Will to protect country enabled Ranger to survive hunger, pain during communist attack

PUTRAJAYA: Despite three days without food, the hunger and pain from two shot wounds which were already infested by maggots did not deter or weaken Ranger Abang Bolhi Abang Doladi from continuing to fight to protect his beloved country from the communists.

It happened during a communist attack in the forest of Ulu Kinta in Perak in 1971 when Abang Bolhi, from Sri Aman, Sarawak, was involved in an operation, codenamed ‘Operasi Iblis 1971’ or ‘Op Iblis’.

He was shot in the back and the bullet penetrated through his right chest, while another shot hit his left little finger.

Holding strong to the phrase “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban” ( fight until death), Abang Bolhi,then 24, said he continued to persevere and was able to fire several shots, killing three of the communist insurgents.

His only hope then was that his colleagues would find him.

“Also, I was determined to live because I wanted to see my parents. Indeed, I’m grateful to God for the long life,” he told reporters at the 2018 Warriors Day celebration, which was attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at Dataran Pahlawan Negara, Precinct 1 here yesterday.

He said the wounds took about five months to heal.

At the event, a pantomime on ‘Operasi Iblis 1971’ was held in memory of Captain Mohana Chandran, who was killed in the incident.

Besides Abang Bolhi, also injured in the operation was Ranger Bajau Ladi, who with their other colleagues were given the honour to have an audience with His Majesty.

Op Iblis was launched by the Malaysian 2nd Infantry Brigade following the discovery of communist insurgents in the Korbu Forest, Sungai Siput and Tanah Hitam, Perak, on May 31, 1971.

The operation was conducted to destroy the 5th Assault Unit of the communist movement that had made the areas in Bukit Berapit, Air Kala, Kinta Forest Reserve and Slim River, Perak, as their theatre of operations. — Bernama