Pengikut

Sabtu, 31 Julai 2010

Sambutan Hari Pahlawan

Hari ini, 31 Julai 2010...Hari Pahlawan disambut di Dataran Merdeka. Perjuangan saya agar PM mengumumkan berita gembira untuk 695 mantan/warga tentera dan awam pada hari ini tidak menjadi kenyataan!! 

Imbas kembali...Pada Ahad 25 Julai 2010, saya telah melayangkan satu e-mel kepada YBhg Datuk Wan Hamidah, Bhg Istiadat & Urusetia, JPM. Apa lagi kalau tak 'memperingatkan' beliau tentang elaun JPP, PTU & KPK. Untuk menjustifikasikan permohohan tersebut, saya telah memajukan komen Lt Kol Frank Chong Keng Lay TUDM (B) yang pernah saya siarkan di sini.

Saya juga turut mengambil kesempatan meluahkan perasaan kekecewaan kerana penerima darjah-darjah tersebut tidak di jemput menghadiri Hari Pahlawan setiap 31 Julai...Hari Kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos jauh sekalilah.

Tut...Tut...Saya terima e-mel ini...

RE: Mengapa Kami Dipinggir!
Tuesday, 27 July 2010 17:02:49
From: Rosliana bt. Mohamed Add to Contacts
To: nibsny@yahoo.com
Cc: Y.Bhg. Jeneral Tan Sri Dato' Sri Hj Abdul Aziz Hj Zainal ; ro.ppm@mod.gov.my; abubakar@jpa.gov.my; Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Mohd. Sidek Haji Hassan ; Wan Hamidah bt. Wan Ibrahim ; Kamis b. Samin kamis@istiadat.gov.my

 السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Tuan,

Denga penuh hormat, saya diarah merujuk kepada emel tuan mengenai perkara di atas. Bahagian ini mengucapkan terima kasih di atas perkongsian maklumat mengenai Lt Kol Frank Chong Keng Lay PTU TUDM (B). Sesungguhnya jasa dan pengorbanan pejuang negara tidak ternilai harganya.

2. Untuk makluman tuan, jemputan untuk bekas-bekas tentera bagi menghadiri Sambutan Hari Pahlawan yang akan diadakan pada 31 Julai ini adalah diuruskan oleh pihak Angkatan Tentera Malaysia. Memandangkan jemputan adalah terhad, maka ia hanya dipanjangkan kepada penerima anugerah S.P. dan P.G.B. Walau bagaimanapun, Bahagian Istiadat mengambil perhatian ke atas input yang diutarakan oleh tuan dan akan mengemukakan perkara ini untuk pertimbangan Jawatankuasa Sambutan bagi memanjangkan jemputan kepada penerima-penerima J.P.P., P.T.U. dan K.P.K di masa-masa akan datang.

Terima Kasih.

Rosliana binti Mohamed
Unit Penyelidikan dan Pengurusan Penganugerahan Bintang
Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa
Jabatan Perdana Menteri
Tel : 03-8872 6634 Fax : 03-8888 3981

Orang berbudi kita berbahasa...Justeru, ini respons saya kepada Puan Rosliana dan Cc kepada alamat yang sama.

Waalaikumussalam,

Terima kasih kerana meluangkan masa untuk memberi respons kepada e-mel saya. Sudah pasti saya terharu kerana masih ada golongan Penjawat Awam yang 'peka' terhadap rentetan rakyat yang tidak mempunyai sebarang gelaran. Dan juga di atas kesedian anda '...akan mengemukakan perkara ini untuk pertimbangan Jawatankuasa Sambutan bagi memanjangkan jemputan kepada penerima-penerima J.P.P., P.T.U. dan K.P.K di masa-masa akan datang. ' Buatlah yang mana patut!!

Oh ya, di bawah ini di turunkan komen seorang 'squad-mate' saya, seorang penerima anugerah PGB, apabila beliau membaca coretan saya bertajuk"Panduan Protokol" di blog saya - http://xnuripilot.blogspot.com di bawah label 'Medal'.

Squad,

We are good in making rules. We are also equally good, if not better at bending them - a case in point is the status of SPs. We say one thing and do a different thing. We are not firm on any thing - except things that really affect our pockets and ego.


One exception was last year's Merdeka celebration. The SPs and PGBs were seated infront of the retired Tan Sris (PATs). Even without looking back I could feel their stares burning holes in my back.

July 27, 2010 10:45 PM 

Fikir-fikirkanlah. 

MEJAR NOR IBRAHIM BIN SULAIMAN TUDM (B)

Sungguh kecewa sekali...Pihak ATM tidak menghargai pengorbanan anggota mereka sendiri!! Saya tidak mengharapkan apa-apa, tetapi sekurang-kurangnya pihak tertentu sekarang berkemungkinan 'tersedar' terhadap rentetan mereka yang perpinggir. Sekiranya berjaya, Alahmdulillah. Jika sebaliknya...biasalah! Tak apa...cuba lagi.

Jumaat, 30 Julai 2010

Satu Kejahilan

Pembaca...Saya sungguh kecewa apabila membaca komen terhadap coretan saya di sini. Sedih kerana masih ada segelintir mantan warga ATM (mungkin juga mereka yang masih berkhidmat) yang terkeliru dengan status PTU & KPK seperti yang diperhatikan ketika mesyuarat PBTM negeri Melaka pada Sabtu, 24 Julai 2010. Justeru, saya telah menghantar surat ini melalui faks ke Persatuan tersebut...


Bandar Darulaman
06000 Jitra
Kedah Darulaman

25 Julai 2010

Yang Dipertua
PBTM Negeri Melaka
Fax: 06-2821518

Assalamualaikum,

ANUGERAH PTU & KPK

Rujuk:

  1.  http://www.malaysianmonarchy.gov.my/.
  2. xnuripilot.blogspot.com di bawah ‘label - Medal’.
Saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk meluahkan perasaan kekecewaan saya kerana masih terdapat mantan warga ATM yang masih keliru dengan status anugerah di atas. Saya difahamkan, ketika mesyuarat PBTM Negeri Melaka pada 24 Julai 2010, usul untuk merayu agar Kerajaan turut memberi elaun kepada penerima PTU & KPK telah tidak dipertimbangkan dengan alasan anugerah tersebut hanyalah anugerah ATM!

Untuk makluman, di bawah ini dimuat-turunkan senarai anugerah mengikut susunan Darjah Kebesaran Persekutuan.
Senarai Anugerah Mengikut Susunan Keutamaan
 BIL
 ANUGERAH
 HURUF RINGKAS
 TARIKH ZAHIR
 1.
Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
 S.P.
 29.07.1960
 2.
Darjah Yang Maha Utama Kerabat  Diraja Malaysia
 D.K.M.
 18.04.1966
 3.
Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara
 D.M.N.
 16.08.1958
 4.
Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara
 S.M.N.
 16.08.1958
 5.
Seri Setia Mahkota
 S.S.M.
 15.04.1966
 6.
Darjah Bakti
 D.B.
 26.06.1975
 7.
Panglima Mangku Negara
 P.M.N.
 16.08.1958
 8.
Panglima Setia Mahkota
 P.S.M.
 15.04.1966
 9.
Panglima Jasa Negara
 P.J.N.
 01.06.1995
 10.
Panglima Setia Diraja
 P.S.D.
 03.09.1965
 11.
Johan Mangku Negara
 J.M.N.
 16.08.1958
 12.
Johan Setia Mahkota
 J.S.M.
 05.04.1966
 13.
Johan Setia Diraja
 J.S.D.
 03.09.1965
 14.
Kesatria Mangku Negara
 K.M.N.
 16.08.1958
 15.
Kesatria Setia Diraja
 K.S.D.
 07.01.1993
 16.
Ahli Mangku Negara
 A.M.N.
 16.08.1958
 17.
Pingat Pangkuan Negara
 P.P.N.
 09.08.1960
 18.
Bentara Setia Diraja
 B.S.D.
 03.09.1965
 19.
Panglima Gagah Berani
 P.G.B.
 29.07.1960
 20.
Jasa Perkasa Persekutuan
 J.P.P.
 29.07.1960
 21.
Pingat Tentera Udara
 P.T.U.
 17.07.1968
 22.
Pingat Kebaktian
 P.K.
 29.07.1960
23.
Pingat Khidmat Berbakti
 P.K.B.
 29.07.1960
 24.
Pingat Perkhidmatan Am
 P.P.A.
 08.06.1967
 25.
Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian
 K.P.K.
 29.07.1960
 26.
Pingat Perkhidmatan Setia
 P.P.S.
 29.07.1960
 27.
Pingat Peringatan Malaysia
 P.P.M.
 19.09.1965
 28.
Pingat-Pingat Pertabalan

Sekiranya anda berkelapangan, sila layari rujuk A. Anugerah SP, PGB, JPP, PTU & KPK di letakkan di bawah Darjah-Darjah Perkasa.

Saya telah dan masih memperjuangkan isu pemberian elaun untuk JPP, PTU & KPK semenjak Jun 2009. KEMENTAH telah memajukan cadangan agar penerima ketiga-tiga darjah tersebut diberi imbuhan tetapi tidak diluluskan. Seterusnya KEMENTAH telah membuat rayuan dan dewasa ini ianya berada di Bahagian Istiadat & Urusetia, JPM. Anda boleh mengikuti perjuangan saya  dalam mengenengahkan isu ini di rujuk B.

Saya harap penjelasan ini dapat memperbetulkan persepsi mantan warga ATM tentang anugerah-anugerah tersebut. Terima kasih.

MEJAR NOR IBRAHIM BIN SULAIMAN TUDM (B)
Salinan:

YBhg Brig Jen Dato’ Nik Zaaba
Setiausaha PBTM
Fax:  03-22725114

Yang Dipertua
PBTM Negeri Kedah
Alor Setar
Fax: 04-7725924

Pada 26 Julai 2010, saya telah menalifon Setiausaha PBTM Melaka menyarankan agar beliau membaca blog saya mengenai topik ini. Saya yakin sekarang ini jumlah mereka yang jahil tentang anugerah berkenaan makin berkurangan, InsyaAllah. (Berita mutakhir: Difahamkan PBTM Melaka  akan membawa usul pemberian elaun ini ke mesyuarat agung PBTM nanti). Baguslah tu.

Khamis, 29 Julai 2010

Senarai Penerima Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian (KPK) - 4

Sambungan...

19.                                                                               20.
                                                    21.

Penghargaan saya kepada Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx yang telah menghantar senarai JPP, PTU & KPK....Terima kasih.

T   A   M   A   T    

Rabu, 28 Julai 2010

Senarai Penerima Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian (KPK) - 3

Sambungan...

13.                                                                                 14.
15.                                                                                 16.
17.                                                                              18.
Bersambung...

Selasa, 27 Julai 2010

Senarai Penerima Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian (KPK) - 2

Sambungan...
  
7.                                                                                  8.              
9.                                                                                 10.
11.                                                                               12.
Bersambung...                                                                                    

Isnin, 26 Julai 2010

Senarai Penerima Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian (KPK) - 1

Ini senarai penerima KPK  yang dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Perdana Meneteri, Bahagian Istiadat & Urusetia bertarikh 14 Oktober 2008...


1.                                                                                  2.
3.                                                                                 4.
5.                                                                                  6.
Sila klik untuk membesarkan imejBersambung...                             

Ahad, 25 Julai 2010

IJN

17 Julai 2010...Saya telah terbang ke Sky Park, Subang, dengan 'Firefly'. Mengikut jadual, masa bertolak dari Alor Setar (AOR) ialah pada jam 1000, tetapi pada waktu tersebut pesawat masih belum berlepas dari Subang. Hanya jam 1145 baru berlepas dari 'AOR' dan tiba di Subang pada jamp 1255. Inilah buat pertama kali saya menaiki Firefly. Ianya menjadi pilihan kerana mendarat di Subang dan ini memudahkan adik, Cik Su, mengambil saya. Beliau tinggal berhampiran dengan Bandar Sunway. 

Sementara menunggu, saya perhatikan kenderaan tidak putus-putus lalu lintas...sungguh jauh bezanya dengan Jitra. Saya rasa saya telah membuat satu keputusan yang sesuai dengan apa yang saya ingini. Biarlah saya tinggal di 'Ulu Utara' tanpa 'unneccessary tensions'.  Dalam 'radius' 20 km, 2 kelab golf, RSAT, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Tesco, Giants, KFC, dll. Saya tidak memerlu dan melanggan 'kopitiam', disco, 'Starbucks', dan tak tahu apa lagi.
                                       
Dari Sky Park, saya telah dibawa terus ke IJN, Kuala Lumpur. Tujuan utama saya ke KL adalah untuk melawat anak saudara, Aidi Munawir, 39, anak kepada kakak saya. Beliau di masukkan ke IJN sekembali dari Kampuchea pada 12 Julai 2010. Beliau mengalami masalah jantung ketika di negara tersebut. Beliau sememang menghadapi masalah ini dan di'discharged' pada 20 Julai 2010. Doktor menasihatkan agar kurangkan 'tension'...tak tahulah bagaimana selagi seseorang itu bekerja! (Gambar: dari kiri: Zul, saya, mak, Aidi, Yati). 

Saya yang pencen sepenuh masa pun ada tension, terutama bila 'tee-off' tak pernah di tengah 'fairway' atau 'putting' missed setengah 'hun' kerana stake kami terlalu tinggi....secawan 'nescafe' di Gymkhana Cafe (RM1.20). Inikan pula bekerja! He...He...He.

Saya terbang balik ke AOS pada jam 2050 hari yang sama. Biasalah...lewat 40 minit. Tak apa, janji selamat sampai...Alhamdulillah.

Sabtu, 24 Julai 2010

Senarai Penerima Jasa Perkasa Persekutuan (JPP)

Ini senarai penerima JPP mulai 31 Ogos 1953 hingga 2 Jun 2001 yang dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Bahagian Istiadat & Urusetia pada 14 Oktober 2008...



Sila klik untuk membesarkan imej. Senarai KPK akan menyusul, InsyaAllah.

Jumaat, 23 Julai 2010

"Scrap Book"

Pembaca...Apabila saya melihat Lt Kol Basri Omar (B) membawa 'scrap book' penuh dengan gambar/dokumen ketika kami berjumpa di sini, saya pun bernekad untuk mendokumentasikan 'riwayat' hidup saya. Apa lagi...pergilah ke Tanah Merah untuk menempah satu buku. Terkejut beruk saya ketika pergi mengambilnya...Oh mak dato', besarnya ...kalah scrap book di No 3 Skuadron. Memang saya beri 'gambarannya', tapi tak sangka jadi sebesar itu!

63cm x 46cm x 5cm

Tak apalah...muatkan apa yang ada dalam simpanan saya nanti. Masalahnya ialah tiada tempat untuk menyimpannya. Harganya - RM120. Sekurang-kurangnya ini menjadi kenangan  imbuhan yang diterima dari majalah 'Perajurit'. Taklah lenyap begitu saja.

Oh ya...berkenaan dengan manuskrip 'coretan xnuripilot', saya telah menghantar e-mel ke UKM untuk menanyakan perkembangan mutakhir. Pada pada 21 Julai 2010, saya menerima e-mel berikut dari Prof terbabit...

Saudara Mejor Nor Ibrahim,

Assalamualaikum.

Saya rasa manuskrip sdr. ini sangat menarik. Pejabat Penerbit UKM telah menghantar menuskrip ini untuk dinilai oleh penilai bebas. Ini prosidur biasa. Setelah mendapat laporan penilai bebas, pejabat saya akan meminta kebenaran pihak Sidang Pengarang UKM untuk menerbitkannya. Mesyuarat Sidang Pengarang UKM ialah pihak berkuasa yang menentukan sama ada sesduatu manuskrip boleh diterbitkan atas nama Penerbit UKM. Kesemua ini mengambil masa hampir setahun, hinggalah buku ini dicetak dan diedarkan.

Jika sdr. boleh bersabar, buku ini akan diterbitkan atas nama Penerbit UKM. Saya mohon sdr. bersabar jua. Tetapi jika sdr. ingin menerbitkannya dengan pantas, terserahlah kepada budibicara sdr. Saya menunggu keputusan sdr.

Salam hormat.

Pemahaman saya, respons tersebut memberansangkan. Jadi, jawapan saya '...Sudah pasti saya mahukan UKM menerbitkan buku tersebut.' Tak apalah...Kalau panjang umur dan sihat badan, setahun bukannya lama. Sementara itu, dapat juga menokok tambah dan memperbaiki teks, InsyaAllah. Saya lebih berminat IPTA menerbitkannya dengan harapan bakal pemimpin-pemimpin negara tercinta ini akan 'terbaca' kisah pengorbanan warga tentera di suatu ketika dulu demi untuk mempertahankan kedaulatan negara.

Khamis, 22 Julai 2010

Panduan Protokol

Pembaca...Apabila  saya terlihat gambar di muka hadapan buku "PROTOCOL & ETIQUETTE" dalam 'ULASAN BUKU' di Utusan Malaysia pada 19 Julai 2010, saya terus membacanya. Apa yang membuat saya tertarik ialah pingat yang terpapar dalam gambar tersebut...SP! Persoalannya, mengapa SP? Mengapa tidak anugerah yang membawa gelaran Tun ke...Tan Sri ke...atau Datuk Seri ke? Kerana...Status SP mengatasi semuanya! Nak mudahkan cerita, beginilah...

Andaikan WO 1 Kanang anak Langkau dijemput untuk satu upacara yang dirasmikan oleh seorang VVIP, yang turut dihadiri oleh PAT, PTD, PTL and PTU.  Mengikut protokol, WO 1 Kanang mesti diperkenalkan dulu kepada VVIP, selepas itu baru diperkenal kepada Pang5-Pang5 tersebut. Itu teorinya. Realitinya? Entah-entah penerima SP tidak dijemput pun! 

Tekaan anda memang betul...E-mel saya, di sini, masuk dalam bakul sampah agaknya. Harapkan orang atasan membaca coretan sebelum ini? Sungguh kelakar...Jauh panggang dari api. Tak apalah...sekurang-kurangnya saya telah mencuba.

Rabu, 21 Julai 2010

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

“Sesungguhnya kita ini semuanya adalah milik Allah dan kepadanya nanti kita akan kembali“.

Tengah hari 19 Julai 2010, isteri saya menerima panggilan talifon memaklumkan seorang kenalan, Yati, 43, telah kembali ke rahmatullah di Kuala Sungai, Alor Setar. Selepas solat zohor, kami pun pergi menziarah arwah yang akan di'simpan' selepas solat asar. 

 Jenazah dibawa ke masjid untuk solat jenazah

Arwah meninggal di rumah ibu saudaranya kerana komplikasi penyakit kencing manis yang kronik. Menurut jururawat yang merawat beliau, pembacaan tahap 'gula' arwah melebihi had maksima alat bacaan(gambar hiasan). Anda tentu sudah dapat agak apa yang saya akan tuliskan. Puncanya ialah...tak lain tak bukan ....

"G   U  L  A - PEMBUNUH YANG SUNGGUH MANIS!"

Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmatNya ke atas beliau...Al-Fatihah.

Pembaca...Saya tiada hak untuk menasihatkan sesiapa, hanya sekadar menceritakan satu laluan kehidupan seharian. Terpulanglah kepada anda untuk memikirkan apa yang tersirat.

Selasa, 20 Julai 2010

Pingat Tentera Udara

Pembaca...Saya pasti sekarang ini ramai diantara warga TUDM tidak lagi beranggapan PTU sinonim hanya dengan Panglima Tentera Udara sahaja. Dan...bukannya pingat yang dianugerahkan oleh Pang5 TUDM!




Dapat le duit raya nanti...He...He...He.

Isnin, 19 Julai 2010

Recovery Of A Nuri At Maligan - Phase 2

Continuation from here...

Maj GK Khoo on my right at Sgts' Mess during PANGUD's visit 

Preparing For Phase 2 --- Concept, Innovation and Testing of Rectangular “Metal Arch”

Back in RMAF Base Labuan, while picturing in my mind of lorries zooming on Federal Highway under the concrete arch demarcating Kuala Lumpur from Petaling Jaya, an idea was formed that perhaps I could quickly improvise a rectangular metal arch high enough for the up-righted helicopter to be pushed under it to enable the Main Rotor Head and Main Gearbox to be removed by a hoist attached to the metal cross-beam. Based on that simple idea, the following were obtained to be temporarily improvised into a rectangular ‘metal arch’ (instead of a concrete/marble arch) :
a)        An ‘I’ –beam (normally used in building structures and overhead gantries).                         ---  I was fortunate to be able to borrow an overhead gantry ‘I’ –beam with the right length from ‘Sabah Shipyard company’ of  Labuan for free.
b)        Some spare aerial masts which were once used for installation of aerials at the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower area in the Air Base for radio transmissions.
---  I planned  to assemble the masts at the crash site in Maligan village into two (2) sets of legs to support the ‘I’-beam.  
c)         A thick metal plate each (prepared by Warrant Officer Ahmad of the Base workshop) to be fitted to the top of each leg assembly to support the ‘I’ beam. There was also a simple safety device to lock the ‘I’-beam into its position on the plate.
d)         A big and thick metal plate (prepared by Warrant Officer Ahmad and his men) to be ‘worn’ as a shoe by each of the 2 sets of aerial-legs at the crash site so as to provide stability for the legs.
e)         Additional cables and ropes to lift the whole system by the 2 sets of improvised wooden winches and also to stabilize the system so as to prevent the ‘I’ beam and the 2 legs from toppling-over.
f)           A set of lifting devices (inclusive pulley, hoist, cable and a crank) were temporarily cannibalized from a mobile gantry which was normally used for lifting heavy DHC-4 aircraft (Caribou) Pratt & Whitney engines. The hoist of the set was to hang from the ‘I’ beam in order to lift the Main Gearbox of the helicopter, and the crank was fitted to one of the ‘legs’.

Due to space limitations, it was planned to under-slung the aerial masts and the ‘I’- beam as one bundle tied by cables. Air-tests were than organized by Maj Nor Ibrahim to ensue safety as an under-slung load during flying. All the above components and parts were collected and prepared in one day inclusive the Air-tests. The next day, they were successfully flown to the Malingan crash site by a Nuri helicopter piloted  by Maj Nor Ibrahim.  We were then ready to commence Phase 2 of recovering the Nuri helicopter.

Phase 2 of Recovering The Crashed Helicopter – Erecting The ‘Maligan Metal Arch’


            To start this Phase 2, I brought only a few of my men from RMAF Base Labuan which included Lt Stewart Thomas (engineering officer), Sgt Lopez (Engine technician), Cpl Louis (expert on Main Rotor Head and Main Gearbox changes), and Cpl Rama (Instrument Technician). The plan was to use the friendly manpower help from the Muruts of Maligan village and to ask them to re-position their improvised wooden winches which were used successfully in  Phase 1 together with the Airod (RMAF) personnel.      
 The first step was to assemble the complete system ‘flat’ on the ground, with the ‘I’-beam connecting the two aerial legs, and putting on the ‘shoes’ on  the 2 aerial legs. Except that each ‘shoe’ protruded in 2 opposing directions as compared to our normal shoe of protruding only one direction.  Ropes were tied to the 4 corners of the ‘I’ beam to control and pull up the ‘I’-beam. The layout is like two (2) persons wearing shoes and lying on their front with their hands connected in a straight line (representing the ‘I’-beam).  The erection plan was similar to simultaneously pulling each man up with a rope around his chest.
The 2 sets of wooden winches and 2 sets of ‘goal posts’ which were used in Phase 1 were then re-positioned  so as to lift the assembled improvised overhead  gantry assembly by the top of each leg. Since the ‘I’-beam was very heavy, wooden poles were also used by the Muruts to help push up the ‘I’ beam. To ensure well coordinated actions, there was only one source of command during the erection process – and that was from me.   So, step-by-step the combined teamwork efforts of RMAF personnel and Murut villagers successfully erected the ‘Maligan Metal Arch’. We tested the stability of the system by lifting tyres and people and using them as a ‘swing’, and having simple fun.
The next day, the team of RMAF personnel and Murut villagers managed to push and pull the up-righted crashed Nuri helicopter to roll it  into position under the cross-beam / gantry. During the process, the work became lighter by placing plywood on the ground or on ‘PSP’ (a metal grate /meshing) where the ground was soft, to enable the tyres to roll easily.
This was followed by the successful removal of the Main Rotor Head after making sure that the helicopter was accurately vertical to the ground so that the effort of  lifting the Main Rotor Head became much smoother and  much less temporary bending of the ‘I’-beam. Since it was an improvised system and the site was uneven ground, I had to take full control of each step of the lifting operation even though Cpl Louis was on the Nuri helicopter at the Main Rotor Head area to ascertain correct alignment. There was a loud shout of happiness when the Main Rotor Head finally separated from the helicopter with ease. This was successfully followed by the Main Gearbox.  
The next day (15th Aug 1983) Maj (Air) Nor Ibrahim flew in with his Nuri Helicopter with a serviceable Main Gearbox on underslung for our use. The rest of the rectification work became normal and I could then leave my handful of men to carry out the remaining rectification work successfully. As this point it is nice to also reflect back on moments of ‘fun & danger’ in between serious work to recover the crashed Nuri helicopter.

Fun and Dangers

The completion of the Phase1 was celebrated with some Airod (RMAF) personnel joining the Murut villages in a friendly football game which helped to produce greater bond with the Murut villages to support us in the 2nd Phase of work.
  It was also fun to work together with my team of men from RMAF Base Labuan (Lt Stewart Thomas and a group of RMAF technicians) to recover the helicopter to flying condition. Everyone there was motivated by the change of environment --- working in the open on a hill top surrounded by higher ranges of hills. There was an Army post at the village. One day, one soldier at the Army post asked one of my men whether our men had any officer with them. The answer to the soldier was: yes, a Major and a Lieutenant working in the sun with the men! It was a shock to the soldier to watch the scene of teamwork (officers and men working together) --- he therefore commented that he expected the Major to be in the tent instead. However, in view of the urgency of the work and quickly changing situation during various stages of the recovery work, I found that it was necessary for that special situation to be with my men most of the time in the sun. The observation by the soldier was related to me by one of my men and we had a good laugh to know that there were differences in expectations between the soldier and the RMAF technicians.  We continued to work happily together as a closely-knitted team, and found a short break to cool ourselves in a nearby river of crystal-clear waters to celebrate our success for the 2nd Phase. It was very refreshing dipping ourselves in the cold clean water of the nearby river.
One late morning, just a day after we had successfully replaced the heavy Main Rotor Head and the Main Gearbox, the whole team was walking towards the helicopter after a short coffee break when suddenly one of my men shouted loudly and firmly --- “DOWN”!  All of us dropped down instantly to the ground, and hardly a second later, we heard a loud buzzing sound  and  saw a very big swarm of bees heading away as if in a  big rush! We were fortunate that one of our men noticed the bees were heading in our direction as we were walking! We had a good laugh that we escaped just-in-time from possible attack by the swarm of bees!
To show our appreciation to the Murut villagers for helping us to achieve success in the Phase 2 work, I asked our Christian members, Lt Stewart Thomas and another technician, to join the villagers in their Sunday Church Service. I could not join them because being a Buddhist then, I was not sure what the villagers normally did in their Sunday Church Service.    
 One morning, I noticed our normally jovial Sgt Lopez was not his normal self of creating jokes. I asked him what happened, and he replied that he had some stomach ache with a slight fever. Knowing that he was normally a very fit person, I suspected that the problem he faced could be much worse than he what he said. Somehow, I worried that he might be having an inflamed appendicitis. Based on what I had previously learned from some friends, I asked him to put his hands on his right hips with his fingers across his belly, slanting down at 45 degree angle, then to slowly raise his right legs. At a certain point he felt a sharp pain. The procedure was repeated and the sharp pain persisted. At once I told him, “this is the first time I am giving a direct order to you to stop working, and to follow me back to RMAF Base Labuan to see the Base doctor.  Upon arrival at RMAF Base Labuan, he was confirmed as having inflamed appendicitis and had to be admitted to the Labuan General Hospital. There, he was immediately admitted for surgery and the surgeon commented that if he had been late by about one or two hours, he would have been ‘too late’. Thinking back, it was the working culture in an RMAF operational Base that gave a person a greater sense of urgency and seriousness in doing work. This was the likely reason that the support given to me when requesting for a medivac Alouette helicopter was responded within half hour from my request although Maligan village is in a remote area of the interior of  Sabah close to Brunei and Sarawak. We were happy and encouraged that our jovial Sgt Lopez survived the surgery to remove his inflamed appendicitis.

Summary
As engineers and technicians giving good support to our pilots to enable them to carry out their missions successfully, both the aircraft recovery teams of Airod (RMAF) and  RMAF Base Labuan were pleasantly surprised that the Maligan incident became the ‘story to hear and tell’ in the RMAF for some time. The ‘incident’ proved engineering innovativeness in the RMAF  and the opportunity for engineers/technicians to also proved their ability to make friends with people of less developed areas to achieve the RMAF interests and objectives.
It was also an opportunity to work together with people of different religions and cultures who came from different regions/states (Peninsula and Sabah). It was also an opportunity of different intellectual levels (technicians and villages) coming together as a team in an urgent situation, and finding a cost effective method of overcoming a seemingly insurmountable problem/hurdle that was perceived at the early stages.
It also showed that the public gave their all to support the RMAF during the helicopter recovery efforts --- not only by the Murut villagers, but also by Sabah Shipyard of Labuan which loaned us for free the ‘I’ beam.
It was also an opportunity for RMAF technical personnel (who normally work in an Air Base) to experience working in the open in a remote hill top with little facilities.
It was also an opportunity for many RMAF pilots to see for themselves the engineering /technical work and innovations in the field and appreciate the efforts of  engineers and technicians who quietly work behind the scene to ensure timely availability of safe aircraft for pilots to carry out their missions/operations.
Most important, on behalf of the other engineers and technicians who helped recover the aircraft at Maligan and those in RMAF Base Labuan who gave their support without going there, I feel honoured to be given this opportunity to write the story of the follow-up engineering /technical work  to recover the helicopter to a serviceable flying condition as a result of the  ‘Maligan Helicopter Accident’ and the Credit goes especially to Major (Rtd) Nor Ibrahim for remembering the great contributions of  RMAF engineers and technicians who normally work in the back-ground. At this point, I just remember that 27 year have gone by since the ‘Malingan Incident’ as compared to the 26years I spent in the RMAF when I left to help build up SME Aerospace Sdn Bhd at end of year 1991! My apologies to anyone who may find some inaccuracies in the above story because it is challenging to dig from my memory what happened 27 years ago! However, I enjoy this opportunity to help me walk down the memory lane. My special thanks to En. Karim Hassan (ex-Warrant Officer/ Sgt karim Hassan), the present GM of SME Aerospace Sdn Bhd who recently helped to jolt my memory of some of the events that took place.  

Lt Col (Rtd) Khoo Goh Keat, RMAF
(SEngO RMAF Labuan in year 1983)

24th June 2010
Kota Damansara,
PETALING JAYA,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.


Lt Col Khoo Goh Keat TUDM (R)...Thank you.