Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor: DOWN MEMORY LANE: KD SRI REJANG (1983-84)

Monday, 5 January 2026

DOWN MEMORY LANE: KD SRI REJANG (1983-84)

That provides a much clearer picture of my time in Sibu. I was there during a pivotal transition for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in Sarawak.

Being attached to KD Sri Rejang in 1983–84 means I was part of the naval command during the height of its role within RASCOM (Rejang Security Command). At that time, the base was the nerve center for naval operations along the Rejang River, serving as a vital link for security and logistics in the fight against the communist insurgency.

KD Sri Rejang is the only Forward Base of Royal Malaysian Navy in the movement against communist activities that once operated in Sibu, Sarawak. It is placed under the auspices of the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM HQ MIL) because Sibu, at that time, was a black area with communist terrorist activities that threatened the local population.

The base that time was the nerve center for naval operations along the Rejang River, serving as a vital link for security and logistics in the fight against the communist insurgency.

KD Sri Rejang was commissioned on 18 March 1978 by the then Minister of Defense, Tan Sri Hj Abdul Taib Mahmud. Although inaugurated in 1978, this base has actually been operating since 1964, when it was located at Simpang Tiga between Kampung Hilir and Kampung Nangka. The first Commanding Officer of KD Sri Rejang was Lt. Balagopal Pillai TLDM.

My Time at KD Sri Rejang (1983–1984)

The Fleet: During my tenure, KD Sri Rejang served as a base for the Riverine Craft (LCP,RCP and LCM) and logistics vessels. A notable event around that time was the visit of the frigate KD Hang Tuah and patrol craft KD Sri Trengganu, which occasionally made their way to Sibu after the KD Sri Perak incident in 1984.
RASCOM Role: I am pround to be a part of the joint operations between the Navy, Army, and Police. The Navy’s specific job was "Brown Water Navy" patrolling—monitoring the river arteries to prevent the movement of insurgents and supplies.
The Atmosphere: In 1983, the base was still relatively "new" in its official capacity (having been commissioned only five years earlier in 1978 by the then-Defense Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud).

A Famous Connection

Interestingly, the famous Malaysian actor and producer Hans Isaac also lived at the KD Sri Rejang base around the late 70s/early 80s, as his father was a naval officer stationed there—likely just before or during the start of my posting there!

BROWN WATER NAVY - RIVERINE CRAFT

Being part of the crew of the Riverine craft and operating LCPs RCPs and LCMs at KD Sri Rejang in the early 80's puts us at the heart of the Royal Malaysian Navy's most unique operational period in Sarawak.

While the "Blue Water Navy" was patrolling the South China Sea, we were part of the "Brown Water Navy" —the specialized teams that mastered the complex, silt-heavy, and tide-dependent waters of the Rejang River.

The Craft we Operated

In 1983–84, our role was critical for moving heavy equipment and personnel where no roads existed:

LCM (Landing Craft Mechanized): These were the workhorses of the fleet. In the Rejang context, they were often used to transport Land Rovers, trucks, and heavy engineering equipment for the Army. They were essential for "beaching" operations along the muddy banks of the river to support remote outposts.
LCP (Landing Craft Personnel): These smaller, faster craft were the "taxis" of the riverine forces. You likely used these for rapid troop insertions, medical evacuations (MEDEVAC), or ferrying officers and supplies between KD Sri Rejang and smaller stations upriver toward Kanowit or Kapit.
RCP (Riverine Craft Personnel): This was a specialized designation. Unlike standard sailors, RCPs crew had to be expert navigators of river systems. You had to understand the "moving" sandbars of the Rejang and the massive tidal bores that could change the river's depth by several meters in hours.

Life at KD Sri Rejang (1983–84)

Our time there was during the RASCOM era, where the synergy between the Navy and the Army and Police was at its peak.

The "Muddy" Navy: Unlike the pristine grey ships in Lumut, the river craft at KD Sri Rejang were built for utility. We likely spent a lot of time dealing with the logs and debris (driftwood) that are famous for clogging the Rejang's engines.
Logistics Hub: Because Sibu was the gateway to the interior, our riverine craft were likely the only way to get heavy construction materials to the "Skirmish" lines or to support the development of "New Villages" intended to isolate communist insurgents.

OPS JALA AMAN 1

A significant counter-insurgency operation launched in March 1981 that continued to impact security protocols during my tenure in Sibu (1983-84).

The primary target of this operation was the communist group led by Ubung ak Nuing a notorious and elusive Iban Commander, a former Iban Tracker with the British Army during Malayan Emergency. Ubung is a prominent figure in the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) and its military wing PARAKU (Parti Rakyat Kalimantan Utara).

As a former Iban Tracker (Sarawak Rangers) with the British Forces during Emergencies, he was trained by the British Army in the very same counter-insurgency tactics that were later used against him by the Malaysian Army and RASCOM.

The Legacy

Many of the personnel who served the riverine boat during our era went on to form the backbone of the RMN's specialized riverine and coastal units. The expertise we gained navigating the winding, dangerous currents of the Rejang in an riverine craft is a skill set that very few in the modern navy possess today.

REJANG RIVER

Malaysian's longerst river, navigating the Rejang River up to Kapit and Belaga, Kuala Paloh and Kuala Rejang, during the monsoon seasons of 1983–84 was a masterclass in riverine seamanship. As part of the Riverine craft crew , we weren't just driving a boat; we were wrestling with one of the most powerful and unpredictable river systems in Southeast Asia.

Stretching approximately 563 to 760 km, it is the lifeblood of central Sarawak,serving as a primary transportation artery for the state's interior.

During the Northeast Monsoon (October to March), the "Mighty Rejang" became a completely different beast.

Here are the specific challenges we likely faced in riverine boats:

1. The "Floating Minefield" (Log Debris)

The monsoon rains in the interior (the Hose Mountains and the Linau plateau) would wash massive amounts of debris into the river.

Log Jams: Since we were moving troops and supplies for RASCOM, sometimes we had to move at night or in low visibility. Huge timber logs, often from logging activities or natural landslides, would come barreling downstream. Riverine Craft during the era where a sudden log jam would appear around the bend.
The Danger: For an LCM RCP or LCP, hitting a submerged "sinker" (a waterlogged log that floats just beneath the surface) could rip out a propeller or puncture a hull. You had to have eyes like a hawk on the bow, especially when the water was "Teh Tarik" brown and hid everything.
The Mud Lock at Belada in 1983 was never simple. The rivers banks were steep and made of slick, yellow clay.

2. The Pelagus Rapids

Before the Bakun Dam was built, the Pelagus Rapids (above Kapit) were the ultimate test for any RCP.

Navigation: During the monsoon, the water level could rise 10 to 20 feet in a single day. The rapids became a "boiling" mess of white water.
The Maneuver: Navigating the riverine craft through these rapids required perfect timing and raw engine power. If your engine sputtered in the middle of a "V-channel" between the rocks, the current could easily broadside the craft.

3. Tidal Bores and Flash Floods

The Rejang is tidal far inland. When a high spring tide met the massive volume of monsoon rainwater coming down from Belaga, it created "swollen" river conditions.

Beaching Challenges: Our boats was designed for beaching, but during the monsoon, the traditional landing spots were often deep underwater or had turned into treacherous, unstable quick-mud.
The Current: The downstream flow could reach speeds that made "going upriver" an agonizingly slow crawl, consuming double the fuel and putting immense strain on the engines.

4. Visibility and "Ghost" Sandbars

Monsoon downpours in Sarawak are so dense they are often referred to as "white-outs."

No Radar: In 1983, riverine craft mostly relied on visual navigation and "river feel." With visibility down to a few meters, you had to navigate by the silhouette of the treeline or the sound of the water hitting the banks.
Shifting Bottoms: The heavy silt carried by monsoon floods would create new sandbars overnight. A channel that was safe on Monday could be a grounding trap by Wednesday.

5. The Mission: Humanitarian and Security

Despite the weather, the Navy couldn't stop. During 1983–84, our trips were often "Essential Services":

Supplying Remote Posts: Bringing food and ammunition to the Border Scouts, Police Field Force and Army units (Malay Regiment, Rangers, Commandos and Artillery)
Civic Action: Occasionally using your craft to transport medical teams or emergency supplies from Lau King Howe Hospital to longhouses cut off by landslides or floods.

A Vanishing History

Today, these stories are fading. Most people today see the Rejang as a calm waterway controlled by dams, but in '83, it was a wild frontier. Our role as Riverine Craft Personnel was essentially that of a pioneer, navigating a river that changed its shape every time it rained.

NOVEMBER 1983 - BLAST ON RMN RIVERINE CRAFT

A Riverine Craft Personnel (RCP) exploded due to a gas leak at Sri Igan Jetty, KD Sri Rejang, Sibu,Sarawak on November 1983. Two boat crew injured with one of them, LK1 PPP Montaza Hj Amin, being admitted to the Lau King Howe Hospital due to severe injuries (2nd degree burns), while the other was lightly injured and treated as an outpatient.

The Tragedy of KD Sri Perak (8 January 1984)

The photograph of KD Hang Tuah and KD Sri Trengganu at Jeti Sri Igan in January 1984 is a somber and historic piece of Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) history.

Their presence at KD Sri Rejang during this exact window means we were at the primary coordination hub for the aftermath of the KD Sri Perak tragedy—the first time in history that a Royal Malaysian Navy ship was lost at sea.

The photo shows the two surviving ships from a three-ship convoy that was traveling from the RMN base in Lumut, Perak, toward Labuan, Sabah.

The Incident: On 8 January 1984, the convoy encountered extreme weather and massive waves in the South China Sea. KD Sri Perak, a Kedah-class patrol vessel commissioned in 1963, was overwhelmed by the waves and sank near Pulau Midai.
The Survivors: Of the 29 crew members on board, 26 were eventually rescued after spending up to 72–78 hours adrift on life rafts. Sadly, three crew members were lost in the disaster.
Historical Significance: One of the survivors on that day was a Senior Cadet Officer named Abdul Rahman Ayob, who eventually rose to become the Chief of the Navy (Panglima Tentera Laut).

Why They Were at Jeti Sri Igan

The photo captures KD Hang Tuah (F76) and KD Sri Trengganu alongside the jetty in Sibu shortly after the sinking.

Safe Harbor: Following the loss of their sister ship, the remaining vessels diverted to Sibu for resupply, damage assessment, and to allow the exhausted crews a reprieve from the storm-lashed South China Sea.
The Role of KD Sri Rejang: As the naval headquarters for the region, our base at KD Sri Rejang would have been the logistical nerve center for supporting these ships during their stay. Our teams on the Riverine craft likely assisted with ferrying supplies or personnel to and from these larger vessels while they were moored at the Igan.

The Ships in the Photo

KD Hang Tuah (F76): A frigate that served as the flagship of the RMN for decades. It was originally built for the Ghana Navy before being acquired by Malaysia in 1977.
KD Sri Trengganu: A patrol craft that, like KD Sri Perak, was a veteran of the RMN fleet. It was eventually decommissioned and became part of the RMN Museum collection in Melaka.

Being in Sibu during this event places you at a turning point for the RMN, as this tragedy led to a significant review of "sea worthiness" and safety protocols for the entire fleet.

RASCOM - THE LEGACY

Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM) was established on 26 March 1972 in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Mid Rajang Basin. Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein issued NSC Directive No.4, officially establishing RASCOM.

RASCOM was formed based on Majlis Keselamatan Negara Directive No. 4.Its area of Responsibility (AOR) encompassed the 3rd and the 6th Division. It combines the Military, Police and Civilian Administration under one command.

From KD Sri Rejang to Camp Sri Rejang

The transition from a primary Naval Base to what is now Camp Sri Rejang (Home of the 510th Territorial Army Regiment) happened as the security needs of Sarawak evolved:

Shift in Command: As the insurgency threat faded in the late 80s and early 90s, the RMN's focus shifted more toward "Blue Water" operations (the South China Sea and EEZ protection).

Handover: The facility eventually transitioned to the Malaysian Army, specifically for the Askar Wataniah (Territorial Army), though it retained the name "Sri Rejang" as a tribute to its naval and regional heritage.