BACHOK: Retired policeman Hussin Deris should be proud as the police's legacy in his family has continued for three generations.
Apart from Hussin who retired with the rank of sergeant, the other policemen in the family were Hussin's late father Corporal Deris Said and Hussin's eldest son Superintendent Ahmad Shafiki.
"After 34 years of dedicated service as a policeman, I am happy that my family's legacy in the force continues.
"My son Ahmad Shafiki who is now Machang district police chief is the third generation in my family to serve in the police.
"He followed in my footsteps and that of his late grandfather, who served before the country gained independence.
"My two other sons - Kamarul Hisham and Mohamad Abdul Hakim, are serving in the Royal Malaysian Navy and the General Operations Force in Ulu Kinta, Perak," he told reporters at his home in Kampung Alor Bakat yesterday.
Hussin said this after receiving a visit from Bachok district police chief Superintendent Mohamad Ismail Jamaluddin in conjunction with the 'Santuni Pesara Polis' programme, held as part of the National Month celebrations.
Hussin, who is fondly known as Pok Nik Hussin, said his brother, Abu Hassan Deris, 78, was also a member of the police force, earning their family the nickname "keluarga polis."
On his experience in the force, he recounted a very harrowing experience in 1971.
"While l was escorting the late Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the vehicle that I was in, plunged into a 17m-deep ravine in Bukit Fraser.
"I had just joined the police force when this incident happened. Although I did not suffered serious injuries, I was very worried because communist terrorists were roaming the area.
"The vehicle I was in, was submerged in knee-deep water and I only regained consciousness after my nose was submerged in the water," said Hussin, who began his police career at age 22 and retired in 2004 at the age of 56.
Despite the harrowing incident escorting the prime minister that time, Hussin expressed gratitude that he did not suffer any serious injuries throughout his service.
"But I am deeply saddened as many of my teammates were injured, lost their lives and suffered permanent disabilities after stepping on booby traps," he added.