Ex-cop remembers first Merdeka event
> Thambipillay treasures memory of the raising of national flag and lowering of the Union Jack
IPOH: For former police officer Datuk R. Thambipillay (pix), National Day celebrations brings back fond memories, especially when one was in the thick of action on the first Merdeka event on Aug 31, 1957, in Kuala Lumpur.
“I was then serving as an inspector at the police federal headquarters and was one of the officers in charge of security of the heads of nations.
“They were invited by the Malayan Government to attend the first Merdeka Day celebrations,” he told theSun here yesterday.
“It was a proud moment and an auspicious day for me ... one which will be remembered for the rest of my life,” said the former Ipoh city deputy police chief (crime) who retired with the rank of superintendent in 1984.
According to him, Lady Isabel Gurney, whose husband Sir Henry Gurney was killed in a terrorist ambush while on his way to Fraser’s Hill for a meeting on Oct 6, 1951, was a special guest.
Thambipillay said the Malayan Emergency (19481960) was still in force and Isabel was one of the last to return home after the celebrations.
“But she was unable to fulfil her desire to visit her husband’s ambush site due to security reasons,” he said.
The country’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, was very concerned about security arrangements for the foreign dignitaries.
“For me, I will always treasure the oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to witness and remember the raising of our national flag and lowering of the British flag.
“More importantly, Tunku’s resounding voice of ‘Merdeka’ seven times, was very historical and will be forever remembered,” he added.
Thambipillay joined the police force in August 1949, virtually at the commencement of the Emergency, and served in various capacities.
He is no stranger to the Emergency with his career starting in Gemas.
Thambipillay went on to serve as assistant district police chief in Kuala Kubu Bharu and as district police chief in Tapah and Slim River/Tanjung Malim during the most turbulent years of the Emergency.
He saw action against the enemy in 12 major operations in the jungle with the then Police Field Force (now known as General Operations Force), including operations in the Betong town at the Thai-Malaysian border.
He is known among his local and Commonwealth friends as the initiator of the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Anglican cemetery (better known as God’s Little Acre) in Batu Gajah.
The annual remembrance ceremony is held to honour those who gave up their lives during the Emergency.
Thambipillay is currently the president of the Warriors Association of Malaysia.