Be Thankful TO OUR MILITARY
As a military veteran, I have on numerous occasions come across many civilian friends who express views such as “The military must be having a very comfortable time as we don’t have a war” and “The military does not contribute to the country’s economy effectively, so it should be downsized”.
As I hear these views, I am bemused as it tells me that there are many in this country who do not understand the roles and functions of the military, and why it is critical that we must have a strong, standing defence force at all times.
It is easy for civilians in peace time to say that the military “serves no purpose” and “has no work”, but they do not realise that our main role is in war.
From that perspective, the military is an insurance policy the country takes to defend its sovereignty and status as an independent nation.
We abhor war, but the nature of international politics and international relations tells us that strategic situations in the region can be very volatile, and hence, we cannot afford to compromise and take chances in so far as national interests are concerned.
The military is always there, firstly to act as a deterrent to potential aggressors and if deterrence fails, then to fight and win wars!
Even in “peacetime” the military in Malaysia has made many important contributions to the security and wellbeing of the country, such as:
a. Fighting against communist terrorists during the emergency from 1948 to 1989 in the jungles of Sarawak and the Malaysia-Thai border. b. The May 13, 1969 tragedy, in which the military was the only institution able to maintain internal security of the country. c. Responding to sporadic military situations like the Lahad Datu incursion and attacks by the AlMa’unah militant group. d. The military forces have also been an important part of the government’s foreign policy by taking part in international peacekeeping operations, where troops from Malaysia have excelled. e. Finally, the military has always been the institution to turn to in all major humanitarian relief operations around the country.
The underlying thread in all of the above is the devotion to duty shown by servicemen in acting for the country’s interest at all times. No other institution can match this kind of patriotism and loyalty!
This is directly a result of the training that all servicemen undergo, and also because of military traditions and rituals.
For example, servicemen in uniform are obliged to salute when the national anthem is played and the national flag is raised. These rituals play a significant role in always instilling nationalism and loyalty to king and country. Importantly, they also assist in conditioning servicemen to the deep-seated belief and acceptance that the military exists to protect and defend the sovereignty of the country. They know that they will always be the first ones deployed at the front lines should hostilities occur. They also understand that they have to make many sacrifices routinely so that the citizens of this country can sleep well at night.
Such is their patriotism that many veterans still don their medals and headgear with pride, and continue to practice these rituals.
Finally, for those who still think that the military does not bring in any tangible benefits to the country, I say this to them, “We hope and pray that the military of this country will never, ever have to undertake the ultimate task it has been trained for i.e. going to war, because we know the horrors that war can bring. But should war take place, rest assured that all servicemen and veterans will be there at the front-lines defending this country till the last drop of their blood!”