DOWN MEMORY LANE : THE PENDAM BUNGKANG, SARIKEI, SARAWAK

Pendam Bungkang - Sarawak Border Scouts

Kanowit is a town and the capital of Kanowit District, Sarawak. It is built on the mouth of Kanowit River at the bank of Rejang River, approximately 174 km from the coast of South China Sea. It takes 45 minutes to reach the town by land transport and an hour by boat from Sibu. 

I still remember when stopping to rest in Kanowit town after days of patrolling the Rejang River,that there is a special monument built at Kanowit to honour the sacrifies of local-born heroes at Fort Emma Square. 18 Kanowit-born policeman, Armed Forces,Border Scouts and Sarawak Rangers lost their lives in the line of duty. They were ambushed by communists at Pendam Bungkang in Ulu Sungai Ngemah here on 27 August 1970.

The monument, topped with a hornbill statue, honors Malaysian police and military members who died fighting communist insurgents. Specifically, it commemorates those killed in an ambush at Nanga Bungkang, Sg. Ngemah, Kanowit on August 27, 1970.

The listed heroes include:

1. Kpl. Namba Ak Belon
2. Kpl. Lai Ak Ganggai
3. BS (Border Scout) Unau Ak Bung
4. BS Kanchin Ak Ligan
5. BS Gutan Ak Sator
6. BS Empu Ak Gurang
7. BS Serong Ak Bajai
8. BS Madon Ak Dampa
9. BS Jantom Ak Jalang
10. BS Jantom Ak Nyero
11. BS Bruin Ak Balit
12. BS Layeh Ak Jual
13. Kpl. Kong Siew Long

Maintenance and Significance Today

These sites serve as vital historical landmarks for both the local community and veterans:

• State Recognition: The Pendam Bungkang monument features the crests of the Royal Malaysia Police, the Malaysian State, and the Malaysian Armed Forces, indicating its status as a formal site of national remembrance.
• Preservation of Memory: The inscription on the monument emphasizes that the sacrifices of these national heroes must be "honored and appreciated forever" (dihormati dan dihargai sepanjang zaman).
• Legacy of Service: For personnel like yourself who served in the Rascom area, these memorials anchor the history of the "brown water fleet" operations and the dangerous work of carrying supplies and troops to operational areas.

The structure would bear the insignias of Sarawak government, Armed Forces, Royal Malaysia Police and Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom), as well as the names and ranks of 18 Kanowit-born policemen, Armed Forces personnel, Border Scouts and Sarawak Rangers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Police corporals Kong Siew Long, Ngumbu Kele and Lat Gangga, together with Border Scout members Pantau Baro, Kanchin Ligan, Gelau Sumor, Emba Garing, Senang Bajai, Skudan Dampak, Jantom Jalong, Jantom Narok, Bryan Balit and Luyoh Jaul lost their lives after they were ambushed by communists at Pendam Bungkang in Ulu Sungai Ngemah here on Aug 27, 1970.

Warrant Officer II Lenggu China and Ranger Umok Ngumbang perished in another battle against the communists at Tanjung Batu Babi in Sungai Katibas, Song on Jan 20, 1971; while Sgt Mathew Medan was killed by Al-Ma’unah deviationists at Bukit Jenalik, Sauk in Perak on July 4, 2000.

Rangers Fabian Kanyau Tindin and Henry Ubong died in an unspecified battle in Peninsular Malaysia.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

ex-crew Riverine Craft

KD Sri Rejang, Sibu, Sarawak

(1983-84)

5/1/2026: 4.53 p.m