1983-84: KD SRI REJANG, SIBU, SARAWAK

BY: HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

9 JUNE 2024

Sarawak long known as the "Land of the Hornbills", is located on the northwest of the island of Borneo. It is Malaysia's largest state, covering an area of 124,450 sq km, nearly as large as the whole Peninsular Malaysia. Part of the Brunei Sultanate 200 years ago. It was ceded to a British adventurer, James Brooke, who ruled as the Rajah of Sarawak. Sarawak became part of Malaysia in 1963 together with Sabah and Singapore. However, Singapore left Malaysia in 1965.

The first time I set foot in Sarawak was in 1981 when I was serving on a Royal Malaysian Navy ship that frequently stopped at ports in Sarawak, such as Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, and others.

The second time was when I was assigned to KD Sri Rejang, which was located in Sibu, Sarawak, from 1983 until 1984.

SIBU, SARAWAK

Sibu is a landlocked city located in the central region of Sarawak. The city is positioned at the confluence of the Rejang and Igan Rivers. It is the third largest town in East Malaysia after Kuching and Miri.

My memories of the city of Sibu are when I served at the Royal Malaysian Navy Base in Sibu, Sarawak from 1983-1984.

Sarawak House located at Jalan Kampung Nyabor, sibu become a place that my colleagues and I often visit on weekends or after work. Sarawak House also has a 3-star Premier Hotel. Premier Hotel in Sibu offers free parking in its multi-level carpark. Free Wi-Fi is available in the hotel's lobby. It is a short 10-minute walk from Sibu Heritage Centre, Central Market and the local night market.

We once attended the wedding of our friend who married a local Chinese girl at this Hotel.

Unforgettable memories of sailing with MV Sang Fajar from Kuching to Sibu when I was transferred Sibu, Sarawak in April 1983.

Camp Sri Rejang, formerly naval base known as KD Sri Rejang, was officially opened by the Minister of Defense at the time, YAB Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud on 31 Oct 91. This camp is now occupied by 510 Rejimen Askar Wataniah.

Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum is a medical museum in Sibu, Sarawak. The museum is the first and the only medical museum in Malaysia.

Formerly it was the only hospital before the Sibu General Hospital was built in the middle of 80s. The hospital had served people of all ethnic groups for more than 60 years.

A visit to the museum will be very worthwhile as one can see the uniform of nurses, equipments and other displays from the past.

I still remember visiting a friend who was admitted to the ward at Lau King Howe Hospital due to a road accident.

See Hua Daily News located next to the Seri Rejang Camp, is the largest and best-selling daily newspaper on the island of Borneo. The See Hua Daily News newspaper was first published in 1952.

KD SRI REJANG, SIBU, SARAWAK

1983 - 1984

KD Sri Rejang is the only Forward Base of Royal Malaysian Navy in the movement against communist activities that once operated in Sibu, Sarawak. It is placed under the auspices of the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM HQ MIL) because Sibu, at that time, was a black area with communist terrorist activities that threatened the local population.

KD Sri Rejang was commissioned on 18 March 1978 by the then Minister of Defense, Tan Sri Hj Abdul Taib Mahmud. Although inaugurated in 1978, this base has actually been operating since 1964, when it was located at Simpang Tiga between Kampung Hilir and Kampung Nangka. The first Commanding Officer of KD Sri Rejang was Lt. Balagopal Pillai TLDM.

KD SRI PERAK TRAGEDY

An unfortunate tragedy occurred in the history of the Royal Malaysian Navy on January 8, 1984, which was the sinking of the KD Sri Perak, an RMN Patrol Craft in the South China Sea. At that time, KD Sri Perak was sailing in company with KD Hang Tuah and KD Sri Terengganu.

Due to the rough and unsafe sea conditions, KD Hang Tuah and KD Sri Terengganu were ordered to moor at Sri Igan Jetty, Sibu (the jetty where the Riverine Patrol Craft was moored). As a Riverine Boat Crew, we were instructed to be alert within 24 hours if our help was needed. To find out more about KD Sri Perak, you can visit Pak Mail's blog site because Pak Mail was a crew member of KD Sri Perak during the incident.

** KD Sri Trengganu in now on display at the Naval Museum in Melaka.

An unfortunate incident occurred in November 1983 when a Riverine Craft Personnel boat exploded due to a gas leak and sank at Sri Igan Jetty. Two members were injured, with one member, LK1 PPP Montaza Hj Amin, being admitted to the Lau King Howe Hospital ward in Sibu due to severe injuries (second-degree burns), while the other member was lightly injured and treated as an outpatient. Thankfully, Montaza was saved and recovered soon after. In response to the incident, the Commanding Officer issued an order for tighter security measures on boats to prevent a recurrence of the same incident.

Celebrating Aidilfitri in Sarawak is an unforgettable experience. During my 2-year tour of duty in Sibu, I was unable to celebrate Aidilfitri in my hometown with my family. Fortunately, we have friends in the base who are locals, and we will celebrate Aidilfitri at their house.

Masjid An-Nur, Sibu was inaugurated by His Highness the then The Yang DiPertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Ya'kub on 15 August 1983, where my friends and I were also involved in the inauguration ceremony.

InsyaAllah, if I have the opportunity to visit Sibu one day, one of my wishes is to pray at this mosque where my friends and I were indirectly involved in the opening of the new mosque in Bandar Sibu at that time.

Among the annual festivals in Sarawak is Gawai Dayak which is celebrated on June 1 every year. This photo was taken during the Gawai Dayak festival at Rumah Jala, a modern and well-equipped Long House. It is understood from the Head of the longhouse, the Sarawak Beauty Queen that year was born in this house. In the picture are RO Savirimuthu, RO Ismail Md Ali, members of the store branch (can't remember his name) and COXN Bakar.

RO Savirimuthu used to work on a ship with me at KD Raja Jarom which was then based in Woodlands, Singapore.

All Communications staff at KD Sri Rejang have been trained to operate telephone operator switchboard equipment. This is because if our telephone operators (Mr. Hamdan and a lady operator whose name I have forgotten) are on vacation, the operator's telephone duties will be taken over by the Communications staff at night until morning.

If I am not on duty at the Riverine Craft, I will be on duty at the KD Sri Rejang Signal Office according to the shift, as duty at the Signal Office is 24 hours.

Beside my duty at the Signal Office, I was also assigned to the Navy's Riverine boat and carried out river patrol duties along the Rejang River in Sibu, Sarawak. Additionally, we provided logistical support to army units and Police Field Forces. During that time, Ops Jala Aman 1 had just been launched by RASCOM Hq Military.

Rajang Area Security Commang (RASCOM) was established on 26 March 1972 in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Mid Rajang Basin.

RASCOM was formed based on Majlis Keselamatan Negara Directive No. 4.Its area of Responsibility (AOR) encompassed the 3rd and the 6th Division. It combines the Military, Police and Civilian Administration under one command.

After days of patrolling the Rejang River, we will stop to rest in some small towns around Sungai Rejang, such as Kanowit, Song, Sarikei, Belaga, Durin, Kapit, and many more whose names I have forgotten.

Bintangor (formerly known as Binatang) is the capital of the Meradong District in Sarikei, Sarawak. Situated along the Rejang River, Bintangor was an express boat services hub connection between Sarikei and Sibu.

Kanowit is a town and the capital of Kanowit District, Sarawak. It is built on the mouth of Kanowit River at the bank of Rejang River, approximately 174 km from the coast of South China Sea. It takes 45 minutes to reach the town by land transport and an hour by boat from Sibu.

I still remember that there is a special monument built at Kanowit to honour the sacrifies of local-born heroes at Fort Emma Square. 18 Kanowit-born policeman, Armed Forces,Border Scouts and Sarawak Rangers lost their lives in the line of duty. They were ambushed by communists at Pendam Bungkang in Ulu Sungai Ngemah here on 27 August 1970.

Kapit is a town and the capital of Kapit District, Sarawak on the South bank of Rejang River. Kapit is accessible by boat from Sibu, light aircraft and most recently by road.

This town of Kapit reminds me of an incident where I lost my military ID card while buying fruit at the Kapit Market.

I am quite anxious and afraid of what will happen if my military ID is found by a member of the Communist party. Thank God, when a Chinese market trader noticed me, he told me that he had found my military ID and handed it over to the nearest police station. Thanks to the kind citizens of Kapit.

The Nanga Gaat Memorial was built by the British soldiers in 1965 to commemorate the 21 British soldiers died here during the Malaysian-Indonesian Confrantation from 1963-1965.

Sarikei a town and capital of Sarikei District in Sarikei Division in Sarawak, located on Rajang River near where the river empties into the South China Sea.

Song a town and capital of Song District in Kapit Division, Sarawak. Situated by the bank of Katibas River, a tributary of Rajang River.

Now all that remains is history. KD Sri Rejang was officially closed on 3 November 1991 and handed over to the Army after the communist insurgency ended on 2 December 1989.

For those who have served in KD Sri Rejang, there are many bittersweet memories that we cannot forget because serving at KD Sri Rejang has taught me a lot about the meaning of life as a member of the Royal Malaysian Navy. The Navy is always described as members who are on duty on a large ships that travel the vast ocean, but let's not forget some of our navy members who are on duty patrolling the rivers in Sarawak, especially in the interior of Sarawak which is full of challenges and dangers ahead.... KD SRI REJANG WILL REMAIN IN MEMORIES.....