THE FIRST MALAYSIAN TO BE AWARDED "PINGAT GAGAH BERANI"

201161 Sergeant Cheng Eng Chin @ Chong Yong Chin was a member of the 1st Battalion Federation Regiment.

In the operations conducted in 1954/55 the 1st Federation Regiment (1st. Bn. Fed. Regt.) under the command of Lt Col Trevor OBE, the Battalion managed to kill one woman Communist Terrorist. The Enemy was killed at Sungei Bong, Butterworth by a member of No. 8 Platoon, C Company, 1st. Bn. Fed. Regt. The Enemy killed was named Khor Khar Hong, who was 19 years old. In the years 1955/56, the unit was deployed on the borders of Malacca and Muar. Within 24 hours of the operations, 2 Enemy were killed, two were wounded, one later died due to the severity of the wounds, 7 of the Enemy were captured too. On the 26th August 1956, Lau Leo, who was the personal senior assistant to the then the Secretary General of the Malayan Communist Party, Chin Peng and Yeung Kuo was killed by the 1st. Bn. Fed. Regt which at that time was under the command of Lt Col J.H. Law OBE.

In 1956, another Enemy was killed by the members of the 1st. Bn. Fed. Regt. In Operation Latima in the District of Jasin, Malacca. The name of the Enemy was Pang Kong Yee. He was actually wounded by the Police Field Force before being finally killed by the 1st. Bn. Fed. Regt. In that same year another Enemy bearing the name Ah Lau was killed again by the same Regiment. On the 17th July 1957, two Enemy were killed again by the same Regiment in the District of Bahau. The Officers involved in this operation were Lt Low Lai Fook, Lt. Baljit Sing and Lt. Abu Bakar bin Narat. In 1960 1st. Bn. Fed Regt, merged with the 1st Armored Car Regiment to become the 1st Federation Reconnaissance Regiment.

201161 Sergeant Cheng Eng Chin @ Chong Yong Chin was a member of the 1st Battalion Federation Regiment, who participated in all the above mentioned firefights. He displayed extraordinary courage in the face of the Enemy during all these contacts with the Enemy. He was form Gelang Patah in Johor Bahru, Johor. He was born on the 1st December 1930. Sergeant Chong Yong Chin started his Military career on the 17th February 1953. In December of that year he was promoted to a Lance Corporal. In January of 1955 he was promoted to a full Corporal and in November of that same year was promoted to a Sergeant. His fighting skills were legendary.

Throughout his service with the Federation Regiment he participated in numerous battles against the Enemy always displaying his cool leadership and his resolute determination in eliminating the Enemy, he was an exemplary soldier which many found difficult to emulate. His exploits were the talk of his peers, men and Officers of the Regiment. Sergeant Chong Yong Chin was cited for valour by his Officers. He was the first recipient of the Pingat Gagah Berani. The valour award was approved by the first King of Malaya. He received the award on the 5th August 1965, a Thursday at the Dewan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur from the 3rd King of Malaya, His Royal Highness Al-Sultan Syed Putra ibni Al-Marhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail.

(Resource: RenjerValour Blogspot)

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Copy and paste: 26 July 2020 / 4 Zulhijjah 1441H : 7.12 am