THE late Tan Sri Yuen Yuet Leng, if he were alive today, would surely be in a huff.
In his book, Nation Before Self and Values that Do Not Die, Yuen had written about the assassination of Tan Sri Koo Chong Kong, then Perak police chief, in November 1975.
Koo was a friend and respected colleague of Yuen, who was then the deputy director of Special Branch. The former had been shot by members of a communist hit squad.
Yuen was asked to take over as Perak police chief by then inspector-general of police, Tun Hanif Omar.
Yuen wrote about how one of the ways the state honoured a fallen hero was to name the road near the state police headquarters after Koo. That name, however, was in 2001 changed to Jalan Tabung Haji because the Tabung Haji building had been constructed along the road, “much to the indignation of so many”.
“I wrote in the media expressing my utter dismay on the (Ipoh Municipal) Council’s lack of appreciation on what impact such an act would have on the family of Tan Sri Koo and, in particular, Puan Sri Koo who had suffered the tragic loss of her husband who had sacrificed his life for state and nation.”
Later that same year, then menteri besar Datuk Seri (now Tan Sri) Mohammad Tajol Rosli Ghazali ordered that the name of the road revert to Jalan Koo Chong Kong.
Fifteen years on, another fallen hero faces the possible ignominy of being forgotten altogether, once a camp named after him is torn down.
Mohd Zabri Abdul Hamid was born in Tapah and was also known to Yuen, having served with him in several places, including the much-vaunted Rejang Area Security Command (Rascom), instituted to help Sarawak get rid of the North Kalimantan Communist Party.
“Zabri, known to me personally, was one of the best jungle operational commanders, an expert navigator and a leader by example.
“The police boys with him at the time will not forget his strength, courage and fortitude in leadership when he lay dying and yet continued to assure and comfort them.
“He had served under me on Operation Ngayau and Rascom (Yuen was head of SB) and distinguished himself in secret Special Branch operations like Operation Jemput at and across the Indonesia-Sarawak border,” Yuen wrote.
Zabri was a VAT 69 commando who died in 1975 shortly after stepping on a booby trap left by communist terrorists in northern Perak while leading his team to an extraction point to allow two of his wounded teammates to be evacuated after a firefight with the communists.
He was posthumously promoted to assistant superintendent and awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP).
Members of VAT 69, who served with and under him, love him so much that they visit his grave in Tapah every year. A camp built by fellow commandos in the Temenggor forest reserve was named after him.
Sadly, Camp Zabri has since been abandoned and left in a dilapidated condition. It is now in danger of being torn down.
Retired VAT 69 commandos have called for the camp to be saved so that their beloved colleague can continue to be honoured.
VAT 69 Commando Veterans Association president Datuk Mohd Rani Abd Rashid had called for the camp to be saved, saying veterans remembered how its location had helped them hone their jungle survival and combat skills, and held a “very special place” in their hearts. Other veterans of VAT 69 also called for it to be preserved to help the younger generation understand the struggle and sacrifices made by security forces against communist insurgents.
Thankfully, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir has stepped in, just like his predecessor Tajol Rosli. However, nothing is set in stone just yet as Zambry said the state government would decide on Camp Zabri’s future after getting feedback from various agencies.
It is hoped that Zambry, like Tajol Rosli before him, will do what it takes to honour the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
The camp should be repaired and maintained, perhaps as a museum, or more appropriately as a place where a new generation of Malaysians can learn about the history of our security forces and the sacrifices they made. And, to raise money to pay for maintenance, it could be turned into a team-building facility, as suggested by one VAT 69 veteran.
Keeping Camp Zabri would not only honour a warrior who laid down his life, a man awarded the SP, the nation’s highest award for gallantry. It would honour all members of the security forces who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Nay, it would honour all those who fought for this country.
The writer, Leslie Andres has more than two decades of experience, much of which has been spent writing about crime and the military. A die-hard Red Devil, he can usually be found wearing a Manchester United jersey when outside of work.