NST, 29082020 - 'A true Leader of the jungles bashers'

Article courtesy of NST dated 29th Aug 2020

 

"THE officers and men are my precious jewels." These were the words of a former battalion and unit commander who braved the battles during the height of the communist terrorists' insurgency, the Confrontation (with Indonesia) and the Emergency.

Colonel (Rtd) Harchand Singh, who turned 90 on April 7, still remembers the gruelling encounters in the deep jungles of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak while serving with the Royal Rangers Regiment.

"They were torrid times and our lives depended on each other on the frontlines. We worked as a team and were a close-knit family of brothers in arms.

"I treasured commanding them in various missions deep in the jungles," said Harchand during a recent impromptu reunion with 31 of his close friends and former comrades from various corps at the home of Captain (Rtd) Loo Choon Chew in Lukut, Negri Sembilan.

Present were former Army Divison One commander Major-General (Rtd) Datuk Toh Choon Siang, Army Senior Officers Institute deputy commandant Colonel Inderjit Singh, reunion coordinator Major (Rtd) A. R. Ramachandran and Harchand's wife, Eva Guest.

The reunion was also held to usher in Warrior's Day and to commemorate National Day.

The occasion was held via a video phone call between Harchand and another illustrious veteran, Rear-Admiral (Rtd) Tan Sri K. Thanabalasingam, the country's first local Royal Malaysian Navy chief. Harchand and Thanabalasingam go way back in their relationship.

"It was a short yet delightful conversation, as we recalled our old encounter at Parry Road (now Jalan P. Ramlee) in Kuala Lumpur.

"My eyes lit up as I heard his voice. I nonchalantly uttered 'I love you with my heart and soul' to my good old buddy'," said Harchand, as his comrades gave him a fitting Rangers' Iban battlecry Agi Idup, Agi Ngelaban (As long as we live, we shall fight on).

Harchand, who hails from Kuala Kangsar, Perak, had his early education at the Anglo-Chinese School in Ipoh.

In 1953, he was interviewed by British High Commissioner to Malaya, Field Marshal General Tun Sir Gerald Templer, and was included among the pioneer batch of 36 Short Service Commission cadets who underwent training in Port Dickson for six months.

He then made his way to Eaton Hall in Chester, Britain for another six months.

 

Harchand, subsequently, was among 24 cadets to be sent to the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and was commissioned as a second lieutenant after 18 months in 1953.

In an illustrious career, he served with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo and commanded five Ranger battalions, before finally retiring as commandant of the Army Combat Training Centre in Ulu Tiram, Johor in 1985.

Toh described Harchand as a seasoned paratrooper, a flamboyant character and a dedicated leader of men.

"It is the best way to describe him. Harchand was always protective of his officers and men, whom he described as his jewels.

 

 

'Kelopak peluru penyelamat serangan hendap pengganas' ~ Mej Jen Datok Ahmad Noor Tuan Kechik

 Article courtesy of 'Berita Harian' with thanks. 

'KOTA BHARU: Peristiwa getir dihujani peluru dan saling berbalas tembakan dengan musuh hingga hampir meragut nyawa, masih segar dalam ingatan Mejar Jeneral (B) Datuk Tengku Ahmad Noor Tuan Chik.

Ibarat hanya sejengkal daripada ajal, bapa kepada tiga anak ini, berkata detik cemas itu dialaminya ketika bertempur menentang pengganas komunis dalam Operasi Kota Foxtrot di Perak pada Mei 1985.

Beliau ketika itu adalah Penolong Ketua Kompeni D yang ditugaskan mengetuai platun bersama 24 anggota bagi menjejaki pengganas komunis, selepas bunyi ketukan buluh yang sengaja dilakukan oleh musuh didengari bagi menarik perhatian askar Melayu.

"Selepas mendapat arahan, kami keluar untuk menjejaki pengganas komunis pada malam keesokan harinya dan bunyi ketukan buluh itu semakin jelas dan kuat.

"Bagi mengelak dikesan musuh, kami berpecah kepada dua kumpulan. Hanya pada hari ketiga, musuh dapat dijejaki, lalu saya bersama dengan beberapa anggota mara membuat tinjauan dan ketika itulah berlaku pertempuran.

"Kami dihujani peluru dan saling berbalas tembakan dengan musuh yang dianggarkan seramai 15 orang," katanya ketika ditemui di rumahnya di Panji, di sini, hari ini.

Beliau berkata, dalam kejadian berbalas tembakan dengan pihak komunis itu, beliau hanya berada dalam jarak kurang 30 meter dan ditembak secara rambang oleh seorang daripada komunis.

Mejar Jeneral (B) Datuk Tengku Ahmad Noor Tuan Chik berkhidmat sebagai anggota tentera selama lebih kurang 41 tahun selepas bersara pada 2018. - NSTP/Nik Abdullah Nik Omar

 

"Nyawa saya terselamat kerana tembakan itu tidak terkena pada bahagian perut kerana dilindungi kelopak peluru di vest yang dipakai, selain hanya udi senjata yang pecah.

"Komunis beranggapan saya cedera terkena tembakan dan menghampiri saya untuk mengambil senjata, tetapi saya terus bangun dan menembak ke arahnya menyebabkan dia berguling untuk menyelamatkan diri.

"Dalam pertempuran itu juga saya melontar bom tangan ke arah pengganas komunis, sebelum melaungkan kepada anggota platun terus mara ke hadapan dan ia menyebabkan musuh berundur kerana mengesyaki kami dalam kumpulan yang ramai.

Koleksi gambar Mejar Jeneral (B) Datuk Tengku Ahmad Noor Tuan Chik. - NSTP/Nik Abdullah Nik Omar

 

"Bagaimanapun, operasi menjejaki pengganas komunis tidak boleh diteruskan kerana pihak musuh sudah melarikan diri ke Selatan Thailand," katanya yang menamatkan perkhidmatan pada 2018 sebagai Ketua Staf Markas Medan Barat Tentera Darat di Kem Sungai Besi.

Beliau berkata, peristiwa lain yang tidak dapat dilupakan ialah ketika Operasi Sedar Gubir di Kedah pada 1982 apabila tiga anggotanya mengalami cedera parah selepas terkena jerangkap samar.

Katanya, ketika kejadian itu mereka digerakkan untuk membantu Kompeni B, Batalion 18 Rejimen Askar Melayu DiRaja (RAMD) yang diserang oleh pengganas komunis dan mengakibatkan tiga anggota cedera ditembak ketika membuat penjejakan sehingga ke kem pengganas komunis.

"Selama dua bulan kami menjalankan operasi menjejaki pengganas komunis dan dalam tempoh itu, keadaan amat merbahaya, banyak berlaku kejadian jerangkap samar dan serang hendap oleh pengganas komunis.

"Namun di atas semangat keberanian dan setiakawan dalam kumpulan, kami berjaya untuk menghapuskan pengganas komunis daripada bertapak di negara tercinta," katanya.