Latest news with #CheYak
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Ex-commando walks 10km daily to clean T'ganu beach
A FORMER commando in the special forces walks more than 10km a day to collect rubbish along a beach in Terengganu, Utusan Malaysia reported. Embong Ngah, also known as Che Yak, spends three to four hours daily as part of his routine, adding that it has become meaningful and a source of satisfaction. 'Ever since I had knee joint problems about five years ago, I can't walk much. But with exercise, I can now walk 10km. I take this chance to pick rubbish like containers and plastic bottles as I want to see a clean beach,' said Che Yak, 77, from Marang 'There are some who think I'm crazy as I do this alone, wearing worn out clothes and carrying a stick while walking. But I don't take it personally and continue my routine as usual,' he added. > A remote-control (RC) vehicle enthusiast has spent thousands of ringgit over the past 10 years collecting and producing replica RC lorries as part of his hobby, Harian Metro reported. Technician Mohammad Ridzuan Mohd Tahir, 36, said when he started his hobby, he only had one item, an RC lorry which costs RM4,500. 'Due to my deep interest, I was willing to spend money to expand my collection. 'Among them are an oil tanker, a tow truck, a double-decker Rapid Bus, a tractor and a Road Transport Department car, which are inspired by real models,' he said. Ridzuan also said he has a special track area at his home in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. 'I invested around RM20,000 to build this track. The satisfaction is hard to describe; the look, movement and sounds are realistic. It makes me feel like I'm actually driving the vehicle,' he said. > The daily also reported that a man's three decades of hard work went up in flames after a fire destroyed his homeopathy centre in Kuala Terengganu. Lukman Mamat, 68, said he was attending a gathering when his son called him and related the devastating news on Saturday. 'I rushed back and found the centre that had been operating since 1994 had burnt down. 'I sold various religious books, including books related to homeopathic treatment, at the centre. But nothing could be saved,' he added. Kuala Nerus fire station chief Azmi Omar said the fire was brought under control after 45 minutes, and the cause is still under investigation. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Pioneer ex-VAT 69 commando keeps beaches clean
KUALA LUMPUR: Che Yak @ Embong Ngah, 77, one of the first VAT 69 commandos, now fights a different scourge — litterbugs — walking more than 10 kilometres along Terengganu's beaches, collecting rubbish as part of his daily exercise. Residing in Kampung Rhu Muda, Che Yak begins his three- to four-hour routine as early as 7am. Utusan Malaysia reported that one of the 30 members of the first nucleus troop of VAT 69, Che Yak said he finds great satisfaction in walking long distances, which has become a routine deeply ingrained in him. "Almost every day I walk from my house to Pantai Rhu Muda and continue along the beach, sometimes as far as Pantai Kelulut and Pantai Kekabu. "Since suffering from knee joint problems about five years ago, the distance I cover is no longer as far as before, now around 10 kilometres. "Almost every day I walk from my house to Pantai Rhu Muda and continue along the beach. Since suffering from knee joint problems about five years ago, the distance I cover is now around 10 kilometres. While exercising, I pick up rubbish such as containers and plastic bottles because I enjoy seeing the beach clean," he said. He added that some people have mistaken him for "not right in the head" when they see him in shabby clothes, dragging a stick or carrying a sack of rubbish. "I don't take it to heart and just carry on with my usual exercise," he said. Living with his wife, Siti Rohana Nordin, 57, Che Yak also enjoys gardening and growing flowers as a hobby, as well as caring for several cats at home. Sharing memories from his time in service, Che Yak said his experience battling communist insurgents in Sarawak between 1970 and 1971 remains unforgettable. He recalled how the fort where he and his comrades were stationed came under ambush late at night, sparking a firefight that lasted until early morning, from which they survived. "I began as a member of the police force in June 1969 in Hulu Kinta, Perak, and in October of the same year, I was selected for VAT 69 commando training and underwent basic commando training. "We were trained by a team of instructors from the United Kingdom's Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), and out of all those who joined the training, only 30 of us, including myself, made it to the end, becoming the first nucleus troop of VAT 69. "I retired from the police on Feb 1 2004, at the Terengganu police contingent headquarters. "Now, we are all old, and some of my comrades have passed away," he said. Among the awards he has received are the Pingat Pangkuan Negara, the Pingat Bentara Pasukan Polis, and the Pingat Jasa Pingat Darjah Bentara Pasukan Pahlawan Negara.
