A documentary looks at the forgotten Iban heroes who did not receive a proper burial when they died fighting the communists during the Emergency.
LIEUTENANT Colonel (Rtd) Robert Rizal Abdullah was shocked to see the undignified conditions of a roadside grave in Alor Star, Kedah. It belonged to a Sarawak Ranger killed in the battles of the First Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) against the communists.
“I saw it four years ago in a blog. It was unbefitting of an Iban warrior who had sacrificed his life to defend a country that he didn’t even know at that time,” says Robert, referring to the fact that the soldier died before the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
“That’s when the idea to bring back the remains of 21 Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers who had perished in the Emergency came about.”
Their journey back: The remains of Iban soldiers who did not get a proper burial in the Peninsula were finally brought home to Kuching in a Heroes Memorial on July 27, 2011.
Formerly known as Robert Madang Langi, he is an Iban soldier who has received the Panglima Gagah Berani, the nation’s second highest military gallantry award, after a courageous battle with communist fighters in 1973.
Robert’s journey to exhume the heroes’ graves is the subject of an upcoming documentary entitled Last Journey To Sarawak, which will be shown today on the History channel, in conjunction with the 55th Merdeka celebrations.
This is a story about forgotten heroes. Today, many unmarked graves of Iban Trackers can be found across Malaysia. Nameless and faceless, these fallen warriors were never given the proper burial they deserved.
Despite their important contribution to the safety of the nation, Robert believes the sacrifices of the Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers have almost been forgotten. For some of the families and relatives of the fallen heroes, their last ever contact was before they left for Malaya 60 years ago.
So he brought this to the attention of the Sarawak Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, at the end of 2008 and suggested all the remains be brought home to Sarawak, where they could be properly taken care of and be closer to their loved ones.
Preparations started immediately, recalls Robert, and after “two long years”, the remains were finally brought home to their final resting place in Kuching in a Heroes Memorial on July 27, 2011.
“The relatives of the deceased were most thankful,” says Robert. “It was beyond their wildest dreams of ever ‘seeing’ their long-lost brothers, fathers and husbands again. The reunion in 2011 was a heart-wrenching sight that could make even the stoutest of hearts shed tears.”
In fact, the report of the event in The Star entitled “Home at last” described it this way:
“Family members of some 21 brave Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers, who fought against the communist in the peninsula during the Malayan Emergency, can finally find closure after about 50 years of separation.
A wave of honour, respect and pride swept through the hundreds who went to the Malaysian Air Force Base here yesterday to await the arrival of the remains of the heroes who were killed in action between 1948 and 1960.
After lying in graves throughout the peninsula and Singapore for years, the remains were flown back under Operation Mai Pulai (“come home” in Iban) in urns in wooden boxes draped in the Jalur Gemilang to be reburied in the state.
Accompanied by war veterans led by decorated Iban warrior Temenggong Kanang Langkau, the remains arrived at the base here at 1.15pm on a C130 military transport aircraft.
Officers on the tarmac saluted as the urns containing the remains of the trackers and rangers were carried out of the plane. Some came back only in name, as their bodies could not be retrieved.”
Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Robert Rizal Abdullah led the exhumation of Iban soldeirs which were in undignified graves back to Kuching.
How did Robert and his team manage to trace the graves?
“The Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers were serving under the British and Commonwealth forces at that time. Proper records were kept by the British Army on where those killed in the Emergency were buried,” he explains.
“Many of them were killed and buried deep in the jungle, as it was impossible to bring the bodies back to base due to the difficult terrains. Thus, only their names are displayed in a Memorial Wall in Terendak Military Cemetry in Malacca.”
Robert joined the Malaysian Rangers in 1969, after the era of the Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers and received the Pingat Gagah Berani for his role in crippling the 1st Company of “Pasukan Gerila Rakyat Sarawak” (PGRS) near Kuching in 1973.
“I was the Section Commander and killed seven communists in that assault. It helped expedite their surrender one year later.”
However, after all these years, he has never met the former communists that he fought against.
“I’ve only heard of them. Some are doing very well now. They were not evil – they were misled and misguided.”
What does he think of the Ibans and others who have been fighting for their NCR (native customary rights) land against encroachment by timber and oil palm companies in the past 10 to 20 years?
Robert sidesteps that question and replies, “Logging destroys habitats of wild animals as well as the eco-systems. Rivers become polluted and unfit for drinking. Indiscriminate logging must stop in order to bring back our formerly clean rivers.”
Last Journey To Sarawak will air on History (Astro Ch 555) today. For more information, visit www.historyasia.com or www.facebook.com/HistoryAsiaTV/.
Read the rest of the article here: 8. Bringing heroes home – The Star Online: Most Viewed: Entertainment
We’re delighted to see that the Alex Chases Salon, run by the renowned hairstylist Alex Chases, has recently moved into a larger space at Rosewood Sand Hill’s Sense spa.
Designer Cedric Charlier recently visited San Francisco from Paris, to present his Spring 2013 collection at Barneys.
With Sloan and Roger Barnett, Sabrina Buell and Yves Behar, Jean-Pierre Conte, and Alison and Mark Pincus, Gucci recently hosted a private cocktail party at the San Francisco store to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the loafer, and the new 1953 collection for men and women.
Catherine Kwong’s living room, inspired by Mick Jagger and Bianca Jagger, is one of the highlights of the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, taking place at 2800 Pacific Avenue.
Saks Fifth Avenue and San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary are presenting Zac Posen as this year’s guest designer at the 32nd San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show, benefiting San Francisco Ballet.
Michael S. Smith was recently honored at Hedge Gallery in San Francisco at a party hosted by Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty and Allison Speer. His design work for a Palladian Villa in Malibu is being put up for auction at Christie’s in New York. Nicolas Berggruen, Princess Tatiana Galitzine, Dede Wilsey, and Sabrina Buell were among the guests.
Deepa Pakianathan and Phil Pemberton recently hosted a reception for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in anticipation of its upcoming Gala on April 20, 2013, which pays tribute to legendary opera baritone and Conservatory Advisory Board member Thomas Hampson.
Conservatory mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook directs and stars in a program featuring special performances by Hampson with Conservatory students, faculty and guest artists. Teresa Medearis and Barbara Walkowski co-chair the event, with catering by McCall’s Catering and Events and decor by Blueprint Studios.
Tickets for this very special occasion can be purchased at www.sfcm.edu
UCSF Partners in Care recently held its 2013 kick-off membership event at Reed & Greenough. Membership co-Chairs Schuyler Hudak and Libby Leffler hosted the launch party and kicked off the well-attended evening with brief remarks, followed by UCSF Partners in Care President Katie Budge, who spoke about the services that the auxiliary organization provides to the hospital.
UCSF Partners in Care works with UCSF hospital staff to fund programs that provide comfort and well-being to patients and their families while visiting the UCSF medical center.
Guests enjoyed spirited greyhounds nicknamed “Doctor’s Orders,” and a “Members Only” wine special while noshing on sweet treats from Kara’s Cupakes, and savory sliders and arancini from Cedar Hill Kitchen and Smokehouse.
Please visit www.ucsfpartnersincare.org for more information about this important organization.
Renowned European designer Ms. Madeline Pauw recently made an appearance at a delightful luncheon at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco, where her Spring 2013 collection was presented.
The Pauw collection is designed by Madeleine Pauw, daughter of the original founders. Pauw is known for its luxurious fabrics and soft touches of femininity while integrating just a splash of masculine undertones, but always keeping the fit and style in mind for the female physique. The company has been in business for over 50 years, and originally was created in the Netherlands where it currently has 29 stores.
You can purchase pieces from Pauw at Saks Fifth Avenue at 384 Post Street, San Francisco, or online at Saks Fifth Avenue
Neiman Marcus and Vanity Fair, with writer Amy Fine Collins, recently hosted a luncheon in celebration of Vanity Fair’s 2013 International Best Dressed List. Â Guests included some of the West Coast’s best dressed women, such as Vanessa Getty, Pamela Joyner, and Sobia Shaikh. Â It also provided an opportunity to meet Alan Morell, the new general manager for Neiman Marcus’s Union Square store, following the move of our beloved John Capizzi to Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
ModeWalk recently unveiled its newest service for their clients, a first-of-its-kind, by-appointment showroom in San Francisco called Boudoir, located on the 7th Floor of 391 Sutter Street in Union Square.
Betty Lin, the chic Presidio Heights boutique, recently celebrated the launch of the new Maiyet collection with a party hosted by Alexis Traina, Alison Pincus, Nina Stanford, and Seth Miller.
HBO recently presented the premiere of Game of Thrones Season 3 with a VIP screening at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, attended by cast and creators, and VIP guests.
After the screening there was an on-stage discussion with Executive Producers D.B. Weiss, David Benioff and Co-Executive Producer George R.R. Martin, moderated by Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, Co-Executive Editor’s at All Things D.
The Mid Winter Gala for 2013 honored the exhibit, “Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis” with a chic winter wonderland that raised over $400k. Marissa Mayer, Jonathan Ive, Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty, Dick Costolo, Stephan Jenkins, Connie Nielsen, Lori Levine, Evgenia Peretz, Jeremy Stoppelman, Trevor Traina, Allison Speer and Kathryn Lasater were among the 380 who attended.
Stephanie Phair, the managing director of Outnet.com, recently visited from London to host a luncheon previewing Oscar de la Renta’s new limited edition collection designed exclusively for The Outnet.
The Italian artist, Paolo Troilo, recently debuted his first U.S. exhibit at Coup d’Etat, the most exceptional designer space in San Francisco.
Sponsored by Testa Vineyards, the event brought together San Francisco tastemakers such as Jack Calhoun, Stephen Brady, Gary Friedman, Joy Bianchi, Anna Weinberg, Ken Fulk, and Jamie Finegold, among others.
The exhibit will run at Coup d’Etat until May 2013.
Visit Coup d’Etat at 111 Rhode Island, or online at coupdetatsf.com
Larkin Street Youth Services’ eleventh annual fund-raising gala benefit, Paving the Way, hosted over nearly 400 community leaders and philanthropists at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco on March 8, 2013. Hosted by special guests, Mark Buell, Chair of the America’s Cup Organizing Committee and Jimmy Spithill, Skipper and Helmsman for ORACLE Team USA, the benefit event raised over $725,000 in support of Larkin Street’s programs for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth in San Francisco. Over eighty percent of all funds raised by Larkin Street go directly to supporting the organization’s programs.
