MUAR: The children of policemen killed in the 1950 Bukit Kepong incident came together today in a touching tribute commemorating 74 years since the dreaded day.
Fatimah Samad, 76, who lost her father in the Bukit Kepong attack at just three years old, revealed her enduring hatred towards communists.
Her father, Samad Yatim, was one of the auxiliary police officers who was on duty at the Bukit Kepong police station when an armed encounter between the Federation of Malaya police and the guerrillas of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), the armed wing of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), took place on Feb 23, 1950. It had left Fatimah and her two siblings growing up without a father.
"At that time, I was still a child and did not understand why my father was not there with us. I did not receive a father's love like other children. During adolescence, my mother, Zaharah Karim, told me why my father was not with us when we were young. I was angry, and until now, I still harbour resentment towards the communists. We not only lost our loved ones but also a place to depend on," she said.
Fatimah spoke after attending the commemoration ceremony of the Bukit Kepong incident in conjunction with the 217th Police Day at the Bukit Kepong Emergency Gallery (Galeri Darurat Bukit Kepong). The ceremony was officiated by Johor police chief, Commissioner M Kumar.
Also present were his deputy, Deputy Commissioner Afandi Senin, and the Muar police chief, Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz.
Kumar also made contributions to 11 next-of-kin and family members of the tragedy victims at the event.
The atmosphere turned emotional when Tampoi police station deputy chief, Yusof Ramji, recited the poem 'Bukit Kepong Berdarah' (Bloody Bukit Kepong), causing some family members to cry.
Mohd Sahar Mahmood, 76, also shared his experience of losing his father in the attack.
He recounted that he was only two years old when it happened, and that day, it claimed many lives, including security personnel, villagers, and children.
His father, Mohd Sahar, who was an auxiliary police officer, perished after being shot in the forehead while loading a broken rifle.
"At that time, I didn't feel anything, but as I grew older, I felt sadness over my father's death. I asked my mother why my father was shot. That's why I hate injustice, and to this day, memories of the attack on Bukit Kepong have never faded," he said.
He added that his mother recounted how the attack came from various directions and how his father fell while sacrificing himself for the country.
"Thinking about my father's sacrifice, I am very proud of him. My father sacrificed for his religion, race and country," he said.