Belangsungkawa buat 'Ayah-ayah'

Tiga lagi ‘ayah’ telah meninggalkan kami , yg dikira sebagai  ahli senior di kalangan keluarga suria dialisis. Pak cik Hamid  pakcik megat dan pakcik mulub. Pak megat terlebih dahulu meninggalkan kami. Seorang ayah yg suka bergurau2  manja, walau kakinya terpaksa di potong akibat gangrene,   namun  dia sentiasa cuba ceriakan keadaan dgn lawak beliau.  Kekadang pn rubiah (sister center) sering baran dgn pak megat kerana kerap datang lambat dan lupe hari rawatan dialisis. " Aduh dh tua2 ni byk lupe la" . Bgitula alasan yg sama digunapakai oleh pak megat.  Meja pak megat selalunya meriah dgn tuperware pelbagai jenis biskut namun tidak pernah ku lihat dia menjamah. Pak megat agak sensitif orangnya. Jika anaknya lewat dtg menjemput setelah tamat dialisis, beliau akan berjalan kaki balik seorg diri. Jenuh dan kelam kabut anknya itu mencari ayahnya di lorong lorong jalan. Namun sejak kebelakangan, pak megat jrg dtg dialisis hingga ku tahu dimasukkan wad kerana demam , muntah2 dan cirit birit. Namun berita pemergian beliau telah lantas diterima, akhirnya beliau dijemput 'pulang'sejak tidak dtg lagi rawatan dialisis beberapa minggu. Pak megat meninggalkan kami pada usia pertengahan 60an.

Pak Hamid pula org dikira ayah kami yg paling tua buat rawatan dialisis di suria. Beliau difahamkan seorg pesara pegawai krajan bertaraf jusa , tak hairan kalau dilihat cara pemakaian beliau. Berseluar slack dan dan berkemeja lengan panjang. Aku jrg bersembang dan bertegur tpi beliau jelas kelihatan seorg yg begitu teliti dan bersemangat tinggi. Dlm usia 80an namun mampu berjalan laju seperti org muda. Dia tidak membenarkan nurse lain utk mencucuk jarum kecuali sister  puan rubiah. Dan yang pasti, yg tidak dpt aku lupe tentang pak hamid adalah beliau akan meraung kesakitan setiap kali  bila dicucuk jarum haemodialisis. Takut aku dengar kdg2. Seperti pak megat, pak hamid juga mula byk skip dtg ke dialisis. Sehingga yg terakhir beliau kelihatan terlalu lemah dan terpaksa di papah oleh anak yg menghantar beliau ke center. Namun pak hamid masih enggan  berkerusi roda, digagahi utk berjalan sendiri.  Beberapa minggu sebelum itu keluarga pak hamid maklum bahawa dia kelihatan kurang sihat dan lemah namun enggan ke hospital. Beberapa hari pak hamid terlantar di rumah. Dia menghembus nafas terakhir di kediaman beliau sendiri di pagi jumaat yg renyai. 

Pak mulub pula adalah seorg veteran perang, dari kor renjer,  usia awal 70an. Ramah dan sering kerap menegur aku sambil gaya salute seorg pegawai. Itulah askar lama, yg sentiasa hormati pegawai, dan jalankan tugas dengan penuh setia mengikut arahan. Hebatnya pak mulub, beliau pnah di tembak semasa operasi dibhgian dada. Ternyata jiwa perwira tidak pnh mengenal erti kalah, berjuang selagi bernafas. Bak pepatah renjer iban,' agi idup agi ngelaban' . Ank pak mulub, ustaz alias adalah guru agama anak aku disekolah, kami agak rapat. Sebab ust alias akan dtg rumah ku hujung minggu utk kelas tuisyen bahasa arab dan mengaji. Aku pnah bersama pak mulub terlantar di wad , dan aku masih igt anknye ust alias pnh bantu memapah aku yg terkulai hampir pitam setelah abes dialisis. Memberi aku mkn, dan membantu ku kuatkan semangat. Namun pak mulub terlalu kerap di kejarkan ke wad , kerana  kesan dan komplikasi dialisis. Hingga yg terakhir, beliau terpaksa di masukkan ke icu, kerana paru2 telah mula dimasuki air. Pak mulub mampu bertahan seminggu dua di icu sehingga ku terima berita dia telah pergi selama lamanya pada khamis mlm jumaat. 

Doa aku tiga orang ‘ayah’ ini sentiasa tenang di alam yang baru setelah sekian lama bertahan sebagai pesakit dialisis. Moga perjuangan mereka diredhai Tuhan. Al fatihah.

Gempita Gegar Bedilan (Ode to Malaysian Gunners)

 

Catatan ini dikarang sempena menjelang hari ulangtahun bumi kelahiran . Di kesempatan ini, ingin dititipkan  sebuah kisah pejuangan  yang mungkin asing dibibir dan telinga kita. Nama-nama mereka tidak diukir gah di dalam lipatan sejarah merah bangsa. Kisah -kisah mereka tidak  ditugukan untuk tatapan generasi-generasi yang mendatang. Apatah lagi untuk meminta dikalungkan bunga-bunga rampai di pusara mereka  sebagai perwira bangsa. Ini adalah kisah pejuang yang tidak menagih sanjungan, walau darah telah dipertaruhkan demi negara tercinta.

Sejarahnya bermula hampir seiring dengan tarikh kelahiran tanah ini. Pada 15 Ogos 1957, di sebuah Kem di Kajang, seramai 89 anak watan telah berikrar memberanikan diri untuk mempertahankan segenap lapisan tanah  daripada petualang negara. Mereka ini adalah pelopor di kalangan anak-anak muda yang digelar sebagai anak-anak meriam  di dalam Malayan Federation Battery. British sebelum itu ragu akan kemanpuan warga tempatan untuk menyertai pasukan meriam yang memerlukan ketangkasan  mengendali  kerumitan senjata ini. Namun mereka ini adalah anak- anak muda berjiwa kental di sebalik dentuman halilintar  yang telah mengugah-gerunkan semangat musuh. Di sebalik setiap  letusan dan debu kiamat daripada tembakan meriam ini, berdiri gagah anak-anak-anak muda berjiwa besar. Ketangkasan mereka menghancur-leburkan musuh dengan ketepatan sasaran di kedudukan musuh tidak dapat disangkal dan dibandingkan. Ini bukan kerja mudah kerana silap langkah, akan bencana pada sahabat sendiri. Dan tanpa mereka ini, amatlah sukar untuk sesebuah pasukan infantri  untuk bertahan dan  melancarkan serangan.

Sejak tertubuhhnya  pasukan ini, peranan dan perjuangan mereka amat penting. Anak- anak meriam ini telah  menghadapi pelbagai ancaman bermula sejak darurat, konfrantasi sehingga lenyapnya militan komunis di negara ini. Dentuman tembakan  sulung dengan meriam jenis 25 pounder, dibedil dengan jayanya oleh PW II Ahmad Tajudin pada Oktober 1957 di Sri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan dalam operasi membantu  SAS New Zealand . Mereka juga  diaturgerakkan di kawasan Rawang -Kuala Kubu Baru  yang bermula dengan operasi  serangan udara Lincoln Bombers dari Singapura ,  diikuti dengan tembakan meriam dan mortar sebelum pasukan Askar Melayu melancarkan operasi penggeledahan mencari dan memusnah. Pasukan ini seterusnya diarahkan mengambil kedudukan di tapak meriam  di sekitar jalan  Bentong-Karak dan melepaskan tembakan mengharu ke arah selatan dan barat jalan utama dan berjaya memusnahkan penempatan musuh-musuh. Di utara Semenanjung Malaya,  mereka mengambil kedudukan tapak meriam di Sintok dalam membantu batalion Askar Melayu dengan melancarkan beberapa  jenis tembakan di kawasan yang disyaki pendudukan komunis. Setelah  ditamatkan operasi tersebut di sekitar Oktober 1960, pasukan meriam terus diaturgerakkan di kawasan Kuala Nerang, di mana mereka terpaksa mengharungi Sungai Terap dan Sungai Pedu untuk menduduki tapak meriam bagi melancarkan bantuan tembakan. Tembakan mengharu dilaksanakan bertubi-tubi  telah melemahkan semangat musuh dan memudahkan operasi penggelidahan oleh pasukan infantri. Setelah selesai operasi, disebabkan tempat menyeberang telah ditenggelami air, pasukan meriam telah dikeluarkan menggunakan rakit.

Pada 1963 sekali lagi negara digemparkan  dengan pengesanan  pasukan payung terjun Tentera Indonesia mendarat  di sekitar  kawasan  Thungamalu Estate di Kluang  yang memulakan krisis  Konfrantasi dengan negara jiran semasa pemerintahan Soekarno.  Rejimen Meriam telah diarahkan untuk melaksanakan tugas rondaan hutan, tepi laut dan melakukan serang hendap di kawasan pendaratan tentera Indonesia. Platun diketuai oleh  pegawai-pegawai meriam iaitu Lt. M. Hasaan dan Lt. Herman telah melaksanakan operasi pembersihan sejauh 6000 ela bagi menjejak musuh yang disyaki telah berada di kawasan tersebut. Beberapa anggota meriam ditugaskan sebagai pegawai perhubungan kepada  pasukan Gurkha dari tentera British. Bantuan tembakan meriam secara langsung telah diberikan kepada tentera Gurkha yang menjalankan operasi di kedudukan berhampiran. Serang hendap telah dilakukan pada sebelah malam dan dengan ketangkasan salah seorang anak  meriam, Gunner Chew Ling telah bertempur dan berjaya menembak mati seorang tentera Indonesia yang menyamar berpakaian awam .  Di samping itu juga, dua orang tentera  Indonesia telah berjaya diberkas oleh platun meriam yang di ketua Lt.  Berinder Singh.

Selain daripada operasi Konfrantsi di Semenanjung, pasukan meriam juga telah diaturgerakkan di kawasan Sabah dan Sarawak dalam membantu operasi sejak tragedi  di Kalabakan. Beberapa pucuk meriam di tempatkan di Wallace Bay, Batu Lintang,  Lubuk Antu dan Nangga Jambu untuk memberi bantuan tembakan kepada Rejimen 1/10 Gurkha. Tapak meriam di ketuai beberapa pegawai meriam iaitu Lt. M. Bakar Saleh, Lt Wan Nor , Lt M Hon Hong Kuang.  Meriam-meriam digerakkan ke lokasi kira-kira 4000 ela daripada sempadan Malaysia- Indonesia dengan menggunakan helicopter jenis Belvedere. Pasukan meriam telah mengambilalih tugas daripada 45^th Royal British Regiment di Batu Lintang pada tarikh keramat  22 dan 23 Januari 1965 , di mana satu insiden yang mengerikan telah berlaku. Kedudukan pasukan meriam  telah dibedil  oleh tentera Indonesia  dengan menggunakan meriam howitzer di jarak kurang daripada 800 meter. Anak-anak Meriam terselamat di sebalik kubu-kubu meriam yang di bina  dan merea tidak dapat melakukan tembakan balas disebabkan risiko penempatan-penempatan rumah panjang yang berhampiran.

Pada waktu kerajaan tanah melayu berada dalam keadaan darurat sekitar tahun 1948 hingga 1960, gerakan mencari dan memusnah musuh yang dijalankan oleh pasukan infantri mendapat perlindungan dan bantuan tembakan daripada pasukan meriam. Operasi membenteras komunis dilaksanakan secara berterusan di negeri Perak, Pahang , Kelantan termasuk  penempatan bersempadanan dengan negara Thailand iaitu di Betong Salient dan Sadoa. Dalam salah satu operasi di bawah   kawalan beberapa pegawai pemerhati hadapan meriam iaitu  Kapt Zainal Din, Lt Mokhtar Perman dan Lt Kamaruddin telah mengarah tembakan yang memaksa pengganas komunis keluar dari kawasan persembunyian. Hampir 1200 butir peluru letupan kuat, asap White Phospurus , asap kuning dan peluru suaran telah ditembak terhadap kedudukan musuh. Melalui laporan  yang diperolehi, kesan tembakan meriam tersebut  telah berjaya membunuh 24 pengganas komunis dan dianggarkan 17 mengalami kecederaan parah.

Di dalam  salah satu  operasi , pasukan meriam terpaksa menduduki kedudukan yang sukar demi memberi bantuan tembakan kepada pasukan infantri yang menjalankan operasi mencari dan memusnah. Tapak Meriam ini merangkumi kawasan Klian Intan, Chantarat , Ban Mak Muang , Ban Kamo, Ban To dan  Ban Khok Chang.  Tembakan meriam berhalilintar di waktu malam telah mengagalkan  pengganas komunis  untuk meneruskan operasi mereka dan  memberi impak psikologi yang melunturkan semangat juang mereka. Dianggarkan hampir 6000 butir peluru telah berjaya dilepaskan ke sasaran bagi menjayakan operasi  yang dikenali sebagai Cahaya Bena. Dengan kejayaan dan ketangkasan pasukan dan anak-anak meriam ini , mereka telah ditugaskan operasi berikutnya  di kawasan Betong Salient dalam membantu pasukan Zulu Skuadron Rejimen Gerak Khas yang melaksanakan serang hendap ke atas kumpulan pengganas komunis. Pegawai meriam Lt Basri Asari dengan tangkas  mengarah tembakan yang  mengorbankan pengganas yang berlindung di penempatan mereka.  Tragedi yang tidak dapat dilupakan di dalam operasi apabila salah seorang pegawai meriam, Lt.  Raja Musa  telah mengalami kecederaan parah akibat terpijak jerangkap samar. Kesan daripada kecederaan itu ,mata beliau telah buta dan kaki kanan terpaksa dipotong.

Beginilah kisah suka duka  pahit maung mereka yang bergelar anak- anak meriam, wira-wira yang tidak didendang. Bukanlah  mudah untuk mengendali dan memastikan tembakan yang tepat  dan cepat dapat dilancarkan sebilang masa  bagi memastikan nyawa pasukan sahabat dapat dilindungi. Ramai anak-anak meriam  yang telah tercedera dan terkorban dalam mengendalikan senjata yang amat berisiko tinggi ini. Kini masa berlalu,  jasa  dan perjuangan mereka dalam melenyapkan dan menggerunkan musuh  terus berlalu sepi.  Nama-nama yang disebutkan di dalam kisah ini, kini berada di celah-celah masyarakat biasa yang mungkin pernah kita sua dan jumpa. Namun di sebalik wajah-wajah yang tidak dikenali itu,  tersimpan kisah perwira yang mengegar- gempitakan medan pertempuran dengan bedilan keramat, agar  setiap inci tanah yang dicintai ini  tidak dinodai oleh musuh durjana.

Andai kita lupa, ingatilah kembali dentuman tembakan 101  das Meriam 25 pounder yang mengiringi laungan pengistiharaan kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu pada detik 31 ogos 1957. Semoga gempita gegar bedilan itu masih lagi  bergaung di segenap penjuru sanubari warga bumi tercinta ini. Selamat menyambut hari Merdeka buat wira-wira  bedilan !

 

 

Doa dan Jaga Aib Org lain

Salam Maal Hijrah.

Kisah yg bole diambil ikhtibar zaman nabi musa. Negara dilanda kemarau yg pjg. Mereka ramai2  berdoa utk diturunkan hujan. Namun sekian lama tidak dimakbul tuhan dan musa bertanya kepada Allah mengapa. Dan diberitahu bahawa dlm kalangan msykt itu ade seorg yang buat maksiat dan dosa dan tak pernah bertaubat. Lalu nabi  musa bertanya kepada msykt sapakah antara mereka itu yg telah berbuat maksiat sekian lama. Lelaki tsebut enggan mengaku dan jadi takut jika aib dia terbongkar , lalu dia berdoa dan bertaubat kpd Allah. Kemudian hujan pun turun. Musa amat gembira dan bertanya kepada Allah mengapa akhirnya hujan turun dan diberitahu bahawa laki  tersebut telah bertaubat. Musa ingin tahu siapakah lelaki itu namun Allah memberitahu , 'telah aku tutup aibnya selama 40 tahun semasa dia bermaksiat,  adakah aku akan buka aibnya setelah dia bertaubat? ' Pengajaran: sentiasa memohon kpd Allah (berdoa) sentiasa menjaga aib orang lain

Anatomy of Happiness

We can start asking ourself 3 questions. Are you having a good  day? Why you having a good or bad day? Do you rather having a good or bad day ?

To really understand our happiness we must delve the answers for question no 2.

Much of the time our mind is like ballons in the wind. Blown here and there by external circumstances. When things going well we feel happy and when something goes wrong we feel unhappy.

If we list our happiness on external  conditions , we will not having stable happiness. This is because we cannot control people and circumstances. We had put our happiness in the hand of others. It always will be in the wind of our circumstances.

If you really want to have good day, there two things you really got to do.

First stop outscourcing our happiness on the people and circumstances. Stop attributing our happiness towards what happening externally.  Stop blaming others for our unhappiness. Stop letting other people doing the job, which in turn, our happiness bcome unstable.

Secondly , we must actively cultivate the source of peace from inside of our mind. Happiness/unhappiness are state of mind. Therefore, if we hv peacefull mind, we will feel happy regardless  the circumstances.

Its not what happening makes us happy  but rather how we respond to what happen determine our happiness.

How we going to do this? How can we cultivate  stable peace of mind that we can rely upon regardless of the external circumstances?

This is where prayer and comtemplation come to place. This  meditation process is mental action of concentrating on the peaceful and positive state of mind. 

Once we built strong peaceful mental capacity in our mind, any where the wind blows it doest really matter. Our happinesss were hooked in deepened meaning and  purpose of peace.

Belangsungkawa Tuan Najbudin

 

Pagi itu, terdetik aku whatsapps seorng sahabat. Cuma ingin bertanya khabar, kerana tahu kesihatannya merosot bebrapa bulan lepas. Sedetik kemudian, hanya berita sedih diterima. Tuan Najbudin telah hembus nafas akhir, sebelum subuhnya.

Aku bahasa beliau sebagai Tuan Najib. Kerana beliau senior dalam tentera dalam rejimen meriam yang sama. Pertama kali jumpe di hospital seremban wad 1 E. Waktu itu juga, kesihatan aku merosot, di diagnos CKD stage 5. Tidak disangka, disebelahan katil  no. 10  wad 1 E juga adalah seorang pesara meriam. Tuan Najib telah lama  bersara sebelum aku masuk perkhidmatan. Beliau kenal arwah ayahku yang juga senior beliau dalam rejimen meriam. Semuanya seakan kebetulan. Kami jadi mesra dan aku anggap Tn Najib seperti bapa saudara sendiri.

Watak Tn Najib memang suka berseloroh dan mudah di damping. Sifat ceria dan ramah beliau selalu bingitkan wad 1 E Hospital Tuanku Jaafar. Wad meriah sebab ade beliau.  Awal pagi belum lagi doktor round memeriksa pesakit, Tn najib akan lagi awal 'periksa' pesakit dari katil ke katil. Doktor ,jururawat memang dah lazim gelagat Tn Najib, hingga mengalahkan doktor. 

Satu hari Tn Najib lancar misi untuk lari sekejap dari wad untuk balik rumah. Ade hal sikit katanya. Jangan risau malamnya sya datang balik katanya lagi. Dengan gaya berjaket,  berkaca mata hitam, Tn najib berjaya lolos dari wad. Walau disedari oleh jururawat, tpi beliau cekap bak lipas kudung tak terkejar jururawat berbadan besar.

Tn Najib pnah pelawa aku minum coke di wad. Dengan ais batu lagi. Tak tau mcamne dia bole seludup. Memang pantang kalau doktor tahu, air gas apetahlagi coke di minum oleh pesakit CKD. 

Kata Tn Najib pesakit kronik macam macam pantang larang. Serba serbi tak boleh. Tapi kita juga manusia biasa. Selagi berselera hemtam saja, pandai pandai tanggung nanti, seloroh beliau sambil berbahak.

Tn Najib pnah kata 'once you let medical insert something into ur body, you will not escape from it and they will do more to ur body. ' Itulah lumrah kehidupan kidney failure. Akan bermulanya kembara kesihatan yang penuh roller-coaster. Kite kene kuat , tali paling kuat untuk berpegang hanya Dia. Berdoa dan dan bergantung harap. Mudahan kesudahan kita baik. Pesan Tn Najib sambil senyum.

Sejak keluar wad, telah lama tidak ketemui Tn najib. Hanya berutus whatsapp bertanya khabar, kongsi kata hikmah dan cebisan ayat ayat Quran. Kali terakhir ketemui waktu aku bersolat jumaat di Masjid Bukit Chedang. Memang rancang nak cari beliau di sana. Tercari-cari di saf hadapan tapi tak kelihatan. Rupanya beliau di sudut hujung tersorak di saf paling belakang. Sempat berbual seminit dua di pintu pagar keluar masjid.

Bebrapa bulan belakang Tn Najib khabar berita pada aku. Yang kaki nya terpaksa di potong sebab 'gangrene'. Masih ingat ayat beliau di whatsapp ' ' the pain is unberable, but im ok'..

Selapas itu , aku kurang mendapat khabar Tn Najib. Aku tahu kesihatan semakin merosot. Kerap whatsaap hanya dibalas oleh anaknya. Tn Najib tidak lagi pegang handphone sendiri. Anaknya satu hari bagitahu ayah kena masuk wad, kena tranfuse darah,  hemoglobin semakin menurun.

Pagi itu aku cuba whatsapp Tn Najib mungkin dia dah stabil. Harapan aku. Berita sebaliknya aku terima. Beliau telah pergi selama lamanya awal subuh hari itu lagi.

Belangsungkawa buat Tn Najib, walau perkenalan hanya seketika, tapi cukup untuk  pada aku sebagai model pejuang gigih berjiwa kental . Terima kasih atas dorongan dan semangat. Terima kasih sebab  tunjuk erti  bertahan selagi nyawa berdetak . Pnah Tuan kata dulu, ' I'm down but not out'  . Kata-kata yang tak mungkin aku lupa.  Perjalanan Tn Najib lalui adalah denai denai yang bakal aku menyusul nanti.

Doa aku Tn lebih tenang di Sana.

Ode to Malaysian Shelldrake

 

This piece is written in conjunction with the anniversary of the nation Independence Day. On this meaningful occasion, I want to spare a story of struggle that may sound foreign to our ears. Their names are not engraved in the folds of the nation's blood history. Their stories are not destined for the decorative album of future generations. Not to mention more, for them to be garlanded with potpourri at their graves as warrior of the nation. This is the story of a warrior who does not solicit flattery, even when their blood has been at stake for the sake of the beloved country.

The history begins almost in line with the date of the birth of this land. On August 15, 1957, at a Camp in Kajang, a total of 89 natives young man have pledged to volunteer to defend this beloved land from foreign intruders. They are among pioneer who dubbed themselves as cannon crew in Malayan Federation Battery. The British had previously doubted the viability of the locals to join an artillery unit that requires agility to handle complexity of the weapon. But these are selected young people with a strong soul behind the bang of thunderbolt that had terrified the spirit of the enemy. Behind every eruption and the dust of the apocalypse from the shots of this cannon, stood gallantly a soulful determined young brave men. Their dexterity to smash the enemy with the accuracy of the target on to enemy position is undeniable and comparable. This is not an easy task because any miscalculations will be disastrous to own friendly forces. And without them, it is almost impossible for an infantry unit to survive and launch an attack.

Since the inception of the unit, their role and struggle is very important. The gun crews have faced various threats starting from the emergency period, the confrontation until the wiped off of communist militants in the country. The bang of the first shot with a 25 pounder cannon, fired successfully by PW II Ahmad Tajudin in October 1957 in Sri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan in an operation to assist SAS New Zealand. They are also deployed in the Rawang -Kuala Kubu Baru area which started the operation with Lincoln Bombers airstrikes from Singapore, followed by artillery fire and mortar prior to the Malay Regiment troops launched a search operation to search and destroy. The unit was then instructed to take a gun position around the Bentong-Karak road and fired raging shots to the south and west main road and successfully destroy enemy settlements. In the north of the Peninsula Malaya, they took up the gun position at Sintok in assisting the Malay Regiment to launch an attack to suspected communist occupation area. After the operation ended around October 1960, artillery troops continued to be deployed in the Kuala Nerang area, where they had to wading through Sungai Terap and Sungai Pedu to occupy the gun position for launch fire assistance. Harassing shots have been fired to weaken the morale of the enemy and facilitate search operations by the infantry unit. After the operation, because the crossing was flooded, the artillery unit was redeployed using a raft.

In 1963 once again the country was rocked by the detection of Indonesian paratroopers landed around the Thungamalu Estate area in Kluang which initiated Confrontation crisis with neighbouring country during Soekarno's rule. The Artillery Regiment was instructed to carry out coastal patrol duties to ambush the Indonesian military landing area. The platoon is led by artillery officers, Lt. M. Hasaan and Lt. Herman has performed the operation clearing as far as 6000 yards to track down enemies suspected to have been in the area. Several artillerymen were assigned as liaison officers to Gurkha troops from the British army. Direct gun fire assistance has been given to the Gurkha army conducting operations at a nearby position. The ambush was carried out at night and with the dexterity of one gun crew, Gunner Chew Ling had fought and managed to shoot dead one Indonesian soldiers in disguise in civilian clothes. In addition, two Indonesian army was also successfully apprehended by an artillery platoon led by Lt. Berinder Singh.

Apart from the Confrontation operations in the Peninsular, artillery units have also been deployed in Sabah and Sarawak in assisting operations since Kalabakan tragedy. Several guns  were placed in Wallace Bay, Batu Lintang, Lubuk Antu and Nangga Jambu to provide fire assistance to the 1/10 Gurkha Regiment. Gun positions led by several artillery officers, namely Lt. M. Bakar Saleh, Lt Wan Nor, Lt M Hon Hong Kuang. The guns were moved to a location about 4000 yards from the border Malaysia- Indonesia by using a Belvedere type helicopter. The artillery unit has took over the duties of the 45^th  Royal British Regiment at Batu Lintang on the sacred date 22 and 23 January 1965, where a horrific incident took place. The position of the artillery was shelled by the Indonesian army using howitzer at a distance of less than 800 meters. The gun crews survived despite the cannon fortifications being built and they were unable to launch counter fire due to the risk of nearby longhouse settlements.

At the time the country was in emergency from the year 1948 until 1960, the search and destruction of the enemy was carried out by infantry get protection and firing assistance from the artillery unit. Operations to eradicate communists are implemented continuously in the state of Perak, Pahang, Kelantan including settlements bordering Thailand in Betong Salient and Sadoa. In one of the operations under the control of several artillery forward observer officers namely Capt Zainal Din, Lt Mokhtar Perman and Lt Jamaluddin were directed shots that forced communist terrorists out of hiding areas. Almost 1200 rounds high explosive, White Phosphorus, yellow smoke have been shot against enemy positions. Through the reports obtained, the effects of the shots had succeeded in killing 24 communist terrorists and an estimated 17 suffered severe injuries.

In one of the operations, the artillery unit had to occupy a difficult position in order to provide fire support to the infantry unit conducting the seek and destroy operation. This gun position covers the area of ​​Klian Intan, Chantarat, Ban Mak Muang, Ban Kamo, Ban To and Ban Khok Chang. Lightning of gun fire at night has thwarted the communist terrorists in continue their operations and give a psychological impact that weakens their fighting spirit. Estimated nearly 6000 rounds of ammunition were successfully fired at the target for the success of the operation known as Cahaya Bena. With the success and agility of the unit and gun crews, they were assigned for the next operation in the Betong Salient area in assisting the Special Operations of Zulu Squadron carrying out the ambush on communist terrorist groups. Artillery officer Lt Basri Asari expertly directing shots that killed terrorists taking refuge in settlements. An unforgettable tragedy in the operation when one of the artillery officers, Lt. Raja Musa had suffered severe injuries due to   stepping on a booby trap. As a result of the injury, his eyes were blinded and his right leg had to be amputated.

This is the story of the bitter grief of those who known as the gun crews of artillery regiment, the unsung heroes. It is never a convenient task to operate and ensure the fire shot fall accurately and swiftly launch fire support at any time to ensure the life of friendly can be protected. Many of the gun crews were wounded and killed during operating this extremely high risk weapon. Now time has passes, their service and struggle in obliterating and frightening the enemy continued to pass quietly. The names mentioned in this story, is now in the midst of among ordinary citizen maybe we'll have met. But behind those unfamiliar faces, stored the story of once a warrior who rocked the battlefield with lightning of gunfire, ensure every inch of this beloved land is not tarnished by the unwelcome visitors.

Probably, if we may forget, do recall the rumble of the 101 rounds gun fires of 25 pounder cannon cries accompanying declarations of Independence of Malaya on auspicious 31 August 1957. Hopefully, that tremors of the gunfire will still resonate in very soul of the people hearts of this beloved land. Happy Merdeka Day to all Gunners!

ADF Strategic HRM

 

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is an established military organisation which responsible for the defence country of Australia. It’s basically consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army , Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)  and few number of joint of tri-service unit. Currently ADF has total strength over 80,000 full-time personnel and active reservist and is also supported by the Department of Defence and few other civilian agencies.  The ADF initial priorities are based on the 2016 Defence White paper , which denoted the three main area of focus  that are defend Australian from direct attack or coercion,  contribute to security of  South East Asia include South Pacific and provide stability across Indo-Pacific region that supports its interest (‘Australian Defence Force’ 2017).

Strategies

According to Podger et al (2017) HRM has play an important roles in order to overcome the complex labour market. According to Thomas (2007) ADF’s ability to attract and retain a high quality workforce and to sustain organisational capability is essential to its competitive advantage strategy.  In order to respond to the 2016 White Paper plans for the future workforce, ADF develop a 10 year Strategic Workforce Plan in 2016. This strategic Workforce plan set out the skills the ADF need and detail how they will attract, retain and develop its people. This work plan will provide workforce priorities, practical initiatives and resource for attracting, growing and retaining the people defence needs (DoD 2016 p. 160). 

ADF introduced new business model which focuses on its core business. Substantially it features a strong strategic centre that provides clear directions, contestable of decision- making as well as enhanced control of resource and monitoring of organizational performance. (DoD 2016 p. 168). The Government strengthen its accountability and top–level decision making in ADF by creating a credible and astute strategic centre. The Strategic centre is senior management structure in ADF that sets priorities, manages resources and responsible for steering the whole organisation to implement the Government’s defence policies. The strategic centre includes the Secretary of the Department of Defence, Chief of the Defence Force and the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, the Associate Secretary, the Deputy Secretary Strategic Policy and Intelligent and the Chief Finance Officer (DoD 2016 pp.168-169)

Challenges

One of the most important and challenging tasks ADF will have in the coming future is to maintain the capability of ADF and Australian Public Service (APS) workforce to achieve the Strategic Defence Objectives that rule out  in the 2016 Defence White Paper ( DoD 2016 p. 71-75).  Thomas (2007) stated that workforce ‘demand’, defined as requirement by ADF for specific competencies and the distributions of its components, people and competencies across the capabilities required b.  This integrate workforce capability has a diverse range of skills, including in combat and combat support, capabilities development and sustainment, technical, strategy and policy (DoD 2016 p. 146).

Workforce capabilities also has  a supply side, concerned with the availability of the people to meet stated and emerging ADF objectives and HR system that can support  or hinder  ADF to achieves its goals.  The immediate challenges are basically to perform effective recruitment and the retention of the serving personnel.  Schindle  & Ong  (as cited in Thomas 2007)  stated that for recruitment ADF need to widen their demographic target based beyond the traditional Australian born by accessing a more diverse labour supply in term of age, gender and ethnic background.