Tomorrow, 1st March, is Army Day.
Actually it is the birthday of the Royal Malay Regiment, which has been declared as Army Day. It was on this day, in Port Dickson, in 1933 that the experimental unit was formed, when a group of 25 Malay youths were selected as recruits to form the first platoon and nucleus of what was to grow to two battalions by the time of the Japanese invasion. Both battalions fought in the defence of Malaya right up to the fall of Singapore.
During the Regiment’s final defence of Pasir Panjang, the platoon at Bukit Chandu, beleaguered and out of ammunition refused to surrender and chose to go down fighting a hand-to-hand combat with fixed bayonets. The platoon was commanded by Lieutenant Adnan who, when finally captured, still refused to surrender and was said to have been subsequently tied to a tree and bayoneted to death by the Japanese.
The courage and fighting spirit displayed by Lieutenant Adnan and his men reflected and epitomized in every way the spirit of the Royal Malay Regiment to this day, true to its motto “Taat Setia” or “Loyalty and Devotion to Duty” in safeguarding the nation.
The island he defended to his death today recognizes Lieutenant Adnan as a hero in a fairly big way – and his courageous deeds are enshrined in a colonial building turned into a museum on Bukit Chandu itself. I also understand the story of Bukit Chandu is today included in their school curriculum. And yet sadly, for whatever reasons, Lieutenant Adnan is yet to be officially recognized as a national hero in his own country.
Could it be perhaps that we are looking for heroes from the ranks of politicians only?
Actually it is the birthday of the Royal Malay Regiment, which has been declared as Army Day. It was on this day, in Port Dickson, in 1933 that the experimental unit was formed, when a group of 25 Malay youths were selected as recruits to form the first platoon and nucleus of what was to grow to two battalions by the time of the Japanese invasion. Both battalions fought in the defence of Malaya right up to the fall of Singapore.
During the Regiment’s final defence of Pasir Panjang, the platoon at Bukit Chandu, beleaguered and out of ammunition refused to surrender and chose to go down fighting a hand-to-hand combat with fixed bayonets. The platoon was commanded by Lieutenant Adnan who, when finally captured, still refused to surrender and was said to have been subsequently tied to a tree and bayoneted to death by the Japanese.
The courage and fighting spirit displayed by Lieutenant Adnan and his men reflected and epitomized in every way the spirit of the Royal Malay Regiment to this day, true to its motto “Taat Setia” or “Loyalty and Devotion to Duty” in safeguarding the nation.
The island he defended to his death today recognizes Lieutenant Adnan as a hero in a fairly big way – and his courageous deeds are enshrined in a colonial building turned into a museum on Bukit Chandu itself. I also understand the story of Bukit Chandu is today included in their school curriculum. And yet sadly, for whatever reasons, Lieutenant Adnan is yet to be officially recognized as a national hero in his own country.
Could it be perhaps that we are looking for heroes from the ranks of politicians only?
8 comments:
Ayah, how many platoons are in a batallion? They dont really teach you these conversions in school.
3 combat platoons in a company; 4 companies in a batallion. Normally just over 30 in a platoon - total in a batallion @ 900. I'll give you the full run-down when you get back... be warned!
Hello Dt K..
Trust that you are doing well..
I do see alot of recognitions nowadays go to ppl like singer, actress, or some1 who swim across English Channel or "travel" to space. These ppl are even praised highly by our govt and they are like heros and heroines of msia .. Yes, they may have done well for msia but more importantly, they did it for their own benefits or interest as well...May be I'm wrong here...
YES you are right.. nothing much mentioned about those who have sacrificed in the battle for the country... Wonder Y?? May be the current society prefers to look up to the rich and famous...
Kind of where I 'm coming from Seer Foon ... reminds me of a poem, which perhaps I shall have in my next posting.
Moral of the story...
"Work smart, not die-hard" :)
I think it should be "Work smart, and if need be and for the right cause, be willing to even die-hard for it" - otherwise who will defend the country and all the wealth of those who only wish to "work smart" - businessmen and politicians?
After the baby-boomer generation, I doubt that there will be "die-hard" who are willingly defend the country. For those who wealthy work-smart guys, I guess they will eventually move out of the country with their wealth...
I agree with you that is exactly wat is happenning I just do not think it is the right philosophy in life, or one I would want my children to adopt.
In a sense those corrupt politicians and officials can also say they are "working smart" in their own way when the end objective is the same - wealth to do whatever one wishes including turning one's back on the country that gave one one's wealth in the first place.
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