was  just a 'permanent' LP occupied by the PPH (Police Field Force) near a small and shallow river then; the width was about 50 metre and you could wade across the river. It was now at the bottom of the lake. Of course I knew what I'm talking about. One of nuri's taskings those days was to collect parachutes at Banding and other permanent LPs.

You see, Caribou transport aircraft - now decommissioned - used to airdrop supplies to the permanent LPs like Banding, Fort Kemar, Fort Chabai, Fort Telanok. The pick-up point for the Caribou was Taiping Airfield and the Air Despatch Unit of the Malaysian Service Corp was responsible to prepare the supplies to be airdropped. Later, Nuri was tasked to collect those parachutes. A real pity I didn't take any photograph.  I never envisioned to jot down my experiences.

As I said much ealier, before the formation of 'Composite' squadrons, No 10 Sqn of RMAF Kuantan, covered the whole of Peninsular Malaysia. This 'Iron Bird' was the life-line of those in the operation areas, including the East-West Highway (EWH). Well, I can safely say the EWH was more or less my 'playground'. Navigation through recognition of permanent features...he...he...he...

Anyway, I nearly crashed when operating in the area. It was some time in June 1977 when I was tasked for troops pulled out from an LP somewhere near the highway - still under construction then. The troops were to be off-loaded at Batu Melintang camp. The LP was atop of a hill, clear of all obstacles. On the last sortie,  when I pulled the collective to a hover, I knew the Nuri was 'heavy'. One of my options was to offload a few of the soldiers and came back for them later on. However, the problem was that their security might be jeorpardized...the CTs might take advantage of the situation knowing the small number of the troops there. Morever, weather might not permit me to pick them out. After considering these factors, I decided to take off with the load.

Well...I told my co-pilot to give full power, ie, both SSL (Speed Selector Lever) fully forward, and while the Nuri was on the ground, I jerked the 'collective' lever up to a maximum allowable 'Torque' and dived to gain speed. Oh boy...that sinking feeling...it was a real scary experience! Syukur Alhamdulillah...we landed safely at Batu Melintang camp. Mission successfully accomplished and flew back to Kuantan.

Readers...for your information, Nuri's 'Torque' (Power) limitations are as follows:

• Transient Max double engine - 120; single engine 150, time - 5 sec.
• Max power double engine - 103; single 123, time - 30 min.
• Normal power double engine - 86; single 103, time - none.

Nuri pilots...It doesn't matter what you may think of me. My sole objective in writing my experiences is for you to learn something from it. Who knows, maybe it may save your live and others, InsyaAllah. I survived to tell you my tales. I hope you, too, will survive to tell yours when the time comes.

Photograph of the monument contributed by Faizul Abdullah, an ex-Caribou AQM

[PENGORBANAN DALAM KENANGAN
JALAN RAYA TIMUR BARAT
(1970 - 1982)

Jalan Raya Timur Barat (Gerik - Jeli) telah dibuka kepada lalulintas pada 1hb Julai 1982. Banyak nyawa telah terkorban semasa kerja pembinaan dilaksanakan mulai tahun 1970. Ada yang terkorban semasa kemalangan di dalam kerja pembinaan dan ada yang diserang oleh pengganas komunis.

Di lokasi ini, 63 buah mesin jentolak tanah telah diletupkan oleh pengganas komunis pada 23hb Mei 1974. Di lokasi ini juga tiga nyawa pekerja JKR telah terkorban dan beberapa lagi cedera dalam serangan pengganas pada 27hb Ogos 1974. Beberapa serangan lain telah juga berlaku di sepanjang Jalan Raya Timur Barat yang melibatkan nyawa dan kecederaan pekerja JKR dan anggota pasukan keselamatan. Kita memperingati semua yang telah berkorban nyawa bagi menjayakan pembinaan Jalan Raya Timur Barat ini.

Sila sedekahkan AL-FATIHAH pada orang-orang yang terkorban di sini.]

One of these days, I hope to drive along this highway with its picturesque views, InsyaAllah.