Anggota Tentera LLP.....21 Tahun Kemudian!

Coretan ini dituju khusus untuk segelintir kecil anggota Lain-Lain Pangkat (LLP) dari ketiga-tiga Perkhidmatan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM). Saya meminta maaf sekiranya anda menganggap siapakah saya untuk menunjuk pandai. Tujuan utama ialah saya akan berbangga sekiranya tiada lagi berita dalam media massa menceritakan kesusahan/kedaifan bekas tentera meraih bantuan dari masyarakat umum.

Pernahkah terfikir bagaimana agaknya kedudukan anda selepas tamat berkhidmat 21 tahun dalam ATM? Untuk makluman pembaca, terma perkhidmatan LLP bagi melayakkan mereka menikmati pencen ialah mereka mesti berkhidmat selama 21 tahun......bukannya sehingga umur 58 tahun!

Katakanlah anda mula berkhidmat pada umur 19 tahun. Diam tak diam, anda terkejut apabila diberitahu bidang apa yang anda minat untuk mengikuti Kursus Peralihan di PERHEBAT, Kem Sungai Buloh. Anda sudah berkhidmat selama 21 tahun dan umur baru 40 tahun....dah berstatus 'pesara'. Treler berderet di belakang, hutang sekeliling pinggang, RSAT jadi rumah kedua. Peningnya kepala!

Kerana hendak 'enjoy' dulu, anda kahwin agak lewat. Katakan semasa berumur 30 tahun baru sampai seru untuk berkahwin. Syukur Alhamdulillah, anda suami isteri diberikan Allah sungguh 'subur'. Selang 9 bulan, menimang anak. Anak pertama baru Tahun 5; 'Pekerjaan Bapa' - PESARA! Saya yakin anda mempunyai lebih dari seorang anak.

Anda bersara berpangkat 'sarjan'. Semasa berkerja, gaji bulanan termasuk elaun melebihi RM3,500. Jolok kad ATM pada 21hb setiap bulan, hanya RM1,400 sahaja yang dikreditkan dalam akaun. Ingat, pencen untuk LLP berlandaskan kepada separuh gaji pokok untuk perkhidmatan 21 tahun. Berbeza dengan kakitangan awam, separuh gaji pokok untuk 25 tahun perkhidmatan dan lebihkurang 60% untuk perkhidmatan 30 tahun dan lebih.

Mungkin buat setahun dua anda tidak merasa perbezaan alam persaraan kerana anda telah mengeluar wang simpanan LTAT - sekurang-kurang RM100,000. Boleh joli....tukar kereta, mungkin ada juga yang buka 'cawangan' baru, dan tak tahu apa lagilah. Masa ini jugalah anda terpegun yang anda mempunyai ramai sahabat handai. Mereka mempelawa anda untuk melabur dalam 'projek' mereka dengan pulangan yang sungguh menarik. Berhati-hatilah, silap langkah, melayanglah simpanan LTAT dan sahabat handai pun entah hilang kemana.

Kalau begitu keadaannya, apa yang sepatutnya anda lakukan? Anda tanya pandangan saya ke?

Pertama sekali, anda sepatutnya berterima kasih kerana anda dari kumpulan yang mengutamakan disiplin. Selain simpanan paksa dalam LTAT, saya syorkan agar anda melabur dalam ASB (jangan risau, saya bukan ejen PNB dan tidak mendapat sesen komisen pun). Pergi bank yang memberi pinjaman ASB dan pinjam jumlah yang termampu anda bayar ansuran bulanan untuk tempuh sehingga 20 tahun. Jangan keluarkan dividen walau RM1 selama 20 tahun.(Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan telah membuat fatwa - HARUS).

Andaikan dividen 8% setiap tahun dan anda pinjam RM50,000. 20 tahun kemudian....jumlah simpanan ialah RM233,050. Dividen sahaja RM18,644 setahun=
RM1,553 sebulan.Campur pencen RM1,400=RM2,953. Saya bukan jenis yang berani mengambil risiko. Jadi, saya akan laburkan kesemua simpanan LTAT dalam ASB. Nak pening kepala buat apa, ada pakar untuk menguruskan wang saya.

Selain simpanan, anda harus mempunyai kemahiran yang sentiasa diperlukan oleh orang ramai. Maksud saya, kemahiran seperti membaiki motor/kereta, alat eletrik/eletronik, paip air. Ikuti kursus sebegini semasa menjalani Kursus Peralihan. Anda tidak memerlukan modal yang banyak dan rumah boleh dijadikan pejabat/bengkel. Bayangkan, nak pasang kepala paip pun kena caj RM50, tidak termasuk kos kepala paip. Nak jadi jutawan agak susahlah sikit, tetapi bukan mustahil. Senang tu, InsyaAllah.

Saya sendiri ada bertanya dengan Polimas, Kolej Komuniti dan Giat Mara sama ada mereka mengendali kursus pendek membaiki alat eletrik/eletronik. Sekiranya ada, saya berminat untuk mengikuti kursus tersebut. Malangnya, tiada.

Anda juga sepatutnya bersyukur kerana diberi peluang melanjutkan pelajaran. Jangan buangkan peluang ini. Dengan adanya ijazah dan pengalaman, anda mempunyai kelebihan untuk mendapat pekerjaan. Juruteknik pesawat terbang TUDM juga dalam kumpulan bernasib baik kerana kepakaran mereka sangat diperlukan dalam industri penerbangan. Tetapi bukan semuanya bernasib baik.

Fikirlah sejenak apa yang saya membebelkan ini......mungkin anda akan tersentak dari mimpi dan kembali ke alam nyata!

Selamat Berpuasa.

High Altitude Landing

Once I was asked to attend a meeting with the Sabah state officials. It was about the construction of a rest house at Gunung Kinabalu. The Army was represented by Maj Jamil of the Engineering Squadron. The proposed site was at about 10,000 feet, I think. The state wanted the nuri to airlift the building materials. The Army would provide the manpower.

Mawilud 11 (Markas Wilayah Udara), located at Kuching, Sarawak, directed me to do high altitude flying over Labuan in anticipation of performing this task. It arranged with C130 Hercules squadron to provide me with oxygen masks and cylinders. You see, nuri is not a pressurised aircraft and as a safety measure, we have to use oxygen masks when we fly 10,000 feet and above in case we experience hypoxia. No problem, I flew for 2 hours 45 minutes over the island. In fact, I didn’t use the equipment at all.

For planning purpose, the Park HQ (PHQ) at 5,000 ft, was proposed to be the pick-up and refuelling point. The designated landing point (LP) was about 10,000 ft. Before that, let me enrich your knowledge on the characteristics of the nuri. The rules of thumb are as follows:

- Weight (empty) - 12,500 lbs.
- Max operating wt – 19,500 lbs at sea level, including fuel.
- 400 lbs weight reduction for every 1,000 feet.
- Airspeed – 110 knots at 3,000 feet.
- 6 knots speed reduction for every 1,000 feet.
- Fuel consumption – 1,000 lbs per hour.
- Reserve fuel – 600 lbs for both tanks (300 lbs/tank).

The calculation for the maximum weight for landing at LP.

- Max operating wt @ sea level – 19,500 lbs
- Max operating wt @ LP - 15,500 lbs (19,500 lbs - 4,000 lbs)
- Less wt of empty aircraft - 12,500 lbs
- Less fuel, including reserve - 2,000 lbs
- Payload available - 1,000 lbs

I could not remember the estimated flight time from the PHQ to the LP and vice versa. I think it was about 30 min for the round trip. But it was not as simple as that; must consider loading, unloading, diversion in case of bad weather. The nearest landing area in case of bad weather would be Kundasang and if not accesible, then I would fly either to Kota Kinabalu or Ranau. One thing for sure, I knew the unpredictable weather there.

Based on the calculation, I could only take a maximum of 1,000 lbs of construction materials for every sortie. I had to refuel after every flight back to PHQ. I didn’t know what the total weight of the building materials would be. And the airspeed at that height was about 70 knots. I’m sure most nuri pilots would concur with me if I said that nuri's control is sloppy with height......just like driving a 3-ton army truck without power steering.

And now, come the day for the trial flight. Airborne Labuan for Gunung Kinabalu with the estimated weight of 15,500 lbs on landing. I planned to refuel at Kota Kinabalu airport. During the recce, there was no way of determining the wind direction – only solid rock. I saw a fuselage of a crashed Bell helicopter abandoned there. To me, the best approach was flying towards the mountain.

On coming to a hover, the nuri yawed clockwise (to the right). I fully applied left pedal but was still unable to stop the yaw. The cross wind from the left was too strong. The only option available was to dive the chasm and flew off. Well, with 3,000 hours on type, this was one scary experince that will be forever in my mind. I’m an old but not a bold pilot – and that’s how you’re able to read this article!

My recommendation to Mawilud 11 ? NOT FEASIBLE. The Panglima never questioned my decision. I was told that Sabah Air got the contract to fly the materials.

Nuri pilots, I tried to be as accurate as possible to the extent of calling 5 Sqn about nuri's data. If you observe inaccurate data, please accept my humble apologies. You must bear in mind that this episode took place in 1984....25 years ago!


3,000-hour reception at No 5 Sqn dispersal area upon landing from Terumbu Layang-Layang on 30 January, 1984.



Comments are most welcome.....

No 5 Squadron - My First And Last Command.....

From 1st January 1982 through 31st December 1984 I was posted as OC No 5 Sqn, RMAF Labuan upon completion of 1-year course at Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Mirpur Cantonment, Dacca, Bangladesh.

I was a pioneer of sorts - the first RMAF officer attending the course there and the only foreigner amongst 8 students in the Air Wing of DSCSC. The other Malaysian was Major Pakwan Chik Hashim of Malaysian Ranger in the Army Wing. I went there alone and he brought his family along.

For information, it was during this period when the late President Zia Ur Rahman was assassinated and I met the alleged conspirator, Maj Gen Manzur, I think, when the students visited his Division at Chittagong. Hari ini dalam sejarah.....

My first set of No 5 Squadron aircrew in 1982

Now back to Labuan. Well, it was a real shock for me! The flying duties here were so very contrasting to what I was used to. No gunship to straff the area before making the landing, LPs as big as football fields, no wearing of those heavy and smelly fragmentation vest, no weekly detachment and best of all...no CTs taking pot shots at you. Basically, the flights here involved 'communication' flights between towns, eg, from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan. The only troop lift and/or resupply sorties that I could remember were to Terumbu Layang-Layang (TLL), also known as Station 5, and to Pulau Banggi.

It was cushy flying for these aircrew but for me, they missed the adventures I had gone through.....! My main concerns when operating here were the flight of 1 hour 30 minutes to TLL and the unpredictable weather. A write-up on the flight to TLL to follow later.

As for the weather, I never experienced this natural phenomena while operating in Peninsular Malaysia. From a clear sky, you suddenly see heavy rain and thick clouds especially when flying in the interior. I had experienced it myself. I took off from Labuan at about 1500hr to one location in the interior, Long Pasia, I think, to recover an unserviceable nuri there. The weather was perfect at Labuan and the mainland. However, when I wanted to cross the mountains, suddenly I was caught in the heavy rain and thick cloud. Visiblity was almost zero. The only way to escape from this situation was to execute a spiral climb to about 7000 feet - well cleared of the highest peaks there. Then I requested radar pick-up from Brunei Controller to vector me to Labuan. After about 10 minutes in the IMC condition....what a lovely sight....Labuan island, very clear! The sortie was aborted and the recovery was done the next day. Sometimes, at Labuan Base itself, half of the runway was under heavy rain whilst the other half bright and sunny!

Details of my last flight as a nuri captain:

Date: 22 October, 1984.
Airframe #: M23-37.
Crew: Lt (U) Roslan and Sgt Saifuddin.
Callsign: Harimau 621 Juliet.
Flight: Labuan - Tenom - Kota Kinabalu - Labuan.
Flight Time: 3 hours.

My set of aircrew as on 21 March, 1984

For the services rendered during my tour of duty in Labuan, I was bestowed 2 Sabah state awards - ADK (Ahli Darjah Kinabalu) and BSK (Bintang Setia Kinabalu). And the best of all...the state sponsored my wife and I to perform the Haj in 1983! Syukur Alhamdulillah, what a rezeki .....

In memory of those who had once served under me in 5 Sqn....hanya tinggal dalam kenangan....

Lt (U) Roslan
Lt (U) James Tinggom
Lt (U) Mohd Merejok
Lt (U) E H Tan
Lt (U) Idris Yusof


Good bye Nuri.....the most unforgettable memory!

Landing Pads (LPs)

I'm sure all of you know, or at least heard of nuri helicopter before. Well, it's big....how big? It can carry 30 passengers plus 3 crew, ie, the captain, co-pilot and the air quartermaster (AQM). Can visualise now?

The nuri was a real 'shooting duck' for CTs target practices. It's big, bulky and sloppy, unlike it's younger brother the Allouette 3, the 'mini cooper'. We were fortunate that the CTs were not Olympics-standard shooters, otherwise we were goners... Anyway, I'm very proud to fly nuri throughout my flying career.

Now back to Selamat Sawadee Ops......nuri detachment at Kroh (former name of Pengkalan Hulu).

After breakfast, the Intelligence Officer (IO) would brief us on the situation, including the radio frequency of the ground troops (GTs). Like most aircraft, nuri was then equipped with analogue HF, VHF and UHF radios. The GTs used HF radio. We would switch to GTs frequency whenever the need arose. The problem with HF was that it was too noisy.

Then, just wait..... Changeover of troops and resupply were preplanned. Casevacs at the disposal of the CTs - beyond the control of the GTs.

Geography lesson now. On the Malaysian side of the border near Kroh, the environmentalists should be happy to know that the mountains/hills/highlands were still covered with virgin jungle. Whereas on the Thai side, the terrains were almost clear of vegetation - no jungle at all! I didn't believe it myself. I suppose they cleared the jungle to plant rubber trees.

I was tasked to pick up a medivac - I think - on the Thai side. Just a routine sortie. Although the area was big enough, there was no space for nuri to land due to tree stumps. No choice but to hover for winching. While approaching to hover, my co-pilot switched to GTs' radio frequency and 'on' my HF radio. 'Alpha Charlie, Alpha Charlie...take off, take off' (AC meant aircraft). It was the GTs radio operator shouting for me to fly off. My immediate reaction was to execute an overshoot and climb for Kroh. Later, we were told that the GTs saw the CTs running to take position before taking pot shots at my nuri. I had to thank my co-pilot for switching to GTs frequency.

Then there was this task to resupply the RGK unit (commandos) on the Thai side. The tasking sheet stated to offload at marker, say 'T'. No big deal. When I reached the location there was no LP at all. Marker 'T', yes. LP? No. The 'T' was on steep slope. I contacted the officer, a captain I think, telling that I would have to hover and threw the rations. His response was if I did that, the rations would be destroyed and no food for them since they had run out of rations. Pity those guys.....Well, I landed with the starboard (right) landing gear on the slope whilst the port (left) landing gear and tail wheel hanging. I was praying to Almighty Allah hoping that the CTs were enjoying their R & R at Betong. Syukur Alhamdulillah, the sortie was completed successfully.

I could appreciate their problems - how could they construct an ideal LP as in the picture while on 'hot pursuit' mission?

I'm very proud to say that my colleagues and I were not rigidly rules-abiding pilots. We flew within our own and aircraft limitations. If we were to adhere strictly to the standard LP as stipulated in the official publication, the success of the ops might be hampered.

Kebersihan Makanan

'Kebersihan separuh daripada iman' - sunnah Rasulullah. Sebagai orang Islam adakah kebanyakan kita, terutama peniaga makanan - tidak kira restoran atau gerai (kategorikan kedai makan)- mempraktik sunnah ini? Secara jujur, saya sungguh sedih melihat tahap kebersihan kedai makan (KM) di kebanyakan lokasi yang pernah saya berkunjung. Coretan ini tidak bertumpu kepada kawasan tertentu tetapi pandangan secara menyeluruh.

Pertama sekali, saya bertanya kepada diri sendiri, mengapa KM, terutama gerai-gerai, didirikan berhampiran dengan parit/longkang? Masalahnya ialah saluran air sisa-sisa ini tidak mengalir dan mengeluarkan bau yang tidak menyenangkan. Memang lauk-pauknya nampak mengiurkan - ikan panggang, segala jenis ulam, sup 'gearbox' hingga 'torpedo', dan tak tahu lagilah. Tetapi bagaimana saya dapat menikmati kelazatan makanan tersebut sekiranya terpaksa berpakaian ala 'Zorro' tanpa topeng mata setiap kali mengunjung KM seperti ini?

Ada juga gerai-gerai dibina di tepi jalanraya dengan lalulintas tanpa henti. Untuk perokok tidak menjadi masalah kerana dapat menyedut karbon monoxide secara percuma. Tetapi, bagaimana dengan yang lain-lain? Pedulikan.....mereka yang datang dengan sukarela untuk menghirup kenikmatan udara!

Saya dan geng kerap melepak di sebuah gerai selepas bermain golf. Lokasi gerai memang menarik; bersebelahan tasik dan kuda-kuda berlarian. Suasananya sungguh nyaman. Masalahnya ialah kuih-muih tidak ditutup; diletak atas meja dengan lalat-lalat menjadikannya stesen perhentian. Saya pernah menyuarakan kepada tuanpunya gerai supaya mengguna tudung saji untuk menutup makanan. Tindakan yang diambil hanya menutup kuih-muih dengan pinggan-pinggan sahaja. Saya tidak pernah menjamah kuih-muih tersebut. Saya hanya minum dan makan masakan yang ditempah, sekiranya perlu. Janganlah hendak mengurangkan kos sehingga sanggup mendedahkan makanan kepada pencemaran yang akan menjejaskan kesihatan pelanggan!

PBT mengeluar ratusan ribu RM, mungkin jutaan, membina Medan Selera (MS) untuk peniaga-peniaga mencari rezeki halal. Kemudahan air, api dan yang paling mustahak - tong sampah - disediakan. Tetapi, parit/longkang tetap menjadi tempat buangan. Sekiranya berhampiran dengan sungai, hanyutlah sisa-sisa ke kuala.....! Lain pula MS Layang-Layang, Labuan, semasa saya bertugas di sana pada awal 80'an. Persekitarannya sungguh bersih dan saya berbangga membawa tetamu dari England untuk menikmati sate. Maaflah jika keadaan MS tersebut sekarang tidak sepertimana yang saya ceritakan, maklumlah cerita lama. Saya harap kebersihan masih diutamakan. Tak mungkin saya akan membawa tetamu saya, sekarang dah tak ada kawan 'mat saleh', ke MS di mana saya bermustautin sekarang.

Peringatan: MS yang saya cuba elakkan bukannya yang ada di kompleks beli-belah. Semasa tinggal di KL, MS yang paling kerap saya kunjung ialah di KLCC kerana nasi dagang.

Kebanyakan kita selalu beranggapan negatif apabila dikejutkan dengan kenaikan harga barang keperluan seperti gula, ayam, minyak masak, dll. Cuba lihat dari sudut positifnya pula. Hikmahnya ialah dapat mengelakkan penyakit, terutama kencing manis dan masalah jantung. Mana tidaknya, minum dan makan masakan rumah; kebersihan sudah pasti. Bawa makanan dari rumah ke pejabat. Apa yang hendak dimalukan. Dan, anda boleh berjimat...

Peniaga-peniaga, betulkanlah nawaitu anda, sekiranya belum. Carilah rezeki yang halal dan diberkati Allah. Tentukan makanan yang disediakan bersih, lazat dan harga berpatutan. Kos yang anda tanggung untuk ciri-ciri tersebut akan berbaloi, insyaAllah.

Patriotism 2

Patriotism - defined as love of and/or devotion to one's country (Wikepedia). I'm inspired to write this short article after reading the responses from the undergraduates of Social Science, USM (refer to the 1st two articles of 'Unforgetable Flying Experiences). And further fueled by my friend's article on 'Patriotism'(see Patriotism 1). Of course, those comments do not represent the majority of the populace. However, I can confidently conclude that the majority of the younger Malaysians are patriotic. Well, I'm entitled to my opinion, isn't it? Anyway, I’m flattered to know that I manage to enlighten them on the cruelty of the communist terrorists (CTs) - from my perspective, of course.

I'm here not to argue or debate whether you're patriotic or not. Only you can answer that. As for me, I consider myself a very patriotic person and extremely proud to be a Malaysian. I had my share of defending my beloved country, and very proud at it. I'm very fortunate indeed to be directly involved in the military operations against the CTs those days. Those flying adventures will forever be cherished in my mind.

How patriotic are you? As what my Colonel friend had said, is your patriotism as good as the Americans? Most of us Malaysians, idolise whatever American, be it food, clothing, education, cultures, etc, etc. I don’t blame you at all; to a certain extent it’s okay with me. After all, I like KFC; my ‘driver and hybrid’ clubs are American made although I know very well that the ‘head and shaft’ are made in China, only assembled in USA. But what about their patriotism? Are we ready to emulate them and why not?

What I mean is the very basic. I’m very sure you watch American footballs, baseballs, basketballs or whatever balls. The stadium is normally full to the brim. Don’t be too engrossed watching those lovely pom-pom girls’ antics but try to focus also on how the spectators and the players alike stand up and sing their national anthem with enthusiasm – the players with their hands clasping their caps to the chests! What about us, Malaysians? In my younger days, I loved to watch the movies at theaters – now cineplexes. Before the movie started, Negaraku would be played. I tell you, not even ¼ of the audiences stood up! Now I’m not sure whether Negaraku is being played before the start of the movie and what is the response like. I’m no longer a movie fanatic and I can’t remember when was the last time I went to the cineplexes.

My wife, an ex-teacher, told me that the way the students sang the national anthem during school assemblies was without vigour .....no umph whatsoever! I’m not in the least surprised if the majority of them, including most of us, 'conveniently' forget the lyrics.

Well, I don’t mean that you must join the Armed Forces just to prove your patriotism. To me, I’m very proud of Dato’ Nicol David and her prowess in squash. To see Jalur Gemilang flying atop the highest peak in the world. Or see Dato Dr Muzaffar floating in the ISS. For that matter, the generous Malaysians donating money to the needy. Golfers, aren’t you proud to see me holding Malaysian Open’s trophy....the first Malaysian champion? What a dream! Anyway, if you join the air force with the hope of becoming a hero like me, forget about it since those adventurous days were over......he....he.

On 3 August ’09 I sent an email to the Minister of Defence suggesting that all those gallantry award recipients and those maimed veterans due to operations against the CTs, be invited to tell their adventures to the public. For a start, let PLKN be the platform. But it must not be a one-time affair. I’m sure the impact would be great if, say the only living hero, WO1 Kanang, the recipient of both SP and PGB, relates his adventures to the students – first hand. I don’t know how the minister’s response would be. After all, who am I, just a veteran nuri pilot reminiscing those good old flying days! Anyway, I’m happy to hear that he had directed all the PLKN camps to show ‘Malaya 1957’. I hope he will include ‘Bukit Kepong’.

What about you?

Patriotism 1

I need a break. In the mean time, let me publish my friend's unedited article. Readers, are you ready to accept his call?

PATRIOTISM CAN ALSO BE ACHIEVED THROUGH RESERVE FORCE

How serious are we about the Reserve Force? How much are we concerned and committed to bringing the Reserve Force to the hoped-for levels of strength and effectiveness? In order to improve the Reserve Force, there should firstly be a political will to make commitment towards this objective.It seems that Malaysian is practically having no defense awareness as compared to some countries example like the United States and Singapore.Judging from the poor response of the public in joining the reserve,this may reflect that there is insufficient patriotic feeling in them.It may be that they feel that defense is not really their concern.Mind you, the future wars are likely to affect the whole nation and survival of the state itself.Hence, national defense today cannot be left entirely to the Armed Forces alone.
How about political will? Since we preach leadership by example, it would be timely and appropriate if the political masters themselves start enrolling in the Reserve Force.If the leaders lead the way by becoming members of the Reserve Force,they could definitely attract the other members of the public,especially the youngsters to join the Reserve Force.In this way, they would indirectly inculcate the feeling of patriotism in the heart of the citizen. Thank you

(ex-Nuri pilot)