KD SRI REJANG: A VETERAN'S MEMOIR
KD SRI REJANG,
SIBU, SARAWAK,
28.3.1983 - 24.11.1984
Sibu is located in the 3rd Division of Sarawak
INTRODUCTION
KD Sri Rejang was the only forward operating base of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) that ever operated in Sibu, Sarawak, in the campaign against communist activities. It was placed under the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM HQ MIL) because Sibu at that time was classified as a Black Area, with communist terrorist activities threatening the local population.
KD Sri Rejang was commissioned on 18 March 1978 by the then Minister of Defence, Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud. Although it was officially commissioned in 1978, the base had actually been operating since 1964, at that time located at Simpang Tiga, between Kampung Hilir and Kampung Nangka.
Chronology of KD Sri Rejang History:
- 1964: KD Sri Rejang began operations at Simpang Tiga, Sibu, Sarawak (near Kg Hilir and Kg. Nangka)
- 18 March 1978: Commissioned by the then Minister of Defence Tan Sri Hj Abdul Taib Mahmud. The first Commanding Officer was Lt. Balagopal Pillai RMN.
- 3 November 1991: Decommissioned and handed over to the 510 Territorial Army Regiment. KD Sri Rejang was rebranded as Kem Seri Rejang.
KD Sri Rejang original base at Simpang Tiga, Sibu, Sarawak
ESTABLISHMENT OF RASCOM
RAJANG AREA SECURITY COMMAND
RASCOM (Rajang Area Security Command) was established on 25 March 1972 as a result of several incidents of murder, chaos and destruction of public property carried out by Communist members in the 3rd Division of Sarawak known as the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) and the North Kalimantan People's Armed Force (PARAKU).
RASCOM's area of operation covered the entire Sibu, Sarikei and Kapit Divisions. It was established with three components consisting of military, police and civilian units and the Chief Minister of Sarawak was appointed as the State Operations Director. The existence of RASCOM successfully eroded the communist threat in Sarawak and former communists returned to society after the ceasefire and surrender of 585 NKCP members led by Bong Kee Chok in Operation Aman in 1973 and in 1986, Ubong anak Nuing along with 40 members, also surrendered. The communist terrorist threat ended on 17 October 1990 when the Government and the NKCP signed an agreement in Kuching when 52 NKCP members surrendered.RASCOM was subsequently disbanded following a Cabinet Meeting decisionon 9 November 1994. .
Ref: Awangku Santubong
After completing the Class 1 Communicator's Course at KD Pelandok, I was ordered to be transferred to KD Sri Rejang, Sibu, Sarawak. I cannot describe how happy I was at that time because this was the first time I had set foot on Sarawak soil. I first arrived in Sibu was by RMAF aircraft from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching and then by ship MV Sang Fajar from Kuching to Sibu.
My four friends from the RMN and I boarded MV Sang Fajar together with members from the 24th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, who were sent to operate in Sibu, Sarawak.
Sibu is one of the towns in the third division of Sarawak. It is located at the confluence of the Rajang River with the Igan River, about 60 km from the sea.
Sarawak House - our favourite hangout place
MY POSTING
I reported for duty at KD Sri Rejang, Sibu, Sarawak on 28 March 1983, when the base was playing an important role in the RASCOM operation. As a member of the RMN Communications Branch, I was assigned on rotational basis between the Signals Office and the assault boat crew that carried out security patrols and logistic missions along the Rajang River. At that time, the communist insurgency threat was still active in the interior of Sarawak, making every voyage not just a routine task, but part of an operation to defend national security.
The Commanding Officer of KD Sri Rejang at that time was Cdr. Tajuddin Bin Yahya (now Chairman of the Wangsa Maju KL Branch Veterans Association), later replaced by Cdr. Ahmad Kamal.
For Communications personnel serving at KD Sri Rejang, duty was in two places, at the Signals Office and on the Assault Boats (RCP, LCP and LCM) on a rotational basis.
BROWN WATER NAVY
The term "Brown Water Navy" refers to Naval personnel who serve in shallow water areas, rivers, coastal areas and river estuaries.
It is called "Brown Water" because the color of the river water, deposited with mud and soil in the river area, makes it look brown.
Personnel are trained to use river patrol boats equipped with small cannons capable of moving quickly in narrow areas difficult to access by large ships.
The history of the Brown Water Navy began when the United States Navy established a Special Unit of the River Patrol Force to cut off enemy supplies in the Mekong River Delta.
Types of Boats used at KD Sri Rejang are:
- RCP : Riverine Craft Personnel - used for combat patrol and logistic support for ground units. Equipped with 20mm Oerlikon Cannon, Heavy Barrel SLR L2A1 Weapon and Light Machine Gun (LMG 7.62 mm).
- LCP : Landing Craft Personnel - designed for transportation and insertion of troops along remote riverbanks.
- LCM : Landing Craft Mechanised - allocated for heavier logistic transportation across the river.
OPS JALA AMAN 1 - RAJANG RIVER
Ops Jala Aman 1 was a major joint counter-insurgency operation launched in March 1981 under RASCOM. It continued during my tenure at KD Sri Rejang in 1983-84.
The increasing activity of NKCP (North Kalimantan Communist Party) and PARAKU (North Kalimantan People's Force) in Sarawak led to the deployment of these assault boats to KD Sri Rejang as part of the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM).
These boats were vital for delivering Army troops and Police Field Force to remote locations accessible only by river or air.
However, the rather loud engine noise of these boats could attract the attention of the enemy, making the mission dangerous. For defence, several RCPs were equipped with 20mm Oerlikon and heavy barrel L2A1 SLR and 7.62mm light machine gun. RCP boats also played a role in providing heavier logistic support, including transporting 105mm howitzers and light vehicles, to enhance the mobility of the Army forces.
Among the main target was the notorious Iban Commander Ubong ak Nuing - a former Sarawak Ranger / Iban Tracker trained by the British Army during the Malayan Emergency. He was using his jungle warfare skills against Malaysian forces and was highly elusive in the Rajang Basin.
Serving on the Assault Boats at KD Sri Rejang is a challenging task. Our task was to conduct river patrols while providing logistic assistance to Army units, especially from the Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD), Ranger Regiment, Special Service Regiment (Commando) and the Police Field Force (now General Operations Force), and the Sarawak Border Scouts operating around Sibu, Kanowit, Song, Kapit and many more. At that time Operation Jala Aman 1 had been launched to fight the Communists in the 3rd Division of Sarawak.
Serving on Assault Boats is not the same as serving on other RMN Ships, because here all boat crew regardless of branch, have to do all the work. The most enjoyable time is during mealtimes, when we would cook together because there is no cook on the assault boat. The assault boat crew is not large, consisting of about 5-6 people consisting of a Skipper (Boat Captain), 2 Seamen, 1 TMK (Engine Mechanic) and 1 Radio Operator (Communication).
The most unique experience for personnel serving on these assault boat patrolling almost the entire length of the Rajang River, from Kuala Rajang or Kuala Paloh up to Kapit. We often stopped at several places whose names were so unfamiliar to us before, such as Kanowit, Song, Durin, Kapit, Belaga, Sarikei, Binatang (Now Bintangor) and many more that I can no longer remember.
Cruising along the Rajang River is indeed high risk, because there are crocodiles and also threats from communist terrorists. However, throughout my service on this Assault Boat... thankfully our boat was never attacked by communist terrorists, even though some of the places we passed through were communist terrorist strongholds such as Sungai Asan, Sungai Naman, Sungai Nyemah, Sungai Setabau and several others.
As mentioned earlier, the operation conducted by RASCOM successfully weakened the communist network, leading to mass surrenders - 40 followers with Ubong ak Nuing in 1986 and finally 52 members surrendering on 17 October 1990 in Kuching which ended the communist threat in Sarawak and RASCOM was disbanded in 1994.
REST AND RECREATION
Throughout the river patrol duties along the Rajang River, there were times we would take a few hours or half a day to rest. Along the Rajang River there is no R&R like on highways in Malaysia, but we would stop and moor at the jetties of several villages or towns along the Rajang River. Among our most popular stopovers were Song, Kapit, Kanowit, Belaga, Durin, Sarikei, Binatang (Now Bintangor) and many more that I have forgotten.
Belaga is an interior area of Sarawak located in the Upper Rajang River, Kapit Division. Several tribes inhabit this district, among them the Orang Ulu, Kenyah, Kayan, Penan, Ukit, Punan, Sehit, Lahanan, Kajaman, Sekapan and Tanjung.
Among the more famous here is the Bakun Dam which is located north of this district.
Kanowit is a small district located in the Sibu division, Sarawak. The journey from Sibu to Kapit takes 1 hour by land. Kanowit is inhabited by people from various ethnicities but the Iban ethnic group dominates the population in Kanowit.
In Kanowit, while resting after a tiring patrol, I was assigned to guard the boat while the rest of the crew went on shore leave to Kanowit town. At that time, an Iban man came to the boat and chatted with me. It turned out he was a former member of the Sarawak Border Scouts. He told me about a tragedy known as the "Tragedi Pendam Bungkang".
Kapit is a combination of 4 districts, namely Bukit Mabong, Belaga, Song and Kapit and 2 sub-districts, namely Sungai Asap and Nanga Merit. Various ethnic groups inhabit the Kapit district, namely the Sarawak Malay, Iban, Melanau and Bidayuh.
Among my memories in Kapit Town is that I lost my BAT C 10 (Military Identity Card) at Kapit Market. I only realized that I had lost my Military IC when I returned to the Assault Boat at the Jetty. At that time the Skipper had informed that the boat would resume patrolling in an hour... I told the skipper (Boat Captain) to let me look for my BAT C 10 within that hour... if I couldn't find it, I would have to return to the boat.
I went back to Kapit Market because as far as I remembered, I had only taken out my wallet when buying fruit. When I arrived at the fruit stall, I asked the fruit seller if he had seen my Military Card. The seller said he he had not seen it. I was disappointed and kept searching for the card. A Chinese man approached me and asked if I was looking for my Military Identity Card. I immediately said yes and he told me that he had handed my BAT C 10 to the Kapit Police Station. After thanking him, I went straight to the Kapit Police Station to retrieve my BAT C 10... Thank God... luckily it was found by a kind citizen... if it had been found by a communist agent, I don't know what would have happened to me.
NANGA GAAT MEMORIAL
When cruising along the Rajang River in the Kapit District, I often saw what looked like a monument on the bank of a river.
I still remember the name of the place as Nanga Gaat because as a Communicator, I often sent SITREP (Situation Report) every 8 AM and 8 PM regarding our boat's position to the base.
This monument was built by the British Army in 1965 to commemorate 21 Commonwealth soldiers who died in Kapit during the Confrontation.
Borneo Post Online: Britosns return to Kapit to remember fallen ones.
Binatang (Now Bintangor) is a small town in the Meradong district about 22 km from Sarikei and 50 km from Sibu. This town is famous for Bintangor Lime.
Here there is also a Teachers' College, namely Rajang Teachers' College. The Iban is the largest ethnic group in Bintangor.
Sarikei Today... The same hotel can still be seen standing strong in Sarikei Town..
Sarikei is one of the districts in the Third Division of Sarawak which also includes Sibu and Kapit. It has 4 administrative districts, namely Sarikei, Meradong, Julau and Pakan.
The majority of the population is from the Iban ethnic group followed by Melanau, Malay and Chinese.
Song is a town in the Kapit district, Sarawak, it borders West Kalimantan, Indonesia in the South.
Those were among the towns we had stopped at while cruising the Rajang River from Kuala Sungai to Kapit Town... many of these town names were so foreign to me before... Thank God... the experience of serving at KD Sri Rejang is something I cannot forget....
In 1980's, the express boat service pliying the mighty Rajang River between Sibu and Song was at the peak of its golden era.
DUTY AT THE SIGNALS OFFICE, KD SRI REJANG
If not on duty on the Assault Boat, I would be on duty at the Signals Office of KD Sri Rejang on a shift basis, because duty at the Signals Office is 24 hours.
GAWAI DAYAK CELEBRATION 1984
Military & Community Relations
Military and Civilian Relations in Sibu in 1984 through participation in the Gawai Dayak Celebration was an important manifestation of the KESBAN (Security and Development) Doctrine strategy, which was officially implemented in 1971 under the administration of the Second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak bin Hussein.
The presence of Navy personnel celebrating Gawai Dayak created harmony between the Military & civilians in Sibu and succeeded in eroding the negative perception of the community towards uniformed personnel.
Iban girls famous for their natural beauty
Among the annual celebrations in Sarawak is Gawai Dayak Day celebrated on 1 June every year. This picture was taken during the Gawai Dayak celebration at Rumah Jala, a modern and fully equipped longhouse. I was told by the longhouse chief, the Ratu Sarawak for that year was born in this house. In the picture are RO Savirimuthu, RO Ismail Md Ali, a store branch member (can't remember his name) and COXN Bakar. RO Savirimuthu once served on the same ship with me at KD Raja Jarom which was then based in Woodlands, Singapore.
Maulidur Rasul Celebration in Sibu, Sarawak in 1984
RMN personnel ...who served at KD Sri Rejang also participated in the Maulidur Rasul procession held in Sibu, Sarawak, in 1984.
RCP BOAT EXPLOSION INCIDENT
An unwanted incident occurred in November 1983 when an RCP boat exploded due to a gas leak and sank at the Sri Igan Jetty. Two crew members were injured; one, LK1 PPP Montaza Hj Amin, was admitted to the Lau King Howe Hospital in Sibu with severe second-degree burns, while the other suffered minor injuries and was treated as an outpatient. Thankfully, Montaza survived and recovered shortly afterward. Following the incident, the Commanding Officer ordered safety measures to be tightened on all assault boats to prevent similar occurrences.
THE TRAGEDY OF KD SRI PERAK
The sinking of KD Sri Perak on 8 January 1984 remains one of the most poignant tragedies in the history of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
KD Sri Perak was then sailing together with KD Hang Tuah and KD Sri Terengganu. Due to rough and unsafe sea conditions, KD Hang Tuah and KD Sri Terengganu were ordered to berth at Sri Igan Jetty, Sibu (the jetty where the assault boats were moored) after that tragic incident. The Assault Boat members of KD Sri Rejang at the time were ordered to be on standby for 24 hours if assistance was needed.
Ex-KD Sri Perak Radio Operator, Ismail bin Abdul Aziz, affectionaly known as Pak Mail, among the survival of KD Sri Perak later documented his experience in a book titled "Memoir Pak Mail: Tenggelamnya KD Sri Perak" to keep the memory of the incident alive.
ex-KD Sri Trengganu at Muzium TLDM at Bandar Hilir, Melaka
KD Sri Terengganu which is now preserved at the RMN Museum in Bandar Hilir, Melaka
PERSONAL MEMORIES
Communicators serving at KD Sri Rejang at the time were trained to operate the switchboard telephone equipment. This ensured that if the civilian operators, Mr. Hamdan and Kak Zaharah, went on leave, the communications personnel could take over the switchboard duties from night until morning. Late at night was especially memorable, as we would often spend hours chatting with the girls from Sibu.
Taking over the duties of the Telephone Operator when the civilian telephone operator is on leave.
RO MAHMUD, RO ZULHEIMY, LTO SHAHRUM & RO NORDIN
Celebrating Aidilfitri in Sarawak was an unforgettable experience. During my two years there, I was unable to celebrate Hari Raya back in my hometown with my family in Peninsular Malaysia.
Fortunately, there were several RMN members at the base who were locals from Sibu, so we could still feel the Hari Raya atmosphere even though we were far from home. We would also visit other members who had families living there.
However, I felt deeply saddened by not being able to celebrate Hari Raya in my hometown during my two years at KD Sri Rejang. While I was serving there, my father, Maamor Bin Sudin, passed away on 18 December 1984. Al-Fatihah.
One of the contributions I left behind in Sibu, Sarawak, was participating in the gotong-royong to clean the newly completed An-Nur Mosque before its inauguration. The An-Nur Mosque in Sibu was inaugurated by H.E. the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak at that time, Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Ya'kub, on 15 August 1983, and my friends and I were involved in the inauguration ceremony.
God willing, if I have the opportunity to visit Sibu again in the future, one of my wishes is to pray in this mosque, where my friends and I were indirectly involved in the inauguration of the new mosque in Sibu town at that time.
Throughout my service in Sibu, one of our friends met his soulmate with a local girl. The wedding ceremony was held at a leading hotel in Sibu, Sarawak. Also present was the Commanding Officer of KD Sri Rejang, Cdr. Tajudin Yahya (wearing black glasses) and the Supply Officer (beside the CO).
Sarawak House where the wedding ceremony of Abbas & wife took place
Now KD Sri Rejang is just a memory. This Base was officially closed on 3 November 1991 and handed over to the Army after the laying down of arms by the Communists in 1989.
For those who have served at this Base, there are many bitter and sweet memories that we can never forget because for me, serving at KD Sri Rejang has taught me a lot about the meaning of life as a member of the Navy.
The Navy is always described as a sailor serving on large ships that traverse the vast oceans, but we forget that there were those RMN sailor who served traversing the Rejang river in the interior of Sarawak full of thorns and landmines with danger always before our eyes..... KD SRI REJANG WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY MEMORY.....
THE END OF THE KD SRI REJANG ERA
KD SRI REJANG TODAY
KD Sri Rejang has now been taken over by the 510 Territorial Army Regiment (Army) after it was closed.
The place that holds my memories... here is where my friends and I raised the flag every morning and lowered it after sunset
"The place full of my memories... this is where my friends and I raised the flag every morning and took it down after sunset."
Along the Rajang River... from Hulu Rajang / Kuala Paloh to Kapit... I once traversed... what remains now is only memories...
SWEET MEMORIES IN SIBU
What remains now.... Only old memories that will never come again... KD SRI REJANG will remain in my memory...
The camouflage uniform that serves as a memento of service at KD Sri Rejang.
THE LEGACY OF KD SRI REJANG
KD Sri Rejang is remembered as:
- The only forward operating base of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in confronting the communist threat in Malaysia.
- The Navy's primary contribution to RASCOM.
- A key component of the counter-insurgency campaign against PARAKU in Sarawak.
- A testament to the importance of joint operations between the Army, Navy, Police and the Sarawak Border Scouts.
Hj Zulheimy Maamor
ex-Riverine crew
KD Sri Rejang (1983/84)
14 September 2026: 1.43 a.m
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