Former rangers set up service centre to help military veterans

KUCHING: The Rangers Corps Veterans Association ( PVTKR) aims to effectively serve all veterans of the armed forces with the opening of its service centre in Sri Aman on Wednesday.

First Malaysian Infantry Division commander Major General Datuk Stephen Mundaw officiated at the opening ceremony which was attended by association president Lt Col Mohd Melintang Abdullah and members.

PVTKR is expected to open similar centres in Sibu and Lundu soon.

This initiative, according to its publicity release, is to compliment other associations in helping veterans of the Malaysian Armed Forces in Sarawak and not competing with them.

At the event, Mundaw presented membership cards to new members. Among the notable recipients was the famous tracker Awang Rawing, who has been awarded a George Cross, a medal equivalent to the Victoria Cross, given to serving personnel of the Commonwealth Forces.

The Iban Tracker Unit at that time (1948 - 1953) was a para military outfit assisting the Commonwealth Forces in fighting the communist terrorists in Malaya.

Awang saved the life of Private Hughes of the Worcestershire Regiment in an ambush in 1951.

He was the only recipient of the George Cross or even a Victoria Cross in the Malayan Campaign 1948-1960.

Awang will be invited to PVTKR’s annual dinner scheduled for end of March at the Riverside Majestic Hotel here.

PVTKR ‘s Service Centre in Sri Aman is temporarily set up at one of its exco members Empati Untol’s house at Lot 40, Jalan Jumbit, Melugu Scheme B.

For more information, Empati can be contacted at 01115817853.