Balasungkawa

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.

Berapa Yang Cukup?

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 'mendesak itu 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.

Jangan marah....OK!

Auld Lang Syne......!!

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

H@D!3 said...

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!!!

October 24, 2009 12:47 PM

Pingat Tentera Udara wajar mendapat ganjaran.

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...!!

Close Shave With Death

Readers, I have been trying to convince Lt Col Frank Chong Keng Lay RMAF (R), my former Flight Commander when I was in No 3 Squadron, RMAF Butterworth, to contribute to my blog on his flying experiences. I was his deputy then. Due to work committments, he could not find the time yet to pen his experiences. For your information, he holds the record of being shot the MOST by the communist terrorists (CTs).  Somehow, he seemed to be the favourite of the CTs. Of course, at the expense of 2 lives! I remember very well when a total of 2 Air Rescue escorts from the MSSR (commando) then, were shot dead in his nuri in two separate incidents.

To be frank, those days we seldom talked  about being shot by the CTs in the crewroom. In fact, most of the time we were away flying or on 'detachment' at Kroh. To us, it was routine for the CTs to take pot shots at us. After all, the CTs needed  a big and bulky 'moving target' for their target practices... and Nuri was the most ideal target! All we had to do then, was to submit 'Hazard Report' to be sent to Air HQ and Department of Air Force (DAF), MINDEF. And a copy for the 'Scrap Book'. I was told recently that most of these reports were no longer traceable in No 3 Squadron....a real pity indeed! 

Maybe due to the frustration on reading my posting  entitled "Gallantry Awards Of Malaysia", he wrote his comment below - 'as is where is'. This is actually his second comment on this medal issue. I republished his first comment in "Never Ending Story".     

Chong said...

renHave they, the decision makers researched how the PTU was won? How many PTU winners/award holders; checked their CITATIONS; ONE WAS NOT AWARDED THE PTU FOR FLYING THE NURI BUT FOR GOING ON RESCUE MISSIONS IN HOSTILE TERRAIN, EVEN AFTER COMING HOME WITH TWO HUNDRED BULLET HOLES OR MORE WITH SHATTERED WINDSCREENS AND HAVING TO GO IN AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING TO THE SAME LANDING PAD AS THE CASUALTY WAS STILL TRAPPED IN THE SAME LP KNOWING THAT THE COMMUNIST TERRORISTS WERE STILL WAITING THERE FOR THE RETURNING NURI FOR THEY KNOW THAT THE NURI PILOT AND SQUADRON WILL NOT REST UNTIL THE INFANTRY CASUALTY IS SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED. tHIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AS THE NURI PILOT MUST GET THE JOB DONE LESS THE MORALE OF THE GROUND TROOPS WILL BE SEVERELY AFFECTED THAT THEY WILL NOT GIVE THEIR 110 PERCENT TO THE OPERATIONS AT HAND. tHERE IS NOTHING WORST THAN FOR A COMMANDER ON THE GROUND BE HE A PLATOON COMMANDER, COMPANY COMMANDER OR A BATTALION COMMANDER TO HAVE A DEMORALIZED UNIT BECAUSE HIS WOUNDED COMRADE IS NOT EXTRICATED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT; IT CAN HAPPEN TO HIM AND BE FACED WITH THE SAME SITUATION AND BE LEFT IN THE BATTLE FRONT UNCARED FOR WHICH IS WHAT I AM FEELING NOW MY PRIME MINISTER, THE EX DEFENCE MINISTER, THINKS MY CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT WORTH A SEN ALTHOUGH MY RESCUE MISSION IN THAILAND COST THE GOVERNMENT THOUSANDS OF RINGGIT MALAYSIA AS I HAD TO TAKE OFF AT FIRST LIGHT ESCORTED BY TWO TEBUANS FIGHTER JETS FIRING ROCKETS AND GUNS WHILE ME AND MY CREW RE-ENTERRED THE SAME LP THAT I WAS SHOT THE PREVIOUS DAY .MY CREW AND I SUCCESSFULLY SAVED THE INFANTRYMAN , A SERGEANT WHO WAS SHOT BY THE CTS THE DAY BEFORE, I BELIEVE HE IS STILL IN A POSITION TO CELEBRATE HIS HARI RAYA HOLIDAYS NOW NOT KNOWING WHO PULLED HIM OUT ON THAT FATEFUL DAY. I AM RETIRED NOW AND I BELIEVE THE SERGEANT ALSO IS AND I AM SURE HE HAS A FEW SCARS TO SHOW HIS GRAND CHILDREN AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO TODAY'S PEACEFUL CONDITION. DURING MY ENTIRE TOUR WITH NO. 3 SQUADRON I WAS INVOLVED IN OPERASI SELAMAT SAWADDEE, DAOYAI MUSNAH1 AND 2, THE NURI FLIGHT WAS SHOT 22 TIMES OR THEREABOUT AND TWO COMMANDO ESCORTS SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES AND THEY BOTH DIED, ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SHOT IN THAI TERITORY, ESCORTING ME AND MY CREW. THE NURI CREW WILL ALWAYS GET HIS CASUALTIES OUT AT THE RISK OF THE CREW'S LIVES AND LOSS OF AIRCRAFT. THANKS TO TUHAN ALLAH I DID NOT LOSE ANY AIRCRAFT AND ALWAYS BROUGHT MY CREWS AND HELICOPTERS HOME SAFELY ALTHOUGH I CANNOT QUANTIFY THE COST OF REPAIR TO THE RMAF.

November 1, 2009 11:55 AM

Chong, here is a comment from a footslogger who remembers you....

Butterfly said...

Aaahh, Lt Col.Chong, that rings a loud bell. One heck of a man!He was there everytime we needed him. I recall how he was "stranded"in my gun position when his chopper engine failed. We had to open up a new LP to accomodate a second heli land bring in the "rescue". He spent a few nights with us and of course it was always a pleasure to have another officer to chat with. After that incident, we had the odd flight in to drop off newspapers from the Butterworth mess. It was Lt.Col Chong, saying thank you. I do not see why these brave men in their flying machines are not accorded the same accolade?

 October 19, 2009 3:21 PM
Source: mind NO EVIL

If I may make a suggestion, RMAF museum should trace those Hazard Reports (1977 - 1980) through the good office of the Inspector General, DAF, and exhibit them in the museum. Those were part of RMAF history. Hopefully, those reports are still available in the archive. Otherwise, a piece of RMAF history is gone forever!

To Lt Col Frank Chong Keng Lay RMAF (R), let it be known to you that I truly enjoyed my tour at No 3 Squadron with you as my Flight Commander and appreciate your support. Those were the most fulfilling years of my flying career even operating under hazardous/hostile environments. The Squadron's esprit de corp remained intact during those trying days.

My regards to Anne and members of your family. 

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!