TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO ELITE F TEAM
Pantomime on National Day throws light on key unit that fought communists
KUALA LUMPUR
ASPECIAL performance by a group of officers and staff members of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) during the 2017 National Day celebration at Dataran Merdeka touched the hearts of spectators.
Through the performance, the public were exposed, for the first time, to the sacrifices of an elite group known as the F Team, which began operating in 1971 before it was disbanded on May 1, 1995, with a membership of 164 to carry out secret operations against enemies, especially communist terrorists.
The pantomime performance depicted the team fighting against communist terrorists, resulting in the death of some of its members.
The eight-minute emotional performance ended with the reciting of a poem titled “Hanya Yang Berani” (Only The Brave) — which bears the message of the sacrifices made to ensure that the nation continues to be independent.
The poem was recited by Melaka Tengah district police Special Branch chief, Assistant Superintendent Mohamed Mahat, and an officer at the Strategic Resources and Technology Department in Bukit Aman, Superintendent Rose Baini Kasim.
Among the verses of the poem: Hanya yang berani, akan mengotakan janji dan sumpah setia
(Only the brave, will keep the promise and pledge of loyalty)
Hanya yang berani, menggadai nyawa dan air mata, membela nasib bangsa
(Only the brave, sacrifice life
and tears, champion the people’s lot)
Hanya yang berani, mempertahankan pertiwi untuk diwarisi kepada generasi muka
(Only the brave, defend the motherland to be inherited by future
generations)
Mohamed said the poem was specially written for this year’s National Day celebration to introduce the F Team, which was responsible for ending the communist insurgency in Malaysia, leading up to the signing of the Haadyai Peace Accord on Dec 2, 1989.
“I wrote this poem with the hope that it will arouse the patriotic spirit among our generation today,” he said.
Rose Baini said although the poetry recital was only for two minutes, it was meaningful to her.
“Those two minutes were invaluable to me and more importantly, we could contribute something special to this country’s sacred day,” she said.
The F Team was formed in March 1971 and led by Datuk Leong Chee Woh. It comprised officers, Special Branch detectives and selected former communist terrorists.
Resulting from the role of the F Team, 48 communist terrorists were killed, 171 detained while 1,432 more who were involved in the underground movement in the urban and rural areas were caught. Bernama