Read first-hand accounts of veterans who fought for the country
Invaluable old photos – such as this one of cadets participating in a military march-past – feature prominently in 'Memoirs: Malaya and Borneo at War'. (Macva pic)
PETALING JAYA : Today, Malaysia stands in peace and stability thanks to the courage and sacrifices of those who dedicated their lives to defending the nation.
The brave men and women of our armed forces answered the call of duty when the country needed them most, fighting for the love of their homeland.
Now, thanks to the efforts of the Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (Macva), readers can discover the spirit and dedication of these unsung heroes through gripping stories told in their own words.
Established in 2016, Macva aims to foster and strengthen comradeship, solidarity and harmony among veterans, and promote nation building for a harmonious, united and progressive Malaysia.
'Memoirs: Malaya and Borneo At War' (MMBW) collects many first-hand accounts from veterans, capturing their experiences during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), Indonesian Confrontation (1963-1966), and the Counter-Insurgency Warfare era (1968-1989).
'Before this, there weren't too many accounts of these incidents from Malaysians. They were mostly recorded from a western perspective. We decided to collect stories from people who had actually been there, to find out first-hand what really happened then,' editor Lt-Col Liew Ngoh Chin told FMT Lifestyle.
The book is a followup to 'Memoirs of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans', also published by Macva about three years ago.
'Memoirs: Malaya and Borneo At War' is the sequel to 'Memoirs of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans'. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle)
While the first book mostly records war stories from Chinese veterans, this takes more of a 'muhibbah' approach, with accounts from people of all races and backgrounds.
'There are also a lot of amazing photographs in the book, which really capture times gone by. We need to remember and record our history, so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past,' Liew said.
MMBW is a captivating read, perfectly capturing the travails of war. Many stories are described so vividly, one can almost feel the jungle heat and smell the smoke of gunfire.
The turmoil in these tales are nicely balanced by accounts of loyalty, friendship, sacrifice, and courage under fire. War may be a nightmare but, as this book shows, it is also a great showcase of humans at their noblest.
The simple narration style serves as an effective reminder that these soldiers were not necessarily extraordinary, but merely everyday people doing their best to defend the land they loved.
Macva members hope the book will serve as a poignant record of the country's military history. (Andrea Rhiannon Edwards @ FMT Lifestyle)
One highlight is 'Incident Aboard the KD Sri Selangor P3139', in which Lt-Cmdr Kweh Onn Cheong tells the thrilling tale of an armed firefight against violent enemy commandos on a moonlit sea.
In 'Chasing A Dream', Lt-Col Robert Rizal Abdullah describes his battles against communists in the mosquito-infested swamps of Serian, Sarawak; while Lt-Col Tan Siew Soo recalls his time with the federation armoured car regiment in 'The Momentous Years of the Malayan Emergency'.
Some chapters are truly moving: one example is 'The Choice You Make Dictates The Life You Lead', where Col Zulkifli Tahir presses on with life courageously despite having suffered a grievous injury after encountering an explosive booby trap.
And it's not just human soldiers who are honoured: one chapter pays homage to the valiant canines of the Malaysian War Dog Wing, who served as trackers, guards, and patrol dogs for the army.
Another image from the book, highlighting the first batch of RMAF technicians. (RMAF 50th Jubilee Intan Souvenir Magazine pic)
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle recently, several Macva members said they hope the book will encourage other veterans to come forward, so their stories can also be recorded for posterity.
'The armed forces have played a vital role in safeguarding the nation's security and enabling its development. It is my hope that this proud history will be preserved and remembered by future generations,' said Major David Chow Yun Kai.
Lt Mary Koh added: 'I hope it inspires younger generations to appreciate the sacrifices made in defence of our nation, and to embrace the values of discipline, unity and service.'
And Capt Lee Kwang Lock summed it up as follows: 'We hope the new generation understands our present peace is due to the commitment and loyalty of our veterans. No one should question the return on investment the Malaysian armed forces provided. Lest we forget.'
'Memoirs: Malaya and Borneo At War' will be launched on June 1. For more information or to purchase the book, visit Macva's website.
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