Ex-Royal Rangers pay visit to stroke-stricken comrade
SERIAN: Former members of the Seventh Royal Rangers Regiment ( 7RRD) have gathered to pay a visit to their comrade Markus Abai, 63, who is suffering complications following a stroke in 2015.
The visitors, led by Lt Col ( Rtd) S Ratnam also included state Veteran Affairs Department (JHEV) director Lt Col Dunging Serit, came to see Markus, 63, at his house in Kampung Kemayau here on Tuesday.
The former servicemen handed over specially- designed bedmattress set to Markus, who is being cared for by his wife Cathrina, 62.
According to Ratnam, the items were purchased through the JHEV, under the Ministry of Defence’s medical equipment assistance programme.
“He ( Markus) served in the Malaysian Armed Forces under the 7RRD for 10 years (1973-1983). He suffered a stroke in 2015 and since then, his condition continues to deteriorate. We learn that he is bedridden most of the time,” said Ratnam, who was the platoon commander and intelligence officer in 7RRD.
“We all served in the same unit, beginning 1973. I’m now a member of Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association. I was informed about his ( Markus’) plight and did my best to arrange for the necessary assistance,” he added.
Ratnam said the 7RRD was based in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
“The unit was involved in many operations along the Malaysian- Thai border. There were times when we ran joint operations with our Thai counterparts ( Royal Thai Armed Forces) – two of which were the ‘Ops Daoyai Musnah’ in 1977 and ‘Ops Sealamat Sawadee’ in 1979,” he related about his experience in the unit.