Ex-cop believes he still has it in him to protect village
LAHAD DATU: Even after retiring from the police force, Abd Rahim K.K. Hain has not stopped playing a role in safeguarding his community.
Having served as a General Operations Force (GOF) personnel during Op Daulat five years ago, the retired corporal joined the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) in 2014.
Rahim, 62, believes he still has what it takes to protect Tanjung Labian, a coastal stretch made up of 10 villages.
Back then, Rahim was attached to the GOF 17th Battalion when followers of the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III entered the isolated Kampung Tanduo in the Felda Sahabat estate in February 2013 to stake a claim to Sabah.
He now leads a group of Rela members, who are attached to the corps’ community service centre (PKK) in Tanjung Labian, which saw the fiercest gun battle between security forces and intruders.
“In Op Daulat, I was deployed in Tanjung Labian to tighten security in the village when security forces began mopping up operations in Kampung Tanduo from March 5.
“I remember the following day, we were told to be prepared as Kiram’s fighters were in Tanjung Batu.
“I was told by villagers that the armed group’s leader, Agbimuddin Kiram, was looking for me after finding out I was a policeman,” he told Harian Metro.
Rahim, who is from Tanjung Labian, said he never once feared the Sulu fighters and was ready to sacrifice his life to protect the country from terrorists.
“Although I retired from the police force in 2014, I want to continue protecting the safety and security of Tanjung Labian.”
The Rela Tanjung Labian outpost was formed as a result of discussions with Labian Zone community chief Asafal Alian.
The centre was set up at the junction leading to Tanjung Batu to assist security forces on patrol duty.
Rahim said the security in Tanjung Labian and Tanjung Batu was at its highest and villagers could carry out their activities.