Warriors honoured throughout the country
Pantomime also staged to give insight into heroic F-team
PUTRAJAYA: Young Malaysians should embrace the steely determination and fighting spirit of past warriors to succeed, said the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the TN50 generation must have the same spirit because to be successful one has to be physically and mentally strong.
“If there is a lesson to be learnt from our warriors in the police and armed forces, it is their spirit that we should adopt so that we can have the strength to face obstacles and challenges,” he said at this year’s Warriors Day celebration.
Apart from veterans from the police force and armed forces, the annual event held in honour of the country’s heroes was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Inspector- General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, Armed Forces Chief Tan Seri Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor and chiefs of the three defence wings.
Declaring the police and armed forces personnel as Malaysia’s important assets, Najib said the people owe the peace they enjoy today to the security personnel past and present.
“Security forces were at the fore- front when defending the country against communist threats, during the 1969 racial riots and Emergency period, when facing the Al-Maunah group and today, they are the ones who defend the country against acts of terrorism and extremism,” he added.
A pantomime was staged to give guests a glimpse of the highly-classified work of the F-Team, which was set up in 1971 to fight communist insurgents in Mentakab, Pahang.
Later, the actual members of the ops team codenamed Ops Kelisa were introduced to the Prime Minister.
They are Assistant Commissioner Borhan Daud, Sub Insp Sritharan Sandu Nair, Abdul Razak Abdul Karim, Zahaliman Jamin, Hussin Mohd Taib, Hussein Saion, Riboet Dekin and Md Yusof Omar. Apart from ACP Borhan, the rest have since left the service.
The secretive F-Team, officially known as the E3F Special Operations Force, was declassified by the Government last year.
In SHAH ALAM, Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafudin Idris Shah honoured the state’s fallen heroes with a simple yet meaningful ceremony to mark the state-level Warriors Day celebration at the War Memorial Ground.
Sultan Sharafuddin was the first to lay a wreath at the War Memorial Monument, followed by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, 11th Infantry Brigade Commander Brigader-General Toh Choon Siang and several others.
Former 11th Infantry Brigade Commander Brigader- General Datuk Mohd Ariffin Yakob said the ceremony touched his heart.
“Today’s ceremony brought back old memories, as I got to meet old soldiers whom I have not seen in more than 20 years,” said the veteran soldier who served the country for 37 years.
In IPOH, the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah graced the state-level Warriors Day celebration.
Held at Dataran Bangunan Perak Ridzuan, the ceremony started with a parade by the flag bearers, the guard of honour, with the accompaniment band from the Air Force Academy in Ipoh.
Sultan Nazrin later inspected the guard of honour comprising three officers, and 102 personnel from Batalion 1 of the General Operations Force in Ulu Kinta.
There was also a declaration titled Pahlawanku (My Warrior) by Kpl Kamarulzaman Mat Rashid, from the Tapah District Police Headquarters, before the raising of the Jalur Gemilang.