Latest news with #MalaysianArmedForcesChineseVeteransAssociation
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MACVA pushes for war memoirs to enter school curriculum
KUALA LUMPUR: Many Malaysians remain unaware that the country has endured three wars — and that the sacrifices of its army veterans during these conflicts have been largely omitted from history books and overlooked in the national narrative. "Very little has been documented about these turbulent chapters of our history, especially the undeclared wars that plagued the country in its early years. Most of the books and articles that exist were written from foreign perspectives," said Captain (Rtd) Dato' Lee Kwang Lock of the Royal Malaysian Navy. "Our historians and academics — even those from our own universities — are often unaware of the stories and details of these wars," he lamented. "So we took it upon ourselves to collect stories from our veterans, to create awareness." Despite their pivotal role in safeguarding the nation during the Malayan Emergency, the Indonesian Confrontation and the Communist Insurgency, many of these veterans have faded from public memory. Their sacrifices helped lay the foundation for the peace and stability Malaysia enjoys today — yet their contributions are rarely acknowledged, and remain largely absent from school curricula. As a result, younger generations grow up with little understanding of the price paid for the freedom they now take for granted. In an effort to preserve these forgotten stories, the Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (MACVA) has published Memoirs: Malaya and Borneo at War, launched yesterday. The paperback compiles first-hand accounts from Malaysian veterans, offering a rare glimpse into the personal struggles, courage and camaraderie that defined their wartime experiences. Lee emphasised that the book is more than just a historical record. "It stands as a tribute to the thousands of soldiers and police officers who defended the sovereignty of our nation," he said. MACVA hopes the book will reach a wider audience — particularly secondary school and university students, who they believe must be taught the realities of Malaysia's wartime history and the sacrifices that shaped the nation. "We had planned to approach the Ministry of Education to give away copies of our book because the younger generation must be aware," said MACVA president Lt Col (Rtd) Wong Ah Jit. "But there have been hurdles in getting it approved and accepted into the school system." MACVA's latest publication follows its first book, Memoirs of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans, launched in March 2020. With each release, the association hopes to fill the historical gaps left in mainstream narratives — and to spark greater public awareness of Malaysia's military past. There is a growing urgency to ensure that the sacrifices of these veterans are formally recognised. Wong stressed that their stories should not be confined to memoirs alone, but woven into the national education system — so that future generations truly understand the price of peace.
The Star
3 days ago
- General
- The Star
Veterans share untold stories of war
KLANG: Many courageous individuals in the Armed Forces have sacrificed their lives to protect the nation, yet unfortunately, not many Malaysians are aware of these heroes. To commemorate these distinguished individuals and their sacrifices, the Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (Macva) has released a paperback titled Memoirs: Malaya and Borneo at War. 'Each chapter in the book is written by the veterans themselves, sharing their stories and how they fought tooth and nail to protect the country. 'Some of their comrades died for the nation, leaving the survivors to tell their posthumous stories,' said former navy officer Lt (Rtd) Mary Koh, one of Macva's three vice-presidents. Kol (Rtd) Zulkifli Tahir, from the Royal Malay Regiment, is one of the authors who shares various experiences in his chapter called 'The Choice You Make Dictates the Life You Lead'. He recounts the incident where he lost part of his right leg to a booby trap during operations against communists at the Kuala Muda Forest Reserve in Kedah in early 1986. Kol Zulkifli Tahir had lost his right leg while battling the communists. The former soldier vividly describes the condition of his right leg following the blast, as well as details the injuries suffered by some of his platoon members. Zulkifli, who retired from the army after 40 years of service in 2020, said that during his time, people joined the military without expecting anything in return other than the chance to serve the nation. 'We were also colour blind as when you are in battle, it's the person on your right, left, front and back that will be looking out for you regardless of who they are,'' he said when contacted. Retired army engineer Lt Kol Raymond Goh Boon Pah recounts the story of a Nepalese Gurkha soldier who fought alongside Malaysian troops in Sarawak during the Indonesian Confrontation in 1965. The soldier, then L/Cpl Rambahadur Limbu, was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest British decoration, for his courageous efforts in defending Malaysia's sovereignty as well as rescuing his injured comrades. He returned home to Nepal and died at the age of 83 in 2023. A representative of His Majesty King Charles lll attended hiis funeral. In addition to stories shared by military officers and personnel, former police special branch Supt Datuk Paul Kiong's account of his experiences during the height of the communist insurgency is one of the standout chapters in the book. When contacted, Kiong explained that the police and military often collaborated by sharing intelligence in their fight against communist insurgency. Supt Datuk Paul Kiong, during his days in the jungle with the communists to gather intelligence. 'Our teams had a very close working relationship – they had the numbers, and we had the expertise for covert operations. 'To infiltrate and gather intelligence within the communist strongholds, we relied heavily on the Chinese community, and the police special branch had many Chinese officers,' he said. Kiong himself had successfully infiltrated a communist fort and lived among them for six years, collecting crucial intelligence. Now 81, Kiong shared that he had helped turn a large number of former communists over for rehabilitation, with many of them eventually becoming his close friends. 'We meet regularly, and they are very grateful for the second chance I gave them. 'I could have easily killed them when I brought them out,' said Kiong, who added that the rehabilitated individuals now lead ordinary lives, and their children are now productive and respectable members of society. For his valour, Kiong was bestowed the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa, which is Malaysia's highest federal award. The book, which was edited by a team led by former army surgeon Lt-Kol (Rtd) Dr Liew Ngoh Chin, will be launched on June 1 by former chief of defence forces Jen (Rtd) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, the navy's first Malaysian chief Rear Admiral (Rtd) Tan Sri K. Thanabalasingam, and the air force's first non-British chief Air Vice-Marshal (Rtd) Tan Sri Sulaiman Sujak.
