Malayan police on patrol against communists during the Emergency. — Photo courtesy of National Archive
IN A poignant reflection of Malaysia’s past as folk usher in the 67th National Day, illustrious veterans from the nation’s security forces share their sacrifices and the camaraderie felt among different races in fighting to restore peace during the country’s toughest years.
Their recollections paint a vivid picture of a time when racial integration was not just a policy but a reality that bonded communities.
National Patriot Association (Patriot) founder and former president Brig-Gen (Rtd) Datuk Mohd Arshad Raji has fond memories of growing up in a close-knit community of various races.
“My family lived in a government quarters. We were the only Malay family, but we were close to the other ethnic groups. There was no racial barrier and we moved freely like one big family.
“When the Malayan Emergency broke out, I was just a little boy who liked watching the soldiers walk past in their military fatigues. They were everywhere, including near my grandmother’s house in Hulu Langat, a communist hotbed.
“That was where my love for the military began,” said the 81-year-old father of three, who joined the army in 1965.
Upon completing his training and being commissioned as an officer, he was posted to several divisions including the Royal Malay Regiment and other infantry units nationwide.He said as the country continued to face communist threats, members of security forces were constantly away from home and tasked with maintaining security across the country.
(From left) Zulkifli, Mohd Arshad and Zarazilah have vivid memories of their time serving in the security forces.
“In the 1970s, I barely saw my children as I was away for up to nine months in a year. I was almost never at home during festive seasons and other celebrations, including Hari Raya and National Day, because we were in the jungle looking for communist terrorists,” said Mohd Arshad, who retired from the army as a one-star general in 1998.
Among his greatest memories was the resilience and courage displayed by the men under his command.
“After months of being away, I knew they missed their families because I missed mine too. But not once did any of the men become emotional, express their sadness or request to return home.
“They stayed on and diligently carried out their responsibilities,” he recalled.
He said he was raised by his parents to be colour-blind and see every fellow citizen as a Malaysian.
“It is the same way I raised my own children, and the same thing I tell the younger generation.
“Claim your identity as a Malaysian and stop calling yourselves Malay, Chinese, Indian or any other ethnicity. Identify yourself as Malaysian and voice out your grievances.
“I love seeing all races come together; it is such a wonderful sight,” he added.
He also urged the government to recognise the contributions of past servicemen and extend what is due to them.
“I hope the government will show greater appreciation to those who had served at the peak of security threats in the country such as the first Emergency, Communist insurgency and Confrontation.
“There are surviving members of the security forces who served in the first Emergency but have yet to receive their dues. They are very old, but their deeds and sacrifices should not be forgotten,” Mohd Arshad said.
Similarly, it was former army officer and Patriot president Lt Col Datuk Zarazilah Mohd Ali’s childhood ambition to be a soldier.
Zarazilah was Mohd Arshad’s commanding officer in the 1970s.
At 15, he joined the then Federation Military College (now Royal Military College) in 1955 before signing up for the army and graduating as a second lieutenant five years later.
Apart from being posted overseas for combat roles, he was on the frontlines during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation.
“The Indonesians landed in Pontian and Labis by sea, road and parachuted in. “We engaged in battle with them for two months and lost quite a number of our men. But we killed many on the enemy’s side and captured the rest.
“Then I left for Sarawak to continue fighting the same enemy,” the 84-year-old businessman said in an interview.
About four years later, Zarazilah nearly quit being a soldier over an incident during the May 13, 1969 racial riots.
Wearing the rank of major, he was sent to Kuala Lumpur with 120 soldiers under his command.
“A curfew had been declared and we were at Batu Road (now known as Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman) and Jalan Chow Kit. There were three dead bodies and I was utterly shocked by the devastation.
“I was sickened that this had happened to fellow Malaysians. I had never seen anything like that in my country and hope it never happens again,” he said.
He and his personnel were heckled, had objects thrown at them and were attacked with dangerous weapons by angry mobs, but they maintained their composure and carried out their duties.
Zarazilah said he reminded his men to be impartial and fair to the public regardless of race, and not to mistreat anyone when carrying out their duties.
“I told them that we were here to protect everyone,” he said.
Days later, while carrying out inspections at a settlement near Jalan Ipoh in search of dangerous weapons, another incident occurred.
“A resident complained to me that some of his valuables had gone missing when soldiers carried out the search.
“This riled me up and I summoned all my men. I found the culprits, who were three of my soldiers, and recovered the lost items from them.
“Then, I hauled them to a makeshift lock-up at a nearby school and threw them in before heading off to my superior’s office. I handed him my badge and said I had failed him as my men had committed a crime.
“I was just 29 and knew I had a bright future ahead. However, I felt the most honourable thing to do at the time was to resign,” Zarazilah said.
His superior talked him out of it though, and the young major stayed on.
Later that year, he was posted to Sabah to fight guerillas from south Philippines trying to invade the state.
In 1979, Zarazilah, who was by then a lieutenant colonel, opted to leave the army to join the corporate world.
“It is my goal to unite all Malaysians and bring them back together just like the old days. This is why I joined Patriot as it is a platform with such a vision.
“We will continue fighting corruption too. I am old but I pledge to keep fighting this until I die. It is a calling and my second round of national service,” he said.
Former deputy police commissioner (DCP) Datuk Zulkifli Mohamed, who joined the police force in 1979 as a cadet inspector and retired in 2018, said he joined Patriot to advocate good governance of the nation.
“Members of two security forces, the armed forces and police come together with a common goal to see the country prosper through better governance,” said the 66-year-old. Among the many roles he had undertaken was fighting the communists when he served in the Police Field Force, now known as the General Operations Force.
Zulkifli, who is Patriot deputy president, urged Malaysians to turn a deaf ear to undesirable parties that attempt to disunite the multi-races.
“Remember, whatever you do, it is 'Demi Malaysia' or Malaysia First,” he said.“We see irresponsible politicians doing things for their parties and themselves – this will eventually destroy the country.
“To the younger generation, please go back to the basics and remember our Rukun Negara which our forefathers drafted for the well-being of our nation.”
For more stories go to StarSpecial: National Day 2024
