Today, 11 years ago, was my last day in uniform. Yes, 11 years ago I was still wearing my camo at the RMAF Regiment HQ (then HANDAU now PASKAU). While those leaving the service from my batch were already six months in civvy clothes, I was still in uniform due to the setting up of the RMAF’s Provost Marshall’s Office…and as the first Head of RMAF’s Special Investigation Branch, I had lots of cases to investigate, and one case to prosecute. I also had to overcome hurdles such as senior officers who were bent on NOT changing the old ways (ie. not following the Armed Forces Act, 1972, and preferred to do summary administrative trials, contradicting the Act).
In this pic above, I was receiving my King’s Commission’s scroll from the Regent of Johor. His father, the King then, was supposed to attend..and we held prayers every night so he would not be able to come. I guess, for that one month leading to the Commissioning parade, we were the most religious bastards in the whole of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
And God listened to the righteous…HAHAHA!
Holding the tray in between me and the Regent of Johor is Mej (B) Md Johari Taha. He was my Flight Commander. He came to ranks from being just an apprentice at the AFATS in Port Dickson, then as an other rank, before he joined as an Officer Cadet to become an Officer. He was a true-HANDAU officer, and as they say in the Armed Forces: berantai.
He was a Captain when I was an Officer Cadet; he only made Major when I was a Lieutenant (where I served under him as Officer Commanding ‘Alpha’ Squadron at the RMAF Recruit Training School). Finally, when I made to sit in a Major’s chair (acting), he was still a Major (incientally, I was second in my squad to put on the rank of a Captain and first as Major..albeit Acting). That was one of the deciding factors for me leaving, although I was promised a bright future in my new establishment. It would have been demoralising for him to see his former cadet be at par in rank with him, with the prospect of out-ranking him in two years.
Mejar Johari Taha retired from the RMAF a Major.
SeaDemon Says 