GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATONS

EPILOGUE.

LOGOS : 1.RAJAH Brooke’s Slogan: “DUM SPIRO SPERO”—WHILE I breathe…I hope! 

2.SARAWAK RANGERS LOGO In IBAN: “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban” EVEN AS I STILL LIVE, I FIGHT!

3. Sarawak Border Scouts Logo: Badge of Hornbill; @BORDER SCOUT JINGLE by Major John Cross (still living in UK) which followed the lines of the SCARLET PIMPERNAL jingle went: “He wanders here, he wanders there The Hornbill wanders everywhere, So seldom is, so often out That dammed elusive Border Scout.

”STANDFIRST ------------------- 

The 27-year Sarawak Communist insurgency between 1963 and 1990 took a heavy toll on the Civilian population which led to the disruption of lives of thousands and the killing and injuring of at least 300 members of the security forces in the State. 

BRAVEHEART SARAWAK’S Patriots, Warriors and Unsung Heroes is an attempt to remind Malaysia that the Sarawak army and Police constabulary in particular had sacrificed their lives to protect our country.

In the process some were given rewards for gallantry but were left with broken families YET they were prepared to give their ultimate sacrifice. In the early 1800s Sarawak was just a small fiefdom ruled by the Sultan of Brunei. The local inhabitants were subservient to the Sultan but Viceroy Pengiran Mahkota of Brunei took advantage of their meekness. 

Unfair taxes and subjugation by the Pengiran and his nobles led to a rebellion in 1837. To solve the problem the Sultan sent his nephew Raja Muda Hassim, the heir-apparent of Brunei, and hoped for the best. But the situation was out of control as the local Sarawak Malay and the surrounding Malay fishermen, farmer and Dayak tribes had enough of Mahkota’s tyranny.

On August 15, 1839, an English adventurer James Brook in his ship the “Royalist” stopped over at “Sarawak” (the original name of Kuching which represented a cluster of houses by the Sungei Kuching). His visit was fortuitous because Brooke’s intervention led to the end of the rebellion. Declared as the first white “Rajah” of Sarawak on September 24, 1841, Brooke went ahead and consolidated his power in Sarawak—an area covering the Tanjung Dato region in Western Borneo to as far as the Samarahan River to the East.

Royalist

Henry Keppel

HMS Dido

But while my friend Brooke steered the boat, my coxswain and myself kept up a fire, with tolerable aim, on the embrasures, to prevent, if possible, their reloading before the pinnace, our leading boat, could ring her twelve pound cannonade to bear. “This mode of warfare—this dashing at once in the very face of their fort—was so novel and incomprehensible to our enemies, that they fled, panic-struck, into the jungle…” 

In attempting to capture Shariff Mullah, the leader of the enemy forces, Datuk Patinggi Ali had pursued the local chief of the resistance who escaped by jumping into the river and swimming to safety. However, on August 19, the Datuk Patinggi Ali who was with 85 Malay soldiers “fell gallantly” when left the main group together with Englishman George Steward. In a major battle below Karangan Peris. Ali together with English trader with his small division of boats were swamped by six large war boats with 100 men each. 

S. Baring-Gould and C.A. Bamflyde in a “History of Sarawak” said that as Datuk Patinggi advanced thousands of enemy soldiers, men had gathered on both banks and armed with spears and blowpipes as the prepared to attack. “Instead of falling back upon the main body, old Ali bravely dashed on, followed by his little contingent. A desperate encounter against fearful odds ensued, and before the ship’s boats could come to his support the find old Malay chief had fallen…” 

Keppel added: “When last seen by our advanced boats, Mr Steward and Patinggi Ali were in the act (their own boats sinking) of boarding the enemy. They were doubtless overpowered and killed with 29 others, who lost their lives on this occasion. Our wounded in all amounted to fifty six.” According the Spenser St John in “The Life of Sir James Brooke” the first man to be acknowledged as worthy of a Victoria Cross was Pengeran Usman, a brother of the heir-apparent of Brunei Raja Muda Hassim during an act of valour against the Iban rebels in 1854. 

“Desperately wounded, having had his left wrist broken by a shot, his shoulder and chest cut open so as to disable his right arm, and his head and face slashed, but not before he had cut down several of his assassins, Bedrudin, with the women ….retired into the house and barred the door. “Then whilst the murderers, awed by his courage and desperation, were hesitating to break into the house, the true-hearted prince applied a match which blew himself and his two noble companions into eternity.” 

Abang Aing who was commander of the Brooke army that launched the three expeditions against the Skrang rebel Rentap, also showed great courage while attempting to capture the fort of the warlord on June 14, 1857 at Bukit Sadok. Charles Brook in “Ten Years in Sarawak” states: “I took up my position with a rifle and watched for movements among the enemy, but the active work I left to Aing, who drawn sword in hand, superintended with much activity. 

“At 4 p.m. our party gained within six or seven yards from the outer fort, and the scene was truly exciting. At half past five our leaders, crouching under the moving stockade, called for fire and the wood collected was in considerable quantities.” Shortly after, Aing fell wounded from a musket shot before the raid was called off. Charles continued:” On examining Aing’s wound, I found the shot had entered below the shoulder and passed through the back where it could be felt distinctly. “I recommended its being cut out, which his people instantly proceeded to do.” 

The musket ball was then wrapped in yellow cloth and subsequently used as a talisman by Aing in many other expeditions. After Rentap was finally defeated in 1861, the Rajah launched another major expedition against the Kayan in the Rajang district. A year later he formed the Sarawak rangers comprising mainly Iban warriors loyal to the Brooke regime who became the backbone of his army known as the Sarawak Rangers. 

By 1879 the second Rajah Charles had built Fort Margherita, manned by “Fortmen” who formed the local police or “constabulary”. In the meantime the Rangers who were based in the outstations, continued to suppress piracy and headhunting throughout the country. On January 1, 1932 the third Rajah Vyner Brooke merged the Rangers and Fortmen and formed the Sarawak Constabulary which played a major role in ending the last rebellion by Asun of Kanowit. 

In the process of forming the Constabulary, many Ranger loyalists returned to their longhouses, disappointed with the decision n to disband the Sarawak army. At the beginning of the Second World War, the Sarawak Ranger regiment was revived but was not effective to thwart the Japanese invaders. After Sarawak was ceded to Great Britain on July 1, 1946 many of the former Brooke soldiers left the shores of Sarawak to join the British army in.Malaya. During the Malayan Emergency between 1948 and 1960, more than 2,000 Iban from Sarawak became Iban Trackers in the peninsular and fought the communist insurgency. 

Brave Iban trackers of Malaya. On May 15, 1951 an Iban Tracker from Nanga Skrang in Sarawak Awang anak Raweng, excelled in a famous battle in Pontian Johor where he won the George Cross, and became the first Sarawakian to be officially recognised by the British for his valour when he single-handedly held off 50 communist terrorists in an hour-long battle. Attached to the 10th Platoon, D Company of the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Sherwood Foresters Regiment he also saved the life of a seriously injured British soldier private Griff Hughes. . 

The second Sarawakian to be awarded a bravery medal was Assistant Superintendent of Police William Menggong anak Pangit while he was serving in the British army. Menggong later joined the Sarawak Constabulary before retiring at the rank of Assistant Superintendent. He died in 2010.

 Confrontation . When the Sarawak Communist Organisation (SCO) left the country to wage a war against the Malaysian government in December 1962, it was the beginning of the communist insurgency in Borneo. Two of Sarawak’s renowned fighting; the Sarawak Constabulary and Sarawak Ranger regiment, worked in tandem with British and Malaysian governments to fight the enemy. Joining the two fighting units was a new entity, the Border Scouts, comprising trained native civilians who were the eyes and ears of government. 

In 1963 Malaysia created an institution of the bravery awards such as the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) and Pingat Keberanian (PK). It was a tragic era in which more than 200 members of Sarawak’s security forces of all races were either killed, injured or maimed for life while enemy losses exceeded 1,000. With a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the SCO’s leader and secretary general of the North Kalimantan Communist Party (BKCP) Bong Kee Chok on October 31, 1973 it was the beginning of the end of the insurgency. 

The surrender of the NKCP’s last 56 communists in October 1990, terminated the 27-year-long insurgency. Sarawak now enjoys peace and stability, thanks to our brave warriors whose sacrifices must never be forgotten. 

Contents: SECTION 1: ------------ 

COLONIAL HEROES: -------------------------- 

@GEORGE CROSS: Tracker Awang anak Raweng--Sacrificing his life to save a fallen soldier—Regimental logo (1951) @GEORGE MEDAL: Tracker Menggong anak Pangit’s Medal for Gallantry—Regimental logo (1952) @BOX STORY 1: For SECTION 1: -------------------- 

SARAWAK’S IBAN TRACKERS -------------------------------------- 

SECTION 2: Sarawak’s MAGNIFICENT 7 HEROES; ------------------------------------ 

THE STORIES OF 7 GALLANT warriors WHO WON MALAYSIA’S HIGHEST AWARD FOR GALLANTRY-SERI PAHLAWAN GAGAH PERKASA (SP). Three killed in action (KIA). Three died from illness. 

Only ONE SURVIVOR CPL ITIM ANAK BIJAM NOW IN MIRI. SEVEN (7) Recipients Of SP  @RJR stand for SARAWAK Ranger of Malaysian Armed Forces @SPFF stands for Sarawak Police Field Force 1.RJR SGT Lenggu anak China: Killed on at Tanjung Babi on January 20, 1971 (KIA) Citation: @GALLANT CHARGE OF A* WARRIOR; Death of Sgt Lenggu anak China who led his men in a fatal battle in which all buis mesn were killed IN AN AMBUSH at Tanjung Pulau Babi in Kapit.

Chapter 1: A true Hero who died fighting to the End. Charging into the Valley of the shadow of Death. On January 20, 1971 Regimental signals officer 2nd Lt Anuar Basha Khan bin Hj Zakaria was assigned on a “hearts and mind” project at Sungei Katibas near Song in Upper Rajang. Lt Anuar’s mission was to inform the six headmen living along this tributary on plans by the Assault Pioneer Platoon of the 1st Ranger Regiment to build a hostel for the school at Nanga Bangkit. 

The headmen were also asked to attend a special meeting at the 1st Malaysia Ranger Regiment Tactical Headquarters at Song the following day. Just before lunch, Anuar instructed Sgt Major Lenggu anak China to pick 11 men for the exercise. Together with him they comprised 13 members in two assault boats. Lenggu selected Rangers Umok ak Mambang, Lian Anyi, Limping ak Gayang, Engkas ak Judik, Nawawi bin Shaffie, Kelabu ak Nyalang, Midong ak Gundi, Suntai ak Duin, Shaffiee bin Saat, Merikan and Signaller Ahmad bin Shafie. At 2 pm Anuar briefed his men on riverine anti-ambush drills as the area was known to be infested with Communist Terrorists (CTs). 

Sgt Lenggu’s lead boat carried six soldiers while the second vessel headed by Lt Anuar comprised seven men. After briefing the longhouse chiefs Lt Anuar prepared to leave but had feeling that a bad premonition. It was a well-known fact that a group of the elite Pasokan Gerilya Rakyat Sarawak (PGRS) were operating in the area. Not far away from the estuary of the 40-metre wide Katibas River is a cape called “Tanjung Batu Babi”--Cape of Pig Rock-representing a hill covered with thick jungle. 

After Sgt Lenggu’s boat crossed the main river, it ran aground in the muddy shore facing Tanjung Batu Babi. Simultaneously, the men faced a fusillade of gunfire as they had run into the enemy’s “killing zone”.  Lenggu’s Brave Assault.  Leaping out of the grounded craft, Lenggu shouted “SERANG, SERANG, SERANG” (attack, attack, attack). Pinned down, the Rangers continued firing but with close to 30 CT weapons trained on them, all except Lenggu lay mortally wounded.

 Lt Anuar whose boat was on the opposite bank were unable to provide any immediate but assisted with gunfire as they charged across the swift currents. However, in midstream the engine of Lt Anuar’s the boat suddenly went dead. As the outboard driver tried to restart the engine, Ranger Suntai who was exposed to gunfire, was shot in the head, the impact throwing him into the river. Reacting to this Rangers Engkas and Kelabu dived into the river and swam to the opposite bank took their positions to provide cover their colleagues. 

By then Lt Anuar, Rangers Nawawi, Midong and Signaler Ahmad were the only ones left on the boat which was spinning out of control in the swirling currents. Suddenly, Lt Anuar felt being hit on his head. Anuar said: “I wanted to continue fighting but as I tried to reload my gun with a fourth magazine, I found that he could not move. “As blood oozed from the wound, I realised I had been shot in the head. Ranger Midong who was in front of the boat was the next to be shot in two places---in the wrist by a 303 bullet and on his left knee hit by shotgun pellets. 

Signaller Ahmad was the next to be shot while Ranger Nawawi was the sole soldier left standing. But providence shone on the survivors as the skies opened up with a heavy downpour. During the 20-minute gunfight Lt Anuar’s boat had drifted with the currents and further down river chanced upon commanding Officer, Lt Col Syed Abdul Aziz bin Syed Razak heading up the Katibas to check on the project’s progress. Lt Anuar and the injured when were immediately sent down river for medical attention at the tactical headquarters in Song. 

After organising his men for a follow up, Ranger Nawawi and an armed group was sent back to the scene of the ambush. Here, they found Sgt Lenggu barely alive and five dead -Rangers Umok, Lian, Limping, Shafie and Merican. Sgt Lenggu was taken to Song where he lay critically injured after being shot in the head and stomach. It was late in evening when permission was given to evacuate Lt Anuar and Sgt Lenggu. Due to a limited number of RMAF aircraft and the fact that not many pilots did not want to fly practically “blind” in pitch darkness, there was a light delay. 

At 8.30 that night RMAF Captain Leong Fok Siong together with his co-pilot Lt Aziz bin Alwi, navigator Lt Munusamy and a doctor arrived at Song. Sadly, while waiting for evacuation, Lenggu has passed away. Anuar, Ranger Midong and Signaller Ahmad were then flown to the Lau King Howe hospital in Sibu. Anuar was immediately operated on and remained in a coma for more- than a week. Anuar added: 

“After recovering I spent several months undergoing physiotherapy because he had to learn how to read, speak and write all over again because the bullet had damaged my brain.” In a follow up operation, a young Ranger Lt Ragunathan and 10 men were sent to the scene of the ambush and found four dead CTs. Looking back, Anuar thanked all involved in effort to save his life—from brave Captain Leong and his crew to Ranger Sgt Nyanggau ak Sumping who came up with the idea of lighting up the Landing Pad using solid fuel to provide better lighting for a safe night landing. 

And to the medical team and doctor performing the operation, and as well as friends who prayed for him. NOTE: The Tanjung Batu Babi incident occurred during command of 3rd Malaysian Infantry Brigade Brigadier General Mohamad Ghazali bin Dato Mohamad Seth. Tan Sri Ghazali’s later rose to become Chief of Army. The units involved in the operations were the @1st Battalion Rangers, @1st Squadron Special Forces and @1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment.  

The life of Lenggu anak China by Major D Swami. Lenggu ak China was born in Sungei Baloh, Ngemah, Kanowit, Sarawak in 1944. He started his military career February 10, 1964 when he joined the 1st Battalion Rangers. He rose from the ranks to become the Support Platoon leader of 1st Rangers rising to the rank of Warrant Officer Two (WO2) holding the position of appointment of Company Sergeant Major Instructor (CSMI). 

This appointment was related to ting the Commanding Officer (CO) in the training of the Battalion. Lindan ak Galau related that, on that fateful day," I was in the Long House, when I was told that my husband was involved in a battle. I was worried as he earlier that morning they were not going on any special operation. “I rushed to the Tactical Headquarters to see my husband. I saw how badly he was wounded, I just could not contain my tears. He told me not to cry because he would not die. 

“But as they were carrying him to the Officer's Mess at the Tactical Headquarters, he beckoned to me and as I drew near he whispered that he was sorry that he could not make it .” Before he died, Lenggu told Lt Col Syed Abdul Aziz that his wife was pregnant with his child. Lenggu said: " Tidak mengapa saya mati tuan saya sudah ada pengganti")." (Not to worry Sir..if I die there will be a replacement in my child.” When he died his wife, Lindan aku Galau was pregnant. She gave birth to a Valentine ak Lenggu around eight months after his death. 

Later Valentine followed in his father’s by joining the Army. Lenggu also left behind two other children from his earlier marriage with his first wife. Lindan remained unmarried bringing up Valentine while Lenggu’s two other children were raised by his ex-wife in Nanga Nirok, Sungai Ngemah, Kanowit. On June 26, 1976 Lenggu’s medal was received by Lindan wife at the Armed Forces Day ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. Later a leader of the NKCP group at Tanjung Batu Babi under interrogation said they planned the ambush and planned to kill all 13 soldiers. 

However, Lenggu's brave assault together with his comrades, spoiled his plans and they were force d to retreat. Lenggu’s grandfather was the famous Rebel chieftain Penghulu Asun of Kanowit—the last Iban to lead a rebellion against the Rajah of Sarawak’s army in 1931.