RSS Feed
TwitterPreserving Malaysia's independence with VAT69
Photo shows A Navaratnam on his last day of service before retirement from the elite VAT69. Picture: Bernama
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
For someone who used to be at the frontline in safeguarding the country from enemy threats, nothing can ever shake the spirit of patriotism in the heart of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) A.Navaratnam.
For the love of the country, the former member of the Royal Malaysia Police's 69th Commando Battalion, better known as the Very Able Troopers 69 or VAT69, even turned down requests from his three sons to live with them overseas.
Now aged 77, Navaratnam has vowed to spend the rest of his life with his wife Kanga Ambujan, 69, in Malaysia.
Relating his experience as a VAT69 member in an interview with Bernama, he said all the challenges he faced in line of duty had taught him to appreciate the meaning of independence and the importance of defending the sovereignty of the country.
He said when VAT69 was formed in 1969 (hence the 69), armed members of the outlawed communist party were very active in terrorism and threatening the lives of the people in the country and the Malaysian government felt the need to have a combat unit to counter the tactics and techniques of the communist guerrilla in the jungles.
Hence, after undergoing intensive commando training for three and a half months in Ulu Kinta, Perak, Navaratnam was among 34 men qualified to form the nucleus troop of VAT69. !"Most of the trainings involved physical obstacles where you must use your common sense. If not, you will be kicked out. It was very tough because we needed quality, good people who could withstand the training," he said. !During their operations to track down communist guerrilla in the jungle, Navaratnam said the VAT69 members also had to face other challenges including threats posed by wild animals as well as dangerous snakes and insects.
"One of my bitter experience was tracking the guerrilla in the jungles of Pahang. They were reported to be heading to Raub to create chaos and the situation was very critical."
"We were ordered to move very fast but the 'Tok Batin' (leader) of an Orang Asli community refused to give us a lead and cooperation. After 29 days moving in the jungle, we finally managed to locate the 53 communist guerrilla and killed them before they reached Raub," he said.
Navaratnam said the existence of VAT69 was only publicised when they created one success after another in combating communist terrorists. Until now, he said, VAT69 still existed, but its role had probably changed since the communist insurgency ceased.
In appreciation of his service, Navaratnam was conferred the Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) award in 1973 and Ahli Mahkota Pahang (AMP) award in 1980. He has also authored a book entitled "The Spear and The Kerambit" which tells about his experiences as a member of VAT69.
Bernama
For the love of the country, the former member of the Royal Malaysia Police's 69th Commando Battalion, better known as the Very Able Troopers 69 or VAT69, even turned down requests from his three sons to live with them overseas.
Now aged 77, Navaratnam has vowed to spend the rest of his life with his wife Kanga Ambujan, 69, in Malaysia.
Relating his experience as a VAT69 member in an interview with Bernama, he said all the challenges he faced in line of duty had taught him to appreciate the meaning of independence and the importance of defending the sovereignty of the country.
He said when VAT69 was formed in 1969 (hence the 69), armed members of the outlawed communist party were very active in terrorism and threatening the lives of the people in the country and the Malaysian government felt the need to have a combat unit to counter the tactics and techniques of the communist guerrilla in the jungles.
Hence, after undergoing intensive commando training for three and a half months in Ulu Kinta, Perak, Navaratnam was among 34 men qualified to form the nucleus troop of VAT69. !"Most of the trainings involved physical obstacles where you must use your common sense. If not, you will be kicked out. It was very tough because we needed quality, good people who could withstand the training," he said. !During their operations to track down communist guerrilla in the jungle, Navaratnam said the VAT69 members also had to face other challenges including threats posed by wild animals as well as dangerous snakes and insects.
"One of my bitter experience was tracking the guerrilla in the jungles of Pahang. They were reported to be heading to Raub to create chaos and the situation was very critical."
"We were ordered to move very fast but the 'Tok Batin' (leader) of an Orang Asli community refused to give us a lead and cooperation. After 29 days moving in the jungle, we finally managed to locate the 53 communist guerrilla and killed them before they reached Raub," he said.
Navaratnam said the existence of VAT69 was only publicised when they created one success after another in combating communist terrorists. Until now, he said, VAT69 still existed, but its role had probably changed since the communist insurgency ceased.
In appreciation of his service, Navaratnam was conferred the Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) award in 1973 and Ahli Mahkota Pahang (AMP) award in 1980. He has also authored a book entitled "The Spear and The Kerambit" which tells about his experiences as a member of VAT69.
Bernama
0 comments:
Post a Comment