AF 006: RMAF KUCHING: MY FIRST UNIT

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 PANGKALAN UDARA KUCHING

UNIT PERTAMA AKU BERTUGAS 

LEFTENAN MUDA (UDARA) TOHARUDIN ABD RASID

 Penolong Pegawai Pergerakan Udara Syif B

 TUDM KUCHING

Sebelum saya menulis sesuatu tentang pengalaman saya selama 17 bulan bertugas di Pangkalan Udara Kuching (Okt 81 hingga April 83), mari kita membaca sedikit tentang latar belakang pangkalan udara tersebut (saya cedok dari portal TUDM)

Pangkalan Udara Kuching telah ditubuhkan pada tahun 1964 dengan dikenali sebagai Pangkalan Tentera Udara DiRaja British (RAF). Ianya dilengkapi dengan sebuah pesawat Twin Pioneer dan empat buah helikopter Alouette III. Setelah pengunduran Tentera British pada 1967, Kerajaan Malaysia telah mengambilalih pengoperasian Pangkalan Udara ini dan bertukar nama kepada Pangkalan TUDM Kuching. Squadron Leader Arthur Cheah telah dilantik menjadi Pegawai Memerintah yang pertama pada 1 Julai 1967. Pada tahun 1968 dan berakhirnya konfrontasi dengan Negara Indonesia, No 7 Skuadron telah  ditubuhkan di dalam Pangkalan ini dan dilengkapi dengan 5 buah helikopter Sikorsky S61A-4 (Nuri)

Bagi mendukung sasaran TUDM untuk menjadi sebuah pasukan udara yang berkredibiliti, Pangkalan Udara Kuching turut menggariskan visi dan misi yang mendukung kepada pencapaian misi TUDM yang dihasratkan di kawasan ruang udara Wilayah Sabah dan Sarawak (di bawah naungan Markas No 2 Divisyen Udara) dan memantapkan pengurusan Pangkalan yang berlandas kepada Total Quality Management (TQM). 

Pada masa ini (25 Apr 2010) Pangkalan Udara Kuching diperintah oleh Komander Pangkalan berpangkat Kolonel TUDM walaupun perjawatan sebenar Pegawai Memerintah adalah berpangkat Lt Kol TUDM.   Bagaimanapun mulai 1 Jan 2011 perjawatan Komander PU Kuching ke pangkat Kolonel TUDM telah diluluskan.

Pangkalan ini mempunyai kekuatan seramai 687 (termasuk 63 pegawai) dan dilengkapi dengan tiga buah skuadron operasi dan lima buah cawang bantuan:

 (1)   No 1 Skn dengan 8 buah pesawat CN235-220 (termasuk 2 VVIP version yang ditumpangkan (detachment) di PU Subang.

(2)    No 7 Skn dengan pesawat helikopter S61A4 (Nuri).

(3)    Skn 331 Pertahanan Udara (lokasi di Samarahan dan Gunung Ngili).

(4)    Cawangan Operasi (Kawalan Trafik Udara)

(5)    Cawangan Kejuruteraan

(6)    Cawangan Materiel (dulu Cawang Bekalan)

(7)    Cawangan Tadbir; dan

(8)    Cawangan Provos (dulu Skn 107 HANDAU)

Motto pangkalan ini sejak ia ditubuhkan ialah "BERGULAI KITAI BEKARAJA" yang diambil dari bahasa Iban yang bermaksud 'kerjasama dan perpaduan semua anggota melaksanakan tugas yang dipertanggungjawabkan' dalam memastikan misi Pangkalan khasnya serta misi TUDM tercapai. Semangat perpaduan, kerjasama, kemakmuran dan keharmonian di antara semua anggota menjadi nadi utama dalam memastikan kejayaan Pangkalan Udara Kuching dalam melaksanakan semua tugas yang diamanahkan."

RMAF Kuching Base was initially categorised as small base (commanded by only a Sqn Ldr) because only one flying squadron (No 7 Sqn) was operating there.  Later the rank of the CO was upgraded to Wg Cdr (Lt Kol) due to the increased number of the aircraft and asset. With the additional number of flying squadron (No 1 Sqn) in 2001, and also Skn 331 Air Defence, the rank of the CO was again upgraded  in 2010 to the rank of Kolonel TUDM.  The list of Commanding Officers of RMAF Kuching Base from its establishment:

(1)   Sqn Ldr Arthur Cheah

(2)   Sqn Ldr Mohamed bin Ngah Said (Wg Cdr)- (bersara Lt Jen TUDM, Tan Sri - jawatan terakhir ialah PTU) - allahyarham

(3)   Sqn Ldr Ahmad Merican

(4)   Wg Cdr Lawrence Phong (the appointment of CO upgraded to Wg Cdr)

(5)   Wg Cdr M A Theseira (bersara Kol TUDM)

(6)   Wg Cdr Fauzi bin Hussein (bersara Mej Jen TUDM, Dato - jawatan terakhir ialah TPTU) - allahyarham

(7)   Lt Kol (U) Ahmad Merican (bersara Mej Jen TUDM, Datuk - jawatan terakhir ialah Panglima Pertahanan Udara) - allahyarham.

(8)   Lt Kol (U) Lim Way Ann (bersara Kol TUDM)

(9)   Lt Kol (U) Nagaratnam Ampalam (bersara Kol TUDM - mendiang) - beliau adalah Pegawai Memerintah semasa saya melapor diri pada bulan Okt 1981.

(10)  Lt Kol (U) Khong Kah Sing (bersara Lt Kol) - beliau adalah Pegawai Memerintah semasa saya bertukar keluar pada bukan April 1983.

(11)  Lt Kol (U) Agil bin Musa (bersara Lt Kol)

(12)  Lt Kol (U) Othman bin Sulan (bersara Brig Jen TUDM, Dato')

(13)  Lt Kol Mustaffa bin Zakaria TUDM (bersara Lt Kol)

(14)  Lt Kol Jamaluddin bin Tajuddin TUDM (bersara Lt Kol) - allahyarham

(15)  Lt Kol Stephen Ngiau Tai Kong TUDM (bersara Brig Jen TUDM, Dato' - mendiang)

(16)  Lt Kol Ahmad Repi bin Bunyamin TUDM (bersara Kol TUDM)

(17)  Lt Kol Abdul Rahman bin Hassan TUDM (bersara Lt Kol)  allahyarham

(18)  Lt Kol Jamal bin Abu Bakar TUDM (bersara Mej Jen Dato'  TUDM)

(20)  Lt Kol Sabri bin Adam TUDM (bersara Lt Jen TUDM,  Dato' Sri)

(21)  Lt Kol Johar Razali bin Hj Ahmad TUDM (bersara Mej Jen TUDM, Dato)

(22)  Lt Kol Shabre bin Hussein TUDM (bersara Mej Jen TUDM, Dato)

(23)  Lt Kol Suhaimi bin Abd Kadir TUDM (bersara Lt Kol)

(24)  Kol Suhaimi bin Hussain TUDM (berkuatkuasa mulai 1 Jan 2011 jawatan Komander PU Kuching dinaiktaraf ke Kolonel TUDM) - bersara 2019 dalam pangkat Brig Jen TUDM, Dato'.

(25)  Kol Jumali bin Salamat TUDM (Sep 2011 - Apr 2014) -  Jumali was together with me underwent the cadet training SSC Intake 37 in Officer Cadet School, Port Dickson in 1980 and Basic Flying Training in No 1 FTC, Alor Setar. - bersara dalam pangkat Brig Jen TUDM (Dato') pada Feb 2019.

(26)  Kol Hj Saharudin bin Mansor TUDM (Apr 2014 - 2016) - sekarang Brig Jen TUDM, Dato.

(27)  Kol Yee Yit Hong TUDM (2016 - Apr 2018) - sekarang Brig Jen TUDM

(28)  Kol Masro bin Kaliwon TUDM (Apr 2018 - kini)

MY Story

And, some parts of the RMAF history came along with my life history. Either the sweet or otherwise. Upon completion of my short Air Movement Training Module at ITU Kinrara, I was posted to RMAF Kuching effective from 21 Oct 1981. My appointment was the Duty Air Movt Officer (DAMO) Shift B. I went (reported) to Kuching together with my coursemate Lt (U) Zambri bin Ahmad.

The Base Commander then was Lt Kol (U) Nagaratnam Ampalam and in 1982 he was succeeded by Lt Kol (U) Khong Kah Sing. My OC Supply was Kapt (U) Samsudin bin Sulaiman (retired as Major and he died in 2005) then he succeeded by Kapt Johari Rais (retired as Lt Col) sometime in Mid 1982. The other senior officers I could remember were; Mej Thiagarajah -OC 7 Sqn, Mej (U) Adnan Dariff - OC Admin (deceased), Mej Tan Chee Seang (SEngO) and Kapt Bashah Mohd Said (SEATCO)- retired Lt Col.

Terminal Pergerakan Udara, TUDM Kuching (1983) kelihatan bangunan kayu di belakang bangunan hangar Hornbill Skyway.

Courtesy: Gunship Escurte. ex WO2 Ismail

Bangunan Pergerakan Udara PU KUching sekarang

(bangunan ini diambil alih dari Jabatan Penerbangan Awam (DCA) setelah mereka berpindah ke Lapangan Terbang yang baru (siap pada 1983)

 Dispersal Area PU Kuching

Air Movement Section is supposed to be the frontier of the base where all the visitors or guests first impression on arrival to the base. However, the location of AMS RMAF Kuching (at that time) was not really the base entrance. This because it was located at the opposite side of the base site and divided by the Kuching Airport (runway). The distance was about 1.5 km.

That's mean- the present Air Movement of the base was originally the Kuching Airport- but at that time was not international airport yet.

The officers' mess is located in between the AMS and the base guardroom. I have the reason why I mention about the location of the mess in the early part of my write up.

AMS buildings were located nearby the Hornbill Skyways hangar (company owned by Sarawakian government).  All the building were wooden houses with asbestos roofing. Some of the building were roofed with attaps.  Generally., the condition of the buildings were naive.  I am regreted of not taking any photos of my office.

Terminal Lapangan Terbang Kuching 1983

Sejarah pahit aku di sini ialah semasa aku belajar membawa tractor towing (yang biasa digunakan oleh staff AMS untuk bawa rangsum penerbangan dan berurusan di kawasan dispersal.  Aku belajar dengan Kpl Kamal Bashah (bersara PW).  Aku telah hilang kawalan dan melanggar bangunan hangar Hornbill Skyways sampai bergerak tiang hangar itu.  Nasib baik tak langgar dinding.  kalau tidak mesti terbobos ke dalam hangar dan pastinya aku akan menerima tindakan undang-undang.

 Not much that I could remember about Hornbill Skyways because I did not mix around with the company staff.  Other than the above tractor incident, the only thing thatI could remember is, there was a pretty women working at Hornbill.  Everyday she came to work passed through infront of my working place. I could not remember her name.

 The AMS was headed by the Senior Air Movement Officer or SAMO. My first SAMO was Kapt (U) Ahmad Ismail (or wellknown as Kapt Mat Komo) later he was replaced by Kapt Chin Hoong Shing (retired as Major). Kapt Mat Komo was the Special Duty (SD) Commissioned Officer. Prior to his commission, he was the Air Quarter Master (AQM) for RMAF Dart Herald aircraft. He was married bachelor in Kuching, staying in the mess. Kapt Mat was very easy going man, amicable and all rounder. My last meeting with him was in 2008 while giving the last respect to the body of Allahyarham Lt Kol Baharudin Sulaiman at AU2 Keramat.

Working as DAMO was an easy job. I have so many experienced staff led by PW Ho. At that time, the working environment was very healthy in terms of manpower. Just imagine, a small Air Movement like RMAF Kuching manned by more than 20 personnel:

(1)   Kapt Ahmad Ismail (retired and passed away in 2013)

(2)   Lt Zambri Ahmad (bersara Lt Kol TUDM)

(3)   Lt M Toharudin

(4)   PW Ho

(5)   SNCOs: FSgt Yogeswaran; FSgt Khong; Sgt Francis; Sgt Mahin Moidu; Sgt Minhad

(6)   JNCOs: Kpl Kamal Bashah Abu Samah - bersara PW1; Kpl Abd Rahman Lebai - bersara PW1; Kpl Abid Shah Kazi Mohd; LUK Zamri - bersara PW2 dan telah meninggal dunia; 

(7)   Airmen: LUK Shukran - bersara PW1; LUK Yunus Yasin- bersara Kapt TUDM; LUK Cheah; LUK Meor; LU Md Noor; LU Zainal Abidin - bersara Kapt TUDM dan kemudian menyertai APMM; LU Saipol Kasbullah - bersara PW1; LU Simon; LU Ganesan; LU Fuad; dan LU Hassan

I am so sorry, I couldn't remember all. However i was happy working with them, i.e cooperative and high morale.

We were divided into 2 shift. The other shift was led by Lt (U) Zambri Ahmad (my coursemate in basic Supply- now Lt Col.

 

photo with my SAMO, allahyarham Kapt (U) Ahmad Ismail (Mat Komo)

Kapt Ahmad bin Ismail meninggal dunia pada 11 Dis 2013- aku mendapat berita melalui sms yang dikirimkan oleh Mej Hj Ismail Hashim (B) semasa aku dan keluarga sedang bercuti di Bukit Merah Laketown Resort semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas ruhnya)

photo with my SNCO Shift IC, FSjn Khong and LU Mior

bersama Kpl Abid Shah, my JNCO at Air Movt (the son of retired Maj Kazi Mohd- ex RMAF Admin Officer)

"BUGI" and "Kuching Special"

Tahun 70an dan awal 80an, kalau sesiapa yang berpangkat Lt atau LtM, apabila menerima berita akan ditukarkan ke TUDM Labuan atau Kuching, ia merupakan satu berita yang amat buruk (hell) dan malang dalam kerjaya TUDM. Kira-kira, kalau mendapat berita tersebut, 40% dari 'morale' telah hilang.

Kenapa? Dua pangkalan ini amat popular dengan kes-kes 'ragging' Mes Pegawai yang amat menyiksakan dan 'sadist'. Kenapa dengan dua pangkalan ini? Jawabnya mudah sahaja. Kuching dan Labuan (lebih-lebih lagi Pulau Labuan) adalah 2 pangkalan yang terpencil jauh di Malaysia Timur. Jauh dari kesibukan ibu kota, jauh dari saudara mara, jauh dari hiburan. 

Kebanyakan pegawai bujang tidak mempunyai kenderaan. Kalau ada kereta pun tak tau siapa tuannya, ada di situ sejak bertahun-tahun, dikongsi beramai-ramai.  Turun temurun. Selepas waktu kerja, selain dari bersukan (biasanya takraw atau badminton), pegawai-pegawai akan duduk di mes bermain snooker, dam, chess, puzzle, menonton tv (masa tu ada dua channel sahaja).  Malam pun tak ada hiburan di bandar (selain dari tak ada duit). Hiburan di luar masa itu hanyalah disco. Oleh itu selain dari tv, mereka akan menonton video beramai-ramai.  Itu pun yang mampu beli video-player hanya beberapa orang sahaja, kebanyakannya pilot.  Kita ni, tumpang semangkok je. Kalau dah semua bujang, tau-tau saja la, apa jenis video yang ditonton!!. Oleh itu, atas asas 'keboringan' yang melampau' itu, mereka memang sentiasa menunggu ketibaan Sang BUGI. Apa itu BUGI? Tunggu.

Di TUDM Kuching, aktiviti 'ragging/hazing' oleh 'seniors' bermula sebaik sahaja pegawai baru tiba di Air Movement (AMS) - baru turun dari pesawat C-130. Pejabat SAMO akan dijadikan tempat 'introduction'. Masa tu AMS Kuching bukan la macam sekarang. Hanya rumah-rumah kayu berlantai papan macam rumah panjang orang Iban sahaja(sayang sekali, aku tak simpan gambar bangunan AMS ketika itu untuk buat kenangan). Semua pegawai yang 'in station' pada masa itu akan berkumpul di AMS menunggu ketibaan  junior (bugi) dengan ghairah sekali.

What is BUGI?.  The symbol of BUGI is 'half body shave'. All the newly reporting mess member, must be shaved half of their body. Half shaved means, one of your eyebrow, half of chest hair (if u have), half of pubic hair and one leg hair. Our head hair was not included. So, u have to go for work everyday with that kind of figure until all the hair grew back. Just imagine, how your staff look at you?

Mid-Nite Compass Marching. It was a tough job. One of the senior will call the BUGIs about at 12 midnight. We (Zambri, Roslan, Shamsudin and I) were instructed to bring only a piece of kain pelikat and out BAT C 10. The senior in-charge that nite was Lt Revi Chandran. All the four were embarked into the car with our eyes covered with hankerchief. We reached one unfamiliar place, beside the small river. We could not recognise the place because very dark and furthermore, we just arrived Kuching 3 days ago. We were instructed to take off our 'kain pelikat'- naked. We were quite lucky, Revi was nice to us, he gave us 2 pieces of kain pelikat to shared with 4 of us (and off course our BAT C 10). The next instruction was, we must report to the mess before 6am and by 6am sharp must be crowing infront of Lt Sofian's room ............................... Just imagine, 4 naked men hiking at the midnite. Everytime there was a car or bike passed by, we hide behind the bush. We reached at the mess about 5.30 am. We felt so hungry...so we went into the mess kitchen and ate something. Since we were so tired, and waiting for 6am, so we plan to take a short nab in the mess lobby. Very unfortunate, we were overshot by 7am...... the punishment was 1000 "STAR JUMPS"...

Pond Cleaning. RMAF Kuching mess has 2 ponds, one infront the car porch and another one behind the ante room near to the takraw court. Cleaning the first pond was the must for every BUGI. Just cleaning was nothing, simple job. But while cleaning, the seniors would not let us doing the job in cool and calm. In between the cleaning time, we were asked to do various action such as forward rolls, slide rolls, press up, star jumps etc. The other pond was purposely not cleaned because of some reasons. The reason? wait until my mess commissioning parade night.

Fabricate a Sword. Every officer in RMAF Kuching must have a wooden sword. If you did not have this, you would not be commissioned from the mess. Immediately after reporting to the mess, we were instructed to order the swords. We asked our base carpenter to fabricate for us. FOC anyway. How the swords look alike? Please see the picture under the Mess Commissioning Parade.

Stealing Road Sign. One of the tough task listed in BUGI checklist was to find a road sign!. The instructions was 'I don't how, by tomorrow 7am, I want to see the road sign infront your room!". The only way, we have to search at midnight. First, we have to book the transport, slow talk with MT. Perhap, they knew!. Second, do not straight away uproot the OK one. First alternative, search for the unused or damaged one. If you could not find one, then go to the second alternative. However, survey the location, do not ever-ever try at the open area, you will get hell. Look for the isolated area, park the land rover or 3 tonne to cover the sign board, and start working! Not easy mannnnn..... the foundation of the sign board itself! big and solid concrete. And, what you brought was only a shovel or cangkul!. At that time, if you visit the rooms in the Officers' Mess, everybody were keeping a sign board. Lucky only RMAF Mess doing it. If the Army followed us, no sign board left in Kuching area.

Stealing Demised Photo from Chinese Cemetry. This is the toughest assignment. But I was very lucky, during my BUGI time, my senior forgot to give this task. According to my seniors, they were asked to pick out a lady picture (lady only!) from the Chinese grave!. I could not imagine how they did it. I missed this agenda (may be they forgotten).

Tiger Show!. This was and easy but dirtiest assignment. I will not write in detail about this task. As a tiger you have to find the victim first. You will be locked in the room and perform a show. May be you can remember the story of 'Rome Coliseum' where the prisoner who received death punishment was put in the stadium with a lion. Pairs of eyes were outside the room waiting for the show..... Mohon maaf, perbicaraan dibuat secara tertutup.

Commissioning Parade and Kuching Special. This was the happiest moment for the BUGI.. That night, all the suffers will end. After your dinner, you will be ready with complete No 1 Dress + wooden sword. One of the BUGI will be taking the command. Normally the most senior mess member will take the salute. During my time, the guest of honour was Kapt Hashim Hamzah (he was an instructor when I was in 2 FTC Kluang). Immediately after disperse from the parade, you have to drink 'Kuching Special'. Do you know what is Kuching Specil? It was a mixture of many-many ingredients. the BUGIs will walk to the pond (muddy pond) and crawled in the pond from one end to the other end.

BUGIs' Mess commisioning parade 1981

(from left; LtM(U) Shamsudin Mahadi, Lt(U) Zambri Ahmad, LtM(U) Roslan Awang and myself

 
 
Berkokok atas pokok setiap pagi, 1000 star jumps- normal punishment- cantik badannnnnn... dan mencuci pond depan mes pegawai

The title 'BUGI' will only be removed after the commissioning parade held in the officers' mess. The BUGI will only be commissioned if the 'Chief Ragger' satisfied with the performance and 'no objection' by the other mess members.

Di belakang Mes Pegawai TUDM ada satu lembah (valley) yang ada obstacle course kepunyaan Kem Batalion RAMD dan di seberang bukit sebelah sana (yang dipisahkan oleh lembah obstacle) adalah Mes Pegawai Bn RAMD tersebut. Obstacle course itu kerap menganiaya pegawai muda yang baru melapor.  Kalau senior dah tak ada kerja dan malas nak torture Bugi, paling senang ialah suruh Bugi buat merempuh halangan, tunggu je kat tebing tu dengan stop watch.  Teruklah Bugi kena ulang selagi seniors tak puas hati.

Apa yang menyeronokkan (pada masa itu) ialah jika di sebelah pihak Mes Pegawai RAMD pun ada pegawai baru melapor.  Kita akan sabungkan bugi-bugi tersebut bertanding merempuh halangan. Bagi Army, obstacle course adalah sarapan pagi dan minum petang mereka.  Jadi berlaku bugi mereka kalah sabung, itu adalah sesuatu yang amat memalukan.  Pernah berlaku begitu, maka balik dari bertanding, mereka (bugi RAMD) akan teruk kena kenduri oleh senior mereka.

The newly reporting officer will be addressed as 'BUGI'. In Kuching, any officer with the rank of Lt and below will be entitled to be ragged. Regardless of your seniority!. Some of the common agenda of the BUGI.

Masuk sahaja ke dalam pejabat SAMO (we called it as Torturing Chamber), bermulalah 'interogation' yang disertai oleh 'manhandling' seperti 'punching, boxing, starlighting, kicking and slapping' unnecessarily. Saja untuk seronok-seronok. Selesai sahaja agenda 'introduction' pegawai baru akan menarik 'whatever luggage' yang dibawa ke arah Mess Pegawai (Mes Angkasanuri). Jauh juga, kira-kira 1.5km dari AMS melalui 'public road'. Bayangkan masa tu, dengan memakai 'Bush Jacket (No 2) ' pakai 'peak cap' menarik beg besar di atas jalan raya utama (jalan dari bandar Kuching ke Lapangan Terbang).

Ragging 'Court' Case (1982)

The darkest history in the RMAF happened during my service in this base. The death case of Lt M (U) Sugudev Dass (Sugu) due to overwhelmed ragging. This was the worst ragging case ever happened in the RMAF history. Anyway, this case had opened the eyes of the higher management in the RMAF even in the Armed Forces to look into the disgusted activities inherited from whom 'i don't know!. If we say, it was from 'Mat Salleh', I do not believe it because from what I know and I experienced, they are very gentlemen. Many good young officers were victimised by this kind of bad traditions.

In this case, sometime in 1982, the late Lt M (U) Sugudave Dass (my senior from TJP 36) and Lt M (U) Jaafar Hassan reported to RMAF Kuching upon completing their Advanced Flying Course in PULATIBANG 2, RMAF Kluang. They were posted to No 7 Sqn as a squadron co-pilot.  I could not remember the date, but it was on Saturday in 1982. 

As tradition, upon their arrival at Air Movement,all the seniors were eagerly waiting for them. I was on duty that afternoon, so I did not have a chance to joint them in the torturing chamber. After went through the process of  'salam selamat datang' they were ask to walk/run with their luggage to the officers mess.  So, that afternoon, both of them got their 'Kuching Hell' from their seniors. I came back from my office (after completing my duty) about 1500H or 1600H, as per normal, schedule day was tiring.  Some more, both  BUGI were my senior in Flying School (Kluang), and both were nice to us (junior trainees) so, I did not the interest to take part in the ragging session. So I straight away go to the bed. I first met Sugu was in his arrival at AMS and for the second time during the dinner.  At that time he and Jaafar with planters order, were also going for dinner. Both were looked very very tired and weak.  During the dinner, I saw some of the seniors were putting food flavors inside their dinner plates such as tomato sauces, pepper, salt etc.

Immediately after their dinner, somebody took them for jogging outside the mess. But upon reaching the mess gate, I was informed that Sugu fainted and collapsed. They carried him inside the room and some of the seniors tried to restore him.  All attempts were failed. Then, they called the Base Medical Officer and also unsuccessful.  The unconscious Sugu was brought to the Kuching General Hospital. The next day, about 9am, the mess received a unexpected and unwelcoming news, Sugudave had died due to exhaustion. Everybody got shocked. Alas.

Eventhough, our friends (two of the mess members) had been tried in the court and legally punished under the court case (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), but they were nor solely to be blamed. It was a fate and they were just unlucky to be a victim of organizational weaknesses.  Activities had been happening for so many years and silently approved by top management (there was no serious attempt to eliminate the tradition - no exception for the Army and Navy). More hands were involved in that case.

Semoga Allah menghargai insan-insan yang telah berusaha menghapuskan tradisi jijik ini, walaupun ia telah memerlukan nyawa sebagai pengorbanan.

ALBUM KUCHING ALBUM

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posing at Sg Sarawak bridge and State Assembly complex

 dengan skotku LtM(U) S.Hamid (orang Rengit, BP)

kalau nak tahu kereta Volks initak ada 'brake' - all the way cuma guna hand brake je

Picnic and enjoy eating durian at Sg China, Matang waterfalls

(with LtM S.Hamid and Lt Sofian Ashaari)

SHOOTING RANGE

posing with LtM Shafiq at Bau Firing Range

Above: shooting training at Bau Firing Range- about to take off in the Nuri and right taking photo with (from left) Lt Mazlan (allahyarham -2018), LtM Amran and LtM Shafiq.

in the Nuri

Trip To Historical Niah Cave

One of the most valuable experience I obtained during my service tour in RMAF Kuching was trip to Niah Caves. Niah Caves is located in Miri Division. It is part of Niah National Parks.

The adventure  was lead by the Base Commander himself (Lt Kol Khong KS) were flown from Kuching by Nuri aircraft. The coordinator was Lt Ahmad Husaini from No 7 Squadron. Upon arrival on the landing point at Kg Batu Niah (Iban longhouse) I forgot the name of the longhouse. There was a primary school near to the longhouse and I met one Malay teacher (from Semenanjung) staying in 'rumah guru' of that school. We move to the cave by walk. There was a boardwalk from that village to the cave mouth.  I cannnot remember how long the time we took from the longhouse to the cave.

We came out through a different cave entrance, may be its back side (that was what I can recalled).  They had more than one alternatives.  We can walk back to the longhouse and another branch going towards the river. We used to walk on the boardwalk (titian kayu) about an hour before reaching the jetty.  From there, we were boating back to the longhouse where we first came.  We took a bath in that river (we have no choice) together with the Ibanese children.  The water not so bad but no either clean.  One Mat Saleh woman (we met her in the cave just now) swam together.

That night we experienced over nite at Rumah Panjang.  The members of rumah panjang prepared food for us.  They cooked rice and various lauk.  We did not ask how they prepared the food. As guest we had to respect our host.  They knew that we are Muslim and they did not prepared meat.  Most of the lauk were fishes and vegetables. After dinner (like a kenduri at kampung) they presented us Tarian Ngajat. So, they gave us a chance to join them....just follow the dance movement perfomed by the dancer.   they also toast around the 'langkau' or 'tuak'.

According to the source, tuak (langkau) is made from fermented rice (tapai). It has 'higher grade of intoxication' compared to beer.....may be as high as champagne or Russian vodka. However we did not take it.  Just passed the glass to the next person.

The end part of the presentation, they changed into disco.  Their youngsters took out the cassete player and put on disco songs.  They were very understanding by allowing their teenage daughters to dance with the guests.

The next morning, our Nuri came down to pick us back to the base.

Sesampainya di landing point di padang sekolah derdekatan dengan Rumah Panjang Niah

boating from the Niah cave back to the longhouse

SOME VIEWS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE NIAH CAVE

   

 

  

  

  

  

Undeleted Memories

Pall Bearers During Raya Haji.  One of the RMAF Caribou aircraft crashed in 1982 (at Banding, Perak) and happened that both the pilot (Lt Kueh Hang Meng) and co-pilot (Lt Chai Chan Kia) were Kuchingites. RMAF Kuching is a small unit and not many officers serving in that unit. Roughly around 30 of us including the Base Comd. So, with two bodies (coffins), the whole RMAF officers in Kuching were involved in the funeral ceremony (pall bearers). And the most memorable part was, the funeral was done immediately after 'Solat Hari Raya Haji'. When, other Muslims still busy at the mosque for Qurban and reciting 'takbir', we were carrying the coffin up to the hill. You can imagine the hilly scenario of Chinese cemetary. Worst enough, the area slippery because a day before was raining.

Well, that what we call it  'espirit de corps'  one of the significant military core values. We were trained to work as a team, cooperative, uplift comradeship regardless of our skin colour. 

  Pall bearers team carrying the body of the late Lt Kueh Han Meng

  

left: everybody were ready with well-dressed and very eager to serve for the 'leaving' comrades, and right: after  performing duty-  everybody got tired, dirty and shabby

Mess Life in Kuching  

The ragging was very tough. It made the brotherhood or relationship among the officers very closed and adhered. The mess organised a lot of activities for the mess member such as family lunch, casino night, games etc. Almost every month we have disco. Girl friends! No worry at all, my boss (Mat Komo) was expert in supplying the girls. He went out about 7pm and within an hour, he would be back with his car full of girls. Do not have to ask him, where he got those girls.

In Kuching the bachelor officers received the room service from the 'amahs' .....

Some of the mess members during my serve in RMAF Kuching between 1981-1983: Mej Thiagarajah, OC 7 Sqn- retired/died, (Mej Wong Ah Ngan, OC & Sqn- retired), Kapt Basah Said (SEATCO/PMC)- retired Lt Kol, Kapt Wong (Eng), Kapt Hashim Hamzah, 7 Sqn Pilot- left, Kapt Mustar Mohd Yunus, 7 Sqn- left, Kapt Rusdi, 7 Sqn- left, Lt Mohd Nor, 7 Sqn - left: Lt Fong, Lt Wong C.K. Lt Ahmad Husaini- 7 Sqn (retired Lt Kol), Lt Mazlan Md Noor- 7 Sqn (left Kapt), Lt Abd Razak Ahmad (now Kol) Lt Latfi Yusof- left, Lt Azim Mustapha- left Kapt, Lt Wan Baharudin- left Kapt, Lt Sofian Ashaari - left Kapt, Lt Jamaludin (deceased) - ATC (left as kapt), Lt Saroni- left and now well-known businessman settled down in Kemaman, Lt Jaafar-left, Lt Johan- left, LtM Nazri Dashah- HANDAU (now Kol), LtM Mohd Shafeng @ Shafiq, Admin (now Lt Kol), Lt Rahman Maalip- Eng (left Kapt), Lt Mohd Noh Daim- Admin (now Lt Kol), Lt Rashid Ibrahim- ATC but later join Admin (now Lt Kol), Lt Roslan, ATC -left, Lt Shamsudin Mahadi, ATC (now Lt Kol), Lt S.Hamid -ATC (retired Lt Kol), Lt Sudirman- left, Lt Zakaria- left, LtM Ahmad Zaini, ATC- now Lt Kol (Mat), Lt Razak- Log (left as Mej and now Kept Maritime), LtM Ibrahim Ahmad- Log (left Mej), Lt M Isa Mahrop- Log (left as Kapt).

Mess Nite

dengan Lt(U) Sudirman Arshad (orang Batu Pahat). He is also good in playing guitar

at the mess nite (LtM(U) Rahman, Lt(U) Latfi, LtM(U) Zainal, LtM(U) Shafiq, LtM(U) Amran, myself and LtM(U) Nadzrin

with LtM Abd Rahman Mohamad (my squad 37)

 with Lt Zakaria and Lt Amiruddin

 with Lt M S. Hamid and Lt M Roslan

 with Kapt Yahya (now Dato)

with LtM S. Hamid Yusoff (also my squad 37)

Other Messes in the Mess

with Lt (U) Mazlan Md Noor (7 Sqn pilot) - Mazlan meninggal dunia semasa bercuti di Western Australia ada tahun 2018 - jenazahnya dikebumikan di sana.

left: LtM Mohd Noh Daim, LtM Eric Emanuel, Me, LtM Shafiq and LtM Nazrin  

saat bahagia with LtM George Nganggau, LtM Ibrahim, LtM Nazrin, Kapt Chin HS, LtM Nazri Dashah, Lt Baharudin, Lt Zakaria, LtM Shafiq, Me (waving), Lt Zainal, Lt Revi Chandran, LtM Fitri Chew - standing with me (deceased), Lt Fong and LtM Isa Mahrop (sitting)

Kuarters LLP di Kem Penrissen.  Bila bulan puasa aku bertarawikh di surau AMQ. Jaraknya lebih kurang 3km dari Mes Pegawai tempat aku tinggal.

Sikit Mengenai Orang Kuching

Ini hanya pendapat saya  melalui pengalaman saya selama 2 tahun setengah di Kuching. Tapi ini dah dekat 30 tahun yang lepas, sekarang mungkin dah berbeza. Kalau orang Kuching baca cerita ini dan didapati ia tidak berapa betul, saya mohon berbanyak-banyak maaf lah ye.

Dari 1981 hingga 2011 - setelah 30 tahun berlalu, aku telah beberapa kali kembali ke Kuching untuk tugas rasmi, terlalu banyak perubahan khususnya pembangunan prasarana bandar Kuching.  Kalau dulu, Kuching boleh dikatakan bandar yang membosankan, tak tau mana nak pergi. Kini Kuching adalah gabungan DUA  buah bandaraya!  Bandaraya Kuching Utara dan bandaraya Kuching Selatan. Sg Sarawak yang membelah dua bandaraya ini dahulu terbiar, hanya digunakan oleh penduduk setempat untuk menyeberang menggunakan bot/sampan tambang (kerana untuk melalui jambatan mereka memerlukan perjalanan yang jauh dan kos yang lebih tinggi.  Kini, tebing Sg Sarawak telah dibina 'water front' yang begitu cantik menjadi tumpuan pelancung.

Kalau dulu, hotel yang paling famous ialah Aroura Hotel di Jalan Tun Abang Openg, kini hotel ini telah bertukar nama menjadi Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites dan telah menduduki rangking ke bawah.  Banyak hotel-hotel baru bertaraf 4-5 bintang dibina di sekitar bandaraya Kuching. seperti Pullman Hotel, Hilton Kuching, Riverside Majestic, Grand Margeritha, Kuching Park, dan Somerset Gateway.

Baru aku notis, ada satu yang tidak berubah, kekal tidak bertukar sejak aku masuk TUDM dan sejak aku pertama kali menjejak kaki ke Kuching pada tahun 1981 sehingga kini IALAH Ketua Menteri Sarawak itu sendiri.  dari Datuk kepada Datuk Amar,  kepada Datuk Patinggi, kepada Tan Sri kepada Pehin.......Abdul Taib bin Mahmud masih kekal hingga ke hari ini (1 April 2011).

Pada 16 April 2011, Sarawak akan mengadakan Pilihanraya Umum Negeri (PRUN) Dewan Undangan Negeri buat kali ke 10 sejak Sarawak menjadi sebahagian dari Persekutuan Malaysia, YAB Pehin Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud masih lagi terus bertanding.   Bagaimanapun beberapa minggu yang lalu beliau ada membuat pengumuman bahawa selepas PRUN ini beliau akan menyerahkan jawatan ini kepada penggantinya. Peralihan kuasa 'ala Pak Lah - Najib'.

Pada 28 Julai 2011, aku ke PU Kuching untuk memberi syarahan berkaitan AF-NG di Dewan Bankuet pangkalan itu. SEJARAH MANISNYA,aku dapat berjumpa dengan bekas pensyarahku (Commercial Laws) di ITM (tahun 1987), Puan Hjh Baduyah Obeng dan beliau telah menjemput aku di hotel, bawa pusing-pusing area Kuching, ke seberang Sg Sarawak untuk membeli kek dan beliau yang menghantar aku ke lapangan terbang Kuching untuk bertolak balik ke KL.  TQ Pn Baduyah.

Antara 2015 - 2017, semasa bertugas di KOMLEK, aku ada dua atau 3 kali ke Kuching untuk tugas rasmi melibatkan HRMIS (di Mk Medan Timur), lawatan kerja (sistem telefoni) ke PU Kuching dan lawatan kerja (AMSS) ke Kem Similajau, Kem Sg Igan. 

Pada tahun 2018, semasa bertugas di BLP ada membuat lawatan kerja (penswastaan katering) ke Kem Muara Tuang, Kem Penrisen dan PU Kuching.

TUDM KUCHING

21 Okt 81 - 2 Apr 83......satu gabungan pengalaman pahit dan manis yang amat sukar untuk dikikis