Never Ending Story

Well, I thought my struggle to convince the Government that we, the recipients of the gallantry medals - JPP, PTU and KPK - too should be given the monthly allowance as what our counterparts SP and PGB, is over. But....not yet! "The Star" newpapers on 7 October 2009 retrigger this struggle. I never know that I am the group's leader on this issue. Thank you Dato' for appointing me.

By the way, Dato' Maj (R) Mohd Khalid Ali is the recipient of both the PTU and KPK....a real hero!

Wednesday October 7, 2009

Retired pilots want Govt to provide revised allowances

GEORGE TOWN: A group of retired Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) helicopter pilots are appealing to the Government to extend to them the revised quantum of allowances for those who earned bravery medals.

The 20-odd officers were the nation’s pioneering Nuri and Alouette helicopter gunship pilots who served during the later phases of the communist insurgency from 1974 until the 1980s.

Their spokesperson Datuk Maj (R) Mohd Khalid Ali said he and the group’s leader, Maj (R) Nor Ibrahim Sulaiman, had written to Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abu Bakar Abdullah on their request.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced on July 31 a new monthly allowance scale for military personnel who were bestowed the bravery medals of Seri Pahlawan (SP) and the Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB).

Those with the SP would get RM2,000 and those with the PGB RM1,500 respectively on a monthly basis. It is learnt that the allowances were only applicable to soldiers and not to other wings such as the RMAF and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

Mohd Khalid said RMAF pilots risked their lives, and many had died when their low-flying helicopters were shot down by the communists.

Mohd Khalid said he hoped the Government would not leave out the RMAF or RMN personnel who had earned gallantry awards during the course of defending the nation’s sovereignty.

The group were bestowed the Pingat Tentera Udara (PTU) bravery award for flying into hostile areas to transport soldiers and evacuate injured servicemen.

Mohd Khalid claimed the PTU award was equivalent to the SP and PGB awards. He also noted the pilots’ disappointment in not being invited to attend the annual National Day parades.

When contacted, Abu Bakar’s special officer Zureen Zubir confirmed receiving the group’s letter.

Why are we being discriminated? Read my friend's comment to my previous post entitled "Pengiktirafan Negara...Nyawa Atau Nama?"


From: Frank Chong Keng Lay frankklc2008@yahoo.com
To: nor ibrahim sulaiman nibsny@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 11:21:02 AM

Subject: Re: Pingat Tentera Udara (PTU)

Mej Nor Ibrahim

Basically on reflection the government is telling us airmen that SACRIFICES are not valued and we airmen should not take RISKS when we go on operations. we should tell the ground troops on the ground that unless it is 100% SAFE we will not not send the Artillery Howitzers in for gun support, no fresh rations for th e troops who live on the LPs for two month continuously, let them live on compo rations[morale of our troops and airmen may not be important to our decision makers who work in aircondition offices hundreds of miles from the border]; casualty evacuations in HOSTILE territory should not be done by aerial vehicles since the RISKS taken by airmen is not recognised so why mati katak, let the infantry stretcher out their casualties by manpower.

In UK the british armed forces recognize the BRAVERY of the airmen of the army, navy and air forces with the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS and in Australia the BRAVERY of the airmen of the three services are recognized by the Australian Flying Cross. The question of the Malaysian Army and navy wanting their own BRAVERY recognition from the air is covered .The Army Air Corps and the Naval Fleet Air Arm[ helicopters/ fixedwing] can qualify for the PINGAT TENTERA UDARA[ptu] THROUGH BRAVERY FROM THE AIR.The PTU is not meant solely for the RMAF, those who EXECUTE BRAVERY THROUGH THE AIR MEDIUM do qualify, if deemed fit ,for the PTU. I was recommended for the PGB by the RMAF in 1997 but the then CAFS Gen [R] Tan Sri Mohd Sany decided that the RMAF have the PTU and approved the recommendation of the PTU instead of the PGB although airmen earlier were awarded the PGB for similar acts of Bravery. I have no problems accepting the allowances for the SP and PGB but to deny the PTU awardees is tantamount to telling the airmen/airwomen from the Army, navy and Air forces that their services and risks are not equal to the acts of bravery of PGB awardees. So much for 1 Malaysia for us airmen. It would not hurt so much if no allowances are given to any of the awardees but to isolate the PTU is NOT FAIR, we also put our LIVES ON THE LINE for our BELOVED COUNTRY AND FOR THE GOVERNMENT to officially not RECOGNIZE the RISKS we airmen took is a slap in the FACES of the PTU awardees.

Regards

CHONG KENG LAY
PTU 1978

Well, one option to resolve this issue is to ABOLISH these 3 medals. My rational is simple...my understanding of the official respond to my appeal on this matter is that these 3 medals are NOT PRESTIGIOUS...quote"...Ini adalah kerana nilai pengiktirafan yang diberikan oleh Kerajaan terhadap penerima Darjah Kebesaran atau Bintang/Pingat Persekutuan mempunya nilai prestij dan martabatnya yang tersendiri" ...unquote.  

...

1MALAYSIA

Gambar di muka hadapan akhbar 'NEW STRAITS TIMES' bertarikh 3 Oktober, 2009. Gambar menunjukkan diantara sejumlah dari 323 penuntut-penuntut Malaysia di Padang, Sumatera diterbang balik ke Malaysia dengan pesawat TUDM C130 Hercules.

Apabila melihat gambar ini, saya terpanggil untuk menelifon seorang kenalan, WO 2 (B)  Krishnan a/l Andy dari Kor Jurutera, untuk bertanyakan tentang anak perempuan beliau, Pushpagandhi. Secara kebetulan, anak beliau yang menjawab. Beliau menyatakan yang beliau berada di rumah bapanya di Jitra sekembali dari Padang dengan pesawat TUDM. Beliau tidak menerima sms yang saya hantar sebaik saja melapetaka gempa bumi menimpa Padang kerana bateri telefon beliau tidak boleh dicaj disebabkan ketiadaan elektrik. Walaubagaimana pun, Syukur Alhamdulillah, beliau selamat.

Saya berasa bertanggungjawab kerana remaja tersebut melanjutkan pelajaran di Padang atas saranan saya.

Alkisah......Pada 2008, bapa remaja ini telah memberitahu saya yang anaknya berminat untuk melanjut pelajaran dalam bidang perubatan. Remaja tersebut telah mendapat keputusan SPM yang memberangsang. Justeru, sibapa berhasrat untuk menghantar anaknya ke IPTS untuk mengikuti jurusan tersebut di Malaysia. Sudah pasti, ini melibatkan kos yang tinggi. Saya telah mencadangkan kepada beliau mengapa tidak menjadikan Universitas Andalas di Padang sebagai satu pilihan. Rasionalnya ialah....pertama sekali, Kerajaan Malaysia mengiktiraf kelulusan IPT ini, malah JPA menaja penuntut-penuntut mereka ke sana. Dan kedua, kos pengajian tidak tinggi berbanding dengan kos di IPTS.

Sebagai seorang bapa, beliau bimbang terhadap keselamatan anaknya kerana beliau sedar Padang kerap berlaku gempa bumi. Jawapan saya mudah sahaja.....kalau nak mati, dimana-mana saja pun tetap mati! Hasil perbualan inilah beliau membuat keputusan menghantar anaknya ke Padang!

Ketika berbual dengan Pushpa, saya diberitahu yang beliau sekarang berada di Tahun Pertama selepas berjaya mengikuti 'Pre-medic' dengan CGPA 3.88...Tahniah! Pushpa, Uncle berbangga dengan pencapaian anda. Apabila berjaya dan jika membuka klinik satu hari nanti, berilah Uncle 'special discount'...he...he.

Pada pagi 7 September 2009 semasa menarik troli dalam hujan renyai-renyai, sekali lagi saya telah menelifon En Krishnan. Beliau memberitahu yang beliau masih menunggu keputusan Kerajaan samaada siswa-siswi dibenar meneruskan pengajian mereka di Padang. Bagi beliau, anaknya bersedia untuk kembali ke sana. Pada pandangan saya, ini satu keputusan yang bijak bagi mengelakkan terganggunya mengikuti kuliah nanti.

Ulang cerita..... Semasa berkursus di Bangladesh pada tahun 1981, saya bertemu ramai penuntut Malaysia mengambil bidang 'perubatan' di universiti-universiti di negara tersebut. Kebanyakan mereka ditaja oleh 'Biasiswa Ibu-Bapa'. Ketika itu kos pengajian sungguh rendah; RM200 sebulan boleh hidup 'muncah'. Kebanyakan mereka tidak layak memasuki IPT yang diiktiraf oleh JPA kerana saingan yang ketat. Untuk mengatasi masalah ini, mereka memasuki IPT yang tidak diiktiraf sehingga Tahun Ke2 (lebih kurang begitulah).  Selepas itu, mereka memohon untuk melanjutkan pengajian di universiti-universiti yang diiktiraf. Pemindahan ini dapat dilaksanakan kerana wujudnya persefahaman di antara IPT di negara itu. Bijak...bukan? 

Pembaca.....adakah ini membuka minda anda terhadap peluang-peluang yang boleh diterokai?

PM.....SAYA SUDAH LAMA MEMPRAKTIKKAN KONSEP 1MALAYSIA! 

Di Suatu Ketika Dulu

Syukur, Alhamdulillah, sekali lagi keputusan mahkamah memihak kepada Kerajaan Malaysia. Di awal 2009, mahkamah telah membuat keputusan tidak membenarkan Chin Peng kembali ke Malaysia. Beliau juga telah menyaman Kerajaan kerana ‘memalukan’ beliau. Namun demikian, keputusan mahkamah masih tidak memihak kepadanya.

Keratan laporan Utusan Malaysia pada 1 Oktober 2009

'Dalam penghakiman lisannya, hakim (Datuk Balia Yusof Wahi) tersebut turut menegaskan:

"Memang menjadi pengetahuan umum bahawa tindakan Chin Peng dan PKM menentang kerajaan telah mencemarkan serta menjejaskan personaliti dan reputasi sendiri.”'

Apabila difikir sejenak, saya sepatutnya “berterima kasih” kepada Chin Peng. Polimik yang dicetuskan oleh pihak tertentu untuk membawa beliau kembali ke negara tercinta ini yang memberi inspirasi untuk saya menulis dalam blog. Saya bukan seorang penulis atau berminat menulis tetapi oleh kerana perasaan begitu ‘kecewa’, saya memaksa diri untuk meluahkan perasaan yang terbuku di hati.....dengan gaya tulisan ‘spontan’ (komen kenalan terhadap penulisan saya).

Saya dilahir pada 1949 di pekan diraja Kuala Kangsar, Perak. Ketika itu Persekutuan Tanah Melayu masih dalam keadaan ‘darurat’. Saya memulai alam persekolahan di Sekolah Melayu Lumut. Ha....sedikit tentang evolusi 'penjenamaan' sekolah. Untuk makluman, sebelum nama ‘Sekolah Rendah  Kebangsaan ’ yang ada sekarang, nama pertama ialah ‘Sekolah Melayu’ dan kemudian ditukar ke ‘Sekolah Umum’. Nampak sangat veterannya saya ini......! Semasa cuti sekolah, saya dan seorang sepupu, arwah Hisham Zubairi, telah pergi ke Manong, lebihkurang 20 km dari Kuala Kangsar untuk melawat ‘Tok’ saudara. Ketika itu, pekan Manong hanya mempunyai satu deretan kedai papan di kiri dan kanan jalan raya – macam ‘cowboy town’. Panjang deretan kedai tidak sampai 1 km. Lampu ‘gasolin’ diguna untuk menerang kegelapan malam sepanjang jalan. Pekan itu di pagar dengan pagar dawai dan dikawal oleh anggota keselamatan – ‘mata-mata’ (polis) dan ‘Home Guard’ di pintu masuk/keluar. Tahap keselamatan ketat ini disebabkan Manong dianggap kawasan ‘panas’ dan perintah berkurung dilaksanakan pada waktu malam. Bila tiba malam (mungkin senja) pintu masuk ke pekan ditutup. Ini bererti orang awam tidak boleh masuk/keluar pekan.

Rumah Tok saya di luar pekan. Pada waktu malam, duduk sahajalah dalam rumah. Dalam kesunyian malam.....tiba-tiba digemparkan dengan tembakan bertubi-tubi. Sungguh menakutkan. Apabila ditanya, Tok memberitahu itu adalah pertempuran diantara anggota keselamatan dengan pengganas komunis (PK). Beliau menjelaskan ini sudah menjadi rutin. Inilah pengenalan saya kepada keganasan komunis.

Saya seterusnya bersekolah di Sekolah Menengah King Edward VII, Taiping apabila bapa bertukar ke sana. Negara dikejutkan apabila 2 orang juruukur (maaf sekiranya tersalah fakta) dari Jabatan Ukur terkorban ditembak PK di sempadan Perlis dan Thailand. Ketika itu, mereka sedang memastikan sempadan di antara kedua negara. Salah seorang dari mereka adalah dari Taiping. PK tidak mengambil kira sasaran mereka – baik nyawa atau harta benda. Semasa pembinaan Lebuh-Raya Pantai Timur, PK telah mengebom dan memusnahkan beberapa jentera berat. Kerja-kerja pembinaan lebuhraya kerap tergendala.

Apabila ditauliahkan sebagai seorang pegawai ATM, saya sendiri yang menempah untuk melibatkan diri menentang ancaman komunis terhadap negara tercinta ini. Semasa berkhidmat dengan Kor Meriam, saya mengetuai satu seksyen dengan tiga buah meriam 105 mm Howitzer di ladang kebun pokok jati. Lokasi ini terletak di kiri jalan ke Padang Besar. Duduklah kami di sana dan berkawan dengan ular kapak yang banyak terdapat dibawah daun kering. Sepanjang di sini, tidak sebutir peluru meriam pun ditembak.....sungguh membosankan!

Penglibatan saya secara langsung dalam operasi-operasi menentang PK apabila saya menjadi pilot helikopter Nuri mulai 1974 sehingga 1980 di Semenanjung Malaysia. Banyak operasi dilancarkan oleh TDM dan helikopter Nuri memainkan peranan utama membantu TDM. Pengalaman-pengalaman ini telah diabadikan di awal pos blog saya ini.

Banyak nyawa terkorban dan harta musnah angkara keganasan PK. Operasi menentang PK menelan kos yang tinggi dan sebahagian besar bajet negara terpaksa disalurkan untuk  pertahanan negara. Sepatutnya dana ini disalurkan untuk membina infrastruktur, seperti membina sekolah, hospital, demi untuk kepentingan rakyat jelata. Tetapi, dengan adanya ancaman dari PK ketika itu, perkembangan lain-lain terbantut.

Arwah Hisham Zubairi dalam kenangan....semoga  Allah mencucuri rahmat keatas roh beliau. Al Fatihah.

Rakyat Malaysia, terutama pasca Merdeka....sedarilah kesejahteraan kehidupan yang anda kecapi dewasa ini adalah hasil dari pengorbanan mereka yang terdahulu. Cintailah negara kita yang satu ini.

The Unsung Heroes

READERS, WHO ELSE BUT MY WIFE TO GIVE ALL OUT SUPPORT FOR MY STRUGGLE IN PURSUING AN  ALLOWANCE FOR THE OTHER THREE CATEGORIES OF GALLANTRY MEDAL RECIPIENTS....THIS IS FROM HER PERSPECTIVE! This is an extract from her blog - sitiroffinimy.blogspot.com

Once again I am called to write after having read my husband's letter in the Utusan Malaysia dated 3 October 2009. It is indeed a pity that all my husband's efforts in trying to secure an allowance for all PTU recepients are , as at today , all in vain. Under normal circumstances, I am not a fighter like him but I feel that I have to voice out my opinions in this particular case. Before I proceed, let it be known to all that we are NOT PAUPERS, far from it, but I feel that it is my duty to support my husband in his struggle to achieve what he is rightfully entitled to. If , by any chance, he is successful, then I can proudly say that I have contributed my bit towards the issue.

Sometimes it makes me wonder whether the One Malaysia tag line "Rakyat didahulukan, Pencapaian diutamakan" is, at all, relevant. My husband has already achieved one of the ONLY five categories of bravery awards in the country and to me that is indeed an achievement which translates into pencapaian. Now why all this sudden furore over this award. The answer to that is purely DISSATISFACTION. My husband is dissatisfied because the relevant party has failed to justify why he should not be given an allowance. If the other two bravery awards, the SP and the PGB are given an allowance , why discriminate the other remaining three. The recipients of PTU, JPP and KPK had also done their bit for the country. May be the degree of their contribution is less than that of the SP and PGB recipients (this is again a very subjective issue) but , nevertheless they had exhibited their brave and courageous streak in defending the country. The country has acknowledged their acts by bestowing the awards to them but unfortunately, there is no conformity with regards to the allocation of the allowance that comes with the awards. If, at all, all the five catagories of the awards were not to be monetarily compensated , then I think there is no cause for all this campaign. But when the top two awards are accompanied by a generous allowance then naturally the remaining three catagories would want the same treatment accorded to them. IT IS ONLY FAIR.

I am sure many would argue that it is their duty to fight for the country. After all, they are soldiers and soldiers are paid "handsomely" to fight for the country. Very true indeed. But, the bravery awards are only given to those who go BEYOND their scope of duties. This fact is clearly stipulated in this link http://www.malaysianmonarchy.org.my/portal_bi/rk6/rk6a.php?id=rk6_21 . It is these extracurricular activities that earned them their medals.

I was very disappointed when I read an e-mail to my husband trying to explain why his quest for the allowance was rejected by the government. According to the e-mail, only the SP and PGB are regarded as "prestigeous" medals and so the recipients are justified in getting their allowance. I can't help but wonder, how and when these medals came to be categorised as "prestigious and non-prestigious ". If that is the case, then why did the government created five categories in the first place. I think the relevant authourities should now put in a proprosal to abolish JPP, PTU and KPK since these three are non-prestigious. That should keep my husband quiet.

Datuk Lee Chong Wei is given an allowance of RM3000 a month for winning a silver medal in the last Olympics. I think all Malaysians will agree with me when I say that he deserves it. I saw the spectacular game on TV. He displayed a non-compromising attitude when confronting his opponent . I have seen many Malaysian badminton players in action but, in my opinion, Datuk Lee has a very strong fighting spirit. I salute you , Datuk.

In the case of Datuk Lee Chong Wei, it is easy to see what he has done for the country. Most of his games are telecast live throughout the whole of Malaysia and some other parts of the world. We saw how he "fought" to glorify his country not once, not twice but many, many times.

The same analogy is applicable to all those who fought bravely to defend the country but unfortunately their acts of bravery could not be displayed live for all to see. Unlike Datuk Lee, they will never be thrust into the limelight while in action. The nature of their work is often classified 'secret'. Most Malaysians are unaware of what these special breed of people had to go through to bring peace and harmony to the country. Most Malaysians are unaware of how they sweated and toiled and put their lives at stake to ensure that, Datuk Lee can continue to bring glory to Malaysia, Datuk Nichole Davids can continue to pursue her fifth World Championship title, Datuk Siti Norhaliza can continue crooning, Datuk Shah Rukh Khan can continue to entertain us through Hindi films,  Dr. Faiz can follow in the footsteps of Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muzaffar in space exploration, and last but not least, so that ordinary folks like me can go about our daily activities without fear of being attacked or bombed by the enemies. Hence ,is it too much for our "unsung heroes" to ask for a small allowance in return for what they had done for the country. As a wife, I know what my husband and his friends went through during their fight against the communists. It was a period of intense anxiety and stress, to put it mildly. Every time, he was tasked to fly to the border, we could never be sure whether we would ever see him again ALIVE. Many of my husband's friends perished whilst in action and this , in turn, made many of my friends widows and their children orphans.

Now, readers, you be the judge. And, with that, ladies and gentlemen, I rest my case.

Mengapa Kami Didiskriminasikan....!

Pada 1 Oktober 2009, saya telah menghantar e-mel ke 'Forum' Utusan Malaysia berkaitan dengan elaun untuk penerima-penerima pingat keberanian. Ini sebenarnya cerita lama. Saya menghidupkannya semula apabila terbaca PM menyatakan penghargaan beliau terhadap sumbangan anggota ATM semasa mengistiharkan Port Dickson menjadi "Bandar Tentera Darat". Beliau turut menyatakan yang beliau telah bersama ATM selama 14 tahun! Manalah tahu......terbuka hati beliau untuk mengkaji semula rentetan ini!

To: utusan forum@utusan.com.my; utusan Mislina.Sapuan@utusan.com.my; utusan othman.mohamad@exchange.utusan.com.my; utusan m\'sia normala.hamzah@utusan.com.my
Sent: Thursday, October 1, 2009 9:54:12 AM
Subject: Elaun Untuk Penerima Pingat Keberanian

Pada 31 Julai 2009, Perdana Menteri telah mengumumkan kadar baru elaun RM2000 untuk Seri Pahlawan (SP) dan RM1500 Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB). Terima kasih kerana Kerajaan mengiktiraf sumbangan wira-wira negara. Tetapi, persoalannya ialah kenapa hanya penerima SP dan PGB sahaja?

Untuk makluman, Kerajaan telah mewujudkan 5 pingat "KEBERANIAN" , iaitu SP, PGB, JPP (Jasa Perkasa Persekutuan), PTU (Pingat Tentera Udara), dan KPK (Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian). Kecuali SP dan PGB, penerima pingat-pingat tersebut tidak menerima sebarang imbuhan. KEMENTAH telah memajukan cadangan kepada JPM agar penerima-penerima JPP, PTU dan KPK turut diberi elaun. Kecewa sekali cadangan ini telah ditolak oleh JPM. Malah, mereka tidak dijemput untuk mengambil bahagian semasa perarakan Hari Merdeka; hanya penerima SP dan PGB sahaja dijemput.


Penerima pingat perak Olympic menerima RM3000 sebulan, selain gelaran 'Datuk' dan sejumlah wang. Pejuang tanah air yang berkorban untuk mempertahankan kedaulatan negara (kecuali SP dan PGB)......? Apakah pengiktirafan negara ......NYAWA ATAU NAMA?


MEJ (B) NOR IBRAHIM BIN SULAIMAN

PS: Bukan mudah untuk meng-emel ke Forum. Itu sebab terpaksa mengguna banyak 'penerima'. Terima kasih.

E-MEL TERSEBUT  TELAH DISIARKAN DALAM RUANGAN "FORUM" UTUSAN MALAYSIA...JUMAAT 2 OKTOBER 2009.... tanpa perenggan akhir.

Mohon pingat JPP, PTU, KPK diberi elaun

PADA 31 Julai 2009, Perdana Menteri telah mengumumkan kadar baru elaun RM2,000 untuk Seri Pahlawan (SP) dan RM1,500 Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB). Terima kasih kerana kerajaan mengiktiraf sumbangan wira-wira negara. Tetapi, persoalannya ialah kenapa hanya penerima SP dan PGB sahaja?

Untuk makluman, kerajaan telah mewujudkan lima pingat ‘KEBERANIAN’, iaitu SP, PGB, JPP (Jasa Perkasa Persekutuan), PTU (Pingat Tentera Udara), dan KPK (Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian). Kecuali SP dan PGB, penerima pingat-pingat tersebut tidak menerima sebarang imbuhan. KEMENTAH telah memajukan cadangan kepada JPM agar penerima-penerima JPP, PTU dan KPK turut diberi elaun. Kecewa sekali cadangan ini telah ditolak oleh JPM. Malah, mereka tidak dijemput untuk mengambil bahagian semasa perarakan Hari Merdeka; hanya penerima SP dan PGB sahaja dijemput.

MEJ (B) NOR IBRAHIM SULAIMAN 

Pada 2 Oktober 2009 saya terima e-mel dari seorang pembaca Forum....terima kasih 'Orang Awam' (tanpa edit). Beliau menghantar e-mel ke Forum dan salinan kepada saya. Saya tidak pasti samaada e-mel tersebut akan disiarkan.

terbaca saya tentang rintitan dari seorang mejar (B) mengenai pingat-pingat keberanian tentera jpp,ptu, kpk, SP,PGB. yang pelik lagi hairan, kenapa hanya SP dan PGB sahaja yang luluskan oleh PM bagi kenaikan tambahan elaun? pingat diselainnya jpp,ptu & kpk apakah tidak layak? sebagai orang awam dirasakan kenapa 5 pingat yang diiktiraf dan hanya dua sahaja yang menikamatinya? apakah mereka ini bukan tentera dan tidak menabur bakti kepada negara? setahu saya dalam satu organasasi ketenteraan baik darat, laut mau pun udara adalah satu pasukan yang berjuang mepertahankan negara dari ancaman musuh terutamanya komunis pada suatu ketika dahulu.

atau apakah PM atau jabatan pertahanan lebih favour kepada unit didarat sahaja -wallah hualam. apakah slogan satu malaysia, rakyat didahulukan, hanya gimik sahaja? lihatlah dari 5 pingat yang di iktirafkan hanya dua diberi elaun. mungkin mejar (b) tersilap memilih unit. jika di unit tentera darat mungkin menikmatinya. renung-renung lah bersama tabur bakti yang diberikan oleh mereka ini.

orang awam

Nota: Sekiranya ada respons yang disiarkan dalam 'Forum' berkaitan dengan topik ini, saya akan masukkan dalam blog nanti.

Baru-baru ini PM mengumumkan bahawa Malaysia akan mempunyai kereta F1nya sendiri. Kos membina kereta ini menelan RM270 juta. Kerana apa semuanya ini? TAK LAIN TAK BUKAN.......NAMA! Saya boleh bayangkan imbuhan yang akan diterima oleh pemandu F1 ini sekiranya mereka meraih kemenangan...tidak mustahil jika mereka bersemangat kental dengan 'MALAYSIA BOLEH'! Saya sendiri akan turut berbangga dengan kejayaan ini.

Pembaca, anda boleh melayari 'link' http://www.malaysianmonarchy.org.my/portal_bi/rk6/rk6.php di bawah "Gallantry Decorations".

PM, MENGAPA KAMI PENERIMA PINGAT JPP, PTU DAN KPK DIDISKRIMINASIKAN?  KOTAKANLAH SLOGAN KERAMAT 'RAKYAT DIDAHULUKAN, PENCAPAIAN DIUTAMAKAN'.....!

Patriotisme 4....

PEMBACA,

HARI KEMERDEKAAN BARU SAJA BERLALU.......APAKAH "PATRIOTISME" KEPADA ANDA DAN CONTOHNYA .....?

Familiarisation Flight

SPRATLY ISLAND

"About 45 islands are occupied by relatively

small numbers of military forces from the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim.(Wikipedia)". I am sorry I cannot point out our Terumbu Layang-Layang/Station Lima on the map. Whatever it is, Malaysia is so close to PRC, Taiwan and Vietnam, not to mention our neighbours Brunei and the Philippines.

File picture of 'Mischief Reef' occupied by PRC  soldiers taken on 1 April 1995 (Utusan Malaysia 23 September 2009)

Why this geography lesson? Well, readers, remember my article ' 5 Squadron - My First And Last Command'? My main worries when serving as OC No 5 Sqn were the flight to Terumbu Layang-Layang/Station Lima  and the unpredictable weather. In the case of the bad weather, what the pilots could do when encountering it,  was to land at any clearing. Or if on the flight to TLL they could always make a u-turn to Labuan. I used to do that - aborted the sortie. Flight safety comes first.....!

So, why the worry to TLL? The WIND...! Thunderstorm ecountered en route you could see and take precauntionary actions, but what about the invisible wind - its speed and direction?  As I said in the article, I was drifted by almost 20* from the original heading from Labuan to TLL. I could end up at Amboyna Cay or Mischief Reef. Imagine the newspapers' headlines the next day...."NURI's UNAUTHORISED LANDING IN ......." One Air Force major created an international furore and PM had to bail me out.....!

Fortunately for me, my worry was reduced since most of  my aircrew were TLL veterans. In fact, a few of them were involved when the monument and the 'shelter' for the PASKAL were first constructed there. They were stationed aboard 'KD RAJA JEROM'. They flew there well before I was posted to Labuan.

However, people come and go. TLL veterans got posted out and new ones posted in. Moreover,  the Panglima at Kuching wanted the aircrew of No 7 Sqn, Kuching, to experience flying to TLL too. And it was my job to familiarise these aircrew.

I expressed my worry to the Base Commander and made  a suggestion for these familiarisation flights. He brought this suggestion to the attention of the Panglima. My suggestion was.......Whenever there was a tasking to TLL, request RMN to position a ship at about 50 nm from TLL. You see, the distance from Labuan to TLL was about 160 nm. Labuan radar coverage then was about 60 nm only, thus leaving the nuri about 100 nm on its own. This 'blank' coverage would be taken over by the ship's radar. In other words, the nuri would be under radar surveillance throughout the flight.

In the event when no ship was available, then a Caribou from No 8 Sqn could 'shepherd' the nuri. In fact, I had the opportunity to have a  maritime C130 aircraft to shepherd me to TLL during one of its routine patrol. It flew in formation with me .......nuri with 110 knots and C130 with its nose-up attitude at slightly more than nuri's speed (C103 airspeed is more than 350 knots). What an awesome sight! Real pity I didn't bring my camera.

Panglima agreed to the suggestion and it was successfully implemented. Readers, for your information, all air requests in Sabah and Sarawak must be channelled through the Panglima. His staff would liaise with other agencies,eg, RMN, for any request.

After a few sorties, I had full confidence to let my aircrew and  No 7 Sqn aircrew fly to TLL. And, I could sleep peacefully......!