A small favour to ask of ‘Malaysia, a grateful nation’
AS a young airman in Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1965, I worked as an air dispatcher (ie, winchman) on Westland helicopters in Malaya and Borneo.
This was during what was known as the Confrontation with Indonesia when armed incursions occurred (1963-1966).
The sorties involved RAF Butterworth in Penang, RAF Kuching and RAF Labuan. We transported Malayan and British troops and, on a number of occasions, rescued Malayan troops from the Borneo jungle.
This was an exciting time for a young airman and British/Malaysian lifetime friendships were formed. Many times we received an emotional “terima kasih” from equally young Malay soldiers.
Fast forward to the mid 1970s: I co-founded Westminster Travel in Hong Kong, a travel agency catering to the expat population there. The first holiday destination that we offered was a “Malaysia Fly/Drive” package, as we wanted others to discover the delights of the Malaysia I had fallen in love with.
Between 1974 and 2000, some 250,000 families went on this holiday via Malaysia Airlines from Hong Kong. A number of years in a row we received Tour Operator of the Year plaques from MAS and a grateful Malaysia.
Fast forward to 2015: As a now retired pensioner, my wife and I came back to Malaysia for three months to escape the British winter. The trip has become an annual pilgrimage since then for us, to the lovely island of Penang.
It was that year also that commemorated 50 years since 1965 and my time in the RAF in Malaysia. I was awarded the GSM medal with citation for Malaya and Borneo accompanied by a letter from “Malaysia, a grateful nation”.
Upon the death of my mother, we then found further connections with Malaya: My uncle had been the Attorney-General of British Borneo prior to the formation of Malaysia. He was Datuk Sir Peter Mooney, a famous lawyer in Malaysia; sadly he died before we had a chance to meet him. So Malaysia had been in my blood without my realising.
Fast forward to present day: We arrived on March 9, 2020, a few days before anyone realised the impact Covid-19 would have on the world. We have since been allowed to stay here on an expired social pass by the grace of the Malaysian government. We are paying our way without being a burden on the Malaysian economy.
The press reported on April 12 as follows: The Malaysian Immigration Department has instructed all foreigners with expired social visit passes to leave the country before April 21 – giving eight days’ notice at a time when few airlines are flying and many countries are in lockdown.
For those unable to leave immediately we can apply for a special pass to remain up to 30 days by fulfilling certain requirements. Some have tried this and, despite meeting all requirements, have been turned down – which means they will become illegal overstayers.
I have a favour to ask those in authority: May we please stay until Covid-19 is a bit more under control in the world?
Many governments have allowed Malaysian tourists, students and visitors to remain in the country they are stranded in as a place of safety.
As I approach my 74th birthday next month, I now have an autoimmune disease that puts me in the high-risk category. Please consider a couple of extra months’ stay for a military veteran who has done a bit for Malaysia over the years and show the true meaning of “Malaysia, a grateful nation”.
RONALD MOONEY Penang