'How am I still alive?' - Lt Gen Johnny Lim's life on the frontlines

Sinar Daily

2 days ago

SHAH ALAM – Life in the army is no easy task.
The military is a tough and demanding journey, not one centred on bullying, as some might assume, but rather built on discipline, resilience and hardship. The training is intense, the physical exercises are dangerous, and being away from home and loved ones for long periods takes an emotional toll.
It's a path that requires both mental and physical strength.
These were the words shared by National Resilience College (NRC) Commandant Lieutenant General Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng during an exclusive interview with Sinar Daily back in May this year, just weeks before he made national headlines for becoming the first Chinese officer to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).
Following his successful career in the service, Lim kept it unfiltered stating that military life was not just challenging but can also be life-threatening.
He said he often wonders how he's still alive today but believes it was the prayers of his family especially his mother and father, and all those who care for him, that had protected him throughout his journey till today.
'I remember it was just about a month in when we went for a very tough battalion exercise, followed by our first military operation, which, to this day, remains one of the most dangerous.
'We went to Gubet, and unfortunately, we lost two men there due to booby traps,' he said during an interview at the National Resilience College in Putrajaya recently.
He highlighted that Gubet, located near the border of Malaysia-Thailand, served as a forward operating base (FOB). It was a strategic point used for military insertions along the border, with designated markers such as Marker Tango and Marker Fox to guide helicopter landings.
Lim pointed out that during those operations, helicopters could only land at certain cleared zones along the border. Before insertion into those areas, troops would assemble at the FOB in Gubet, situated near the Tasik Pedu Dam in Kedah. This location functioned as a staging area where helicopters would pick up units for deployment into operational zones.
He stressed that the experience was both physically and mentally demanding. Being away from home was difficult, and once deployed by helicopter, constant movement was required to avoid detection.
"The operational areas were heavily laden with booby traps, so many that casualties were frequent, despite the presence of specialised clearing teams," he said.
He emphasised that the threat of traps was a constant concern, with the terrain and unpredictability making every mission potentially deadly.
'I vividly recall one occasion when there was a booby trap, I actually saw the wires while we were getting dressed. It didn't explode, but I was absolutely shocked,' he added.
Thankfully, he was unharmed. He also noted that, despite never being directly involved in a firefight with communist insurgents, he still played an active role in operations. As a Unit Commander (UC), he operated in small groups, often participating in cut-off missions and tracking efforts.
He believed the enemy was often nearby but because they moved in small units, direct confrontation was rare.
'I like to believe that the prayers of your mother, father, and all that protected you,' he said.
He also recounted an incident that occurred roughly 20 years later, at the same location in Gubet. Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng when interviewed at the National Resilience College at Putrajaya recently.
While commanding an operation, Lim witnessed a helicopter take off, veer sideways, and make an emergency landing. Just three weeks later, that same helicopter crashed, and the pilot lost his life.
He reflected on the experience, often asking himself why he survived while others did not, concluding that perhaps it simply wasn't his time.
Speaking about the communist insurgency, he contrasted the past era with the present, emphasising that during those days, they were truly fighting an organised enemy.
He said when they discovered communist camps deep in the jungle, it was clear the insurgents had adapted to long-term survival. The camps were well-established, complete with natural resources like streams for bathing, and the fighters were seasoned and resilient, though their presence was usually confined to the fringe areas.
He stated that this was the reason for the existence of 'white' and 'black' areas during the conflict period. Under the Briggs Plan, these designations helped isolate communist insurgents from their supporters and sympathisers.
He also recalled attending a course while serving in the UC platoon, conducted by military intelligence. Some of the instructors were former communist insurgents who had surrendered. He said they shared survival techniques, deception tactics and jungle warfare strategies, skills essential for operating in dense terrain.
He described the jungle some 'neutral' being, and surviving in it required both stealth and adaptability, as well as the ability to track enemy movement.
He noted that follow-up action was often required after contact with the enemy. Even tracking dogs could lose the scent if insurgents crossed rivers or split up. Tactics such as dispersal, using dead letterboxes, and misleading trails were commonly employed.
These techniques were unfamiliar not only to civilians but also to newer generations of soldiers, who had never encountered such unconventional warfare.
'When I had a family, I found it quite tough being away from my loved ones for two months, sometimes even longer, because our operations could be extended due to the challenging, unsustainable conditions. We couldn't always move around easily as the jungle was extremely dense, though rich in resources.
'It's truly beautiful inside the jungle. But you operate based on what you know, and thankfully, the sergeants and those in the platoon who had been there longer guided me and taught me about the rest,' he said.