Tan Sri Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng – A True Patriot
Tan Sri Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng, a Perakian and Police Officer extraordinary. Author of Operation Ginger and Nation Before Self, both being compulsive reading. We recommend them.
|
||||||
57 comments to Tan Sri Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng – A True PatriotLeave a Reply |
 |
|||||
|
Copyright © 2013 Ipohworld's World - All Rights Reserved |
||||||
Keep up the good work, Dato’ Seri Yuen. Keep on writing until you can write no more. There are very few of your kind. Live long too. Chin Yuen, Louis and I are fine and kicking.
Dato Seri Yuen,the threat to Malaysia and Malaysians has changed. Try using your skills in fighting the communist terrorists, to fight against the criminals and help malaysians’ families live a safer life in their beloved country, by writng a book on combating crimes, as seen by you. That book, if written, can be a useful guide for the police and ordinary civilians on how to combat crimes. Thank you, Dato Seri and enjoy what you like best – WRITE.
Dato’ Seri Yuen,
Hope you read my comments.
You should also write on How to Reduce Corruption in Malaysia, especially in the Police Force, real or perceived.
Wishing you and Datin long life, happiness and good health.
Your former comrade-in-arm forever.
Fabian
Thank you Col Fabian. There is one very, very common truth whether we are fighting communist terrorism or present day or old time crime. That is intelligence. Setting up a cohesive and co-ordinated intelligence network and bringing all police and serving civilians, irrespective of branch and division and each trained or guided to do what they should do or what they can do with undue personal risks as what we had 20 more years ago and were all collated in the weekly criminal intelligence summary similar to our weekly SB intelligence summary of the past.
However, in the context of the present when government departments or services including the police are alleged, with good reason, to be corrupted, no organisation would prefer to operate this type of intelligence network when the system manned by dedicated and honest officers, may throw up info on their own bosses. I probably have to wait until police leadership is more receptive that I am not really as non-compassionately dangerous and unkindly towards them as they fear. I shall certainly think on what you have stated.
However, at the moment I am trying to provoke MCA not to kill themselves because there are too many generals, many unproven, and think good subjective intentions can save the party. The MCA crisis is in fact a greater crisis than they realise and can only be resolved if they reconcile and close ranks and reunite, throwing their personal agendas, valid or not, into the freezer and fall in line with their president whether they like the man and his style or not. Shall discuss when we meet in Kuching next.
I am always conscious that I did not and could not have made my reputation without the efforts and sacrifices of all the groups who help me in the cause Sarawak security and dignity and Sarawakians whose generosity and sense of humanity with pertinent compassion made the long term success of Operation Sri Aman while we are still struggling along increasing bitterness to ensure we carry unnecessary baggage into the future to confuse our emergent generations which can only keep communities apart. I refer to the Peace Accord where we appear to have for a number of reasons, found ourselves legal right in terms of the agreement and contentiously can not be so right in the spirit of 1989.
However, politics have changed over the years and issues outstanding and unresolved at Haadyai will have to be re-discussed again. Technically Chin Peng did not take advantage of the last Mahathir bus together with 300+ comrades who in fact, were allowed to return.
I am glad that the PM has declared Malaysia Day as a public holiday. Many Malaysians do not know that Sarawak and Sabah did not join the Federation of Malaya. They helped to create Malaysia.
Many Malaysians also do not understand that our nation was created on 31 August 1957 and was founded on our sacred constitution. It was not founded in Imperial China, not historical Malacca nor the ancient Majapahit Hindu Empire. It was 31 August 1957 and structured to take our future generations into the future together NOT telescoped us apart back into the past.
Yuen Yuet Leng
Dato, its nice to have you here. May I ask you questions,can you tell details of other operations carried out in Sungei Siput, before the Ginger Operation?
Dear Jaya,
We had Operation Shark, and then Operation Inland in the Sg Siput/Ipoh areas before Operation Ginger which was launched in 1958. Shark and Inland were only State Priority Operations mounted with only maximum state resources while Ginger was a bigger Federal Priority Operation which had additional Federal support and resources.
During Op Shark and Op Inland period which went on longer than Ginger which were relatively less successful, there were a few Special Branch projects which lead to the capture of a female senior leader in charge of the area between Karai and Chemor who later joined the Special Branch and the arrest of the infamous female leader, Lee Meng who was incharge of the underground units under the MCP Ipoh Town Committee. She was sentenced to death but was reprieved by the Sultan of Perak and banished to China. She came back on a visit 50 years later. Another Special Branch project was mounted against the notorious Indian terrorist in the Sg Siput area, Perumal who led the Indian Platoon in MCP North district. As he had been involved in a number of atrocities, he tried to induced all in his unit to come out collectively to surrender but was betrayed by one Indian member. He was arrested and executed by the Organisation.
I trust this will enable you to continue to take an interest in past when we won the war against communist terrorism through a multiracial front and communal unity to secure a peace which we had not been too successful to also win because some of our people began to think more on racial lines instead of maintaining the unity established during dangerous emergency times when we could and nearly lost the war to violent communism.
Dear Dato’
Thank you very much of your information.Hopes the young generations will learn and understand the Malayan Emergency which of course united the main races to defeat the communism. A few months ago, i interviewed an ex Home Guard, Mr. Ramayah of Sungei Siput. He indicated that the reason why the Indians supported the MCP activities was because of DCM Perumal. and after his death, the indians supports gradually decreased. Do you agree, Dato’.
Dear Jeya,
Perumal had before he joined the terrorist organisation been working in the area and hero-worshipped by some. However, the greater majority of the Indian population was terrified by him because of his brutality and his murders and therefore gave him support.
Dear Dato’,
the govt didnt declare Sungei Siput as a white area till 1989. In your opinion,Dato,what was the reason of it?
Dear Jaya
Central Perak which included Sg Siput was declared a White Area on 14-01-1960 at a ceremony at the Ipoh Town padang. See page 244 Operation Ginger.
DSyuen
Dear Dato Sri Yuen,
In a way, we feel let down of the MCA situation in Semananjong and SUPP situation in Sarawak. It’s a shame to Malaysians of chinese origin, these two parties’ in-fighting have gone beyond reason. It may take 10 to 15 years to recover the “Lost Ground”. For the present chinese malaysian generation , they feel bad, for us who fought so hard before with our lives, we should feel terrible and worse.
Keep on writng. It may pay dividend when certainly some BIG shots realise, something must be done or else Malaysia falls.
Fabian.
Dear Fabian,
The MCA leaders after wearing down themselves almost fatally beyond redemption have now decided to come back together to work together on a peace accord or memorandum of understanding which hopefully will not only be a temporary truce in the name of peace and unity.
I trust this re-unity will not mean it is back to the square one status quo of BN, “I rub your back and you rub mine and we the dominant players in each component BN party share the spoils in the name of each racial party, but actually for conniving and deceptive selves. Yet to endeavour to confront the deeply rooted corruption and communal politics, some drastic action have to be visibly and impressively seen in substance. There are enough cases that have been exposed and are impossible to manage or cover up. Culprits have to face the music or step down. If they endeavour to create any problem we have the law and the ISA to deal with them. If some are prepared to withdraw from their money opportuned positions, the sooner they do it the better for both themselves and BN. Let the proving of serious anti-corruption move on to the continued incorrigibles. The BN has not enough time to wait for longer term re-education to sink in. Longer term education is essentially meant for the younger and still unblemished citizens. Perhaps the BN still wishes not to go too hard on corruption and racial polarization in the present for fear they might collapse their respective political parties. They would rather lose the next elections and that would stop and the corrupting opportunities but ill-gotten gains will still be retained for them to re-plan, reform better to win back political leaderdhip in nation again. Well the new government will probably still fix them. Many would have fled the country to nests already prepared. A national situation is tragic. We have to wait until we are almost dead nationally, multiracially, socially and above all economically before we wake up. All these is so pitiful. The NEP was something that was positive, necessary even with all the built-in handicaps. The great error there was not the wisdom to monitor the impact made on other communities and how presumptuous and imbalanced racial polarization had taken over rational thinking and developed a radical and nation-wise negative culture. Condoned and abetted in creeping manner this had created extreme disillusionment to fair-minded Malaysians of all communities including an increasing number of Malays. This proves one thing. A great number of Malay Malaysians are still the Malays of the past – polite, accomodating and not unfair because of his adat and religion. Non-Malays should remember this and not take unfair advantage of this. The truth is that there are racialists on every side. There will always be. What have to be taken care of are the racial racists and extremists in any party. Thanks to the NEP and its positive successes, we have a new generation of Malaysians who can see through all this and how who are in fact, racialists of all ethnic groups are trying to preserve their entrenched political and economic positions in the name of race and nation. But they were not born bad and nobility of service for community was what took them into politics at one time. Political power. too long, and opportunity too many, had been too enticing.
I can go on without end because it was determination for fair and just nation that kept us going whatever the risks. Determination and a belief that enlightenment would come eventually kept me back in the coutry although arrangements were made for me to migrate overseas because of the continued threat of assassination even after retirement. After so many decades I see greater hopes and trusts in our new and enlightened generations of young and intellectual Malaysians, Malays, Chinese and Indians I had never seen before. Those are the ones who particularly cannor afford to migrate. Those are the ones who will, together with ones who have gone or can go, vote and be willing to die for a truly Malaysian nation where the needy of all communities will be accorded legitimate assistance and opportunities.
Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng
Dato,I thankyou for your in-sight on a subject that I find very interesting The Emergency.I think you and I could talk until the wee hours of the morning on the subject,myself asking the questions and you answering,at least until you got tired of answering
Dato,
I need your help to clear my doubt on the emergency in Sungai Siput. As far I know, the Chinese and Indian were given cooked rice from Central Cooking, but how about the Malays? I read a book on the contribution of RAR. The book stated there 30 mining tins alone in Sungai Siput. Can you explain the mining bussiness during the emergency.
Thank you.
Dear Jeya,
All races within a certain defined geographical or residential area declared a central cooking area, whether Malay or not, were subjected to the same control. They would not be allowed any rice in their own houses but each day would at certain publicised hours queque up to collect cooked rice as rationed for their families. I remember OCPD Sockalingam and others and community leaders also wnt through the same routine.
The 3RAR operated in the Sg Siput area during Operation Ginger, a Federal Priority Operation. Together with the 1 NZ they eliminated the top 2 highest number of terrorists eliminated amongs security forces but their combined eliminations were at least matched by the Special Branch whose eliminations were all induced surrenders or secretly captured by the SB masquerading as genuine terrorists.
The tin mining and rubber industry were top money earners for the country which terrorists tried to sabotage or destroy. All minds were protected by the police units and in the Kinta tin valley by the Kinta Valley (Chinese) Homeguards and I usually represent its ex-association every June Rememberance Day at God’s little Acre in Batu Gajah.
Dear Jim, perhaps we could meet somewhere someday and remember what it once was, so dangerous, so demanding and yet unhesitatingly accepted and discharged without any expected personal rewards except to establish a new nation state for all communities and without any prejudice to our indigenous community.
I would love that Dato Seri and as you say,no expected personal rewards,just doing a job that all believed in.
Dato’,
What happened to the old Malaysia of your time where everyone worked together? Why did it change sir?
Dato,
Thanks. In my opinion, All Farmers’ Association, a union for Chinese peasants in Sungei Siput then, played a big role in promoting communism. How was the movement of this union during Ginger OP?
Dato’, if you permit, can I interview you for my research? Thank you.
Mr. Yuen, though I was not yet born or very very young during the tenure of your service, I wish to thank you for your service to the nation. It was through efforts of people like you that our country can be safe from both foreign and internal threats.
My father, like you, was in the police force till he retired in the late 70′s. I grew up as a kid, engrossed in my father’s tales of heroism and sacrifice in the face of terror. I totally respected the police force then, during the Emergency and till the 80′s as they mopped up the last remnants of the CT’s
I lament that now the police force is vastly different, with different objectives, with loyalty not to the people but to the sitting government.
How many of us have not been stopped by the cops under a shady tree and a bribe demanded. “You tolong I, I tolong you?” that kind of “tolong”.
I wish you a happy retirement and more than that if I have one wish for the police, I wish that the police can return back to the true professional organisation as it once was during your time and during my father’s time.
G’DAY AARON,
I don’t wish to detract from anyones service to thier nation or people.But do you know something,there are actually Police Personnel in Malaysia who are above corruption,people who actually do the ‘Job’ to the best of thier ability.You may think that they are ‘Few and Far Between’ they are not,but the ‘Corruption Market’forces them to keep a low profile,in order to survive.If there were no Buyers or Sellers,there would be no Market.Look around you and see who is to blame for your, perceived,Corruption? The Buyer?or The Seller?
“When moral leaders rule, they establish justice; compromising leaders tear things down.”
“When leaders pay attention to lies, their staff begins to esteem the same deception.”
These two quotations are food for our souls. During the early times integrity and honor were utmost important in our every day living.
When I was young Ipoh was a safe place to live. The children, adults lived in free and easy ways. The children were safely playing and running around everywhere.
The adults walked and traveled from place to place without fear.
The Malays were courteous, sensitive and respectful. They compete with the other races in equal footing. In the past all the local were colour blind. We lived in harmony, helping each other and extending hospitality in our homes with no reservations. In fact we lived together like one happy family.
What happen to this present generation?? Can the elders stand up and be counted and be a living example today. Let us give of our rich legacy back to our younger generation.
Hi Katherine. yes, sadly for the present generation the colour of the skin seems more important than the person’s character! and the few of us who are ‘colour blind’ seem to stick out like sore thumbs
Yes, Katherine,agreed.
“Some people have so much respect for their superiors they have none left for themselves.”
quoted by
Peter McArthur(John Peter McArthur (born: – died:) was a politician from Alberta, Canada.)
“THEY THAT CAN GIVE UP ESSENTIAL LIBERTY TO OBTAIN A LITTLE TEMPORARY SAFETY DESERVE NEITHER LIBERTY NOR SAFETY.” – BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng I salute you for your courage and patriotism. Many migrate or hide their heads in the sand, like the ostrich, when things are tough or any signs of danger.
I pray that we all will be able to stand up when the going get tough, for the sake of the future generation.
There is a saying by George Washington which is very impressive and encouraging.
“The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether American are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of a brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or to die.”
Dato Seri, I just watched a documentary about Malayan Emergency this morning. I also read an interesting article about you yesterday. What can I say? You are a true hero who fought to keep Malaysia safe. I will definitely share the story of you and all your friends struggle for this nation with my 5 year old son, Aravin. I want him to know that the safe and peaceful life that we are enjoying now could not have been achieved without sacrifices that you and your friends had to go through. Millions of thanks from bottom of my heart to you. What you have done for this country is what we the young generation call ” The Greatness”. Not sure how many people in this country would take a bullet for the country but you are keeping one in your chest for many decades now.
Thank you Sir.
Dear Nathan,
My greatest satisfaction in my rapidly advancing is to hear you, the young generation on whom our future nation has to depend on, comment with such realization and appreciation of what happened so long ago but was so important in the creation of our nation state that was born on the 31 August 1957. Our nation, whatever the glories of our respective antecedence, was not born in ancient Imperial China, the Majapahit Indian Empire or The Malacca sultanate. Our nation was founded on our 1957 Constitution which was intended to project our various peoples forward together into the future not necessarily all abreast in common line as long as no community was left behind too far behind and whatever the relative gap the relative disparate was still moving forward and better than before. This would apply to the Malay community especially as they are the the sons of the soil of what was once Tanah Melayu. That is why the Malay identity and position are embedded in the constitution to assure that the Malay community are not ever marginalised in the future. However, this does not mean that the other communities can be unjustly discriminated on account of their ethnic origin.
Our constitution is so fair for nation that it has never, and never intended to satisfy any one community completely. That is why there have been radicals in all our communities who have endeavoured to expect more than is fair in terms of nation as these bigots can only see things in terms of race and religion. My experiences in life and police service have made me a continuing Chinese, also a Malay and an Indian in one Chinese body. If any race is hurt or deprived unjustly or unfairly, a part of myself feels hurt. Yet a number of them of every race, fought and died alongside us. Yet so many of every race had once the war was won, gone back into their racial cocoons asking for more than they should or too much at one time and some all the time or more and more in terms of race, right or wrong. Our PM is now trying his best to bring back better balance and deserves support for this. .
Bravo ,Syabas and Good on you.Dato
We grew up in spirit fighting the insurgency of flesh and the principal of ideology behind every corner of the state of believe.
As the war of communism has ended in it ideology there is an emerging of the war of commerce in the entity of present warfare. Those day it is about battle plan and fighting power unfortunately in this presence era this is about fighting of economic power, freedom and conquering of entity resources between the “communism” of territorial freedom and liberty across border in this world arena.
As in the discourse of statistical analysis, I believe there is linkage in the chain of freedom that does associate with knowledge and knowledge does relate to racist integration. Racist status does condone to the advancement of poverty in the respective group or society. This three factors mention does link as a separate entity to the three factors in “communism of mind”: freedom, racist and poverty. I believe total freedom and liberty always comes with the relieve of racism and poverty at hand in the society. Addendum in both mind and physical control.
The old war of ideology has ended but there is a new war coming and uprising. The race and battle to “communism of freedom – a control freedom”, “racist control – a division management of people” and ‘poverty liberation – manipulation of people scarcity”.
Will our soul be penetrated and our life is sacrifice on this new war?
Can Malaysia be able to welcome this art of war?
What is your perspective in this battle?
I love the melting pot of culture’s that is Malaysia and you are,probably,one of the few successful Multi-Cultural Societies on this Globe.I know,there are those who will criticise what I say and site examples where the System has failed,or partially failed,one group to the benefit of another,but at least the failure has contributed to the learning.Poverty can be alleviated by good Governance and Popular support.Racism is a bi-product of Poverty,Ignorance and Arrogance and is not confined to poorer peoples,nor the un-educated.The Many People who gave their lives for Malaysia,during both Emergencies and Confrontation,fought for a variety of reasons.Some for Adventure,and there was plenty of it in those days.Some because they were Conscripted and had to,Some because they were Professionals and that was their job and some because they believed in the cause.Some went on to fight in other wars,Some to continue serving Malaya/Malaysia,Some just went home.But none forgot the people,of various Races,who served alongside them.
Sorry read ‘Who served’ not who gave their lives
This present versus the old generation of Malaysian fought and have fight a good fight. Unfortunately the continuing struggle of politics fraction does stir the condition of agitation and diluted the essence of unity but bring into us the “liberty” factor in us to continue struggle for that “communism oppression”. Yes we have the total unification that is discourse by the simple act of constitutions. But our forefather has live in peace until the “May Massacre” and inside stirred by the politician. As it is the politician always protect their own interest at the expenses of people don’t that also bring out the part of “communism ideology” in them.
I believe more death has been resulted in the mean of political deception, mismanaged, cronyism and corruption. Economically affected, society increase in poverty rose of criminal activity and negative societal impact as a result this has further shorten the life expectancy of Malaysia society. Blatantly this has been an open secret which the society unable to force a change unless we cut out the “cancerous gangrene” within the wound of the nation. The “gangrene” would self-reproduced as to protect the healing element from taking it course, both has it mean and end of survival. But in actual fact this process will sacrifice the majority of the society at the expenses of a small community. Doesn’t that cause a wound to our beloved nation? Isn’t that amplification some sort of “communism perspective” taking place deep inside the concupiscence of our mind?
The mean to this end is to have a Malaysia society bored of a true Malaysian patriot. Born in Malaysia breed in Malaysia, savor in Malaysia best food that grown within it. Aren’t we all glad to be a proud Malaysian within the “communism” of politics striving in?
The best of politics policy today is, is it “for the people” or “by the people” within the context of “freedom”.
What your opinion Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng?
Dear Datuk Seri Yuen,
I’ve been meaning to write you with a special heartfelt thanks for the ‘Farewell Rogers’ article on 8th October 2010. It was so very kind of you to pen down the words that illustrate my dad’s career. Just in case, Im leaving my cell no which is 0162304794 for future reference.
Do take care Datuk Seri and God Bless You.
Arthur
Dear Tan Sri,
Congratulations on your new title.
I’m sure my grandad will be smiling from above , knowing that his dear friend is still soldering on.
God Bless.
Debbie
Dear Don Ni Yuen, Arthur, Debbie,
My apologies for this belated responses and thank you Ian for drawing my attention. Thank you for everybody’s well wishes on my recent conferment which I certainly did not expect especially when I had written very honestly in the interest of all parties who play subjective politics drawing their attention that what I like the greater Malaysian rakyat care for is the NATION and not the racial and even racist we are fed with these days. It is sad that threat of communist terrorism caused us to unite together to win the war and with the defeat of the the communists we had lost the peace. Racists in one community been allowed work irrationally for subjective racial ends and similar types in other communities are compelled to counter-organise for their own communal protection. This diverging interpretations can be resolved if once and for all, a Commission should be set up to interprete clearly what our Constitution is all about. As I seew it this will throw up what is aspired by racists on all sides.
Don Ni, I had recently met you and was I surprised that you are actually one of my many, many grand-nephew. Arthur, I wrote from the heart what I did about your father and his sincere and patriotic contribution to the nation so unselfishly and mostly unsung. If I did not do so I would have failed him. Debbie, your grand dad also like so many of the best of the Police Force and especially the Special had worked together with me in some of the toughest and exacring operations of the Emergency which was no picnic as I was a very hard taskmaster. I had no choice as I had, in order to win, to work the pace of the enemy and even harder. I had always told them I did not mind being called a bastard but all would admit I was a good bastard. Once success was achieved the agonies would always be forgotten. However, our motives were always sincere for the people and nation.
Dear Tan Sri,
I have heard about your book and your great career. I would like to interview you for my PhD research.
YYL,..There is no such thing as all White or all Black…it’s shades of grey. It depends on who the viewer is. History as it is written depends whose views it is. YYL you joined the Force when it was under the Colonial Rule of the British . The British was the occupier of Our country , the Imperialist, the Leacher of our country’s wealth. The Freedom fighters were asking for independence and Self rule. The Emergency was declared by the British Colonial Government under the direct order of Whitehall. Who then is the Friend or Foe of the people of Malaya? The successor in title to the British for the last 56years was the BN govt. A friendly party to the British. Thus when the Emergency was finally over in the 60′s the victors and the vanquished were declared; the victors wrote the History as they sees it . The vanquished tail between their legs withdrew to southern Thailand. YYL you were made a hero among others. You were a good Soldier, an Obedient soldier.Perhaps you were responsible for taking away a few Lives among the 10,000 or so who were killed durning the Emergency. But who would weep for the few 100,000 lives taken by the Japanese durning the Occupation of Malaya? (P.S. The freedom Fighters were fighting the Japanese too) Therefore who is to Judge who is the Devil and the Angel? Who are the Running Dogs?
As for MCA,YYL, you are already Passé . We have already moved on. The players ,the issues, the circumstances have all Changed. It is because of this that those who want to preserve their Status Quo have lost the last Election. The Rakyat does not accept people like you who acquiesce to the Power that be. If MCA does not represent our Present needs and wants they are doomed to be decimated.
Maybe the Old Soldier can recount not just his victories and defeat but crystallized the Lessons learnt in Life for us the younger ones too. I salute to the Old Soldier.
The most important lesson I have learnt in life is that there is no such thing as a permanently perfect ideology-whether it is democracy, communism, dictatorship etc etc. Any ideology is only as good as the consistency and nobility of its professed leaders at the time and situation. However, caught in the time machine we have each or together choose and act as we think fit and sincerely for the common good. Let history be the judge as those thereafter will their judge, whether right, wrong or not so right. However, what is most important is our own conscience to ourselves and not what we claim to others. That again depends on what our basic beliefs are and whatever they are, right or wrong. We are so idealistic and trusting when we are young and are willing to die on both sides for something that is more than life itself. Bravery is not the monopoly of just the victors. Do we still see leaders of nobility and inspiration as in the past in a present world varied gray and dictating and subjective materialism. The world at large has to regain its lost morality and conscience. The prosperity and luxury evolving around the minority of nation is not the real guage of a nation.
Tan Sri,
Thank you for your wise, fair and insightful response underlying which one can sense humility, honesty, equanimity, compassion and commitment.
It can only come from a man who has been tempered again and again by the baptism of fire and who has emerged the better for it. A man who has been there and been through it all.
Yours is the hallmark of outstanding and dedicated leadership which alas is so rarely seen.
Tan Sri Yuen, the other important lesson in life is that public memory is very short. Whether a person does good or evil, give it a few years, everything will be forgotten. Of course, historian try to immortalize events. But then, given time, the versions will be different. When young, we are very idealistic. As we age, we wonder whether it is worth it.
Tan Sri Yuen,
Your words of wisdom are compellingly true. It is indeed regrettable that partisan politics have permeated our lives in more ways than one. As a result, some sectors of society are marginalized and become adversely affected. Discriminatory policies are like cancers that destroy the very fabric and foundation of the country’s strength. Political leaders on both sides of the aisle should realize that they are elected to serve the people and they owe the electorate a moral obligation to work for the common good of everyone. Sadly, this is not the case and in many instances, we have leaders who function with a hidden agenda, solely for their own self-interest. Materialism and larger-than-life egos are often the root cause of such behavior and ethical individuals who possess strong moral fiber are indeed a rarity these days.
Towards this end, I applaud dedicated veterans like you who have the gumption to speak up and tell it as it is. In the process of sharing your philosophy with us, you have also enlightened us with the experiences you have accumulated in living a fulfilling life and an illustrious career. In his farewell address to a joint session of Congress, General Douglas MacArthur concluded his speech with this line that was borrowed from a popular army ballad of his time: ”Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” It is my fervent hope that you will not fade away but continue to be the beacon that guides the Generation X and Y of today with your wise counseling.
Salam Tan Sri..
Hope u and Puan Sri is doing well..Had served u during Ops Catfish and others..We were requested by your good self to be flown down from Semarak to do our thing..Our team in ipoh was Tuan Desmond Lawrence, Paul Keong , and others..Ratnam and siva and some of us were down in ipoh attached to Ops Catfish..and at that time u were the Perak CPO..
Anyway, just to recall past memories of the late 70s and early 80s..i was than 23..R u in Unigaya still and is Tuan Jega still there..
With Regards..
Dtk Helmy,
Being unwell during this Chine NY period and confined to bed and house has enabled me to catch up with your thoughts on the past when I had all of you so specially selected, the qualified best, from various police branches, not infrequently the armed forces and even at times, civilians, working together with and under me in projects like Catfish and others. This ultimately led to the penetration, domination and then the virtual and secret taking over of the CPM Assault units and their most vital underground organisations, unknown to Chin Peng’s HQ in South Thailand and Chin Peng himself in China. Without the Special Branch this could never ever have been possible. Without people like you from gradually all races, we could have lost the war. It is so important that you continue to hold on to that spirit of multiracialism and justice for all races so that the radicals on all sides but especially those in incumbent political power do not cause the destruction of the real spirit of the Constitution we were prepared to die for, as a number did die for. Race, religion and corruption are our greatest national problems. The first two will necessarily take time to diffuse but CORRUPTION CANNOT BE ABETTED anymore. Those who are not clever enough to be undetected. should resign or step down because whatever the truth it will not be believed because the sickness in nation has gone too deep.Incumbent government has to be more courageous for the good and future of themselves, their people and OUR NATION>
Tan Sri Yuen, I am the son of a policeman. My dad born ’23(?), joined ’48, retired ’79, passed on ’90. Possibly he was most active during the Emergency but he sure didn’t talk much about it. Being young then, I cannot remember nor do I understand the duties of my dad, except that he catches bad guys. This was especially true during his younger years. I didn’t have a chance to take care of my dad cos when he passed on I was just taking my first nervous steps into adulthood. The police then were considered as heroes in the fight against the CPM menace in their armed struggle. Nowadays, when motorists passes by a police road block the 1st thought in their minds is “cari makan”. I am sad, because even kids nowadays know what road blocks are for. I do agree with you that CORRUPTION CANNOT BE ABETTED anymore. Corruption is the cancer of society. It eats away at the very fabric of modern human civilisation. At the lowest level, not only the police have got to stop demanding bribes, but the public have got to have the guts to stop offering them. At the highest level, not only our national leaders have to be clean, they are also needed to be SEEN to be clean. Sadly many events have proven this is not so. The NFC is just but another sad example. I do not want to talk too much but in this auspicious occasion I wish you long life, good health and more than this I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your past services to the nation, something which I have no opportunity to do so to my own dad. From a grateful and simple Malaysian, nothing more, nothing less.
Tan Sri, we are sorry to hear that you have been unwell and wish you a speedy recovery.
Best Wishes
Ian and Sofia.
Dear Ian & Sofia,
Am recovering quite well from my bleeding colon diverticulitis and nothing worse even though my aged kidney is expectedly somewhat deteriorating also due to the number of drugs I have been taking over the years for my many other ailments. However, the spirit is still the same to the chagrin of Linda. After all I have been bonus time for so long.
Laura,
I know it is somewhat late! How is your PHD assignment going? If an interview is still desired and the timing is suitable mutually we can still meet for not too long.
Aaron Ong,
It was not because you father did not wish to talk.. He just could not or was not allowed two talk just as I did not talk for so many years because of the Official Secrets Act. My daughter,s mother even when she died in 1985 , did not know I wore the communist uniform on special secret operations in the 1950s. The Special Branch was successful because it operated on the principle of “need to know”. Even the security forces who used our information did not normally know it’s source.
I decided to write my book Nation Before Self within the bounds of security only in 2006 because I no longer stand how our nation had been hijacked by racial extremists who generally did not the wars we did in the jungle, rural and urban areas because we believed in the righteousness and justice of our 1957 constitution which were prepared to die for and a just multiracial nation where there would be correction of imbalances irrespective of race AND not supremacy by any singular race.
My father was an ex-Kinta Valley home guard (ID no 1406)between 1955 to 1958.He doesn’t have any documents to prove that he is one in order for him to apply for the reward announced by the goverment in 2012 budget.(he has some old photos).Is there any channel he can refer to trace his records?Pls advise.Thanks!
shirlene, May I suggest you contact Ipoh Timur MCA division chief Datuk Thong Fah Chong who is certainly taking an interest in the ex Kinta Valley Home Guard. You can find his blog athttp://thongfahchong.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html . he is also on facebook as Thong Fah Chong.I believe he can help.
We would love to share your Dad’s photos.
Shirlene,
The ex-KVHGs Association has been dissolved sometime. See MCA Dtk Thong by all means. Also contact Sai Yoke 016-5323975 who was very active there. He may know whether the old registers still exist somewhere and the old photographs as well.
What is your father’s name and what unit was he posted with and where? Email me old fotos pl.
TS yuen yuet leng
Tan Sri,
Already emailed you old photos.pls check mail.
Ika,
thanks
Can I interview you for my writing? I am a Lecturer teaching in a local university here in Peninsular Malaysia.Your book and the history is very amazing. I have a friend from Taiwan who also keen on interview you together. Hopes to receive your reply. Thanks you!
Dear HoSF,
Apologise for this belated reply. Please contact me at 012-267 5822 and we can discuss how I can accomodate you within the realities of my commitments and importantly, health. Quote this reference if Puan Sri picks up phone. TQ.
TS Yuen
Dear tan sri yuen yuet leng
I am a writer and in the process of writing a science fiction novel. It may or may not be published but i would like to have the honor to inform you that there will be a charismatic female police officer by the name of yuen named in your honor. Thank you sir , we are indebted to you for your sacrifice to this nation.
Dear Joeaslam,
Thank your feelings on those of us from the various communities and the many Chinese officers in the Special Branch who without any expectation of any materialist reward took all the risk we did to contain communist terrorism to ensure that are statesmen politicians from all major communities led by Tunku Abdul Rahman could unite together with mutual goodwill and comprise and successfully obtain our national independence. The present developed political and national problem is so sad and frustrating to especially my generation and also to most of our emerging younger multiracial generations of all communities including our once disparate but now emerged Malay community thanks to the NEP with a weighted racial bias but was still accepted by all even though in simehat grudging manner by some who now understand more positively as they see the increase in the number of enlightened Malays with a better national conscience as opposed to the radicals who seem to have hijacked the nation within the corridors of power. This could destruct UMNO itself, BN and nation. Here lie the intrinsic causes of our current woes in and are splitting the nation where radicals propound an essentially supremacist ethnic nation and no longer the constitutional nation we are supposed to be. The results of the impending election will be most enlightening.
Who do you write for? Are you free lance? would appreciate more details of you and perhaps your email. Regards.
TS Yuen
PS. IKA could you forward if necessary. TQ.
Dear tan sri yuen yuet leng sorry for the late reply. I am just trying my luck in writing fiction focusing in the malayan emergency. My email is joehaslam76@yahoo.com. If its not a hassle to you could you provide me with your email as well. Tq sir
Regards.
Joe haslam
Dear Joehaslam,
Sorry for this late reply. Had been in hospital latter part of last month due to much bleeding from my acute diverticulitis. Am still recovering. If you feel I can assist in your writing evolving around the Malayan emergency do let me know. I could perhaps give you some ideas to consider on what the plot could be which could help to reconcile our people in better unity and understanding despite a war not really between races but a clash of ideologies thrust upon our Malayan communities which reflected by proxy a war between super-powers and super-economies of the world and which left us with little choice but to pick the apparent best. My email is
Dear Joeh,
My email is yuenchan888@gmail.com
Dear Tan Sri,
I learnt about your remarkable reputation during our country struggle against CPM from my father’s account who himself is an army veteran of the conflict. He mentioned about you on some operations the he was involved as well. He’d serve in Perak, Sarawak (thus I was born there) but I’m not sure in what operation and/or where. Surprisingly he could also recall some of the communist members name. He described some strategies that special branch adopted as well as the mind games, which I am very impressed. I have to say I am truly proud of you, Sir and that our country has people like you.
I wish you excellent health and hopefully you have recovered from your illness (reading your reply to Joehaslam).
Amir Effendy, Penang