Ingat lagi coretan saya bertajuk "Berakhirnya Satu Perjuangan"? Saya menyatakan bahawa YB Dato' Ibrahim Ali telah membawa isu elaun untuk penerima JPP, PTU dan KPK ke sessi persidangan Parlimen pada 11 November 2009 semasa penggulungan Menteri Pertahanan terhadap KEMENTAH. Berikut diturunkan petikan 'Hansard' Dewan Rakyat berkaitan perkara tersebut.....
DR. 11.11.2009
Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Sedikit sahaja. Terima kasih Yang Berhormat. Oleh sebab Yang Berhormat hendak gulung, saya ada dua perkara pendek sahaja. Satu, saya hendak tanya apakah Yang Berhormat ......itu yang pertama.
DR. 11.11.2009
120
Yang kedua, saya terpaksa bawa ini. Ada satu surat pada saya, ini bekas tentera yang terima pingat. Saya sedih, sedih dan dukacita sebab pingat SP dengan PGB diberi pencen RM2,000 dan SP – RM1,500. JPP, PTU dan KPK tidak dapat apa-apa, pingat perak Olimpik RM3,000 sebulan. Ini dia bergadai nyawa tak boleh ke timbang, kalaupun tidak banyak, secara token juga diberi pencen.
Dan yang akhir, pendek sahaja....
Sekian, terima kasih.
Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi:
Mengenai elaun selain daripada SP dan PGB ini, kami telah kemukakan pada JPA untuk pertimbangan-pertimbangan diberikan. Namun oleh kerana kedudukan kewangan negara belum mengizinkan elaun-elaun berkenaan diberikan, pihak Kementerian Pertahanan masih terus mengusahakan agar pengiktirafan ini dapat diberikan kepada penerima-penerima anugerah berkenaan.
Nota: Anda boleh membaca soalan dan jawapan sepenuhnya di http://www.parlimen.gov.my/ , 11 November 2009, ms 119 dan 120.
Saya banyak menghantar e-mel kepada Pak-Pak Menteri/Timbalan Menteri ....jangan diharap sebarang respons pun!! Saya tidak menyalahi mereka kerana saya percaya KEMUNGKINAN e-mel tersebut tidak melepasi 'Gate-Keepers (GK)' mereka. Mungkin jangkaan saya silap....mereka (GK) ini agaknya mahu 'bos' mereka dengar apa yang 'sedap' didengar sahaja, terutama kepujian. Maklumlah....'carma' (cari makan -pinjam istilah warga tentera)! Jika hendak rentetan didengar, lebih baik menulis ke media massa/elektronik atau menulis kepada MP Bebas....lebih berkesan. Sekira disiarkan, satu negara akan mengetahuinya....betul tak?
Readers, the highest court in our beloved nation, Federal Court, has decided in April 2009, that Chin Peng is not allowed to come back to Malaysia. However, for reasons best known to themselves, there are certain groups who are still 'lobbying' to get the sympathy of the rakyat to bring back this 'sick old man'.
I'm not alone in expressing my views that I'm totally against Chin Peng coming back. Let me refresh your memory by revisiting my friend's unedited comments in one of my postings. (You can read his adventures at kapaspirates.blogspot.com).
Capt's Longhouse said...
Guys !
,,,while we awaits Capt. Chong KL to write his, perhaps you might want to know more about late Capt. Choo YB ....ref ;"The nation recognised our sacrifices by conferring bravery awards,,,in 1979; few received posthumously, eg, PGB for the late Capt (U) Choo YB and PTU for the late Lt (U) Chung MT." ????....
,,,YES, indeed the late Capt. Choo YB relief aircrew from 7 Sqn. Kuching before being killed at Ops. Gubir, he was involved with another Thai/M'sia border Ops. with me from 10 Sqn. whereby he volunteered to be the "Dummy" chopper for the CTs to take pot shots at so that we can determine where from the damn CTs were shooting our chopper from !!. Can you ever beat that ?. Talking about sacrifice and bravery and total dedication in defending this beloved country ??..this guy sandbagged his chopper and hovered just to be shot at !! and radio across for me to abseil/winch down the troops accordingly to attack the CTs.
,,,with the Nuri carrying protective sandbags for the 12 x troops on board, my chopper was over weight to hover out of ground effect as such we had to rest her belly on the tree branches, while the troops were abseiled/winched down or else we can't take-off safely or just have to jettison the sand bags in a hurry !.
,,,Indeed, it was Capt. Choo's idea to place his chopper as the target so that we could safely deploy our troops and surround the enemy. That special Ops. was indeed a big success and we brought back a couple of dead CTs as trophy.
,,,Unfortunately a few months later his chopper was shot down at Ops. Gubir and were killed together with everyone onboard.
,,,In fact, we were together that morning at RMAF Butterworth, all three of us,,,meself, Capt Choo and Capt Chung were discussing "When, Where and How" to crash land the chopper in case of being shot down while we were having our morning shower !!. Maybe I will write more about the Ops Gubir flight support whereby 21of our choppers were shot at and Capt. Murad's 139 bullet holes chopper that Capt Choo was supposed to help ferry back was unfortunately in vain on 27th April'76.
,,,Darm the CTS !!..you guys killed my dear buddies..and if any body were to bring Chin Peng back, am still awaiting to settle the score !.. that is/was my last promise to late Capt. Choo & Capt Chung. November 3, 2009 9:13 PM
I'm very proud to say that I was literally involved in this beloved nation's "war" against communist terrorism.... andSURVIVED TO TELL MY EXPERIENCES!!A squad-mate of Regular Intake 11, 2Lt Razak Hussein PGB, became a mere number in statistics less than a year upon commissioning . He was ambushed and killed by the communist terrorists in Sarawak. My colleagues and I were shot while flying the ever faithful Nuri helicopters during the counter-insurgency warfare then. In fact,we were the hunted....not the hunters!!Except for one Nuri....we survived.But the unfortunate Nuri went down taking 11 heroes with her on 27 April 1976 at Gubir. And....all the 5 aircrew were my friends!!
....What about those 'footsloggers' and policemen who never made it?....Or those who are physically handicapped permanently?....Or those innocent civilians who were murdered or had to endure extreme hardship during the Emergency? What do you sincerely think of their kins' feelings should Chin Peng be allowed to come back? To the proponents of the groups advocating the return of your 'idol'....use your power of visualization if you are in their shoes!! This is my personal view of which I'm entitled to.
Something for you to ponder over on this auspicious day....
Syabas kepada Utusan Malaysia bertarikh 24 November 2009 kerana menyiarkan respons terhadap polimik isu Chin Peng..
Daripada Pengarang...
Komen Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan....
Komen Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin, mantan Menteri Penerangan....
Komen En Shafie Bakri, Presiden PBPM dan Datuk Muhammad Ghani, Presiden PBTM....
Komen TPM ....Chin Peng tidak dimaafkan (Utusan Malaysia 25 Nov 2009)
PUTRAJAYA 24 Nov. – “Tiada maaf bagimu Chin Peng”. Itulah jawapan kerajaan terhadap permohonan maaf bekas Setiausaha Agung Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) itu atas keganasan PKM kepada rakyat dan pejuang negara suatu ketika dahulu.
Komen Awang Selamat dan Presiden GMP
PIHAK-PIHAK TERTENTU....HENTIKAN SAJA ISU INI DARI BERPANJANGAN....!!!
Anda ada membaca artikel berkenaan Chin Peng yang menyuarakan impian beliau untuk kembali ke Setiawan, Perak dalam "STARMAG, SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2009"? Saya ingatkan cerita ini sudah sampai penghujungnya tahun lepas tetapi tiba-tiba timbul semula. Mengikut laporan tersebut, buat pertama kalinya, beliau meminta maaf terhadap kezaliman yang beliau dan pengikut-pengikutnya lakukan kepada rakyat negara tercinta ini. Tetapi...tidak pula menyebut yang beliau telah menolak ideologi komunisme! Hai...macam ada yang tersirat ni!
Sepertimana yang saya katakan dalam coretatan bertajuk "Di Suatu Ketika Dulu“, saya '..."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.'
Perasaan saya telah diluahkan dalam coretan bermula dengan "Mengapa Saya Menentang Chin Peng Kembali Ke Malaysia" pada 20 Jun 2009 dan coretan seterusnya. Coretan ini dan "Pengalaman Ke2" telah dijadikan sebagai tugasan untuk siswa-siswi Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan, USM. Sekiranya anda berminat untuk mengetahui pandangan segelintir golongan remaja, sila baca komen mereka di coretan tersebut.
Mengikut Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, TDM dan PDRM masing-masing kehilangan lebih dari 500 orang anggota ; lebih 800 anggota 'special constables dan auxiliary police' terbunuh. Lebih 3,000 orang awam, kebanyakan kaum Cina, dibunuh or 'hilang'. Lebih kurang 500 anggota tentera British dan Commonwealth, termasuk Gurkhas, terbunuh dan juga lebih kurang 100 warga awam British, kebanyakan mereka 'planters', turut dibunuh. Ini belum lagi diambil kira mereka yang cacat anggota sepanjang hayat.
Agak-agak anda, apakah perasaan waris-waris mereka yang terkorban semasa menentang pengganas komunis di suatu ketika dulu apabila membaca impian Chin Peng itu? Seperti wariswira-wira "Bukit Kepong" dan yang terkorban apabila helikopter Nuri ditembak jatuh di kawasan operasi Gubir pada 27 April 1976....
Kapt (U) Choo YB - 7 Skn
Kapt (U) Mustapa Kamal - 7 Skn
Lt (U) Chang MT - 10 Skn
Lt (U) Wan Munsiff - 10 Skn
Sjn Leong (AQM) - 10 Skn
Mej Haris Rejab - RAMD
Kapt Sulaiman - RAMD
Lt Ibrahim - RAMD
Sjn Kamis - RAMD
L/KPL Kamarulzaman - RGK
L/KPL Suandi - RGK
Atau perasaan mereka yang terpaksa menanggung kecacatan anggota sehingga ke akhir hayat demi untuk mempertahankan kedaulatan negara dari ancaman komunis?
Saya? Tiada maaf bagi mu. Apa pula pandangan anda semua....sedia kongsi bersama?
My friend, Capt Sharif 'Uban' - Tok Penggawa of Pulau Kapas - penned down his experiences in the comments' column. I'm sure there are readers out there who are hard pushed for time to read the comments on my postings. So, without further ado...let me introduce his second unedited experience, for your light reading...
Capt's Longhouse said...
,,,guess, I will relate another incident whereby 14 x CTs surrendered after being surrounded by our security forces during Ops. Telemong, Pahang sometime in 1976 ?
,,,initially, they the CTs refused to but after flying the Nuri doing numerous figure 8 flights overhead their camp plus finally hovering directly over their heads !!. They agreed to put their arms down and I was instructed to pick them up from an jungle clearing, hurriedly constructed by the troops BUT unfortunately it was just too restrictive so we flew back to base camp.
,,,Guess what, while waiting for the clearing to be made largher/safer, the Home Minister himself called over the telephone to speak to me !!..demanding that they are waiting in Sungai Besi Camp to receive the surrended CTs and TOLD me off, not to expect "Subang Airport" as a clearing for landing, before I could explain further for the delay !!.. I was instructed to take-off and get the CTS in asap !!.
,,,So on my 2nd attempt to land, an over hanging tree branch broke off and hit my tail rotors which caused the Nuri to spin around, however I managed to pull her up into the air and gained speed to fly her back for an emergency running landing at the school padang at Kpg. Telemong.
,,,3 x Alouette helicopters were then utilized to pick-up the surrendered CTs back to K.L. where the Press and Home Minister were waiting.
,,,the story does not end there ! guess what ? I was repremanded for the tail rotor damaged incident by my Senior Training Captain in the Sqn. (no need to name names-lah, he knows who he is !)and was threaten to be taken off from the list for the Flying Instructors Course in the U.K. due end of that month too !.
,,,citations were written and all others got their recognitions, Yes I salute them, they did their role bravely indeed. The Home Minister was all over the papers and TV, if only the real truth were made known then !.
,,,Lucky, I was called to MINDEF to be explained why, am not going across for the U.K. training when the Air Chief happened to pass by, I took the opportunity to relay what actually happened and was renominated for the training course !.
,,,well, I came back as an Helicopter Instructor and personally trained 48 x aircrews for the RMAF b4 I call it a day after serving 11 bloody fighting years for King and Country, indeed again, am forever greatful for the experience and foundation gained while in the services. Perhaps, one day I will relay other frightening/challenging experience we all had while fighting/flying against the CTs in the 70 ths. yaa ??.
,,,yes, we had courage and tons of pioneering spirit that dares to be different plus fortitude and toughness that provide the spirit for life's battles...it made me as an individual a unique/independent/aggressive/assertive/go-getting to conquer fresh frontiers in/out-side the Armed Forces. AGAIN I THANKs the RMAF for all of these too.
,,,BUT please don't forget those with the Gallantry Awards too-lah.
November 2, 2009 4:41 PM
I'm sure there were many senior military officers at Sg Besi camp with the Minister then. It's a real pity those top brass didn't dare to advise the Minister of the situation. Let's face it, no pilot would simply abandon a task unless it affects flight safety. He was experienced enough to recover from such emergency...otherwise we have no opportunity to read his tale. Should a mishap befall then, I'm the least surprised the Minister's comment would be '...he's the pilot. He should know better!'
Saya tertarik dengan laporan yang disiarkan oleh akhbar The Star pada 17 November 2009. Sempena penutupan kutipan dana untuk Hari Pahlawan, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor menyarankan agar veteran-veteran tentera mengabadikan pengalaman mereka. Beliau mencadang supaya pengorbanan wira-wira negara ini semasa mempertahankan kedaulatan dan keamanan negara tidak dilupai. Ini boleh dilaksanakan melalui filem dan penulisan.
Keratan saranan beliau ....
Tuesday November 17, 2009
Be more creative, ex-servicemen told
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay-sian Ex-Servicemen’s Association should resort to more creative approaches to instill the spirit of patriotism among the younger generation and in doing so, collect more donations for the Warriors’ Day in future, said Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
She said to realise the objective, more talks must be held on heroism, more literary works be produced besides films and documentaries of the heroic efforts and sacrifices made by the nation’s warriors in fighting for peace and sovereignty of the country.
Saya memang setuju dengan cadangan tersebut. Malah sebelum beliau menyuarakannya lagi, saya telah menulis kepada Ketua Pengarah PLKN pada 7 Ogos 2009. Secara ringkasnya, saya mencadangkan agar wira-wira dijemput untuk memceritakan pengalaman mereka. Saya percaya, untuk membakarkan semangat patriotisme dikalangan generasi muda, buat permulaan pendedahan wajar disasarkan kepada pelatih-pelatih PLKN. Sedih sekali, seperti yang dijangkakan, sepi seribu bahasa....!
Pada 13 November, saya telah menghantar peringatan melalui e-mel kepada Menteri Pertahanan dan KSU beliau berkaitan perkara tersebut. E-mel berkenaan, petikannya di bawah, menjadi bahan coretan dalam blog saya bertajuk "Menagih Janji".
"Pada 7 Ogos 2009, saya ada mencadangkan kepada Ketua Pengarah PLKN agar penerima pingat-pingat keberanian - SP, PGB, JPP, PTU dan KPK - dan warga tentera yang mengalami kecacatan anggota semasa menjalani operasi menentang keganasan PK, dijemput untuk menceritakan pengalaman mereka kepada remaja-remaja yang mengikuti latihan PLKN. Bayangkan, wira-wira datang berkerusi roda atau hilang penglihatan menceritakan bagaimana mereka menjadi cacat. Saya percaya kaedah ini akan memberi impak yang diharapkan oleh kerajaan."
Memang betul jangkaan anda...sekali lagi, sepi seribu bahasa!
Saya terbaca blog squad-mate saya, Lt Kol Robert Rizal Abdullah (B) - pgbwarrior.blogspot.com - bertarikh 12 Disember 2008, yang meluahkan kekecewaan beliau untuk mempromosikan bukunya ketika itu. Beliau memohon kerjasama Markas ATM tetapi... quote '...My initial inquiry from Markas ATM was not promising as it would incur quite a large sum of money which I couldn't afford...'unquote. Dalam bahasa kasar...bolayan! Beliau terpaksa mengiklan melalui blognya. Buku-buku tersebut boleh dibeli dengan menghubungi beliau melalui telefon.
YBhg Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor...bukannya semua wira-wira ini tidak berminat untuk mengabadikan pengalaman mereka. Saya sendiri sedia menyahut seruan Datin Seri. Masalahnya...sedangkan cadangan kepada PLKN tidak mendapat sebarang respons dari pihak berwajib...manakan pula ada yang berminat untuk membeli/membaca buku tentang cerita yang sudah lapuk dimamah zaman. Paling mustahak sekali...siapalah sipenyibuk Mej Nor Ibrahim Bin SulaimanTUDM (B) ini...betul tak???
Para pembaca yang dihormati, selamat datang ke alam kenyataan...CAKAP TAK SERUPA BIKIN!!!
Nuri pilots...I really envy you. Even though the nuri is not IFR rated, it is at least equipped with additional equipment to enhance flight safety. During my days, there were no such things as weather radar, GPS, night vision goggle, portable power pack, collapsible stretcher and what have you. What the nuri had then was the very basic equipment...and we had to fly in whatever weather conditions and roles, be it day or night...lucky you.
Now, let's talk about the equipment we had for winching role ...
Nuri in sea winching role using NATO strop
Well before 1977, I think, i.e. before the advent of "Saleh" stretcher, what we had for winching then were NATO strop and 'bosun chair' only.
Winching of 'medivac' or 'casevac' became a hazardous assignment for the ground troops and the AQM. You see...if the nuri could land at the LP to pick up the medivac/casevac....no problem since the casualty could be carried into the Nuri using a stretcher. But what happens if the casualty was unconscious and had to be winched up....something like in the picture above?
The technique employed then was to winch down either an additional AQM or a soldier, seated in the bosun chair, with the NATO strop. He then would place the NATO strop around the casevac and hold him - wrapped both his legs and hands around the casualty - during the winched up process. This prosess might aggravate the injury due to unwanted movement. Those days neither the aircrew nor the ground troops were trained in paramedic. The utmost priority was to evacuate him to the hospital for medical attention soonest.
If my memory don't fail me, I remember one incident involving an Alouette 111 from No 3 Sqn on a casevac mission. This incident happened before the formation of 'Composite Squadrons'. Due to the terrain, the pilot had no choice but to winch up the casevac. The ground troops placed NATO strop around the casualty and 'tighten' the toggle. He was then winched up. However, half way through, he became unconscious and his hand released the toggle. Sadly, he slipped and fell to his death....! I am not privy to the finding of the Board Of Inquiry, but I suspected the toggle was not fully pulled close to his chest. See the above picture on the position of the toggle.
Readers...let me assure you that the use of the NATO strop is VERY SAFE AS LONG YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
No 10 Squadron was fortunate to have this MacGyver - Flt Sgt Salehuddin - Crewman Leader. Reliasing the potential aggravation to the injury, he came up with a design of a strecther for medivac/casevac. Base Workshop was given the task to produce a prototype. I remember when the trial was done at the Squadron. If I am not mistaken, the Engineering Boss from Department of Air Force himself came over to the Squadron to witness the trial. Once it was certified safe, it became operational immediately. These stretchers became part and parcel of Nuri's inventory. And, this important equipment clocked thousands of hours and had seen hundreds, if not thousands, of medivacs/casevacs.
"Saleh" Stretcher - simple in design...yet functional, cheap to produce...made in RMAF workshops, and most importantly...IT SAVES LIVES!!
In hindsight, fortunately there were no female AQMs those days....otherwise, Nuri would be preoccupied flying 'medivacs/casevacs' sorties. I am sure Flt Sgt Salehuddin would be the most unpopular Nuri AQM among the ground troops then for designing this stretcher ....he...he...jangan marah.
So, young pilots...that was how the stretcher got its name. It was named after FltSgt Salehuddin in his honour for being creative. He retired as WO1. I am made to understand that these stretchers were no longer in use - decommissioned - since RMAF had replaced them with the new collapsible stretchers.
RMAF...I sincerely think it is high time for you to recognise the contributions by these creative people of yours. The least you can do in appreciation to people like WO 1 Salehuddin is to have his name forever engraved in the RMAF Museum. And, the stretcher exhibited there. Is it asking too much? I had suggested to the museum management to display this Saleh stretcher in the RMAF Museum. The response from Brig Gen Dato' Muslim TUDM (R), Chairman of the RMAF Museum, is encouraging. To me, it is a part of RMAF history.
To WO 1 SALEHUDDIN...wherever you may be...WELL DONE.
The tigers' population was increased by one when I registered for admission to Form 3 in January 1964...long...long time ago! Before this I was studying in ACS Sitiawan but followed my late father when he was transferred to Taiping. Based on my 'report card', I was admitted to Form 3 'C'. I know what you are thinking...no problem. I used to tell my wife that if I stayed on in Lumut, I don't think I could even pass my LCE (Lower Certificate of Education). You see, I really enjoyed my childhood days in Lumut. After school and Quranic reading class...with the sarong as a cape (like superman) I ran to the beach and dived into the sea with members, crabbing during low tide, catapulting fish and fishing...but not studying! Well, the transfer was indeed a blessing in disguise.
Oh ya...let me tell about meritocracy (quality control?) during my era. I finished my primary education at a Malay school - Sekolah Kebangsaan Lumut. There was no such thing as SMK then and no 'automatic' promotion, too. All Standard 6 students must sit for an examination and only on passing will make you eligible to continue to Form 1. If you fail, you can 'retain' for another year..again depending on age. The next filtering system was LCE. Again, if you fail...good bye Form 4. Here was another restriction...if you fail English, then you are not eligible to sit for SC (Senior Cambridge)...qualified only to sit for MCE . However, you are given a chance to sit for SC if you pass the QT (Qualifying Test) while in Form 4. It's not over yet. If you're interested to attend Sixth Form, then you must sit for the Entrance Test. If pass, you are a Sixth Former. When the results come out in about March and you fail your SC/MCE...bye...bye Sixth Form.
On passing Standard 6 examinations, I chose to enrol in Remove Class instead of Form 1 Malay Medium at ACS Sitiawan. I also wanted to speak LONDON like my friends...he...he..he.
I managed to scrape through the LCE and my results qualified me to sit for SC/MCE....not bad eh? I was placed in Form 4 Commerce . During my time, there were 4 classes only - Arts, Science, Commerce and General. Both Commerce and General classes were housed on the first floor of the "Sheffield Hostel". One of the classes on the ground floor was a Form 4 Malay Medium - a co-ed class.
Oh ya...There were only 3 co-ed classes in the school then, i.e. Tingkatan 4 Aliran Melayu, Lower and Upper Six. The girls were from TMGS and Convent. Only KE VII had sixth form classes those days. And there were only 4 secondary schools then, i.e. KE VII, St George, TMGS and Convent, in the area.
We simply loved to stand on the veranda to watch the girls below walking to their class. What do you expect of the boys...we were not angels! And don't expect us to admire those beauty of nature in silence. I'm sure the girls were flattered by the attention given to them. But of course, their teachers were not happy and both Commerce and General classes were ordered to shift to the main building. My class was separated from the Principal's office only by the Administrative office. Both these classes stayed there till we completed our schooling in 1966.
When we were still at the Sheffield Hostel, our Science teacher, nicknamed 'Abang Kartun (AK)', simply loved giving test every Friday. I never liked Science and Mathematics....something which I really regret now. Overall marks was 15! For the first test, most got about 7. Yours truly got 3 only. So our beloved AK told the class that those who got below 5 would have to attend detention class on Saturday morning. Oh...oh...detention class meant no 'cheap matinee' at Rex, Majestic, Odeon or Carlton theaters. You see, most of the Saturday mornings my friends and I would go to see this morning movie - 3rd class for 40 sen only; 2 front-most seats. When the film started, we conveniently moved to 1st or 2nd class seats - wherever vacant seats were available...he..he. So, no choice but to study just to avoid detention class. This marking process continued until we reached the breakeven point of 50%.To Cikgu...thank you because I managed to get C6for General Science. To me...a real achievement considering I never liked the subject.
On a sad note, we lost a classmate - arwah SHAFIE. He and our senior were swept away by a strong current and drowned when they went for a swim at Makotiong, Tupai (I can't remember the name correctly). I remember him very well because his table was right in front of me. During one of those weekly science tests by AK, he was busy copying not realising that AK was looming over his shoulder. What do you expect? Immediate 'O' and detention class the next day. Al Fatihah to arwah SHAFIE!
Forgot to tell you. When I first joined KE, the principal was Cikgu Bion Dury. He was succeeded by none other than the most famous, the late Long Heng Hua, popularly known as Pak Long. When he first came to the school, in early 1964 I think, he was driving his green Morris Minor with a "W" plate. Later on he used Worlesley.. It was he who introduced the School Song -" King Edward's Will Live Forever... As Long As the Taiping Hills Stand."
Oh boy....he was a real disciplinarian! When you see the 'Office Boy (OB)' coming to the class with reports cards (RCs)...most of us would start sweating. He would hand over the RCs to the teacher who would then call out selected names to see the Principal. We, the priviledged few, then, had the pleasure of 'chit chatting' with Pak Long. Yours truly and a few others obediently followed the OB to Pak Long's office. Once inside, he looked at my RC '....4 reds...choose'. Reading...failed 4 subjects and choose which cane from a number of canes available in a big vase. 1 stroke per failed subject. Bend down and....whack....whack....whack....whack!Mind you...we were still wearing shorts then. Only when we were in Form 5 we started to wear the white long pants even though it was optional except during assembly when it was compulsory. What a painful experience!
My teachers & classmates of Form V Commerce 1966. Inserted on 25 September 2019. Courtesy of Zainal Thani
Another unforgettable experience was when I was in Form 5. During recess time, my friend and I enjoyed throwing chalks at each other. By coincidence, Pak Long passed by and the chalk hit him. He 'invited' both of us to the tuck shop with a cane in his hand. You can guess what happened next...Well, in front of the rest of the students ...whack....whack....whack!Another painful experience...but still managed to put up a 'painful' smile!
As commerce students, we were encouraged by our teacher, Aloysius Kong, to take typewriting class held at night. So, we diligently learned 'the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog'. And we had to sit for the PITTMAN Elementary examinations. I passed....30 words per minute. We were also asked to sit for the PITTMAN Elementary and Intermediate Book-Keeping examinations in preparation for the Principles of Account subject in the SC/MCE examinations. I passed both the examinations. Mind you, those days I am talking about the conversion of Pounds, Shillings and Pence...not RM, andthere was no such thing as calculators.
After the results of the SC/MCE were published in The Straits Times in early 1967, we all departed to chart our course in life. In May 1967, I was accepted for a 2-year course as an Army cadet Intake 11 at RMC and commissioned in April 1969 as a 2Lt in the Artillery Regiment (Arty). My first posting was to 3 Arty, Kemunting Camp. I made it a point to pay a courtesy call on Pak Long. Well...well.. he still remembered me! In 1973, I switched to RMAF as a Nuri pilot.
My wife, being a teacher herself, told me that she can only remember students who are either extremely excellent in their studies or extremely naughty. In my case....maybe just an 'in-between' for Pak Long's standard! An ex-TMGS, she was an Edwardian too, for a short while before continuing her Lower Six at Tun Fatimah, Johore. You can read her blog - sitiroffinimy.blogspot.com.
To Zainal Thani, Nazri Khalid, Mohd Noor, Anggamuthu, S. Subramaniam, Zaini, Radzi, Isa Abdullah, M. Subramaniam, Logarath, KY Siow, Isa, Hussein Mohd Noor, arwah Azizan Ismail, Wan Sahir, Ramani and others whom I can't remember ...Those were the days...My Friends!
To my teachers...the late Pak Long, Miss Yap, Miss Chee, Aloysius Kong, arwah Ibrahim Maya, the late Francis Chang, Abang Kartun and others whom I can't recall....No matter what....you have my utmost respect.
This song is dedicated to all my teachers ...Sirs,...THANK YOU!
Saya terbaca luahan seorang mantan anggota tentera di ruangan 'Forum' Utusan Malaysia bertarikh 14 November 2009.
Mungkin beliau salah seorang 'casevac' yang pernah saya bawa keluar dari hutan belantara semasa Ops Selamat Sawadee...satu operasi yang sungguh membawa banyak kenangan kepada saya!! Pokok luahannya ialah menagih janji sepertimana yang dijanjikan oleh Kerajaan. Malah, saya telah menulis coretan berkaitan berita yang diperkatakannya pada 8 Julai 2009 bertajuk "Special Allowance For Ops-Inflicted Maimed Warriors" ......
'I'm happy to hear the Minister of Defence recent anouncement that the government is considering giving a special allowance to those personnel who became disabled/handicapped, or whatever you call it, during active duties. If the government can give a monthly pension to the Olympic silver medallist, this category of rakyat deserves monetory reward too. They are in their current physical state because they defended their beloved country....MALAYSIA.'
Kerana simpati dengan nasib mereka, saya telah menghantar e-mel berikut ke 'Forum'. Terpulang kepada Utusan Malaysia samaada akan menyiarkannya atau tidak...!
Saya terpanggil apabila membaca rentetan SELAMAT SAWADEE yang disiarkan dalam ruangan Forum pada 13 November 2009. Saya bersimpati dengan mereka. Sebagai seorang mantan pilot helikopter Nuri, saya dan rakan seperjuangan telah terlibat secara langsung dalam Operasi SELAMAT SAWADEE.
Salah satu tugas yang mencabar ketika itu ialah membuat penerbangan 'casevac' (casualty evacuation), iaitu mengeluarkan anggota Pasukan Keselamatan dari dalam hutan kerana ditembak pengganas komunis (PK) atau terkena jerangkap samar. Kami kerap melakukan tugas ini dengan kaedah 'winching' kerana tiada tempat untuk mendarat. Kaedah ini sungguh merbahaya kerana kami mejadi sasaran mereka. Boleh dikatakan helikopter Nuri ditembak oleh PK sudah menjadi rutin. Dalam 2 insiden, 2 orang anggota 'komando' sebagai 'escort' mengikuti Nuri, telah ditembak mati.
Ramai krew Nuri dianugerah Pingat Keberanian Negara - PTU dan KPK. Paling kecewa sekali, penerima pingat-pingat tersebut tidak 'layak' mendapat elaun sepertimana yang dinikmati oleh penerima SP dan PGB. Perkara ini telah dibawa ke Parlimen pada 11 November 2009. Jawapan dari Menteri Pertahanan tidak memberangsangkan.
Pada 7 Ogos 2009, saya ada mencadangkan kepada Ketua Pengarah PLKN agar penerima pingat-pingat keberanian - SP, PGB, JPP, PTU dan KPK - dan warga tentera yang mengalami kecacatan anggota semasa menjalani operasi menentang keganasan PK, dijemput untuk menceritakan pengalaman mereka kepada remaja-remaja yang mengikuti latihan PLKN. Bayangkan, wira-wira datang berkerusi roda atau hilang penglihatan menceritakan bagaimana mereka menjadi cacat. Saya percaya kaedah ini akan memberi impak yang diharapkan oleh kerajaan.
Selain boleh meningkatkan semangat patriotisme dan cinta kepada negara, bayaran yang diterima boleh menjadi sumber pendapatan kepada wira-wira veteran tersebut. Jika cadangan ini dilaksanakan, luka di hati veteran-veteran sekurang-kurangnya akan terubat kerana negara mengiktiraf mengorbanan mereka dan pengalaman-pengalaman ini tidak akan berkubur.
Sekali lagi, cadangan ini hanya tinggal cadangan sahaja. Sehingga kini, saya tidak mendapat maklum balas dari pihak PLKN selain akuan penerimaan surat.
MEJAR NOR IBRAHIM BIN SULAIMAN TUDM (B)
Saperti yang dijangkakan, e-mel ini tidak disiarkan oleh Utusan Malaysia. Tetapi ini bukannya satu masalah kerana saya masih boleh menyampaikan pandangan melalui media alternatif. Saya sungguh kagum dengan kecanggihan IT!
Ini luahan SELAMAT SAWADEE yang disiar di 'Forum' melalui Utusan Online...
14 November 2009 / 26 Zulkaedah 1430
FORUM
Nasib pesara tentera tanpa pingat SP dan PGB
TERLEBIH dahulu, kami para pejuang menentang pengganas komunis sekitar tahun 70-an dan 80-an ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada penerima pingat SP dan PGB di atas kenaikan 500 peratus elaun yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri Malaysia sempena sambutan Hari Pahlawan pada 31 Julai 2009.
Bagi kami, itu adalah rezeki saudara-saudara seperjuangan.
Di sini kami ingin bertanya adakah pihak kerajaan atau ATM terlepas pandang akan nasib kami, seramai lebih kurang 270 orang pejuang yang tidak berpingat? Malah, ada di antara kami yang sama-sama berjuang dengan mereka yang dikurniakan pingat SP dan PGB. Semasa menentang pengganas komunis sekitar tahun 70-an dan 80-an, hinggalah pihak komunis meletakkan senjata pada tahun 1989, ramai di antara kami yang kehilangan anggota badan yang menyebabkan kecacatan kekal seperti kehilangan kedua-dua kaki, tangan, mata dan cacat anggota lain akibat terpijak jerangkap samar musuh dan semasa bertempur dengan komunis.
Ketika itu, kami hanya diberikan sagu hati RM2,000 di atas kecederaan yang kami alami. Ex-gratia ialah janji kerajaan dan ATM kepada kami semua, namun sehingga kini masih belum ditunaikan.
Tanpa bantuan daripada mana-mana pertubuhan, pelbagai usaha telah kami laksanakan termasuklah menyerahkan memorandum kepada Menteri Pertahanan dan Pengarah Jabatan Hal Ehwal Veteran bagi mendapatkan simpati kerajaan agar meluluskan pembayaran ex-gratia kapada kami.
Di media cetak, tersebar berita menyatakan kami akan mendapat pelbagai bantuan termasuklah elaun khas dan ex-gratia, malahan pegawai atasan ATM sendiri menyuarakannya. ‘Durian runtuh’ itulah yang diperkatakan. Adakah ini sekadar kata-kata untuk menyedapkan hati kami semata-mata?
Apabila kes petualang negara, Chin Peng sibuk diperkatakan di sana-sini, pelbagai cara bantahan diadakan. Ketika itu, pejuang seperti kami dipertontonkan di televisyen dan media massa. Namun selepas itu, kami terus dilupakan.
Kami semua masih menunggu dan terus menunggu kelulusan ex-gratia daripada pihak tertentu. Kami juga berharap Perdana Menteri yang kami sanjungi dapat membuat sesuatu agar kenyataan ‘durian runtuh’ itu benar-benar menjadi realiti.
Dalam perjuangan, tanpa kerjasama daripada rakan-rakan, belum tentu keperwiraan seseorang itu terserlah.
SELAMAT SAWADEE Kampung Datuk Ahmad Said Ipoh, Perak
AGAKNYA INILAH YANG DIMAKSUDKAN "RAKYAT DIDAHULUKAN ..... PENCAPAIAN DIUTAMAKAN"!!!
Readers, I find a colleague's comments in my blog very interesting. I knew Capt Sharif "Uban" since I first joined No 10 Sqn, RMAF Kuantan, in 1974. He was then in No 3 Sqn, RMAF Butterworth. I used to go for detachment at his sqn then. Later, I used to fly with him as a co-pilot when he underwent Nuri captaincy conversion course at No 10 Sqn and later posted to the sqn upon completing the course. My last encounter with him was at ITU, RMAF Kinrara in 1980. We were then attending the first SOS Course ever conducted by the RMAF.
Now he is happily settled at Pulau Kapas after migrating from Miri. I suppose he is an avid fan of "Gilligan's Island" ...old timers would surely remember this tv series...he...he. He is now an owner of a holiday resort at that enchanting island...Pulau Kapas. And....still hunting the buried treasure left by the Pirates of the Kapas Island...jangan marah.
At about 1400 hour on 11 November 2009, I called him to inform that I did not e-mail him and others asking for money to pay for my hotel bill in the UK - see "WARNING!!". You see, he asked his daughter to settle the bill on reading the e-mail. Thank you...Sharif...for your concern. You are indeed a true friend in need! Of course, I took the opportunity to seek his permission to publish his comments, and the answer is....YES!
So.....here's an unedited story...of a pilot named Sharif...
Capt's Longhouse said...
Mej Nor and buddies ! yoo,,,sharing another 'untold experience' of an young Alouette pilot from 3 Sqn. Butterworth - 1974!
...Date/time to be reconfirmed, till I find my log book again-lah.
...Was on special detachment with the Special Branch Chief himself at Fort Gemala for 2 x weeks in the jungle base as stand-by Aloutte recce chopper but nothing happened for the first week and was invited for some fishing trip by the orang asli/police field force officer and Army Rept. So off I went stripped down just in my shorts plus T shirt on their wooden sampan for fish bombing !
,,,wow the ikan kelah was struggling after the 1st underwater blow-up and I jumped into the river to bring the fishes back but the strong current swept me across the other end ! Upon taking a BIG fish in hand, I stopped at the river edge for some rest and noticed some movements in the jungle!. Holy SHIT !!..CTs were watching us and I immediately swam across to the orang asli guide plus we all made our way back to base camp safely!!. The special Ops. was immediately launched and within the next couple of weeks, the security forces managed to kill/capture a few of the 40 odd CTs at that area.
,,,Guess what ?. One of the captured CTs a Malay guy (he looks like Mej Kalid Ali haha) from Kelantan told me that he had his gun sight at me while I was on the sampan but thought that I was an orang asli and if only he knew that was the chopper pilot (meself) he would had pulled the trigger !. We had a great laugh and apparently he is now serving in the SB too, probably retired by now !!.
,,,So its not too bad to be with curly hairs and dark skin too hehehe..saved my day that day too.
Very stupid of me going out fishing but that was the normal thing to do by the SB personnel plus orang asli guides at all the jungle forts that we used to fly in/out then. Kept this experience secret from the Sqn/Flt. Commander, too scared that they might stop me from flying alone into the jungle again in support of Ops. Bamboo etc hahaha. boy OOO boy !! that was one crazy experience kept in my heart for the last 35 odd years Geee !!.
November 10, 2009 10:32 AM
Golfers saved by the 'siren'...this guy ...saved by Allah-given curly hair. As what arwah Tompel said in "Ahmad Albab" movie '....ada makna' when he was given a sejadah as his birthday present.
Readers, now you know who were the culprits that cause 'ikan kelah' to be almost extinct!! He...he...he
Saya ingatkan selepas coretan bertajuk "Auld Lang Syne", berakhirlah topik 'Elaun Untuk JPP, PTU Dan KPK' ini dari ingatan. Masalahnya, saya mengatakan '..almost exhausted all avenues....', jadi masih ada ruang untuk menonjolkan kisah ini. Semangat tidak mudah mengaku kalah sebelum benar-benar kalah dalam memperjuangkan sesuatu isu terlalu tebal...!
Pada 6 November 2009, saya telah menghantar e-mel kepada YAB Perdana Menteri dan salinan kepada YB Menteri Pertahanan. Dan juga sms kepada YB Dato' Ibrahim Ali, MP Pasir Mas, agar beliau membawa perkara ini di sidang Parlimen. YB berjanji isu ini akan dibawa di peringkat Jawatankuasa nanti dan meminta difakskan maklumat berkaitan. Isi kandungan e-mel kepada YAB PM adalah lebih kurang sama dengan surat yang saya fakskan ke pejabat YB di Kuala Lumpur.
E-mel kepada YAB Perdana Menteri dan Menteri...saya sudah pasti e-mel ini tidak akan melepasi 'Gate Keepers' ....tetapi sekurang-kurangnya saya mencuba!
ELAUN UNTUK JPP, PTU & KPK
Friday, November 6, 2009 4:16 PM From: "nor ibrahim sulaiman" nibsny@yahoo.com To: najib@pmo.gov.my Cc: "Dato\' Zahid Hamidi" , "Mininter of Def" , "sidek ksn" , "KSU Indef" , "khalid Ali" , "Chong KL" ... more Surat saya kepada YB Dato' Ibrahim Ali...
08 November 2009
YB Dato’ Ibrahim Ali Ahli Parlimen Pasir Mas Kuala Lumpur
Assalamualaikum,
ELAUN UNTUK PENERIMA-PENERIMA JPP, PTU DAN KPK
Berhubung perkara di atas, saya memohon agar YB Dato’ membawa rentetan kami penerima anugerah tersebut semasa sessi Parlimen kini. Seperti yang YB Dato’ sedia maklum, Kerajaan Malaysia telah mewujudkan hanya 5 Anugerah Keberanian, iaitu SP, PGB, JPP, PTU dan KPK (Kembaran A - coretan dari blog saya, xnuripilot.blogspot.com). YAB PM telah mengumumkan kenaikan kadar baru untuk penerima-penerima SP dan PGB pada 31 Julai 2009 lalu; RM2000 untuk penerima SP dan RM1500 untuk PGB. Dukacita sekali, kami penerima JPP, PTU dan KPK seperti tidak wujud sama sekali.
Saya telah menghantar e-mel kepada YB Menteri Pertahanan, KSN dan KSU KEMENTAH merayu agar kami turut menikmati imbuhan bulanan (Kembaran B-coretan dari blog saya). Pada 26 Jun 2009, KSU telah memajukan sokongan KEMENTAH agar kami diberi elaun tersebut ke JPM. Ini memberi harapan yang menggunung kepada saya. Tetapi, pada 20 Ogos 2009, jawapan dari KSU kepada saya telah menghancurkan segala harapan...TIDAK LULUS!!
Kami telah berkorban demi mempertahankan kedaulatan negara tercinta ini. Negara telah mengiktiraf pengorbanan tersebut dengan menganugerah pingat-pingat keberanian. Tetapi, persoalannya ialah, mengapa kami didiskriminasikan? Penerima pingat ‘perak’ sukan Olympic menerima pencen RM3000 sebulan. Kerana pengorbanan kamilah yang membolehkan ahli-ahli sukan mengharumkan nama negara. Apakah pengiktirafan negara....NYAWA ATAU NAMA?
Akhir kata, penghargaan saya sekiranya YB Dato’ membawa perkara ini ke sidang Parlimen. Terima kasih.
MEJAR NOR IBRAHIM BIN SULAIMAN TUDM (B)
Pada 11 November 2009, jam 1800, saya menerima sms dari YB '...Saya dah bawa dlm perbahasan hari ini semasa Menteri Pertahanan gulung kem nya d parlimen. Jawabnya JPM tolak kerana kewangan dan katanya Kem Pertahanan maseh berusaha.saya desak supaya timbang dan terus usaha.k..dato ibrahim ali' (teks tanpa edit). Saya ucapkan terima kasih kepada beliau kerana bersedia membawa perkara ini ke Parlimen.
Pada malam yang sama, pada jam 1907, saya menerima respons dari YB Menteri Pertahanan terhadap sms yang saya hantar kepada beliau '...Jawapan saya di Parlimen tadi Mindef masih mengusahakannya. Apabila ekonomi pulih insya-Allah akan berjaya' (teks tanpa edit).
Bercanggah betul dengan jawapan rasmi KSU beliau pada 20 Ogos 2009, quote'...adalah kerana nilai pengiktirafan yang diberikan oleh Kerajaan terhadap penerima Darjah Kebesaran atau Bintang/Pingat Persekutuan mempunyai nilai prestij dan martabatnya yang tersendiri' unquote.
Mana satu yang betul...TIADA ONGKOS ATAU TIADA PRESTIJ??
Saya bersyukur kepada Allah kerana memberi kekuatan untuk memperjuangkan isu ini sehingga ke peringkat tertinggi di negara tercinta ini - PARLIMEN. Saya percaya kebanyakan YB MP dan juga rakyat mulai sedar yang 'Pingat Keberanian' negara tidak hanya terhad kepada SP dan PGB sahaja. Bagi saya, ini adalah...KEKALAHAN DALAM KEJAYAAN!!
READERS....PLEASE BE WARNED WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL. LET IT BE KNOWN TO YOU THAT I DID NOT ORIGINATE THIS E-MAIL AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE UK SINCE LEAVING KUALA LUMPUR. RIGHT NOW I AM HAPPILY STAYING AT JITRA AND PULLING MY GOLF TROLLEY EVERY MORNING. THIS IS THE WORK OF A CONMAN. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, MY E-MAIL HAS BEEN COMPROMISED AND BLOCKED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. ASK YOURSELF...FROM nibsny@yahoo.com TO nibsny@yahoo.com?
Hope you get this on time? Sorry I didn't inform you about my trip to the UK for a program. I am having some difficulties here because i misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel which contained some cash and some other valuable things. Presently, my passport and my things are been held down by the hotel management pending when i make payment I will like you to assist me with a loan of $1,615 to sort-out my hotel bills and to get myself back home. I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with, I will Refund the money back to you as soon as i return, let me know if you can be of any help? ASAP.
I currently don't have a phone where i can be reached.
please let me know immediately.
Regards,
Mej Nor Ibrahim Bin Sulaiman TUDM (B)
THIS IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF "SPAM". ANYWAY, I E-MAILED THIS SCAM TO A FEW ADDRESSEES THAT I CAN REMEMBER.
SCAM
2:47 PM (49 minutes ago)
Assalamualaikum,
Please ignore an e-mail from me, ie, nibsny@yahoo.com, entitled "Its Urgent". It is aSCAM! I did not make any request for money as stated in the e-mail. Please click this link-xnuripilot.blogspot.com - for details. There are people out there trying to tarnish my image by distributing this fake e-mail.
Eh...eh...eh...tak sangka betul kerana dek marah kepada Chin Peng boleh jadi popular sebegini...he...he!! Tak sedar koresponden majalah "PERAJURIT" mengintai blog saya dan seterusnya......tersiarlah cerita hero veteran di Jitraq ini dalam keluaran November 2009.
Terima kasih kepada En Hamzah Haji Dollah kerana sudi menulis rencana tentang diri saya. Yang buat 'syoknya', secara kebetulan rencana permulaan majalah ialah 'PERINTAH ULUNG PAT', mantan PTU,dan di akhiri dengan "Peranan Seorang Juruterbang Nuri Di Era Melawan Insurgensi", sayalah tu...mantan warga TUDM!Di akhir tulisan, beliau menyuarakan perasaan kecewa saya terhadap 'terlupanya' pihak TUDM kepada wira-wira mereka sendiri. PTU...masih tidak terlambat untuk membetulkan keadaan...renung-renungkanlah!
Serius sikit....saya percaya kemungkinan besar segelintir rakyat Malaysia mulai sedar peranan yang dimainkan oleh TUDM amnya, pilot nuri khususnya, menentang pengganas komunis (PK) di suatu ketika dulu setelah membaca blog saya dan komen-komen dari pembaca. Dan juga melalui pembacaan rencana di atas. Pada saya, penglibatan TUDM, khususnya helikopter Nuri, yang terlibat secara langsung dalam operasi-operasi menentang PK, adalah salah satu faktor kejayaan dalam 'Counter Insurgency Warfare' ini. Coretan saya adalah 'the untold stories' yang tidak pernah dihebahkan. Malah, terdapat warga TUDM sendiri yang tidak menyedari sumbangan kami. Mereka beranggapan tugas kami hanya 'rutin....' menghantar trup dan bekalan...itu sahaja tanpa menyedari cabaran-cabaran yang terpaksa dilalui semasa melaksanakan tugas 'rutin' tersebut.
Jika ada kelapangan, sila baca majalah "PERAJURIT". Nampak sangat nak mempromosi majalah tersebut....yang tersirat mempromosikan saya sendirilah. Jangan marah!
Semasa 'mentelaah' BUKU HARIAN PENERBANGAN PEMANDU (Log Book), saya dapati ramai dari rakan seperjuangan semasa berkhidmat di dalam TUDM sudah tiada lagi buat selama-lamanya. Mereka terdiri daripada 'squad-mates' TJT (Tauliah Jangka Tetap) Intake 11 semenjak di Maktab Tentera Diraja (MTD) lagi, rakan-rakan dari Intake 14 TJP (Tauliah Jangka Pendek) namun ditauliah pada hari yang sama, mereka yang bersama mengikuti kursus penerbangan di SEA Helicopter, 'junior ' semasa kursus penerbangan, dan mereka yang sama-sama di Skuadron di suatu ketika dulu.
Di sini disenaraikan mereka yang telah pergi. Ada diantara mereka yang pergi semasa masih berkhidmat di dalam TUDM; ada juga yang pergi selepas tamat perkhidmatan dengan TUDM. Minta maaf kerana tidak ingat nama penuh kebanyakan mereka.
KAPT (U) MUSTAFA KAMAL -27.4.1976 KIA DI GUBIR
KAPT (U) CHOO YOK BOON -27.4.1976 KIA DI GUGIR
LT (U) CHUNG MIN TAT - 27.4.1976 KIA DI GUBIR
LT (U) WAN MUNSIF - 27.4.1976 DI GUBIR
SJN LEONG - 27.4.1976 KIA DI GUBIR
LT (B) SAPREE
MEJ (B) ISMAIL SAUD
MEJ (U) RIPIN
MEJ (U) AZAM MOKHTAR
LT (U) ROSLAN
LT (U) JAMES TINGGOM
LT (B) MOHD MEREJOK
LT (U) TAN ENG HUAT
LT (B) IDRIS YUSOF
LT KOL (B) ABD JALIL GHANI
MEJ (B) MAHIDIN
WO 1 ABDUL RAHMAN
F/SJN HUA TEE BOON
WO 1 HAMZAH DE SOUZA
*MEJ (B) THIAGARAJAH
Ketika menaip coretan ini pada 8 November 2009, jam 1405, saya menerima sms yang di'forward'kan oleh seorang kawan baik memaklumkan '*....Thiagarajah ex heli pilot passed away tis morning. Burial/cremation at hindu cemetry kg Tungku PJ 1530 - 8 nov 09'(tanpa edit).
Thiagarajah ....sama saperti arwah Lt Kol (B) Abd Jalil Ghani, saya mengenali beliau semenjak di MTD lagi. Beliau dari TJP 14, bersama mengikuti kursus penerbangan di SEA Helicopter dan berkhidmat di No 3 Skn, TUDM Butterworth. Sila baca coretan "US-Made Pilots". Siapa boleh lupa pilot yang kerap menggigit kuku dan menggaru kepala ketika memakai 'flying helmet? Tak lain....tak bukan...Mej (B) Thiagarajah. Good bye my friend...!
Kepada arwah-arwah di atas, saya doakan SEMOGA ALLAH MENCUCURI RAHMAT KE ATAS ROH MEREKA. AL FATIHAH...
Kepada rakan-rakan yang lain...MAY GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL.
Syabas kepada PM yang dengan tegasnya menegur sikap CUEPACS. Saya sungguh tak faham....tak habis-habis CUEPACS meminta kenaikan gajilah... bonuslah...insentiflah...dari Kerajaan...dalam masa kemalapan ekonomi yang dihadapi oleh negara tercinta ini! Saya seorang pesara dan bersimpati dengan dengan pegawai kerajaan golongan rendah. Tetapi, janganlah terus 'mendesakitu dan ini'ketika ini...tidak kena masanya! Kebanyakan rakyat yang bukan berkhidmat dengan Kerajaan akan marah dengan tuntutan sebegini. Saya sendiri kurang senang dengan sikap persatuan ini. Adakah segolongan besar penjawat awam begitu daif seperti mereka yang dipaparkan dalam program tv 3 'Bersama Mu'?
Persoalannya, BERAPA YANG CUKUP?RM2000....RM3000.....RM10000 sebulan? Bukankah 'cukup' itu relatif? Mungkin RM10000 cukup bagi seorang individu tetapi jumlah itu hanya 'nyawa-nyawa ikan' sahaja bagi individu lain. Kalau tidak, masakan BNM mewujudkan AKPK untuk memberi kaunseling kepada mereka yang kurang 'arif' mengurus kewangan mereka. Dan, stesyen-stesyen tv tidak perlu menayang program-program berkaitan dengan topik ini.
Luangkan masa untuk membaca rencana AKPK di akhbar 'NEW SUNDAY TIMES'. Ada individu yang berpendapatan 6 angka terpaksa meminta nasihat dari agensi tersebut bagi mengatasi masalah kewangan untuk mengelak daripada diistiharkan muflis. Berbagai nasihat diberikan bagaimana untuk mengelak dari terjebak dengan perbelanjaan yang tidak diperlukan.
Ini pandangan peribadi saya. Pada hemah saya, kebanyakan kita - bukan semua - tidak dapat mengawal nafsu!! Baru-baru ini, si Hill-Billy ini telah pergi ke KL dan sempat ke kompleks membeli-belah. Sungguh menakjubkan...orang ramai berpusu-pusu kehulu kehilir....terpaksa berpusing-pusing untuk mencari tempat parkir kereta. Cafe-cafe/coffee house penuh sesak dengan pengunjung menikmati minuman/makanan. Sungguh hebat gaya hidup mereka ini! Kalau berkemampuan...apa salahnya? Masalahnya, pada pengamatan saya, bukannya semua mereka ini dari golongan yang berkemampuan. Budaya 'bio pape asal begaye' inilah penyebab utama mengapa segolongan besar rakyat menghadapi masalah kewangan.
Tak percaya? Lihat saja apabila Hari Raya menjelang tiba. Perabot baru...langsir baru...pakaian sudah MESTI. Malah....kereta baru! Bermuhasabah buat seketika....adakah semuanya ini perlu? Kalau mampu...tiada masalah. Tetapi terdapat mereka yang sanggup berhutang hanya untuk memuaskan nafsu 'menunjuk'. Ini bukannya ajaran Islam. Ambil pula contoh seharian. Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan telah membuat fatwa bahawa merokok itu haram. Semua orang tahu ianya memudaratkan kesihatan selain salah satu faktor kemiskinan. Mana tidaknya...sekotak rokok paling murah pun harga RM6. Sekiranya 1 kotak sehari, bererti RM180 sebulan. Bukankah wang sejumlah ini boleh disimpan untuk kecemasan atau pendidikan anak-anak?
Berbalik kepada segelintir anggota awam yang mungkin terlena seketika...anda semuanya sepatut bersyukur kepada Allah. Walau mungkin menerima hanya RM600 sebulan gaji pokok selama 25 tahun berkhidmat (satu andaian yang susah diterima), anda akan tetap menerima pencen RM720 dan kemudahan perubatan PERCUMA. Cuba tanya kawan anda di syarikat swasta...apa yang mereka akan terima? Hanya simpanan KWSP yang mungkin boleh bertahan beberapa tahun sahaja sekiranya tidak berhemah berbelanja. Perubatan? Bayar sendirilah! Di usia yang melepasi 'isyak' ini, kebanyakan kita menjalin silaturahim dengan para doktor dan jururawat. Ini kerana hospital menjadi rumah kedua, bukannya program 'Malaysia.. My Second Home' untuk menarik warga asing yang tebal poketnya untuk menetap di negara ini.
Janganlah terlampau mendesak Kerajaan. Apa yang perlu dilakukan dalam keadaan ekonomi yang tidak menentu ini, uruslah kewangan anda sebaik-baiknya. Pedulikan apa anggapan orang. Ingat, apabila kita susah...kita yang menanggungnya; apabila kita senang...kita boleh membuat amal jariah.
Minta maaf lah...tetapi ini adalah pandangan ikhlas dari seorang pesara yang sentiasa bersyukur dengan kurnian Allah. Praktikkan peribahasa tok nenek kita '...ukur baju di badan sendiri'. InsyaAllah, selamatlah anda.
I have almost exhausted all avenues to get the Government of Malaysia to reconsider its decision of not giving the recipients of the JPP, PTU and KPK, a monthly allowance as accorded to our SP and PGB counterparts. I had e-mailed the Minister of Defence, Chief Secrectary to the Government (KSN), Secretary General of MINDEF (KSU), and newspapers but to no avail. If even the Minister himself is 'powerless' to convince the government to revise this decision....who am I then...!
My only regret is that I missed the opportunity to bring this issue to the attention of the MPs during their debate in the Parliament on SP and PGB recently. Should this matter be brought up, I am quite sure the end result would be in our favour. I am sure there are MPs out there who acknowledge our sacrifices in defending this beloved and only country of ours......MALAYSIA. Maybe....during the next Parliamentary session, InsyaAllah!
As a Muslim, I have tried.....Almighty Allah destined it...Qada and Qadar!
As a farewell, I listed a few comments from my 'Jottings' as well as those imported from blogs of 'mind NO EVIL' and 'Syarak Mengata, Adat Menurut'.
... taming said
Kerajaan memang sepatutnya mengambil kira elaun diberi juga kepada penerima JPP, PTU dan KPK.
Tetapi kerajaan menerima nasihat daripada PAT dan AKS Perkhidmatan Anggota yang tidak mengiktirafkan penerima-penerima lain selain SP dan PGB yang patut menerima elaun.
Jadi apa kata Jeneral-Jeneral kita?
Saya rasa mereka perlu mengubah sikap!
Tamingsari
October 5, 2009 7:39 AM
Anonymous said...
There are not many who receive this medal and it is awarded base on performance if compared to the number of Datukships awarded to RMAF generals- some of them don't deserve the award as yet even for the next many years ahead comparing on their contribution to the nation.
It is a pity that the Armed Forces leadership is ignorance and the nation leaderships can't be blamed as they are not in the know.
Too many "enau dalam belukar melepaskan pucuk masing masing" That is the kind of people that run the RMAF now.
Do we regret for joining the Armed Forces? Hopefully not but something need to be corrected and lets hope what you are doing now to be the first step in the right direction. And it is best to remind the Armed Forces leadership that ignorance is not an excuse as the organization will regret one day and the nation will have to pay a heavy price for the stupidity of the Armed Forces leaderships.
Please don't rest your case!!!
October 20, 2009 10:42 AM
My dear friend,
1. Your dedication and devotion in putting up this blog and writing all the articles you have written is your great contribution to honour the heroes, sung or unsung, Army, Navy or Air Force.
2. Truly, each and everyone of the heli-pilot and air crew are part and parcel of the nation FRONT LINE-SOLDIERS who fought and won two insurgencies that very few nations in the world can boast about. It is GREATER THAN WINNING TWO FOOTBALL WORLD CUP. All Malaysians should be very proud of you. I know, I do.
Like the civilians and some MINDEF guys said "we were doing our job", they are right. But our job is DIFFERENT from many others' jobs. Our jobs call for facing the nation enemy and its bullets. If we lose, we lose Malaysia.
Yeah, cheers to our sky heroes. They are second to none in the world. In fact, they are the best because they have the experience, flying in our difficult and dangerous terrain - the jungles and mountains are hazardous - and the terrorists were taking shots at them. Yeah, one never knew whether they would come home to their loved ones. The number of heli-pilots and crew sacrificed their lives for the nation in the job (service to the King and Country) speak for itself.
My salute to the heli-pilots and crew-men.
You deserve the allowance for your PTU. I believe MINDEF will correct the oversight.
God bless each and everyone of you.
Cheers Chong, Cheers Nor. Cheers everybody. Fabian Wong
An ex-footsoldier/MIO
Kuching
017-851-5225
October 21, 2009 9:10 AM
Source: mind NO EVIL
Nak dapat SP,PGB atau PTU atau KPK perlu ada pengorbanan. Malang nya hanya PGB dan SP saja di kira pretigious.
Mengapa perkara ini terjadi. General manakah yang akan fight for KPK dan PTU. I don't think they will bcos depa bukan faham sangat tentang pengorbanan yang telah di lalui oleh penerima KPK dan PTU.
October 21, 2009 5:05 AM
Source: mind NO EVIL
taming said...
Those brave helicopter pilots have sacrificed their lives so that others may live to enjoy peace in this country.
If the Minister of Defence, KSU, PAT and COAF were to refer to respective CITATIONS of JPPs, PTUs and KPKs recepients, they would be convinced that they too deserve similar allowances though the amount may vary. They should have done better "homework" before announcing the new allowances for SP and PGB!
I spoke to some senior ex-RMAF officers who were former commanders of some of the PTU, KPK recepients and wrote citations on them. They wished the country could award PGBs to dozens of pilots of No.3 Sqn RMAF for the year 1978/1979 during which more than 13 times the RMAF Nuris were shot by the Communist Terrorists (CTs) in the Malaysia/Thailand border. They felt hurt and upset knowing the authorities neglet the PTU and KPK recepients and wished that they had written PGB citations for all those guys.
I also learn that except for one Nuri helicopter which crashed after being shot and suffered total loss of lives, all helicopters and the crew survived the shooting incidents. The brave and professional handling of the machines and with the Grace of the God, they live to receive their medals which now NOBODY cares.
I feel that JPP, PTU and KPK recepients deserve to be accordingly given similar allowances which are accorded to SP and PGB recepients.
October 23, 2009 5:40 PM
Source: mind NO EVIL
Anonymous said...
It was a sad story despite the effort bringing the issue of the three medals PTU, KPK and JPP but none was debated during the current Parliamentary session.
Neither the government nor the opposition. Either both are ignorant or simply insensitive, maybe they do not know the existent of the three awards as both side of the aisle only care for the SP and PGB. But hopefully your fight will continue and pray to GOD the day will come!!!
PTU wajar mendapat ganjaran seperti PGB (Pingat Gagah Berani)
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.
Cerita selanjutnya di http://mindnoevil.blogspot.com/2009/10/is-pingat-tentera-udara-ptu-subservient.html
Posted by Den at 19.10.09
Source: Syarak Mengata, Adat Menurut
2Lt Peh Hoo Guan said...
the allowance for sport achievers are higher than s.p.??? what's seems to be the problem here, we honoured our sportsmen more than our warriors...
November 1, 2009 11:42 AM
Are there any MPs out there willing to bring this issue during the current Parliamentary session? If yes, thank you and I surely appreciate it very much.
I suppose this is what "1MALAYSIA.....RAKYAT DIDAHULUKAN.....PENCAPAIAN DIUTAMAKAN" all about!!!
TO THE PROPONENTS OF MY CAUSE.....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AULD LANG SYNE TO MY FUTILE STRUGGLE...!!
