Remembrance Sunday for fallen comrades

KUALA LUMPUR: Against the early morning clear skies, several men with medals stood still for two minutes in silence at Tugu Negara remembering their service and also fallen comrades during the country’s fight against the communists.

At the 70th Remembrance Sunday here, Colonel (rtd) Amreek Singh recalled the day he was commissioned into the 9th Royal Ranger regiment, commanding a battalion which was “to search and destroy the enemy”.

“I remember the comradeship we had with others, which was akin to the spirit of 1Malaysia today,” he said when met on the sidelines.

He attributed his success in carrying out his task during the Emergency to his strict training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England.

“When we fought, it was a team effort to ensure the next man beside us was safe. We’d give our lives for them,” he said.

This team spirit was echoed by Major (rtd) Amarjit Singh of the 3rd Royal Rangers regiment who served in the Malaysian armed forces.

As a fourth generationer who joined the military force, he said: “I believe that irrespective of race, today was about remembering the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives fighting communists.”

Earlier, British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Vicki Treadell, delivered her address, saying the deeds of those who had sacrificed their lives, including the military prisoners of war and civilian internees who suffered in captivity throughout the region, ought to be remembered.

She also made a special mention of the Sikh’s contribution where in World War II they represented more than 60% of the total Indian Commonwealth Force in Malaya that fought during the Japanese invasion.

Thirty-nine wreaths were laid at the base of the Cenotaph by foreign dignitaries.