Gallantry Awards of Malaysia

Readers, I am sure most of you are not that too familiar with the medals I am writing about. For your benefit, I imported these Gallantry Decorations of our beloved nation - MALAYSIA. We, the members of the Security Forces, sacrificed our lives to defend the SOVEREIGNTY of this country.......

GALLANTRY DECORATIONS

Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (S.P.) 
(Monthly RM2000 w.e.f July 2009)

Panglima Gagah Berani (P.G.B.)  
(Monthly RM1500 w.e.f July 2009)

Jasa Perkasa Persekutuan (J.P.P.) 
(Monthly RM...?)

Pingat Tentera Udara (P.T.U.) 

(Monthly RM...?)

Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian (K.P.K.)
(Monthly RM...?)

Source: http://www.malaysianmonarchy.org.my/

For others to GLORIFY her.......And be handsomely rewarded!

Rewards for the Olympic medallists w.e.f 2008 Beijing Olympic

BUT WHY WE, THE RECIPIENTS OF THE JPP, PTU AND KPK, ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED?? DON'T YOU THINK THAT WE, TOO, DESERVE  WHAT OUR COUNTERPARTS - SP AND PGB - GET?? FOR YOU TO PONDER!

1MALAYSIA ....MASIH ADA HARAPAN

Cerita Cik Pushpa masih belum tamat. Semasa bermain golf di UUM Golf Club, Sintok, pada 28 Oktober 2009, saya menerima panggilan talifon dari seorang Lt Kol Basri (B), Rejimen Askar Jurutera Diraja (RAJD). Beliau memberi tahu bahawa WO 2 Krishnan pernah berkhidmat di bawah beliau disuatu ketika dulu. Beliau berhasrat untuk membawa kisah ini kepada pengetahuan Ketua Jurutera (KJ) RAJD. Manalah tahu, mungkin KJ dapat membantu mantan warga Jurutera mereka. Syabas terhadap keprihatinan anda....!

Pada hari yang sama, Pushpa telah menghantar e-mel berikut kepada saya.

Subject: UNAND VS MAHSA

Sent: Wed, October 28, 2009 10:05:56 PM
From: Pushpagandhi Krishnan
To: nibsny@yahoo.com

hi uncle...

Uncle result interview MAHSA hanya akan dapat tahu pd 4 atau 5 november ini. Kalau dapat saya akan sambung di MAHSA. Sebenarnya saya memang nak sambung di UNAND tapi masalahnya sekarang course medicine dh jadi 6 tahun tak termasuk pre- medical dan sekarang menurut senior2 saya susah untuk masuk clinical years sebab tempat di hospital agak terhad dan student yang tak dapat masuk terpaksa tunggu lama untuk teruskan pengajian. Saya takut pengajian saya akan berlanjutan sampai 7 tahun. Kemudahan air masih terganggu dan hanya akan pulih dalam masa 2 bulan. Housemates saya pula semua nak sambung pengajian di Malaysia jadi kalau saya seorang sahaja yang belajar di sana saya terpaksa membayar sewa sebanyak RM 1500 bagi setiap bulan sebab kami dah kontrak rumah itu selama 2 tahun. Saya tak mampu uncle. Kalau kira semuanya, kos untuk saya belajar di UNAND hampir sama dengan dengan kos kalau saya belajar di MAHSA. Tapi kalau saya tak dapat tempat di MAHSA saya akan teruskan pengajian di UNAND. Ayah ada bagitau saya yang uncle msg Menteri Pertahanan tapi masih tidak mendapat sebarang jawapan. Saya amat berharap agar mendapat jawapan yang positif dan ditawarkan loan MINDEF. Thanx for everything uncle.

Pada 29 Oktober 2009, saya telah memajukan e-mel tersebut ke KEMENTAH untuk pertimbangan pihak berwajib, termasuk YB Menteri Pertahanan.

Subject: Fw: UNAND VS MAHSA
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 6:44 AM
From: nor ibrahim sulaiman nibsny@yahoo.com]
To: Dato\' Zahid Hamidi; S/u Politik; Mininter of Def; KSU Indef
Cc: Pushpagandhi Krishnan

Assalamualaikum,

Bersama ini dimuat turunkan lampiran e-mel Cik Pushpagandhi yang jelas maksudnya. Di mana lagi kami yang kerdil ini boleh merayu sekiranya bukan KEMENTAH dan YB Menteri Pertahanan yang perihatin terhadap veteran seperti kami....! Ini termasuk rayuan penerima-penerima JPP, PTU dan KPK.

Pertimbangan pihak Dato'-Dato' sangat dihargai. Terima kasih.

Yang Benar,

MEJ NOR IBRAHIM BIN SULAIMAN TUDM (B)

(Nota: Lampiran yang dimaksudkan ialah e-mel Cik Pushpa di atas)

Pada hari yang sama, 29 Oktober 2009, Syukur Alhamdulillah, walaupun sibuk menjalankan tugas rasmi, Dato' KSU dapat meluangkan masa untuk memberi respons kepada kerenah seorang insan kerdil ini.

Subject: RE: UNAND VS MAHSA

Sent: Thu, October 29, 2009 2:08:05 PM
From: Dato' Hj Abu Bakar bin Abdullah
To: nor ibrahim sulaiman ; Dato\' Zahid Hamidi ; S/u Politik ; Mininter of Def
Cc: Pushpagandhi Krishnan

Tuan,

Sukacita saya merujuk kepada perkara tersebut di atas.

 2. Untuk makluman tuan, Biasiswa Pra-Perkhidmatan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), Kementerian Pertahanan diwujudkan bagi memenuhi keperluan perjawatan pegawai ATM dalam bidang-bidang tertentu. Dua perkara utama yang menjadi pertimbangan Kementerian sebelum menentukan dasar penawaran biasiswa untuk setiap tahun adalah peruntukan kewangan tahun semasa dan unjuran keperluan perjawatan pegawai ATM. Buat masa ini, Kementerian sememangnya memerlukan pegawai perubatan untuk mengisi kekosongan yang terdapat di Bahagian Perkhidmatan Kesihatan, ATM. Namun demikian, peruntukan kewangan yang terhad menyebabkan biasiswa yang boleh ditawarkan untuk setiap tahun hanya dalam bilangan yang kecil sahaja.

3. Bagi tahun 2009, peruntukan biasiswa sedia ada telah pun diperuntukkan sepenuhnya. Oleh yang demikian, Kementerian tidak mampu untuk membuat penajaan baru pada ketika ini kerana akan menjejaskan bayaran biasiswa kepada penuntut-penuntut yang sedang ditaja tersebut. Walaubagaimanapun, tawaran biasiswa ini dijangka akan dibuka semula pada tahun hadapan bergantung kepada keputusan dasar yang akan diputuskan oleh Jawatankuasa Biasiswa Pra-Perkhidmatan ATM, Kementerian Pertahanan setelah mengambilkira peruntukan tahun semasa dan unjuran keperluan perjawatan.

4. Sekiranya dibuka, Kementerian akan membuat pengiklanan di akhbar-akhbar utama dan di laman web Kementerian Pertahanan pada awal bulan Mei 2010. Permohonan hendaklah dibuat secara on-line dengan melayari laman web Kementerian iaitu http://www.mod.gov.my/ .

5. Syarat-syarat minimum permohonan yang akan dipertimbangkan adalah seperti berikut:

a) Telah mendapat tempat untuk pengajian tahun pertama di universiti. (tahun dua dan ke atas juga layak memohon).

b) Mencapai minimum gred B dalam subjek Biologi, Kimia, Fizik, Matematik dan Bahasa Inggeris di peringkat SPM.

c) Mencapai minimum gred 4B dalam subjek Bahasa Melayu di peringkat SPM.

d) Mencapai minimum CGPA 3.00 di peringkat Matrikulasi/Pra-Perubatan.

e) Bagi pelajar tahun dua ke atas, harus memperolehi CGPA 2.80 ke atas.

f) Tidak mempunyai penyakit kronik.

g) Body Mass Index : 17.5-26.9

 Selain dari itu, pelajar juga dikehendaki berkhidmat di dalam ATM selama 10 tahun setelah tamat pengajian.

6. Kementerian mengambil maklum dan prihatin dengan masalah yang dihadapi oleh pelajar disebabkan oleh bencana alam yang berlaku di Padang, Indonesia. Walau bagaimanapun, Kementerian perlu mematuhi dasar-dasar dan peraturan kewangan yang berkuatkuasa dari semasa ke semasa berhubung pengurusan Biasiswa Pra-Perkhidmatan ATM ini. Dengan mengambilkira penjelasan serta penerangan yang dinyatakan di para 3 di atas, Kementerian sangat mengalu-alukan mana-mana pelajar yang layak dan memenuhi syarat-syarat minimum di para 5 untuk memohon biasiswa ini pada tahun hadapan sekiranya dibuka untuk tawaran.

Sekian, terima kasih.

ABU BAKAR HAJI ABDULLAH
KETUA SETIAUSAHA
KEMENTERIAN PERTAHANAN

Sebagai penghargaan terhadap keprihatinan beliau, saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepadanya.

Re: UNAND VS MAHSA

Thu, October 29, 2009 2:41:59 PM
From: nor ibrahim sulaiman
To: Dato' Hj Abu Bakar bin Abdullah ; Dato\' Zahid Hamidi ; S/u Politik ; Mininter of Def
Cc: Pushpagandhi Krishnan  Assalamualaikum,

 Terima kasih kerana keprihatinan Dato' terhadap kes Cik Pushpaghandi. Saya akan mengesyorkan kepada beliau untuk memohon tajaan tersebut pada tahun hadapan.

Kerjasama Dato' sangat dihargai. Terima kasih.

 MEJ NOR IBRAHIM BIN SULAIMAN TUDM (B)

Saya menghubungi Cik Pushpa sebaik sahaja menerima e-mel dari Dato' KSU. Saya mencadangkan agar beliau memohon PTPTN sepertimana yang ditawarkan oleh KPT pada 19 Oktober lalu untuk pengajian Tahun Pertama di IPTS. Beliau seterusnya boleh memohon biasiswa KEMENTAH bulan Mei 2010 nanti. Secara zahirnya, beliau memenuhi syarat-syarat yang dikehendaki dan layak memohon.

Pada jam 1951, 29 Oktober, saya menerima sms dari Pushpa..."Saya dh baca dh uncle emel tu..saya memang cukup semua syarat..saya akn ikut cadangan yg uncle bg pd saya ptg td..terima kasih banyak uncle atas semua pertolongan uncle..". Ini adalah satu kepuasan yang tak ternilai harganya bagi saya...!!

PUSHPA...MASIH ADA HARAPAN LAGI!

MacGyver Of The Air Force

You know, during my active flying days, I was fortunate that those 'engineering' guys, I am talking of the SNCOs/NCOs and technicians, were creative, innovative and experienced. The SNCOs were performing similar functions as the highly paid LAME (Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) in the airline industry.  The SNCOs of the various trades, eg, airframe, engine, radio, etc, etc, put their signatures in the aircraft document certifying the aircraft was fit for flying. Before this, technicians had done their trades' checks as required of them. These were 'behind the scene' players...the unknown actors. We, the pilots, were the main actors.

Let me pay a tribute to these dedicated men....for, without them, my Nuri then would not be flying.....!

During my tour as OC No 5 Squadron, RMAF Labuan......some time in the afternoon of mid-1983 (not sure of the date).

I was informed by the Base Operation Room (BOR) that one Nuri was unserviceable (U/S) at Tenom grass strip. It seemed the crew were unable to start it. Well, it could be due to weak batteries. No problem....send the technicians and spare batteries. The recovery Nuri took off for Tenom. Even with the new batteries, the helicopter still could not be started. It was suspected then that there was no more fuel in the fuel line. The engine technicians manually poured fuel through the FCU (fuel control unit) inlet. Still, the recalcitrant engine refused to light up!  The message was relayed to me.

I called my engineering officer and his SNCOs and representatives of the SEngO (Senior Engineering Officer) to my office for discussion on how to recover the 'sick bird'. We were very sure that there was no fuel in the fuel system. The reason for this 'snag' - no fuel in the system - could be that the aircraft  captain had tried to start numerous times due to weak batteries. Oh ya, for DC power, Nuri uses 2 x 28V 'nickel cadmium' batteries.

To ensure fuel in the system, all that was needed to be done was to 'prime' the fuel ...that's all. The problem was that the 4 booster pumps functioned on  115 VAC power...where to get this power at the grass strip? One way was to fly in the 'Houchin' Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) - see picture. (This is a new model. Those days, the bulky yellow-coloured Houchin was almost double the size).

The new generation of Houchin - Auxilary Power Unit (Illustration only)

The APU was too heavy for the Nuri to underslung it to Tenom.  Well, why not transport it by Caribou of No 8 Squadron? Of course, easy said than done. Don't forget the logistic support.

Tenom grass strip was too short for STOL Caribou to land. The nearest landing strip that Caribou could land was Keningau. So far so good. From Keningau, it had to be transported to Tenom by a motor vehicle..at least an Army 3 ton truck. For this, we had to request 5 Brigade, Lok Kawi, for assistance. That should not be a problem since the rapport between the 2 Services was very good. If this option was used, we could not recover the Nuri that day itself. If that was the case, then I had to make arrangements with the Army or the police to request for their personnel to guard the Nuri that night.

While toying with this idea, an electrical SNCO  suggested that we should try 'buddy-buddy' system to get the AC power. He explained  what was needed to be done was to connect each end of the 'nyvin' cable to the 'AC BUS' of  both the  Nuri. This AC BUS was in the nose compartment of the Nuri. As a safety precaution, 'disable' (pull out) the 'booster pumps' circuit  breakers in the centre console of the U/S Nuri. Now, the recovery Nuri provided AC power to the U/S Nuri. With this power, switch on the 4 booster pumps for about 30 minutes to prime the fuel system. How about it...Unanimously agreed!

Who else but yours truly to the rescue. I positioned my Nuri facing the U/S Nuri and shut down my chopper. This was to enable the technicians to connect the nyvin cable to both the Nuri. Once connected, I started no 1 engine and let it run for about 30 minutes.  The captain of the U/S Nuri switched on the 4 booster pumps in order to prime the fuel system since AC power was now available. After that, he started no 1 engine...still using the AC power.  Once no. 1 engine had started and both the generators were switched on, the nyvin cable was disconnected.  All the Nuri landed safely in the squadron.

Well, this technique was outside the normal engineering practices. However, these MacGyvers studied the manuals and took the necessary safety precautions and.... it worked!

I recorded this technique in a book entitled 'MY EXPERIENCES' - similar to the 'SCRAP BOOK'. In this book, I encouraged my pilots to write their experiences so that others might learn something. Recently, I was told that this book was no longer traceable....real pity!

Me and my gang as on 21 March 1984

To the SNCOs and technicians whom I had the pleasure to be associated with during my tour in No 5 Squadron, wherever you may be, .....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION!  

1MALAYSIA ....TERPAKSA PULANG!

26 Oktober 2009, jam 0929, semasa menarik troli di lubang 18, saya menerima satu sms dari Cik Pushpaghandi '..Uncle say dh balik dr padang..skrg saya di kl untk interview di MAHSA esok..nanti lps saya habis interview saya akn msg uncle lg'.

Coretan ini adalah sambungan kepada '1MALAYSIA...1 DILEMA' yang mengisahkan seorang siswi Universiti Andalas. Pushpa telah terbang ke Padang pada 19 Oktober 2009 selepas mendengar taklimat oleh pegawai KPT di UPM di hari yang sama. Pada 22 Oktober, saya telah menalifon bapanya, WO 2 (B) Krishnan bertanya khabar tentang Pushpa. Menurut beliau, Pushpa memaklumkan kepada beliau bahawa keadaan di Padang memang tidak selesa untuk menyambung pengajian. Pihak universiti memberitahu bahawa pengajian 'perubatan' dilanjutkan ke 6 tahun, tidak lagi 5 tahun seperti kebiasaannya; malah ada kemungkinan sehingga 7 tahun! Ini sudah pasti melibatkan kos yang tinggi.

Masalah kedua pula, boleh dikatakan 90% siswa-siswi Malaysia tidak berhasrat untuk menyambung pengajian di sana, termasuk  rakan serumah anaknya. Untuk makluman, penuntut-penuntut kita menyewa rumah di Padang. Saya difahamkan, dalam kes Pushpa, beliau dan 5 rakan menyewa sebuah rumah dengan kadar RM1,500 sebulan. Setiap seorang hanya membayar RM250 sebulan sahaja. Masalahnya, kesemua rakan beliau membatalkan niat untuk meneruskan pengajian di sana. Ini bererti, beliau terpaksa membayar RM1,500 sebulan. Tambahan setahun pengajian dan sewa rumah sudah tentu melibatkan kos yang tinggi. En Krishnan meminta pandangan saya. Jawapan saya ialah'....terpulang kepada Pushpa dan beliau sendiri kerana beliau yang akan membiayai kos pengajian itu nanti!'

Sebelum terbang ke Padang, Pushpa memberitahu bahawa MAHSA menawarkan kepada penuntut-penuntut yang tamat 'pre-medic' boleh terus masuk ke Tahun Pertama di IPTS tersebut. Beliau telah mendaftar dengan MAHSA sebagai satu opsyen.

Keesokan hari, saya telah menghantar e-mel berikut kepada YB Menteri Pertahanan dan KSU KEMENTAH.

BIASISWA UNTUK KURSUS PERUBATAN

Fri, October 23, 2009 7:51:44 AM
From: nor ibrahim sulaiman nibsny@yahoo.com
To: Dato\' Zahid Hamidi ro.ppm@mod.gov.my; KSU Indef abubakar@mod.gov.my

Assalamualaikum Dato'-Dato',

Di sini saya ingin merayu agar KEMENTAH dapat mempertimbangan memberi biasiswa untuk seorang anak perempuan kepada PW2 (B) Krishnan, Kor Jutera Diraja, melanjutkan pengajiannya dalam bidang perubatan. Pushpagandhi adalah siswa Tahun Pertama di Universiti Andalas (UA) atas biayaan bapanya, seorang penjual gas masak yang mengguna motosikal untuk menghantar gas ke rumah. Saya mengenali beliau kerana membeli gas darinya.

Pushpagandhi telah terbang balik ke Padang pada 19 Oktober 2009 selepas mendengar taklimat di UPM yang diberi oleh pegawai KPT di sebelah pagi. Saya difahamkan oleh En Krishnan, pihak UA memaklum kepada siswa-siswi mereka bahawa pengajian perubatan dilanjutkan sekurang-kurang 6 tahun, bukan lagi 5 tahun; ada kemungkinan 7 tahun! Ini sudah pasti melibatkan kos yang tinggi. Masalah kedua, kos penginapan tinggi kerana 'house-mates' beliau tidak berhasrat untuk meneruskan pengajian di sana. Ini bermakna beliau terpaksa membayar RM1600 sebulan untuk sewa rumah; sebelum ini hanya RM250 sahaja. Sebelum terbang ke Padang, Pushphaghandi telah mendaftar dengan IPTS sekiranya beliau terpaksa membatalkan pengajiannya di sana.

Sehingga kini, En Krishnan telah membelanja sejumlah RM73K untuk puteri beliau. Ini termasuk yuran 'pre-medic' dan Tahun Pertama, sewa rumah, dll. Mungkin jumlah ini hanya 'loose change' untuk sesetengah pihak, tetapi tidak bagi majoriti rakyat. Sebelum pemergian anaknya ke Padang pada 2008, saya ada mencadangkan kepada En Krishnan untuk memohon biasiswa KEMENTAH. Beliau diberitahu oleh pegawai KEMENTAH untuk memohon selepas lulus Tahun Pertama. Untuk 'pre-medic' dan Tahun Pertama tiada tajaan.

Walaupun Pushpaghandi hanya mendapat CGPA 3.88 sahaja untuk 'pre-medic'...tidakkah ini boleh dipertimbangkan? Saya ada menulis 2 coretan bertajuk "1Malaysia" dan "1Malaysia...1 Dilema" yang ada kaitan dengan Pushpaghandi dalam blog saya -xnuripilot.blogspot.com.

Pertimbangan Dato'-Dato' sangat saya hargai. Terima kasih.

MEJ (B) NOR IBRAHIM BIN SULAIMAN

Pushpa, ini sahaja yang termampu uncle lakukan....!

A Tribute To Chopper Pilots

What is 'THANK YOU' to you?  As a nuri pilot those days, this phrase is  most gratifying when the pasengers, be it the VVIPs, generals or a soldier showed ...to borrow Capt. Shariff Uban '... thumbs up ' or said 'THANK YOU', all the stress, anger (if any) or anxiety disappeared into thin air. Now, it is my turn to say THANK YOU , once again,  to Dato Arshad, who has posted a tribute to us, the chopper pilots, in his blog - mindnoevil.blogspot.com.  And of course, also to those who give such laudable comments.

I am not speaking on behalf of the chopper pilots, however, I am sure they  will agree with me that we feel honoured  with such tributes.

For young chopper pilots, I import his article (with his permission)  for your easy reading.....maybe you can learn something! And, the comments on his article through the link.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

HEROES OF THE SKY
I was at Kajang Town this evening to hold an unscheduled meeting with some old kampung friends. Upon my arrival, someone remarked, “Here comes the Hero of the Sky”. I was a bit puzzled and said, “Are you referring it to me?”. The person said, “Yes, and are you not from the Air Force?”. I replied that I am just a foot slogger, and the heroes of the skies were the air force pilots that flies in the army, in and out of the jungle. He then said that he has been reading my blog, especially the article on the Pingat Tentera Udara, and he thought that I was an Air Force officer as well.
Upon returning home, the 'Heroes of the Sky' remark is something I could write about, to refer to those RMAF helicopter pilots who were supporting the army throughout the period of the Communist Insurgency from 1969 until their eventual surrender in 1989, in both Sarawak and the peninsular.

My first 'hairy experience' on a helicopter was in 1969 operating in Batu Melintang, Kelantan. I was ordered to act as the advance party of my platoon, to reconnoiter a suitable landing point for the rest of the platoon in the Belum area. There were only to be four of us on the Allouette helicopter, excluding the pilot. To get to the Belum area, we had to cross the main mountain range and I could not imagine what it would be like to cross the high mountain range on an Allouette helicopter.

When the helicopter arrived, we were given the thumbs up by the pilot to alight the helicopter. We scrambled into the helicopter with our haversacks filled with 14 days of pack rations. I was invited by the pilot with a smile, to take the seat besides him. Little did I realised that the smiling pilot was my course mate, the late Lt Nasir Ma Lee. I could not recognised him because he had his pilot's helmet on, and he must have recognised me first; hence the smile.

As we were nearing the designated area, Nasir informed me that he was trying to located a suitable landing point to drop us off. I was by then a bit disoriented, not knowing actually where were we. I only noticed a large river, and Nasir pointed to me on his map that it is Sg. Belum. We circled the area several times with Nasir looking out to see if he could land the helicopter on firm ground.

As we flew along the river, Nasir pointed out to a patch of sand dune in the river that he intends to drop us off. I nodded to him, not realising that Nasir was not going to land the helicopter on the sand dune but instead, we had to jump off the helicopter.

Nasir brought the helicopter slowly down and at about the height of 6 feet, we threw out our haversacks and started jumping out of the helicopter, one at a time. This was to be my first jump out of a helicopter and we landed safely without any broken limbs. I gave Nasir the thumbs up to thank him, only to know that he left the Air Force several years later to join a private helicopter service. I would say that Nasir and me were true buddies, because a few days before he crashed with a trainee pilot a few years ago, he wrote me an email to ask me to watch the sky in Kuala Lumpur for the 'flying advertising plane'.

If one could recall sometimes in the 70's, Nasir was the pilot who was involved in the rescue of some building occupants during the burning of Bank Bumiputra in Jalan Ampang.

It was a sad day for me to see Nasir die in an aircrash, and I was there at the mortuary of the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital to bid him farewell. I was glad to be at the mortuary because I was able to meet Nasir's brother, Hj Mustafa Ma who happened to be my teacher in Kuala Lumpur back in the late 50's.

Another 'hairy experience' on a helicopter was during a routine resupply flight on a Nuri helicopter in the Gunung Inas forest reserve around the Kulim area some times in the early 70's. I accompanied the flight to drop off rations to my troops operating in the area. The drop point was constructed along a hill slope, since the troops were operating high on the hills, and they could not find a safe area where the helicopter could land. I could not recall who the pilot was, and due to the nature of the terrain in relation to the drop point, the pilot had to lower the helicopter vertically. The approach was tight for the helicopter and as we decended slowly, the helicopter suddenly dropped and swayed. The pilot reacted quickly to gain contol of the helicopter, with me muttering all the Quranic verses that I knew. I think I went white, but upon watching the pilot and the crew who seemed so confident and cool, I began to regain my composure.

I could continue to write my experiences flying on an RMAF helicopter, but surffice for me to say that the skills of our helicopter pilots is second to none. Many had sacrificed their lives, and I lost many friends too. But now that the nation is at peace, people tend to forget our helicopter pilots who were there when the army needed them. Never have they failed us, and I remembered an instant where we had to do a casualty evacuation when it was already getting late, but yet the helicopter came in even during fading light.

These are the 'Heroes Of The Sky', and to you Nasir, Chong, Nor and many others who have supported the army in the jungle during the period of the Communist Insurgency, we will forever remember you and salute you.

So why is the goverment having the big fuss of depriving some of the 'Heroes Of The Sky' of their gallantry allowances especially for all recipients the Pingat Tentera Udara? Are the pilots considered a lesser hero just because they are in the sky?

To our political masters, you will never know how our pilots have endured, flying the helicopters under the threat of being shot down like birds off the sky.

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

Footsloggers, once again......THANK  YOU FOR THE GLOWING TRIBUTES!

Serba Tak Kena

Di awal 2009, seorang rakan seperjuangan ketika saya masih berkhidmat di No 3 Sekuadron, TUDM Butterworth, Kol Haji Zainal Bin Piee TUDM, telah memberitahu yang beliau akan mengadakan satu majlis perkahwinan untuk puteri beliau pada Oktober 2009. Majlis tersebut akan di adakan di TUDM Kuala Lumpur. Beliau menjemput saya sekeluarga ke majlis tersebut. Ini disusuli dengan penghantaran 2 kad jemputan - satu untuk majlis tengah hari dan satu lagi untuk malam. Majlis perkahwinan ialah pada 17 Oktober 2009.

Semenjak berhijrah ke Jitraq pada 2000, saya boleh kira dengan jari kekerapan saya ke Kuala Lumpur. Itu pun kerana tidak dapat dielakkan. Apa yang saya perlukan untuk kehidupan seharian, semuanya boleh diperolehi di Jitraq. Bukannya apa....saya sudah sampai tahap malas hendak memandu jarak jauh. Sekiranya terpaksa pergi, dan jika bersendirian...saya akan mengguna perkhidmatan 'supir' (pesara pun ada kelas)......dengan bas atau keretapi lah...! He...he....

Tetapi, ini kawan lama dan beliau adalah satu-satunya rakan yang masih sudi menghubungi saya di 'ulu' ini. Saya berjanji dengan beliau, sekiranya diizinkan Allah dan tiada aral melintang, saya sekeluarga (isteri dan ibu mentua) akan menghadiri majlis beliau nanti, InsyaAllah.

Pada 17 Oktober 2009, jam lebihkurang 0900 bertolaklah 'Hill-Billy' Jitraq ini ke Kuala Lumpur. Tapi Hill-Billy moden ni memandu kereta boleh tahan jugalah....he...he...Sebelum sampai rumah tol Hutan Kampung, baru saya sedar yang baju dan seluar tidak tergantung dalam kereta. Saya tidak simpan pakaian tersebut dalam beg, sebaliknya digantung dengan 'hanger'. Apa hendak dikatakan, buat pusingan 'U' dekat rumah tol untuk mengambil pakaian tersebut.

Sebagai seorang veteran, keraplah berhenti untuk melunjurkan kaki. Semasa muda, bolehlah memandu tanpa berhenti. Singgah di R & R Tapah untuk ke tandas. Semasa memandu semula, isteri pula memberitahu yang beliau tertinggal kasut.

Pada mulanya, kami bercadang untuk tinggal di rumah bapa saudara isteri saya. Tetapi kerana dah lama tidak pergi ke KL, saya membuat keputusan untuk menginap di hotel. Satu bilik ditempah di Cititel, Mid Valley Mega Mall. Pilihan hotel ini kerana boleh pergi 'window shopping' dan lokasinya tidak jauh dari TUDM Kuala Lumpur. Itu sahaja. Sampai ke KL....pusing punya pusing selamat juga tiba di hotel.

Setelah menurunkan keluarga, saya pergi mencari tempat parkir di 'basement'. Berpusing-pusing hampir setengah jam masih tiada yang kosong. Sedar-sedar sampai ke lorong 'Keluar' dengan palang halangan (barrier). Saya telah memasukkan kupon seperti yang diarahkan oleh mesin. Masalahnya....kupon keluar semula....masuk....keluar. Dibelakang saya, kereta berbaris untuk keluar bangunan. Akhirnya, seorang supir menghampiri saya dan bertanya samaada saya sudah membayar caj parkir. 'Belum lagi'... jawapan saya. 'Encik kena bayar disana....' beliau menunjuk arah kiosk bayaran. Saya terus pergi ke kiosk untuk membayar parkir. Sungguh memalukan....tapi, sudah tukar ke?

Sudah keluar, kena pusing semula melalui Hotel Gardens sebelum masuk basement semula. Sekali lagi berpusing-pusing mencari tempat parkir. Hampir setengah jam, baru dapat parkir kereta; P1 dan saya catatkan C12 atas kupon. Setelah menentukan kereta dikunci, saya terus kebilik hotel yang telah didaftar oleh isteri saya. Selepas solat, saya dan isteri turun ke Mega Mall untuk membeli kasut untuk beliau.

Secara jujur, semasa mencari tempat parkir, saya rasa tidak 'sedap hati' untuk meninggal kereta di situ. Banyak berita yang tersiar dalam surat khabar tentang kehilangan kereta di kompleks membeli-belah. Selepas membeli kasut dan balik kebilik, saya membuat keputusan untuk 'check-out' dan menalifon sepupu isteri saya memberitahu beliau yang kami akan menginap di rumahnya selepas menghadiri majlis perkahwinan nanti.

Pada jam 1830, usunglah beg-beg untuk 'check-out'. Untuk 2-3 jam di bilik, pihak hotel caj  RM195.00...caj asal RM235.00 (harga promosi). Apa nak dikatakan....!

Saya turun ke basement bersendirian untuk mengambil kereta. Ahli keluarga tinggal di lounge hotel. Turun ke P1 C12. Jalan punya jalan.....cari punya cari.....tak jumpa kereta! Oh....Oh....kereta ku sudah hilang...! Terduduk saya dibuatnya. Saya menalifon isteri memberitahu beliau kemungkinan kereta beliau telah hilang. Seterusnya, saya pergi ke kiosk bayaran dan memberitahu mereka yang saya tidak jumpa kereta. Terpaksa menunggu pengawal pula. Ketika itu, macam-macam perkara yang bermain dalam fikiran. Paling utama, kena buat laporan polis. Kemudian ambil teksi ke Batu Caves. Keesokan hari, atur teksi untuk pulang ke Jitraq. Sampai di Jitraq, kena pecah kaca tingkap dan grill. Ini untuk membolehkan 'roller shutter' dinaikan untuk kereta masuk dalam garaj. Semua ini terpaksa dilakukan kerana kunci gate dan roller shutter disimpan dalam kereta.

 Apabila pengawal tiba dan diberitahu # parkir, beliau hanya menunjuk kearah P1 C12 untuk saya mencari kereta. Sungguh bengang dibuatnya.....sudahlah tak jumpa kereta, beliau enggan menemankan saya ke lokasi P1 C12. Ini sudah melampau.....dengan nada keras (maklumlah...bekas tentera..he..he) saya menyuruh beliau mencari bersama saya. Mahu tak mahu, beliau terpaksa menemani saya ke lokasi tersebut. Macam magis.....sekejap tak ada.....sekejap ada! Saya ucapkan terima kasih kepada beliau dan menalifon isteri yang saya telah jumpa kereta semula. Untuk makluman, November 2009 ini, kereta tersebut baru 7 tahun dengan hanya 75,000 km sahaja. Beli baru dan harga pasaran masih boleh dapat RM110K. Saya berniat untuk puasa nazar sekiranya dijumpa semula.

Sekali lagi satu pusingan ke Cititel untuk mengambil keluarga. Jam sudah 1930. Sekarang sedang memikir bagaimana hendak ke Jalan Istana. Fikir punya fikir, guna jalan ke Bangsar. Saya ingatkan akan bertemu Jalan Travers dahulu sebelum Jalan Bangsar....sudah tukar ke? Bagaimanapun, sampai juga ke Jalan Istana....tetapi sudah lupa jalan ke Pengkalan TUDM. Sedar-sedar.... Jalan Sungai Besi, belok kiri, masuk Jalan Loke Yew dan belok kiri lagi, Jalan TUDM. Berhenti dekat bangunan MAA untuk bertanya arah. Sampai ke dewan majlis lebih kurang jam 2020. KL....KL....sungguh banyak berubah! Patutlah kawan saya mencadangkan saya guna GPS. Saya ingat hanya pilot yang perlu GPS.

Oleh kerana semua para hadirin sudah mengambil tempat masing-masing, saya tiada peluang berjumpa ramai rakan-rakan seperjuangan yang hadir malam itu. Antara mereka yang sempat saya berjumpa ialah Jen (B) Dato' Sulaiman Mahmud (OC pertama sebagai pilot di No 10 Skn), Jen (B) Dato' Sri Abdullah Nasution (pemeriksa semasa mengikuti kursus penerbangan di SEA Helicopter), Lt Jen (B) Dato' Nawi Alias ( OC No 3 Skn), Mej Jen (B) Dato' Fauzi Hussein (CO TUDM Butterworth), Mej Jen (B) Dato' Razak (sama-sama terbang ke Malang, Indonesia), Brig Jen Dato' Mohd Sulong TUDM (rakan seperjuangan semasa di No 5 dan No 10 Skn) dan Lt Kol (B) Affendi Mustafa  ('course-mate' semasa SEA Helicopter).


Majlis bersurai pada jam 2230. Saya pun terus memandu ke kawasan Batu Caves. Itu pun terlepas simpang ke rumah yang dituju. Syukur Alhamdulillah, selamat sampai walaupun lewat.

Keesokan harinya, 18 Oktober 2009, selepas berjumpa kaum kerabat dari Mantin dan Jalan Maktab, baliklah Hill-Billy ini ke Jitraq. Syukur Alhamdulillah, selamat sampai di rumah lebihkurang jam 1600. Tekan remote control untuk buka gate....gate tak bergerak pun. Tekan remote control untuk menaikkan roller shuter.....sama juga! Mungkin tiada elektrik. Panjat tembok dan buka gate secara manual. Selepas itu, guna remote control semula.....bergerak gate. Bermakna, ada eletrik. Cuba menaikkan roller shutter....tiada sebarang reaksi. Betul-betul macam cerita 'Ali Baba Bujang Lapok' dimana Kasim Baba tak boleh membuka pintu gua dengan jampi serapah 'Yat minseng mata kaji......' salah. Jawabnya, tinggal keluarga di luar rumah dan terus pergi ke kedai kunci di Jitraq. Towkay memberitahu bateri lemah dan perlu diganti. Tiba di rumah, tekan remote control dua tiga kali.....roller shutter pun gerak. Lega....!

Semua ini mesti 'ada makna'! Pengajaran dari episod ini ialah, tentukan ada check list untuk perjalanan jauh. Yang kedua, jangan sekali-kala tinggal di hotel yang berkongsi dengan kompleks membeli belah.

Biarlah saya tinggal di ulu Jitraq ini. Tak ada stres dan kelam-kabut. Ke RSAT hanya 5 km, hospital - 15 km, pasar - 5km, kelab golf -1 km. Apa hendak lagi dalam kehidupan ini....?

Never Ending Story - Pt 2

Well...Well...Well...Readers, I really thought this story about an allowance for the recipients of the gallantry awards, JPP, PTU and KPK, is over. Surprisingly, I am extremely delighted to know that there are people who support my struggle. I am thankful to Brig Gen (B) Datuk Arshad who posted an article, entitled "IS THE PINGAT TENTERA UDARA (PTU) SUBSERVIENT TO THE PINGAT GAGAH BERANI (PGB)?, on this subject in his blog -mindnoevil.blogspot.com. Thank you, Datuk, for supporting me and the others. And, readers, please spare your time to read the comments in his blog.

For those who are that pushed for time, I 'imported' his article  for your easy reading (with his kind permission).

Monday, October 19, 2009
IS THE PINGAT TENTERA UDARA (PTU) SUBSERVIENT TO THE PINGAT GAGAH BERANI (PGB)?

I was introduced to a blog owned by an ex RMAF Nuri helicopter pilot Mej Nor Ibrahim Sulaiman (B) (http://xnuripilot.blogspot.com) recently. Having browse through some of his postings, I was caught by an email posted by an ex Nuri pilot Lt Col Chong Keng Lay (B) who argues that recipients of the Pingat Tentera Udara (PTU), a meritorious and gallantry award for bravery and valour for RMAF personnel, should also be receiving a similar allowance announced recently by the government for recipients of the PGB and the SP.

I do not know the reasons why recipients of the PTU are deprived of the allowance since both are awards for bravery and valour and has been gazette as such by the government. Or is the PTU considered of a lesser award for bravery and valour; hence they are deprived of the allowance?

Lt Col Chong Keng Lay (B) is a course mate of mine who took the greater challenge to be a pilot, and to discard his army uniform. He has flown me on many trips into the jungle operational areas, and I know the sort of person Lt Col Chong is. He is a strict disciplinarian, loyal to the service and had served the nation well. I do not see any reason why his award of the PTU is subservient to the PGB.

I hope the new Chief of Air Force should take a serious look into this matter, that not only affect Lt Col Chong, but to all other recipients as well.

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted by ArshadRaji at 2:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: air force

Any comment?

1MALAYSIA ....1 DILEMA

Ingat lagi  coretan bertajuk "1Malaysia"? Coretan seterusnya....

Pada 15 Oktober 2009, semasa merarik troli golf, saya telah menerima panggilan talifon dari Encik Krishnan. Beliau menyatakan yang Kerajaan tidak menggalakkan penuntut-penuntut Tahun Pertama hingga Ketiga  dalam bidang perubatan di Universiti Andalas meneruskan pengajian mereka di Padang. Beliau  memberitahu bahawa saya adalah orang pertama beliau menalifon untuk mendapatkan pandangan.


Berikut adalah laporan Utusan Malaysia bertarikh  16 Oktober 2009...

Utusan

    Online

Oleh THOMAS CHONG
pengarang@utusan.com.my

PUTRAJAYA 15 Okt. – Kerajaan bersetuju memberi pinjaman Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) bernilai RM150,000 setiap orang kepada pelajar Malaysia yang dihantar pulang dari Padang, Indonesia.

Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam berkata, bantuan pinjaman tersebut bertujuan meringankan beban pelajar berkenaan khususnya mereka yang tidak mendapat tajaan kerajaan.

‘‘Kabinet telah buat keputusan untuk bantu pelajar dari Padang seperti menyerap mereka ke institusi pengajian tinggi tempatan awam atau swasta.

‘‘Kerajaan juga bersetuju untuk memberi pinjaman RM150,000 kepada pelajar yang tidak mendapat tajaan kerajaan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas menemui dan berdialog dengan lebih 100 pelajar Malaysia yang terjejas oleh gempa bumi di Padang, Sumatera di sini hari ini.

Sebanyak 330 pelajar Malaysia yang sedang melanjutkan pelajaran di universiti di Padang telah dihantar pulang ke Malaysia akibat gempa bumi yang melanda wilayah itu.

Subramaniam berkata, kerajaan mendapati keadaan di Padang tidak lagi selamat untuk pelajar Malaysia melanjutkan pelajaran.

‘‘Walaupun pihak universiti di Padang telah meminta supaya pelajar kita meneruskan pengajian di Indonesia, tetapi kita rasa keadaan di situ tidak sesuai,” katanya.

Encik Krishnan memberitahu yang beliau telah membelanja RM73K untuk puteri beliau, Pushpagandhi. Sekiranya beliau menerima cadangan Kerajaan, wang tersebut akan hangus! Mungkin bagi sesetengah pihak RM73K hanya 'loose change' sahaja, tetapi bukan untuk kebanyakan ibu-bapa. Itu adalah satu jumlah yang besar. Kos untuk mengikuti kursus perubatan di IPTS di Malaysia di anggar RM380K. PTPTN hanya mampu memberi pinjaman  RM150K sahaja. Ini bererti   ibu-bapa terpaksa menambah RM230K....! Mana nak cari ongkos sebegitu banyak?

Masalah kedua pula ialah.....anak beliau terpaksa mengikuti 'pre-medic' semula....! IPTS di sini tiada dasar 'pemindahan kredit'. Bayangkan.....pengajian setahun di Padang hanya sia-sia sahaja! 

Pendangan saya kepada beliau ialah sekiranya Pushpa bersetuju, teruskan pengajian di Padang. Rasionalnya masih sama....malapetaka boleh berlaku di mana-mana saja! Lagi pula, saya pasti siswa-siswi dari Indonesia juga akan meneruskan pengajian mereka di sana walaupun terpaksa mengikuti kuliah di bawah khemah. Mereka boleh...mengapa tidak kita? Sekiranya berjaya menamatkan kursus itu nanti, beliau boleh berbangga yang beliau mempunyai kekuatan mental semasa menghadapi dugaan yang sungguh mencabar. Bukan calang-calang orang yang sanggup berhadapan dengan keadaan sedemikian. Saya juga difahamkan seorang anak perempuan arwah kariah di tempat tinggal saya sekarang ini, juga akan meneruskan pengajian beliau di Universiti Andalas. Syabas...!

Pada pagi 16 Oktober 2009, sekali lagi saya telah menalifon Encik Krishnan untuk mendapat berita mutakhir  dan untuk mengucapkan 'Selamat Menyambut Deepavali' kepada beliau dan keluarga. Beliau menyatakan bahawa anaknya telah membuat keputusan untuk terbang ke Padang selepas mendengar taklimat oleh KPT di UPM pada 19 Oktober 2009 nanti.

Pada saya, itu satu keputusan yang bijak.
  

A Challenging LP

Gunung Korbu - the second highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia

Well, I think it was some time  in early 1980 when my task was to send supply to the ground troops. I was then still with No 3 Squadron, RMAF Butterworth.  If I am not mistaken, the LP was at about 5000 ft  high somewhere around  Gunung Korbu. It was occupied by a squadron of MSSR - the commandos.  I really cannot  remember the pick-up point - it could be either Lasah or Ulu Kinta. Lasah.

The task was the first  supply for them and I was the first pilot to fly there.  They were there not for mountain climbing exercise but to chase the communist terrorists. When I first saw the LP, my goodness....it was so tight....well...well below standard! I expressed my opinion to the OC (Officer Commanding), through the HF radio, on the condition of the LP. To make the situation more unfavourable, after a quick recce of the LP, the only approach available was from 'uphill'. In other words, I had to make a 'tail-wind' approach. Logic will tell you, normally the wind will always blow from high to low ground, not vice versa.

Basically, all approaches for landings and take-offs should be executed 'head-wind', ie, facing the wind. This relative wind condition would increase the aerodynamic forces of "LIFT", whereas 'tail-wind' would reduce "LIFT".  To put simply, just like flying kites. The kites will be lifted into the air with the wind from the opposite direction. Of course, you still can land and take-off in this condition, however, you must be......EXTREMELY CAREFULL!!

The OC came back to me with the promise that he would improve the LP for the next resupply. But for that day, he told me that he needed the rations badly. Before I took off from the pick-up point, I enquired who the OC was at the LP. When told of his name.... I knew him. He was Mej Ahmad RAshit of SSC 12 Intake, I think. I used to squat in his room during 13 May 1969 Tragedy at the Officers Mess, Sungai Besi. He was then with 5 RAMD. 

For you my friend, I would try. Syukur to Almighty Allah, I managed to land safely and the rations were offloaded. The LP was so tight, so much so, I could not even make a turnaround - just 'ngam-ngam'. I had to execute a tail-wind take-off. Throughout  my flying career, this was the tightest of all LPs...! Before taking off,  once again I reminded my friend  to ensure that the LP was big and safe enough for the nuri to land for future resupply. He promised me that he would surely improve the LP.

In May 1980, I was posted to No 10 Squadron as Flight Commander....an end to all those adventurous flying. My new area of flying coverage did not include Perak state where the actions were. Let others have the chance to be heroes too. Maybe those top brass felt I needed a good rest.  In August On 19 July 1980, if I am not mistaken, I was told that a nuri had crashed at that  LP......! It seemed the nuri crashed while lifting off from the LP with troops on board. The tasking was  troops pull-out from the LP. Syukur Alhamdulillah, no casualty.....aircrew and the passengers were safe.  When I went there as the President of the Board Of Inquiry, the OC had kept his promise.....the LP was big enough for  nuri to manoeuvre. But, of course, he could not change the natural terrain of the mountain. Approaches and take-offs still had to be done 'tail-wind'.

The nuri was salvaged later on by an RAAF heavy lift 'Chinook' helicopter which airlifted it to AIROD, Subang. Ipoh.

In memory of my friend, the late Lt Col Ahmad Bin Rashid,  OC of the commando squadron in the story, who passed away in a road accident on his way back to his unit at Kuala Kubu Baru from Malacca. Semoga Allah cucuri rahmat kepada roh beliau....Al Fatihah.

Readers, my humble apology if you find incorrect data. Please inform me through your comments and I will take necessary action to rectify it, InsyaAllah. You must remember this is a recollection of events that took place 29 years ago and I have to rely solely from my memory.....!  

Nuri pilots, .... KNOW YOUR LIMITS  AND NURI'S AS WELL!!

Note: Updated on 6/7/14.

Me....The Hollywood Actor

One of the flying collections that I treasure most is the flying 'log book' - "BUKU HARIAN PENERBANGAN PEMANDU"; a diary of sorts. It is an official document where we pilots have to record the hours flown, the name of the aircrew, airframe number, day/night flying, etc, etc. Well, it was while 'studying' the log book when I saw OD 494 Paper Tiger written in it.

Classic movie buffs.....if you 'accidentally' watch "Paper Tiger", starring David Niven, let it be known to you that yours truly 'acted' in that film too....he....he. I was then a co-pilot in No 10 Sqn, RMAF Kuantan. I did not know why the Flight Commander detailed me to fly for this task....maybe I was the most handsome co-pilot in the squadron...he...he, syok sendiri! Jangan marah.

Well, from 7th through 14th August 1974, one Nuri and one Alouette 111 (from No 3 Sqn) helicopters were tasked to assist in the filming of the Paper Tiger. Nuri aircrew involved were:

• Capt (U) Eddy Yong - captain
• Capt (U) Nor Ibrahim - co-pilot
• S/Sgt Md Isa - AQM
• Airframe # - 1714
• Tasking # - Gading 494

Capt (U) NC Lee was the Alouette 111 pilot. Sorry I could not remember the name of his AQM.

Review summary. Mr Bradbury (David Niven), an apparently posh and well-educated, ex-military Englishman is hired as tutor to the son of a Japanese ambassador, Koichi Kagoyama (played by Ando). He becomes a trusted friend, who boasts about himself during his British Army service being a hero telling hi "War Stories", but some painful truths are revealed after he and the boy are kidnapped by political terrorists. It comes to the point when Mr Bradbury has to live up to his "action man image he makes out to be.

Directed by: Ken Annakin

Release date: November 5, 1975

The role of the nuri was to fly the 'fictitious' troops in the mission to rescue the 'hero' and the boy. And the role of the 'mini cooper' was to fly the camera crew to film the nuri's flight. The flight took place around Bukit Takun, the limestone hill behind the present Perangsang Golf & Country Club. During those times, the club had not  existed yet. In fact, it was  still an active mining area.

The actual flying action was on 14 August 1974. I have forgotten whether we flew to Templer Park prior to the actual date of the filming since it was not recorded in my log book. Anyway, we took off from RMAF Kuala Lumpur early in the morning to position the aircraft  and  were briefed by the film crew. When the time came for  A C T I O N,  up...up and away around Bukit Takun. The captain flew the nuri while yours truly was just holding SSL (Speed Selector Lever- simply...throttle) and monitoring......Ts' &  Ps' (Temperatures &  Pressures).

Bukit Takun in the background of the Perangsang Templer Golf & Country Club, Rawang

The beautiful part was that, the film crew captured the face of your handsome co-pilot instead of the captain of the aircraft. I suppose all heroes must have moustache just like Zorro....and I have that...he...he!

Imagine, for that few minutes of filming, we had to stay for 1 week in Kuala Lumpur! By the way, the emblem/insignia of the fictitious Air force was painted over the RMAF emblem/insignia on the nuri. This was done at the KL Base. The film company used 'water-washable' paint. When the filming was over, all that was needed to be done was to pour water over it, and presto.......1714 and the emblem/insignia reappeared!

You know what we had for lunch? Nothing less than.......nasi bungkus! Fat hope to get the 5-star hotel meals served to those 'mat saleh' actors.

Capt Eddy Yong took our photograph with the late David Niven. Capt Eddy, if you read this blog and still keep the photograph, please e-mail it to me, thank you. It is a real pity that I do not know how to search and download the actual photograph of the nuri flying around the Bukit Takun. My level of computer literacy is still in the kindergarten stage. You can read my introduction to computer via this link - sitiroffinimy.blogspot.com under the title "The Quick Brown Fox".

 Computer experts, if you happen to watch this movie, please capture the part where it shows the nuri flying around Bukit Takun. I would really appreciate if you could e-mail the photograph in question. Thank you.

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'.....!