NOTEBOOK : KD SRI NEGRI SEMBILAN (1987)

Here is a comprehensive structured notebook based on the provided personal account of Navy Veteran Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor, detailing his service, operations at Pulau Bidong, and naval history.

Ref: Zulheimy Maamor > 1987: KD Sri Negri Sembilan

Naval Service & Vessel Biography: KD Sri Negri Sembilan

Vessel Specifications & Early History

• Squadron & Base: Acted as a patrol craft for the 12th Squadron, based out of the Lumut Jetty in Lumut, Perak.
• Class & Build: A Sri Sabah-class patrol craft built by Vosper Ltd. in Portsmouth, England.
• Commission Date: Officially commissioned into service on September 28, 1964.
• First Commanding Officer: Lt. Kdr Mohd Zain bin Mohd Salleh, who later rose to become the Chief of Navy (Panglima Tentera Laut) on January 1, 1977.

Veteran's Service Term (1987–1988)

• Duration: Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor served on this vessel for 5 months, from October 12, 1987, to March 28, 1988.
• Commanding Officer: Lt. Mior Rosdi bin Mior Mohd Jaafar.
• Administrative Clerical Error: At the time, the veteran held the rank of Leading Rate (Laskar Kanan). He notes an administrative oversight by the Ministry of Defence (PPA-LLP), as signalmen on patrol craft were supposed to be Able Rates (Laskar Kelas 1), while Leading Rates were typically reserved for Senior Squadrons. Following this 5-month stint, he was transferred to SKTLDM Kuala Lumpur.

Decommissioning and Final Disposition

• 2006: Decommissioned by the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) and handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM / MMEA), where it was renamed KM Nyireh.
• March 30, 2017: Transferred to the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia (Jabatan Taman Laut Malaysia).
• April 20, 2017: Artificially reefed (sunken) at the Pulau Payar Marine Park Biodiversity Conservation Site in Kedah.

Historical Context: Pulau Bidong Operations

During the veteran's deployment, one of the primary operational areas for KD Sri Negri Sembilan was Pulau Bidong, located 45 km off the coast of Terengganu in the South China Sea.

Refugee Crisis & Timeline

• August 8, 1978: Established as a transit camp for war refugees by the Malaysian government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with an initial arrival of 121 Vietnamese refugees.
• January 1979: Refugee numbers swelled rapidly to 18,000.
• June 1979: Population peaked at roughly 40,000 displaced individuals.
• 1991 (Closure): The camp was officially closed. By then, approximately 250,000 refugees had passed through it, most of whom were permanently resettled in the United States, Canada, Australia, and France. Those remaining after closure were repatriated to Vietnam.

Demographics & Perils at Sea

• Target Demographics: Primarily Vietnamese "Boat People" fleeing the Communist regime, alongside Cambodian refugees fleeing the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s.
• Dangers Encountered: The journey to the island was fraught with peril. Due to small, overcrowded boats, thousands died at sea. They regularly faced brutal pirate attacks involving robbery, rape, mutilation, and murder.

Diplomatic and Operational Visit to Medan, Indonesia

• November 1987: KD Sri Negri Sembilan, alongside sister ship KD Serampang, participated in the Operational Sea Training Exercise (OSTEX) in the Malacca Strait.
• Port of Call: Following the exercise, the ships docked at Belawan Port, situated roughly 24 km from Medan, the provincial capital of North Sumatra.
• Medan Demographics: The veteran notes that while the indigenous population of Medan is Malay, it has transitioned into a diverse, multi-ethnic city heavily populated by Mandailing, Javanese, Indian, and a significant Chinese community.

The Lake Toba Incident

During a recreational visit to Lake Toba (Danau Toba), the largest lake in Indonesia and home to the Batak ethnic group, an unusual incident occurred involving a crew member from the sister ship, KD Serampang:

• The Incident: A sailor allegedly engaged in disrespectful haggling (mulut agak celupar) with a local market merchant.
• The Consequence: Offended by the sailor's behavior, the merchant reportedly cast a spell (ilmu Sihir) on him, causing the crew member to become possessed and behave like a wild boar (khinzir) in the middle of the market.
• Resolution: Navy officers successfully negotiated with the local tribal chief. With the spiritual assistance of a Batak shaman (bomoh Batak) and local villagers, the sailor was successfully cured.
• Veteran's Reflection: The author concludes that this serves as a cautionary tale to always respect local customs and guard one's language and manners when traveling abroad, noting that the area has a historic reputation for black magic. The incident, however, did not harm bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Author Biography: Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor

• Profession: Retired Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) personnel.
• Service Tenure: Served for 16 years, spanning from 1980 to 1996.
• Post-Navy Life: Worked for several private firms and organizations post-retirement. He fully retired from active work after undergoing heart bypass surgery in March 2019.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

6 June 2026:4.30 a.m