Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor: KD RAJA JAROM (1981-82)

KD RAJA JAROM

32ND SEALIFT SQUADRON

MALAYSIAN BASE JETTY, WOODLANDS, SINGAPORE

28.7.1981 - 28.6.1982

After 6 months on KD Ganas, I was transferred to KD Raja Jarom which at that time was at the Malaysian Shipyard Engineering, Pasir Gudang, Johor. The Commanding Officer of KD Raja Jarom at that time was Commander Zainal Dali, the strictest CO I have ever served under. When the CO was on the bridge, everyone would be silent and quiet.. no one dared to speak. While the Executive Officer was Lt Cdr Zainal Talib.

A little info about KD Raja Jarom:-

KD Raja Jarom is a former United States Navy ship USS Sedgewick County (LST1123), LST-542 class Tank Landing Ship. Served with the US Navy during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War before being transferred to the Government of Malaysia in 1976.

LST's unloading at Wonsan, 26 October 1950

KD Raja Jarom was commissioned into the RMN service on 19 February 1977. The first Commanding Officer was Lt Col (Navy) Abd Wahid bin Anang. KD Raja Jarom began its homeward voyage from San Francisco Bay in May 1977. The ship called at several ports on its voyage home, namely Pearl Harbour, Hawaii and others.

KD Raja Jarom is one of 3 ships from the 32nd Sealift Squadron together with KD Sri Langkawi (A1500) and KD Sri Banggi (A1501).

KD Raja Jarom was recommissioned on 18 December 1981 at Malaysian Shipyard Engineering, Pasir Gudang, Johor, following a refit.

KD Raja Jarom Work Up 1981 - after being repaired, KD Raja Jarom returned to sail the oceans. Various exercises were held to re-sharpen the performance of the crew after being in the MSE shipyard, Pasir Gudang for so long.

My juniors at KD Raja Jarom (OJT)

Pbt. Zulkifli, the only Army member from the Medical and Dental Corps assigned to KD Raja Jarom

This is what the sleeping quarters inside the ship looked like.

OPS TERUMBU

KD Raja Jarom was also involved in the task of delivering construction equipment at Terumbu Layang-Layang (Swallow Reef) located in the waters of Sabah.

Terumbu Layang Layang (Station LIMA in RMN terminology) or in English Swallow Reef is part of the Spratly Islands group in Sabah waters.

This island is claimed by several countries including China, Taiwan, Philippines and Vietnam. The Government claims it belongs to Malaysia because it is located near Sabah (162 Nautical miles from Kota Kinabalu).

On 20 September 1979 TLL was placed under the Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the first construction of the TLL monument was erected on 21 June 1980.

On 21 August 1981, Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's cabinet the Malaysian Armed Forces to 'occupy' the Terumbu Layang-Layang. He spent a night on Swallow Reef, increased a naval patrols and ordered a large-scale military exercise.

On 5 May 1983, 18 members of the Naval Special Forces (PASKAL) Led by Lt. Johari Ramzan landed on Swallow Reef from KD Mutiara. Besides Terumbu Layang-Layang there are 4 other reefs controlled by the RMN, namely Terumbu Ubi, Terumbu Mantanani, Terumbu Siput and Terumbu Peninjau.

The Army Engineer Corps was responsible for constructing the monument at Layang-Layang Reef; the 3rd Engineer Squadron, based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, was assigned the task. Construction at the reef continued in 1983 and 1985, involving the 91st Construction Regiment and the 8th Engineer Squadron, led by Project Head Lt. Col. Choy Siew Pun.

Army Engineer Squadron ready to be deployed from RMN Ship to Swallow Reef.

Lt.Col. Choy Siew Pun lead the Army Engineer at Swallow Reef

KD RAJA JAROM & THE NURI (RMAF)

One unforgettable memory from 1982 dates back to my service aboard the RMN transport ship KD Raja Jarom during "Ops Terumbu", when our vessel was transporting construction equipment for the platform at Terumbu Layang-Layang (TLL). RMAF Nuri helicopters played a vital role in airlifting the construction materials to TLL. Now, it is all just a memory... The Nuri, remembered...

Federal Territory of Labuan... a rest stop after completing duties at Terumbu Layang-Layang

In 1989, the Government decided that this area be developed into a tourist center and now it is known as Avillion Layang-Layang Resort.

MALAYSIA NATIONAL DAY 1981

While the ship was still under repair at the MSE Shipyard, Pasir Gudang, Johor, several crew members of KD Raja Jarom were selected to represent the Southern Zone of the RMN in the 1981 National Day Parade at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Those selected took a train from Johor Bahru Railway Station to Kuala Lumpur.

Because KD Raja Jarom was still under repair at the MSE Shipyard, Pasir Gudang, we were selected to represent the southern zone to the National Day Parade in Kuala Lumpur.

The Southern Zone at that time was the RMN contingent from Woodlands, Singapore and RMN members serving at the Ministry of Defence, Kuala Lumpur. While the Northern Zone was from the Base in Lumut, Perak.

Departing from Johor Bahru Railway Station to Kuala Lumpur, each carrying an M16 rifle. Since we were the first group to use the new 2B uniform replacing the old one (short pants), we raised many questions among many people at that time. When we arrived at Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, many eyes were looking at us. Perhaps all this time they were used to seeing soldiers in Green shirts carrying weapons... but this time a team in blue shirts and each carrying a weapon.

While waiting for the truck, we stopped for a drink at the cafeteria at KL railway station. An uncle, out of curiosity... asked me where we were from. When I told the uncle that we were Navy from Woodlands, Singapore, he was shocked and asked why so many Singapore Navy members were in Kuala Lumpur and carrying weapons too.... we laughed and told the uncle that we were members of the Royal Malaysian Navy based in Woodlands, Singapore.... only then did the uncle feel relieved and said he didn't expect that RMN members were still based in Singapore even though Singapore had long left Malaysia.. I stated that the RMN is now in the process of moving in stages from Singapore to the new base in Lumut, Perak....

(The RMN Base in Woodlands, Singapore is now Singapore West Prison... it's sad when I remember the place where I lived in the bachelor barracks now becomes a place for prisoners....)

In Kuala Lumpur we stayed at Transit Camp, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

RETRIEVING ANCIENT CANNON AT PULAU AUR, JOHOR

Among the voyages I experienced with KD Raja Jarom was a voyage to Pulau Aur, about 35 Nautical miles from Mersing Beach to retrieve an Ancient Cannon there on the orders of the Sultan of Johor.

What is interesting about the retrieval of the Cannon at Pulau Aur is that some say that 2 months after the cannon was taken, KD Raja Jarom collided with a Japanese Tanker ship which claimed the lives of 3 crew members of KD Raja Jarom... according to some people this was due to the retrieval of the cannon at Pulau Aur... Wallahu Alam... only Allah knows best... whether to believe it or not, it's up to each person's own thinking... I don't want to comment....

These Ancient Cannons of Pulau Aur were found in 1849 by a British Officer named JT Thompson, totaling 4 barrels. It is estimated that these cannons were made in the year 1782 based on the numbers engraved on the cannons.

In the first task, KDRJ managed to bring aboard 2 barrels of cannons and one more barrel was taken a few months later after the ship returned from duty in Sabah and Sarawak.

During the retrieval of the third cannon, our crew heard various stories from the villagers that they heard crying sounds at night at the place where the 2 barrels of cannons were taken before... they assumed it was the crying sound of the 3rd cannon that was separated from its twin brothers (the 3 brother cannons)... they even advised us to be careful because they were afraid the guardian of the cannon would be angry and would bring disaster to the ship.

However, the duty and orders of the Palace still had to be carried out... the third cannon was brought aboard the ship and brought back to Johor Bahru...

What was said by the villagers of Pulau Aur turned out to happen on 19 December 1982 at 10.10 pm when KD Raja Jarom was involved in a collision with a Japanese tanker ship, Syoru Maru at Buffalo Rock in the Singapore Strait which claimed the lives of 3 crew members, namely 802372 BM Abdul Rahman Bin Kunji Maidin, 805992 BM Ramlie bin Yaakub and 805221 BM Abd Rahman bin Hamid (3 R)....

The mystery surrounding KDRJ is that 3 ancient cannon barrels (3 M) taken from Pulau Aur apparently took the lives of 3 crew members whose names all start with the letter R (3R)....

The RMN took 3M from Pulau Aur, the guardian of the ancient cannon demanded 3R in return... (Wallahualam)....

The number engraved on the cannon, i.e. the year it was made F1782..... 200 years later (1982) the 3 barrels of cannons were separated from their original place by KDRJ.....

The second incident involving KD Raja Jarom happened again on 9 February 1984 in the Strait of Malacca when it collided again with a Japanese tanker... Only this time the tragedy only injured 3 crew members (3 again)....

In fact, everything that happens is the will of Allah s.w.t and surely there is wisdom behind every incident.... Whatever mystery happens... is coincidental and depends on each person's thinking..... as long as it does not deviate from the path of religion....Wallahualam...

Whatever it is, let us recite Al-Fatihah for the 3 RMN petty officers who perished in that terrible incident....may their souls be showered with Allah's mercy... Aamiin....

Refer to the blogs below about the Pulau Aur Cannon:

1. https://mforum1.cari.com.my/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=630429
2. http://tsaifuzie.blogspot.com/2013/12/panggilan-pulau.html
3. https://utohpaloi.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/kd-raja-jarom-untold-story-4/
4. 1982 - PELANGGARAN KD RAJA JAROM DAN MISTERI MERIAM PURBA PULAU AUR
5. Helikopter Nuri dan Terumbu Layang Layang

COLLISION OF KD RAJA JAROM IN THE SINGAPORE STRAIT

After a few months of serving with KD Raja Jarom, I returned to KD Pelandok Lumut for the Class 1 KMR Course.

It was while I was on the course that I received the news that KD Raja Jarom had collided with a Japanese tanker, Syoru Maru at Buffalo Rock in the Singapore Strait on 20 December 1982, which claimed the lives of 3 crew members.