Photo courtesy of Skot Shokri Hj Salleh with thanks
3 skots
Leftmost , Fadzli Othman Merican, 3rd right Shokri Hj Salleh, rightmost is Abdul Mutalib Wahab
Friday, October 26, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
ART, The story teller - Special Dedication
A Special Dedication to All Our Fallen Comrades
1. Lt Mohd Razif Abdullah (RMAF)
2. Ltm Md. Naimi Md.Yunan (RAMD)
3. Lt Jamil Long (RAMD)
4. Capt Nazri Ismail - 3000736 (RAMD)
5. Capt Tarmizi Muda (RMAF) 16 Sept 1997
6. Maj Ong Cher Keong (RMAF) 15 Sept 1990
7. Capt Tan Eng Huat (RMAF) 11 Jun 1991
8. Maj Zukri (ARTY)
9. Capt Rashid Marsalam (RSD)
10. Maj Wan Johan Wan Hussin (KAD)
11. Maj Zukefli (Orang Lama )(RAMD)
Till this day, all of us have got sweet memories of all our beloved skot who have all gone and never to return anymore, the first days we met each other, the gruelling days we faced together in happiness and sweetness, the difficult times and the times we had fun. These are all fond memories we cherish with one another and shall also bring it with us to our respective resting place in due time.
We may not even meet again the next forthcoming reunion which is supposed to be our 35th ( going by year of enlistment 20 Feb 1978), so it would read Intake 34/35 celebrations next year. So many of us do not meet, see and talk to each other because of our work, family and location. The FB is one avenue we get to stay in touch and know what is happening around us and amongst us all.
Without, that little space we are taking things for granted that the others are all okey and doing fine, not knowing some may be not well, some in difficult situations, some in dire need!
I do hope with this little note dedicated to all our fallen comrade and brothers in ARMS I shall be able to stir up that feeling of esprit d’corp amongst us the remaining few. We never know who is going to be the next to say sayonara for good or maybe get a chance to say goodbye to him, for the very last time.
All our comrades, the eleven of them went without saying goodbye, we never got the chance to see them, let alone shook their hands and wish them to get well, they just left us all abruptly!
Life is so fragile and lets not dwell on this & that, no time, not possible not able and a million other excuses! A plea from me and I urge all my fellow skot mates to find out the rest of whom we have yet to trace and locate and pass the word around, so that they can come forward and be part of our reunion bash in the fantasy island Mohd Nor Koeng has assured!
The pass 34 years of friendship has seen all of us through thick and thin, some left early, some retired early and as mention eleven left us all forever, we hope and pray that we can at least spend some time on the FB to communicate dan Tanya khabar sahabat kito semua!
We will never forget about them, the little and small things we did together, chatting and talking in the dark, inside the bush and in the fox-holes! We shall honour them as one day others will honour us too. They may have fallen but never forgotten, and I shall propose NOW that we will invite their spouses or family to our next reunion and they shall be our honoured guest for the night. Whatever small token we can give away we shall plan for it, need not be monetary but in kind as a ‘momento from all of us’!
Their sacrifices shall never be forgotten and never be in vain, we shall make their memories leave on with us, doing the right thing for them, they have served the KING & COUNTRY to the best of their ability, as good officers and a perfect gentlemen.
They lost their lives for a cause they believed in, and their dedication and commitment to the task and duties shall never be able to be repaid. We the living shall forever remember that no man is immortal and we are all actually parting slowly and surely each passing day. Before that day comes, lets’ get together and plan out the next get together. For those of you who are still serving, let me take this opportunity to wish all of you success and discharge your responsibilities without any FEAR or FAVOR!
ART
ART, The story teller - Part XI
PART XI – THE STORY OF CADETS’ PASS-TIME & Officers Hobby
OUR FAVORITE SONGS
Lagu Favourite & Tergemar - ini lah satu satunya cara untuk mengubati hati semua kedet baik semasa senang, susah, pahit, manis, gembira, sedih dan rindu. Kalau tidak nyanyi nanti kena pulak, baik jerit kuat kuat lepaskan geram, tidak kira kat JL atau Staf.
Lagu 1. ‘Siapa Suruh Masuk Tentera - ‘Pencipta dan Penyayi ( Kedet )
…..sendiri suka sendiri RASA!’
Padan MUKA!...
lirik tidak ingat lagi pak…tolong lah skot…sambungkan lagu ni!!!
Lagu 2. Beribu–Ribu! Pencipta dan Penyayi ( Kedet )
Satu ribu, dua ribu, tiga ribu belum tentu……..!
Hari hari kita lari
Buat PT pagi-pagi
Badan sihat otot kuat
Cukup bulan dapat gaji
Satu ribu, dua ribu, tiga ribu belum tentu……..!
Lagu 3. Aden! Pencipta dan Penyayi ( Kedet )
Den tenang, den tores terrigor……
den dapet sekor ayem donak…!
Den poui sarjan major
den dapet lans korporal
Kuda hitam aduh... kuda hitam
Tak dihitung namun berbahaya
Lari tenang aduh... pelan-pelan
Tau-tau bisa nyampai keluan
Gadis manis aduh... kulit hitam
Hidung mancung abang... berbahaya
Tenang-tenang aduh... menghanyutkan
Tau-tau bisa bikin kejutan
Kalaulah naik kuda hitam
Lari kencang nafas pun panjang
Kalaulah punya pacar hitam
Walau hari panas senyum senang
Jangan marah aduh abang-abang
Hati-hati hidup di dunia
Jangan pandang remeh pandang ringan
Aku nyanyi bukan sembarangan
Bukan hanya sekadar penghibur
Diriku ini sayang
Bukan pula sekadar pelepas
Rindumu oh sayang
Sakit hatiku
Kau buat begini
Bukan hanya sekadar penghibur
Diriku ini sayang
Bukan pula sekadar pelepas
Rindumu oh sayang
Sakit hatiku
Kau buat begini
Kau datang dan pergi
Sesuka hatimu
Oh kejamnya dikau
Tegarnya dikau padaku
Kau pergi dan datang
Sesuka hatimu
Oh sakitnya hati
Bencinya hati padamu
Sakitnya hati ini
Namun aku rindu
Bencinya hati ini
Tapi aku rindu
Lancang kuning
Lancang kuning belayar malam
Belayar malam...
Lancang kuning
Lancang kuning belayar malam
Hai belayar malam...
Haluan menuju
Haluan menuju ke laut dalam...
Haluan menuju
Haluan menuju ke laut dalam...
Lancang kuning belayar malam...(2X)
Kalau nakhoda
Kalau nakhoda kuranglah faham
Kuranglah faham...
Kalau nakhoda
Kalau nakhoda kuranglah faham
Hai kuranglah faham...
Alamatlah kapal
Alamatlah kapal akan tenggelam...
Alamatlah kapal
Alamatlah kapal akan tenggelam...
Lancang kuning belayar malam...(2X)
Lancang kuning
Lancang kuning menentang badai
Menentang badai...
Lancang kuning
Lancang kuning menentang badai
Hai menentang badai...
Tali kemudi
Tali kemudi berpilit tiga...
Tali kemudi
Tali kemudi berpilit tiga...
Lancang kuning belayar malam...(2X)
Dedication to All Our Fallen Comrades
2. Ltm Md. Naimi Md.Yunan (RAMD)
3. Lt Jamil Long (RAMD)
4. Capt Nazri Ismail - 3000736 (RAMD)
5. Capt Tarmizi Muda (RMAF) 16 Sept 1997
6. Maj Ong Cher Keong (RMAF) 15 Sept 1990
7. Capt Tan Eng Huat (RMAF) 11 Jun 1991
8. Maj Zukri (ARTY)
9. Capt Rashid Marsalam (RSD)
10. Maj Wan Johan Wan Hussin (KAD)
11. Maj Zukefli (Orang Lama )(RAMD)
I might not have the latest updated list, still awaiting from Sec-Gen……!
The Overseas Cadets & Diplomats
I must also mention about this group of lucky skotee, they were very lucky & fortunate to be selected to be trained abroad, the likes of Shahrani, Abdillah, Tg Ahmad and Tajri.
I must also give them credit for representing our Intake as well. All of them have made it, even Abdillah and Tg Ahmad, both are successful in their own ways outside the forces. Shahrani and Tajri are both Generals today and very soon will be adding another Star, insya allah.
The other guys who were trained overseas much later on were numerous, especially those who joined the SF, the air-boys and many from the Army too.
We also have a few who have served or are still serving in their overseas assignments, Yusri was D/A of India, Tajri was in London, now we have Zahar in Manila. Hopefully, in the coming years we have a few more!
This does not include those who served under the UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, I am pretty sure all our intake has done a stint in one of the many missions abroad. Maybe accept for Cadet CO & Mat Zain (RRD), which did not have the opportunity to do so.
A Tribute to All Our Generals
In total now we have:
1. Maj Gen Suhaimi Zuki (RAMD)
2. B.Gen Amir (RMAF) the 1st guy of our intake!
3. B.Gen Tajri Alwi (RAMD)
4. B.Gen Shahrani Sany(RAMD)
5. B.Gen Zulkapri Rahamat (RAMD)
6. B.Gen Yusri Anwar (ARTY)
7. B.Gen Halim Othman (REME)
8. B.Gen Tengku Ahmad Noor Tuan Chik (RAMD)
9. B.Gen Azizon (RMAF)
10. B.Gen Mutalib Abd Wahab (RMAF)
11. B.Gen Mohd Shabre Hussein (RMAF)
12. Laksma Utama Jamil (RMN)
13. Laksma Madya Abu Musa (RMN)
The Endless Courses & Promotion Exams
These exams were done on the 4th year of our service, and some did not get to pass it purposely, because those days no matter how many times you re-sit nobody cares, until the Army said enough of this bull-shit, ‘pegawai ponteng kerja’ dan lepak!
So, the new laws were set-up, 1st time pass, you get credit points for promotion, after that ‘baru pegadawai’ mengelabah like hell, asyik cari TIPS dan kalam di-kabut disana sini! Nak Pink sahaja! Macam di semua kursus, nak cari PINK..lama lama jadi PINK-PANTHER TERUS!
So, after these exams came the Capt to Major pulak, sama aje scenario, kali ini tambah subject Military History (The Burma Campaign) for written test! Apa lagi pening kepala nak jawab, 1st time mana ada PINK! Kasi hentam sesuka hati! Until today nobody knows why that campaign, but to me I think there were lots of lessons to be learnt from that failure of the British in anticipating the war the Japanese soldiers could fight - basically underestimating the ENEMY!
After this all officers made sure kena pass first time out semua paper!
RISIK COURSE
This was ‘the course’ to attend, apa tidak dekat 6 bulan duduk kat SEA Hotel kat Chow Kit Road, tidor 1st class, makan sedap, allowance dapat dan kaki goyang sahaja! Sampai boleh buat anak-anak!
YAY-YAY
The all night longs and all day longs session, oh may god have mercy@! We consider ourselves lucky then the KAGAT came along to stop all the activities, the officers mess scene was slowly diminished and at times becomes a ghost town & haunted home. After this everything changed, the officer esprit d’corps broke down or rather broke –up! Today it’s a different story, every-one of them is their own survivor, they now have their own houses, cars, savings and property! We at that time are considered lucky to have a TV & one Fridge! The post-dated cheques may bounced at any-time, the mess bill unpaid (kena banned & blacklisted by the CO) and that was considered macho & normal!
One time we said if only all the walls could talk in all the messes, we would have a fantastic collection of UNTOLD stories, terrifying, horrifying and horrible as well!
The word ‘ABU’ was coined, before the current crop of ‘politikus’ became what they are today, some of them maybe in primary schools way back then! Those of you who were staying in JB and across the causeway knows’ it very well!
Today they get married double quick time, we were told or rather indoctrinated by the seniors - forget it, as a YO no kahwin bisnes, masuk hutan! Balik lepas 3 bulan, girlfriend pun kena kebas, cari yang baru, how to kahwin? Yang kebas mess sebelah sahaja, jiran, skot some more! Hiyah! Itu macam pun ada!
Those were the lessons to be learnt, and I guess there are the good & bad sides to what we did endure as YO’s!
LETS' PUT THAT TO REST……..for good!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Kesatria Mangku Negara
Photo courtesy of his facebook album with thanks. Mabruk on being awarded the KMN dated 8th Oct 2012 by the Agong.
Darjah Panglima Setia Angkatan Tentera
Story from Bernama with thanks. He was awarded the PSAT by the same royalty who commissioned him 34 years ago.
'KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Sept -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah berkenan mengurniakan Darjah Panglima Setia Angkatan Tentera (PSAT) kepada Mejar Jeneral Datuk Suhaimi Zuki pada Istiadat Pengurniaan Darjah Kepahlawanan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia 2012 di Istana Negara Jalan Duta di sini, hari ini.
Seramai 295 penerima menerima pingat masing-masing pada sesi kedua istiadat tersebut.'
Friday, October 12, 2012
Promoted to Maj Gen, 1st Oct 2012
Mabruk! News extracted from Malaysian Army website with thanks
'KUALA LUMPUR 1 Okt 2012: Seramai 7 orang pegawai kanan telah dinaikkan pangkat di Majlis Pemakaian Pangkat TD yang disempurnakan oleh Panglima Tentera Darat, Jen Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Panglima Hj Zulkifli bin Hj Zainal Abidin di Dewan Tanjung, Wisma Transit Kuala Lumpur.Mendahului senarai adalah Brig Jen Dato’ Shahrani bin Mohd Sany yang telah dinaikkan pangkat Mej Jen dan menjawat jawatan sebagai Asisten Ketua Staf Perancangan dan Pembangunan Markas Tentera Darat. Pemakaian pangkat Mej Jen dan Brig Jen masing-masing dua orang dan Kol seorang serta Lt Kol pula adalah seramai 2 orang. Hadir sama Pengerusi BAKAT TD, Datin Hjh Rusnah binti A. Rahman serta Pengarah-pengarah Kor.'
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Capt (R) Syed Abdullah Syed Mohammad, KP
This morning met our Kepten Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman at IOI Resort Puchong. We had lunch at a very special stall situated in Cyberjaya Bus Terminal. Special because the stall is managed by our long forgotten skot, Capt (R) Syed Abdullah Syed Mohamad, formerly of Jebat Coy who unfortunately cut short his tenure n did his exit at RMC. Through our little chat by phone later, I was informed that he was offered as a private in Kor Risik and later converted to RAMD. At the age of 27, he underwent his 2nd tour as a cadet over a a year in SK via TJP intake 47, commissioned into the Service Corps in 1987. Left after 21 years in service n delved into businesses, finally setting up a stall serving 'Ayam Penyet', delicious by the way. 'Skot' serving lunch to 'skot' , jom gi lawat ramai ramai heheheh
'Jom makan..'
'Gerai Ayam Penyet..'
'Ayam Penyet'
'Bismillah...'
'Dah kenyang, jom cepat. Aku ada meeting ngan KP, cepat sikit, jgn 'idle'..'
ART, The story teller - Part X
PART X – THE Many ACTIONs’ in PRE-OCTU, YO’s OF PUALDA & Commando Course
Wisma Sengsara –PULADA
This place was never registered in the unit layout plans of PULADA ( Pusat Lanyak Anjing Dan Askar), it only exist during YO course as and when necessary, no Commandant has ever noticed this special Wisma. Not even when it was around, because it happens only in the darkness of the night. This very special Mess is for those selected few who broke the rules as YO! It’s either you are late for PT, your assignment sent late, your rooms in filth or fail any test!
I was never a member of this elite group, consider myself lucky, others who were honorary members should be telling their intimate stories, hope some can come out and share with us!
From what I gathered, all the members carry their poncho and hammocks and build their hooch on the hockey pitch in front of the main HQ block, they stay there for a night and it depends on how many mistakes committed the nights they stay there will be determined my number of XXXX!
Before first light everything disappears, like nothing has happened!
Kepala Pecah – Megat Mustafa – Arifin Che Mat Din
Megat just walked out of the file and reported to the CRS, got his head stitched up and resumed training, did not know if he got ‘ATTEND-C’ or otherwise! That was how harsh IT was BACK THEN, the training in PULADA, if not why we say “lanyak askar dan anjing”, even the dogs gets treated better than US!
The normal routine for YO’s then is anytime you make a mistake a hammer will blow out your head, yes it comes in the form of ‘batang cangkul’, none of the NATO Steel Helmets in PULADA had any shape that is original, all “kemek” because that helmet is mutilated by all the Instructors!
It happens during the CW field exercises and as we dig the awful trenches in Ladang Tebu along the Kota Tinggi-Kulai road, ask any YO if they have never been hammered, try asking skotee Hassan Bahari aka Ajinomoto! He was one of my comrade-in-arms, a loyal buddy who saw everything the ‘green frogs’ went through in PULADA, he is considered a Green also!
Map Reading “Gunung Panti” PULADA – Naik Lori Hantu dan Bus….
Even when I was Head of Survival Wing in PULADA, my very own students disappeared! Not to mention an entire Platoon of Kiwi Troops – they went missing for 4 days, the whole of PULADA staff and students with tracker dogs could not locate them. They only appeared after the search was called off!
As usual to become a good officer and leader, we are expected to survive and complete the mission, no matter what! That leads to climbing onto ‘Lorry Hantu” and those lorry BALAK without any side-boards, tail boards and ZERO safety! If you drop from the lorry rest assured, you are dead meat! There were those that used the Normal Buses shuttling from JB to KT to reach the check-points. All the students would stop short of the check-point and take cover, wait for a moment to ensure that the timing for arrival wasn’t too fast! The game is to outsmart the DS, ‘maka semua buat macam muka letih’ and fake the sweat even, making oneself wet by spraying water onto the camou fatigue-dress!
BAKAR LADANG TEBU
In one of the many exercises in this god forsaken area, where we have to dig our trenches day & night, because the DS would come around and check on the progress. If the parapet and Overhead Protection (OHP) isn’t strong enough, we would be buried inside it.
The DS would jump onto the OHP and if it does collapse, we are in for big trouble! Not only have to redo it, but gets a big whack with the ‘Walking Tall Cangkul Stick’!
So, the story goes, the fire ran out of control and started to burn wildly, almost burn down the whole defensive location, apa lagi “API API API – PADAMKAN LAH”! The guy who started it was honoured that NIGHT! I can’t remember who this champion was, maybe Ali Kun knows!
My Maggi Mee cooking in the mess-tin had an uninvited guest, my trench mate was none other than C-4, he being the Sapper Officer was the best buddy one can have! He was the best trench digger off all time, with sparks flying out every-time the pick-axe or shovel hitting the stones and rocks in the ground. This place is full of rocks!
The uninvited guest for my special Maggi Mee was none other than a ‘Katak Minyak’, somehow or rather it came from nowhere and leaped into the boiling soup inside my mess-tin, ummmm yum yum extra messing extra ordinary!
This piece of exercise area was previously known as ‘Ladang Tebu’ because it was a Sugar Cane plantation of the Johor state government, but it failed, mainly because there wasn’t much effective drainage system and water in that area!
Red Indians Dancing Around A Fire – Cdo E&E module
So, some of us came back to the final check-point with nothing more than a loin-cloth made from leaves from trees, which were big enough to cover the BIRD!
The DS asked us to find a stick long enough to be used as a ‘TOMBAK’ with a make shift shield and also start a fire, after which we were to do the ‘RED INDIAN FIRE DANCE’, going round and round the fire! Chanting exactly like the real Red Indians! Incidentally Aya-Wang Baharuddin was one of the lucky guys with his syndicate to have done it, seems there were photos taken too!
Map Reading Pre-Octu
Till today that remains as one of my best moments in Pre-OCTU, what more I still love that meat, and would hunt for Landak when given the chance!
Boxing In RMC
This is another incident filled moments for all Cadets in RMC, the best boxing trainer was PTI Bohari aka P.Ramlee, his voice and size fits nicely! One thing for sure, he was worried for me, because I could not be fitted into any weight category for any bouts, not even light-feather weight, I was way too light according to him! I was less than 50 kgs! But, boxed I did, with my buddy Abd Rahim (EME), those days he was nick-named ‘Mr G’, now & today he is a millionaire! Kalah atau menang tidak kira, janji tumbok aje, sakit pak, muka lebam dan telinga bengkak pulak! 
The best fight for our intake was between Din Taxi vs Rajasingam! The CI lost his cool watching that bout and the poor side-table became history, broken, of course into a thousand pieces! Macam mana pulak seorang kurang tinggi lawan dengan seorang sangat tinggi! That remains a mystery till today! My guess is probably they were of the same weight category!
Din Taxi – The Live Target
So, one fine day while at the small arms firing range in LATEDA, those good ole days as it was known, the location is still there actually, if one is to take the back road towards INSPEKA today, between LATEDA and PUSASDA! It is by the side of the road leading towards the hill to RAMD Officers Mess!
We were all doing the small arms shooting practice, to be precise, the 9mm Browning Pistol! Our beloved Instructor, Capt Johar called Din Taxi forward .. and I do not know for what apparent reasons! The Browning was aimed at HIM starting from the top of his head and ended at his toes, and all off a sudden BAM, a shot was fired into the ground! Nobody knew or thought that the gun was loaded and cocked!
Yes, it was so scary & crazy, Capt. Johar immediately removed the magazine and cleared the gun, what would have happened if the trigger was pulled earlier! I guess Din Taxi would have become one of the 10% casualty of our INTAKE 34!
The Next Story…….
OUR FAVORITE SONGS
1) Lagu favourite – ‘siapa suruh masuk tentera…..sendiri suka sendiri RASA!’
2) Satu ribu, dua ribu, tiga ribu belum tentu……..!
3) Den tenang, den tores terrigor……den depet sekor ayem donak…!
4) Lancang KUNING!
I hope those that can remember all the lyrics can email or FB to me...TQ
Monday, October 8, 2012
PART IX – RMC CONTINUED
RSM MAT JOE – HIS LOVELY GIRLS
Ini al-kisah dan cerita lama tetapi ‘benar’!
Our beloved RSM Mat Joe (deceased) had lovely and pretty daughters during our Cadet days in RMC, apa lagi ada kutu hantar ‘Surat Cinta’ secara ‘Drop Mail’ kepada mereka. Surat dihantar semasa lari petang beb! I can’t remember correctly how many daughters and who did IT, but rest assured it was done with a purpose! Sila maklumkan kepada saya jika ingat who that daring Cadet is!
Whoever walks through the gates of RMC at that time will never ever forget our flamboyant RSM, he is one hell of a character, maklumlah Orang Lama dan Askar Lama type!
He will walk the corridors of all the 3 Wings including our dorms, classrooms, the canteen and cookhouse. Nothing can go unnoticed by HIM, with his peak cap, pace-stick and stable-belt, all shined to perfection. His voice can boom across the parade square like a lion roaring into any space! His favourite spot is at the foyer below the RMC HQ block, his eyes will scan the area like an eagle, anything that moves will catch his attention, who so ever caught not marching or walking up-right shall measure the parade square *(ukur padan kawad)!
I will always remember the Kawad Pedang or Sword Drill sessions just before the commissioning parade proper was conducted and rehearse for do not know how many donkey times! One day one of us, while doing the drill was a bit ‘sloopey’, his remarks were: “Kedet Aku akan cucuk perut kau sampai MATI”! One day he was so annoyed with our Kawad that he threw his pace-stick and it broke into 2 pieces, he shouted: “Kedet Aku Debit Kau Semua Sebatang Tongkat Kayu Ni”!
Another incident was when we were all marching out the parade ground as we completed the rehearsal, he was standing at the side and was supposedly to SALUTE US ALL! This was in fact the marching out after the commissioning parade where we were deem as commission officers! He shouted:”Tak ingin aku Tabaik Kau Semua Kedet Lopong”! But on the actual day he did us all proud, he was our mentor and father, he gave his smartest salute with pride and honour! Incidentally, he was appointed as our first RSM TD after he left RMC. We shall never forget this wonderful character call ‘MAT JOE’, semoga rohnya bersama orang-orang yang beriman, amin.
Philip Canteen – his daughters
This is another icon in RMC, his food is good and reasonable, the only setback is when he is Mabuk! Cadets will miss the good food, and will lapaq during the weekends! The other problem is when his wife gets angry with him, sudah kalah judi pulak..no funds to buy the grubs!
Otherwise, kita makan sedap selalu…nasi lemak with telor, ikan bilis, timun and one air sirap all within budget of RM1.50, if I am not wrong! My buddy Zamani (Yod) can verify this. His Nasi Ayam ala Hainan is also the best in the West Bank, simple sauce cili and kicap cair sahaja, sure satisfied and kenyang!
The other food we get from him is rojak and burger at times, not to mention assorted accessories for our daily usage as well.
He had a daughter too, I can’t remember her name, a good looking girl and always helps her parents, this Amoi was schooling back then. By The way, don’t all girls looks good when we were cadets, all confined to barracks, even the Kanak-Kanak OR’s that plays in the Astaka looks pretty!
Nasi Lemak Special – Abdul Rahman Block
Ini cerita khas untuk Kedet Rahman Coy, setiap malam ada Makcik buat nasi lemak, sambal ikan bilis dan ¼ telor dengan sekeping timun aje, dibalut dengan daun pisang off course, itu yang buat sedap sekali. Mahu tidak, lepas makan malam kena pi Prep-Time kat Astaka Block ( classroom Rahman Coy ), so tentukan dah “Tau-Pau” siap siap masuk didalam beg ‘Briefcase’ ala doctor warna hitam atau coklat yang banyak rahsia!
Sampai kelas apa lagi, mum-mum dulu, lepas tu beli air kotak “Teh Bunga” dari kantin bawah pulak, that is the routine of Cadets of Rahman Coy, and there are those that will eat their Nasi Lemak bungkus in the room after prep-hours! Every night that full basket of Nasi Lemak will be ‘sold-out’ for sure, memang sedap, maklum kedet sentiasa lapar, mana cukup makan di cook-house, zat badan tidak cukup, keluar lebih dari masuk tenaganya setiap hari!
Cadets from Rahman Coy seldom would venture into the Cadets officers mess, unless required to, after dinner all will congregate at prep-room till roll-call at 2230hrs, kena panjat tangga dan turun lagi!
No one Lepaks those days - unless those whose names comes up for duty to polish the guns aka ‘meriam’, the floors and clean the toilets.
The Barber – Weekend Chops
The Globe – Ops Orders
The tactics and appreciation phases of war was interesting, the Fatique Group who is nominated to do up the sand model will have hours preparing the model, only to be mutilated by the Instructors when the orders is given by “Lopong Kedet”! The long pointer stick drove fear in all of us, it could just come flying at anyone that falls asleep, I remember very well OC Syed Putra throwing it one day, something which I remember and he forgot, hope some of you have this incident registered! The incident was mentioned in one of our reunion in the MP Officer’s Mess 2 years ago, the OC says me make up stories! He he he! Otherwise he is taking me to the COURT!
Weekend Company Balls – Cari Partners.
All the Ex-OR’s, Boys, AFATS etc were One-Up on the rest of us, budak kampung, maybe Cadet CO sahaja ada lain sikit, budak EC dari Johor Baru. Already pakar mengurat, apa tidak weekend dari PD boleh dating kat KL, masa itu sudah canggih pak! Ini RAHSIA BOSAR…hari ini baru di dedahkan, harap tidak kena saman malu le dari Kedet CO!
The Dance – Dewan Tun Templer (DTT)
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| 'Tarian Zapin' |
So to recollect some QUALITIES:
a. Mesti boleh menyanyi.
b. Mesti boleh berjoget semua jenis tarian – joget, zapin, samasau, disco, waltz, foxtrot, tango, entah apa agi?
c. Mesti pandai mengurat sampai “dapat”!
d. Mesti pandai ‘carry your drinks’!
e. Mesti pandai bercerita!
f. Mesti pandai make a lady feel proud and important, even though she is a ‘nobody’!
g. Pandai sign Cheques dan tentukan dia LOMPAT!
h. Pandai Hisab Rokok dan Cigar!
i. Minum Port & Madiera dan jangan PUSING Kepala!
j. Pandai buat dan jangan kena TANGKAP!
I was lucky, kakak ipar saya ada kawan sekolah yang masih bujang di KL, apa lagi kasi kau-tim lor! She was my loyal partner until the last day, commissioning ball pun dia jugak! Now, she is happily married with kids and has migrated to the Yankee Land.
I do not know about the others, heard ada yang offered adik perempuan sendiri kepada skot pun ada, sekadar jadi teman aje pak, nothing more than THAT, mana boleh caya sangat Kedet ini, dulu pun ada kaki hentam pak!
All our OC’s & Instructors
OC Rahman Coy – Major Muslim Yussof (RAMD), the most decorated officer, with all his wings and collar tabs, RANGER, AIRBORNE, PARATROOPER dan Pingat KPK, his story of how he captured a CT alive during operations. He used to say if he had killed the CT maybe he would have got his PGB instead! Well, those days all infantry officers wanted was to go into the jungle and get a shot at it – PGB (Pingat Gila Babi)! Apa tidak ingat senang mahu jumpa CT dan bunuh dia, mesti buat kerja “Gila Babi” beb, mesti berani GILAK brother, they are not like ‘anak ayam’, boleh halau gitu dan sembelih, silap haribulan kita punya kaki pun terbang!
I did asked him why his parents’ named him as such, he said: “they wanted me to become pak IMAM or Ustaz! Anyway, he was a cool guy, seldom gets angry and always a gentlemen, cuma orang kiri-kanan yang buat HAL selalu, itu perkara biasa! Dato’ Muslim retired as a Maj Gen, his last post was the Commander of the Trg Div.
Capt Basri Omar PGB (ENGR) – ini kelasik punya instructor, suaranya halus sahaja, orang pun halus jugak nasib baik bukan ‘orang halus’ sampai hari ini masih halus tetapi jiwanya bosar! Berani punya manusia, itu lah sebab dapat PGB, al-kisahnya semasa operasi di GUBIR! He remains one of the most faithful DS who never fails to turn up for our reunion and functions.
Capt Norizan (RRD) – pasal dia lah yang kita 1 x Coy jilat shovel & cangkul! Hish mana boleh lupa pak. Ini semua Ranger punya pasal! Tiap kali ada hal dia yang cari pasal nak lanyak Kedet. Kena rendam, kena extra drill, show parade… I think he was tasked to be the Bad BOY
His 2 i/c – cannot be too sure who it was, maybe Capt. Rozli or Capt. Kamsani, anyway Capt. Rozli never changed, he remains what he is, still terrorising cadets in RMC, wonder who was his favourite Cadet? As for Capt. Kamsani, sekali sekala boleh tahan jugak mengamok sakan jugak!
2 i/c never could remember who….. there was the late Capt. Rahman Koya (RRD), Capt. Ali (CDO) and one more…..! Capt Ali was the guy who broke the ear-drum of Subit Chuan, kena pelempang JEPUN, mind you Subit was a RMAF cadet! Luckily, no serious damage and Subit still flies till this very day!
RMN Cadets in RMC
SO, one fine day the bunch of RMN Cadets absent morning PT, apa lagi@ kawan baik kita mengamok le: “Kedet Navy semua forward roll turun BUKIT”! So the story goes, hope they learnt their expensive lesson not to fool around with HIM!
RSM Mat Joe also had some pening kepala with RMN Cadets, apasal tak boleh hentak kaki semua, cacat ke? Tak boleh CIK ! Kapal tenggelam nanti kalau hentak kaki! Tarik boleh CIK! Lantak le kamu semua – JONAH!
Anyway, we had a short stint as a group and it took some years before we were reunited again with a fostering of brotherhood with them participating in our most recent 33rd & 34th Reunion Gathering. Hope many more would come forward the next do!
Cadet CO – Akhtar Zainuddin ( Rahman )
Cadet Adjutant – Shamsuddin ( Syed Putra )
Cadet RSM – Kandiah ( Alam Shah)
OC Rahman – Ibrahim LABU
CSM Rahman – Samsuddin ‘Jonah’
OC Alam Shah – ??????
OC Syed Putra - Mutalib
I can’t recall all the rank holders – please those who can…insert their names, TQ!
The other officers in RMC the likes of Rozi Baharom, Adri Johan, Che Rose, still a few more, there were two RMAF officers – one was a Singh and another China man..apa nama dah lupa…..?
Off course the Comdt, Col Nik Fakaruddin and CI, Lt Col Hussin Ali Piah
Nanti sambung cerita….
Monday, October 1, 2012
ART, The story teller - Part VIII
PART VIII – FROM POTENTIAL CADETS (PRE-OCTU) TO BECOMING CADETS (RMC)
Again how wrong were all of us, the lucky few who were selected to continue their training abroad would never know what the rest went through for another dreaded 6 months!
But, before we could pass out from Pre-OCTU Sebatang Karah to qualify to become a cadet the training grew more academic and the physical part was sharpened as well.
How can it work when the first thing you do as you leave the camp is to head towards the sea, ohhhh pantai PD…..batu ompat!
Hancus, soak wet in your socks and with salt water from the sea, it’s a SURE guarantee the feet will be doomed!
By the time you arrive back at camp 5-6 hours later all Cadets were walking like ‘ada telor bosar’ in between the thighs & legs! None escape this condition!
We all sorts of competition: shooting, obstacle, drill and off course all the games at inter-company level, after which those who shined were selected to represent the unit and play the KNK Cup against the RMC Intake 33 Cadets.
The tail end of the training in Sebatang Karah wasn’t going to slow down, even though we were about to break camp. We did have small parties at the Cadets Mess, first by Company later as an Intake! Just to get to know about the mess etiquette and all that stuff. We were given a free hand to organize mess do’s and that was the part of the training as well, which we later became superb experts in getting ‘impromptu parties or YAY YAY” nights done with a flicker of a finger!
Those all night LONG’s!
The Remnants
The drop-outs were due to health reasons, injuries and just could not make the grades! The only figure I can never forget is we started out with 234 yoyos!
Nobody died in our INTAKE – that is for sure, but the latter intakes i.e. as in Intake 37, three of them succumb to the first day ‘HELL PT!’
Happiness Turns To Sorrow
We were a bunch of hopefulls looking forward to nicer things, knowing farewell to Pre-OCTU means a better life in RMC, how wrong again! The two most unwanted personalities decided to follow us to RMC..hancus harapan KEDET semua!
Yes, our beloved Capt Rozli and S/Sgt Ismail was posted there as well, how can this all happen, was it intentional or just coincidental? Only God has the answers!
Off-load at the guard room on the word GO – pick up the kit-bag and run like Hell! Off course Mat Kerapu was always the 1st.
So, after the many gruelling hours we were assembled and given a welcoming address, the Tuah Company turned ABDUL RAHMAN and we were to occupy the Dhoby Block, down below the valley!
Syed Putra was Kasturi and they occupied the Main Block, so did Jebat which became Alam Shah Coy.
Another Chapter – RMC Days
Well, it has since passed, incidentally we all were enlisted officially on the 20th FEB 1978, this I found out because when I wanted to retire, they say take the exact date of enlistment for the purpose of calculations for my pension and gratuity as well! So for those of you now I guess it does not make any difference since most will retire by age factor, unless there are a few who are to retire before the compulsory age retirement scheme.
They say the second part of cadetship was to make us Officers! The first part in Pre-OCTU was to make a civilian into a basic soldier, yes that was what we were made to believe!
I think they did it right! The polishing at RMC was to make us all Gentlemen Officers, the virtues of an Officer & A Gentlemen. They did a real good job I guess, but there were moments & time that wasn’t that fun either.
Rahman Company – The Licking of The Shovels & Cangkuls
Mak Yew & Mansoor Tailor
Cadets have foster fathers and mothers too! I remember those who did not have weekend passes would get good food from Mansoor tailor and sometimes credit also from MAK YEW! But they did a good job with all our smart uniforms though.
Bukit Belimbing
The next stories shall be………!
RSM MAT JOE – HIS LOVELY GIRLS (ada yang cuba mengurat)
Philip Canteen – his daughters
The Barber – Weekend Chops
The Globe – Ops Orders
Weekend Company Balls – Cari Partners
The Dance – Dewan Tun Templer (DTT)
Ceng ceng ceng....?
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