KD SRI REJANG (1983/84) : THE BROWN WATER NAVY, LIFE ON BOT LANCANG.

KD Sri Rejang (1983/84): My Life in the Brown Water Navy—The Only Riverine Base in RMN History

In the heart of Sarawak, far from the open ocean, the Royal Malaysian Navy fought a different kind of war. Not on blue water, but on brown water. This is my memory of it. I served as a riverine craft crew at KD Sri Rejang in 1983/84.

Ref: KD Sri Rejang: Memoir Seorang Veteran. 

What is Brown Water Navy?

The term "Brown Water Navy" comes from the colour of the river itself—muddy, sediment-heavy, and shallow. It is the complete opposite of a blue-water navy that operates in deep oceans. 

Its doctrine is built for inland warfare: counter-insurgency (COIN), riverine patrols, tactical troop insertion, cutting off enemy supply lines, and close support for land forces. 

Navy Types	Where it Operates	Vessels
Brownwater	Rivers, lakes, deltas & estuaries	Shallow-draft patrol crafts, river monitors, and Bot Lancang
Greenwater	Coastal, littoral zones	Corvettes, coastal patrol craft
Blue Water	Deep open oceans	Frigates, Destroyers, Aircraft Carriers

Reference:

1. Zulheimy Maamor > KD Sri Rejang: Memoir seorang Veteran. 
2. Zulheimy Maamor > Rascom HQ Mil - Ops Jala Aman 1 (1983/84)
3. Zulheimy Maamor > Role of KD Sri Rejang (1983/84)

After independence, the RMN began essentially as a Brown-Water force to intercept communist supply lines during the Malayan Emergency and Confrontation. KD Sri Rejang was its purest expression. Today the RMN has evolved into a Green-Water force moving towards Blue-Water capabilities.

RASCOM and KD Sri Rejang—The Strategic Shield

To win in Sarawak, the government created a unified command.

RASCOM (Rajang Area Security Command) was established on 25 March 1972. On 1 May 1972, Brig. Gen. Mohamad Ghazali bin Dato' Mohamad Seth became its first security commander. It was a tri-service unification of the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Royal Malaysian Police, and the Civil Administration, with the Chief Minister of Sarawak as the State Director of Operations. 

Created in response to asymmetric warfare, political assassinations, and infrastructure sabotage carried out in Sarawak’s Third Division by communist guerrilla branches—specifically the Second Bureau of the North Kalimantan Communist Party (BKPKKU/NKCP) and the North Kalimantan People’s Army (PARAKU).

Its jurisdiction covered the whole of Sibu, Sarikei, and Kapit—the Third Division, where the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) and PARAKU operated.

Officially commissioned by Defence Minister Tan Sri Hj Abdul Taib Mahmud on 28 March 1978.

Reference: Communist Insurgency in Sarawak

KD SRI REJANG

At the tip of this spear was our base, KD Sri Rejang.

KD Sri Rejang served as the only RMN forward riverine base dedicated to counter-insurgency operations in inland waterways against the North Kalimantan Communist Party. 

It operated under the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM), supporting security operations throughout the Rajang River Basin, including Sibu, Song, Sarikei, Kanowit, Durin, Belaga, Bintangor (formerly Binatang), and Kapit. 

Recognised as TLDM's sole strategic inland forward operational base deployed to eliminate communist activities along Sarawak's major river corridors. Its primary mission was to support "Brown Water" naval operations against communist insurgents using patrol boats, logistic craft, and riverine forces operating along the Rejang River and its tributaries. 

The "Brown Water Navy", specialised in river warfare, had responsibilities including armed river patrols, convoy escorts, troop transport, logistic resupply, medical evacuation, surveillance, intelligence support, insertion and extraction of army and police units, and protection of rural settlements. 

In 1964, covert operations were originally at Simpang Tiga (situated between Kampung Hilir and Kampung Nangka). Officially commissioned by Defence Minister Tan Sri Hj Abdul Taib Mahmud on 18 March 1978.

The first Commanding Officer was Lt Balagopal Pillai, TLDM. During my time at KD Sri Rejang, KD Sri Rejang was commanded by Cdr Tajuddin bin Yahya and then Cdr Ahmad Kamal. 

It was decommissioned and handed over to the Territorial Army (Rejimen 510 Askar Wataniah), turning into Kem Sri Rejang on 3 November 1991. 

Life on Bot Lancang—The Boats and the Danger

We called them Bot Lancang, a small boat crew of 5 to 6 men that is the skipper (boat commander), 2 seamen (PPP), 1 motor mechanic (TMK), and 1 radio operator (KMR), and that was my duty. 

We operated three distinct classes of vessels:

• RCP (Riverine Craft Personnel):
• Heavily utilised for combat patrols and armed logistics escort.
• Weapon Attachments: Outfitted with a 20 mm Oerlikon cannon, heavy-barrel L2A1 SLR rifles, and 7.62 mm light machine guns (LMG).
• Logistical load: Capable of transporting 105 mm howitzers and light tactical military vehicles.
• LCP (Landing Craft Personnel): Designed for swift troop transport and insertions along remote banks.
• LCM (Landing Craft Mechanised): Allocated for heavier logistical transport across rivers.

Operational Vulnerabilities

It was not easy; the loud engine noise produced by these riverine crafts killed our stealth—warning enemy combatants in thick foliage and increasing the risk of ambushes. Places such as Sungai Assan, Sungai Naman, Sungai Setabau, and Sungai Nyemah were designated high-threat zones heavily populated by insurgents.

Joint Force Operations (Ops Jala Aman 1)

During the Ops Jala Aman 1, Riverine forces directly collaborated with multiple land components to track and neutralise threats along the Rajang River basin:

• 24th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD)
• 8th Battalion, Royal Ranger Regiment
• 11th Regiment Gerak Khas (RGK / Commandos)
• 17th Battalion, Police Field Force (PPH / now PGA)
• Royal Malaysian Artillery
• Sarawak Border Scouts
• Royal Malaysian Artillery

On Patrol—Rejang River 1983/84. An RCP (Riverine Craft Personnel) leading the convoy. This was our daily view from the stern—5-6 crew, Oerlikon forward, eyes on the riverbank. Photo taken in the Rajang basin, the same area as KD Sri Rejang operations under RASCOM.

This photo captures the real Brown Water Navy action—a stern view from the riverine craft, brown Rejang water, and jungle on both banks. 

Logbook memories that stayed with me. 

• 1973 (Operasi Aman): A major breakthrough when Bong Kee Chok led the arms surrender of 585 PKKU communist combatants.
• 24 April 1983 (Assan Naman Firefight): Intelligence flash reported several security personnel killed in action during a jungle ambush at the Assan Naman Forest Reserve.
• November 1983: The Jetty Explosion: An RCP suffered a catastrophic internal gas leak and sank at Sri Igan Jetty. My shipmate LK1 PPP Montaza Hj Amin suffered severe second-degree burns but survived. After that, safety regulations on all riverine crafts were tightened drastically.
• 8 January 1984: Sinking of KD Sri Perak: A major tragedy in the South China Sea. KD Sri Perak sank in heavy swells. KD Hang Tuah and KD Sri Terengganu were diverted to shelter at Sri Igan Jetty in Sibu. All of us at KD Sri Rejang were placed on a 24-hour emergency alert. Photo from that day—I took it from my dorm room.
• 1986: Mass surrender of 40 insurgent members led by Ubong anak Nuing—a feared local tracker who previously served as an Iban tracker for British forces during the Malayan Emergency.
• October 17, 1990: Finality of the insurgency. The peace agreement between the government and the PKKU was signed in Kuching; the final 52 active guerrillas laid down their weapons.
• 3 November 1991: Following the end of the communist insurgency and the peace agreement with the North Kalimantan Communist Party, KD Sri Rejang was decommissioned. 
• November 9, 1994: RASCOM officially disbanded via a Cabinet meeting directive.

(This photo was taken from my dorm room.)

The river was our map—tactical geography.

Area of Operations.

We knew the Rejang River like our own veins. We patrolled and anchored at: 

• Sibu: Positioned at the convergence of the Rajang and Igan rivers, roughly 60 km inland from the ocean line.
• Kanowit: Dominated by the Iban community; location of the historic "Tragedi Pendam Bungkang" recounted by veteran border scouts.
• Kapit: Deep interior region comprising four main districts (Bukit Mabong, Belaga, Song, and Kapit).
• Song: Quiet riverside town and the capital of the Song District within the Kapit Division of Sarawak. 
• Sarikei: Riverside town in Central Sarawak. Known as the "Fruit Basket of Sarawak", it is famously recognised across Malaysia for its thriving agriculture, especially its sweet pineapples. 
• Nanga Gaat: Crucial data checkpoint where patrol vessels transmitted mandatory SITREPs (Situation Reports) at 0800 and 2000 hours daily. Features a landmark riverbank war memorial erected by British forces to honour 21 Commonwealth troops killed during the Confrontation.
• Bintangor (formerly Binatang): A town in Meradong famous for its local orange orchards. Officially renamed by Taib Mahmud after the Bintangor tree (hypothesised for medical research).
• Belaga: Isolated deep inland zone located at the upper streams of the Rajang River. Home to diverse Orang Ulu sub-ethnic communities and the site of the massive Bakun Dam project.

Belaga was home to diverse Orang Ulu communities. Access was only by river or small airfield. We patrolled here for logistical resupply to army border posts and to cut off communist supply routes from the upper jungle. This area is now the site of the massive Bakun Dam. 

Bintangor (formerly Binatang)—a riverine town in Meradong Division. Officially renamed Bintangor by Tan Sri Taib Mahmud after the Bintangor tree. That photo of Bintangor was taken from our riverine boat. 

Kanowit—famous for the historic "Tragedi Pendam Bungkang", recounted by veteran Sarawak Border Scouts. Kanowit was our tactical checkpoint and insertion point for tracking operations into the interior. This is where the army and police field force would disembark for jungle operations. 

These areas were classified as active patrol zones during the counter-unsurgency against the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) and PARAKU (Parti Rakyat Kalimantan Utara). Our role was armed patrol, troop transport, convoy escort, and surveillance, the essence of Brown Water Navy operations. 

Sarikei, a major town in central Sarawak, is famously known as the "Fruit Basket of Sarawak" for its pineapples and agriculture. It was a central logistic hub during RASCOM operations.

The photos show soldiers boarding and disembarking on an express boat. Sarikei Jetty was a main pick-up point for joint forces moving upriver to Song, Kanowit, and Kapit. 

Kapit was the deepest interior capital we reached during Ops Jala Aman 1. Our patrols pushed to Nanga Gaat, one of the historic locations I have ever been to during our patrol. It is where the Nanga Gaat Memorial was erected by the British to honour 21 Commonwealth troops killed during the Indonesian Confrontation (1963-1966). The troops from the Royal Navy, 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment, and Royal Army Medical Corps are all aged 18 to 34. This memorial was a landmark for us, a reminder of those who secured the river before us. 

Song, a quiet riverside town and the capital of Song District within Kapit Division. Song was a gathering point for local Iban communities in 1984. Sat between Kapit and Kanowit, it was a checkpoint for interdicting communist movement from the interior towards Sibu. 

All logistics—troops, 105 mm howitzer ammo, rations, medical evacuation—had to pass Song.

The photo captured of Sibu, during the years of 1983 and 1984, was documented by a veteran of the KD Sri Rejang Riverine Craft. 

From Radio Room to Rejang River.

My primary duty at KD Sri Rejang was as a radio operator, or "R.O." as most of the Navy knew it. During operations, communication was our lifeline, as radio was the only way to communicate between our HQ and the patrol boat at Rejang River.

The Radio Room at our COMCEN (Communication Centre) had to maintain a 24-hour watch. All SITREP (Situation Report) from our Riverine Craft at Nanga Gaat, Kapit, Song, Kanowit, Sariket, Bintangor, Belaga, etc., came through this room. 

The work of the radio communicator was unseen but vital—without semboyan, the Brown Water Navy could not operate.

     

809025 EX-LK KMR HJ ZULHEIMY BIN MAAMOR

(Ex-Crew of Riverine Craft at KD Sri Rejang, 1983-84)

Gawai 1984—The People We Met Along the Rejang River

Beyond patrols and SITREPs (Situation Report), riverine duty was also about the people of the river. During Hari Gawai Dayak 1984 in Sibu, Sarawak, while our boat was anchored near the longhouse, we were invited to a longhouse celebration. 

There is where I met this Iban girl in her nice traditional Ngepan. I definitely didn't want to miss the opportunity to take a photo with her in her beautiful and unique traditional dress.

In the background is one of our RCPs on the move, the same boat that carried troops, rations, ammunition, and medical supplies by day and became our lifeline by night.

It was a quiet riverside town then, and I could not recall the name of the village. During Gawai, the entire longhouse, or Rumah Panjai, came alive. 

This is one of my most cherished memories from KD Sri Rejang in 1983/84. It reminds us that our mission in RASCOM was not just about hunting insurgents but about protecting these communities. 

The staff of KD Sri Rejang was also invited for the Gawai Dayak celebration at one of the nearest longhouses from our base, for which I could not remember the name of the longhouse. 

Today, KD Sri Rejang is no longer a naval base. It is now occupied by Kem Sri Rejang, home of 510 Askar Wataniah. Even local descriptions identify it as the former RMN Base. 

Legacy:

KD Sri Rejang is remembered as:

• the only permanent RMN riverine base in Malaysia
• The Navy's principal contribution to RASCOM.
• a key component of Sarawak's counter-insurgency campaign.
• an important example of joint Army-Navy-Police operations. 

This is just a small record from an ex-crew of Riverine Craft who was there and witnessed a Navy Riverine craft sail along the Rejang River in service to the land of Sarawak.

From a young boy of Lembah Keramat in Kay'El to the Rejang River in Sarawak, my journey has been one of transformation and discovery. Growing up in the lush valleys of Lembah Keramat, I was surrounded by the beauty of nature and the warmth of my community. The vibrant culture and rich traditions instilled in me a sense of belonging and purpose.

As I ventured beyond the familiar hills, I found myself drawn to the mighty Rejang River, a lifeline that flows through the heart of Sarawak. The river, with its winding paths and serene waters, became a symbol of adventure and resilience. It was here that I embraced the call of duty, serving as part of the Brown Water Navy, where every patrol and mission was a testament to the spirit of camaraderie and bravery.

The transition from the tranquil valleys of my childhood to the dynamic operations on the Rejang River was profound. Each experience shaped my understanding of sacrifice and service, as I navigated the challenges of riverine warfare alongside my fellow sailors. The lessons learned on those waters—of teamwork, strategy, and unwavering resolve—remain etched in my memory, guiding me through life’s currents.

Reflecting on this journey, I am reminded that our roots shape us, but it is the paths we choose that define our legacy. From Lembah Keramat to the Rejang River, I carry the essence of both worlds within me, a blend of heritage and honor that continues to inspire my journey forward.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L.

10 September 2026: 6.09 a.m.