Batu Pahat Police District Headquarters – courtesy of www.batupahat.org. Did I not pass here the other day?
I was drawing something or was making paper boats. We were waiting for my father to come home from Bukit Aman so we could leave for a break in Fraser’s Hills (well, my father could have wanted to go there for a meeting or something). Then the news came. My father’s predecessor, Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Hashim, was gunned down near Bukit Mahkamah by communist terrorists while on his way to Bukit Aman from Jalan Kia Peng. It was 7th June 1974. A day later the Royal Malaysian Police became a big part of my life. Every function held at the house was about the police force, everywhere we went there were escorts, hari raya or chinese new year or deepavali celebrations were with either ministers or members of the police force. Once, after an attack on the Police Field Force’s complex at Jalan Pekeliling (then Pekeliling flats), I remember going back home in a V-150 Commando Armoured Personnel Carrier from the Briged Tengah PPH. My friends thought it was so cool. If only they knew how hot and noisy it was in there.
I was first and foremost close to the Guards and Escorts branch of the police because they provided security at our residence, and still know most of them although most have been transferred on promotion to other police stations doing general duties or traffic. When I was still in college, I was close to the Marine Police (since 1971) and the Police Field Force, in particular the 20th Battalion (Senoi Praaq).
Over the years I cemented relationships with the VAT 69 commando unit, the Unit Tindakan Khas (UTK), Unit Udara (Air Wing) and even attended Criminal Investigations course at the Criminal Investigations School at the Police Depot in Jalan Semarak (before the school was integrated as part of the Police College in Cheras).
The police has been in bad light for several years, but over the last general elections, it has proven itself to act independently. This is important as the loyalty of the police should be towards the King and Country, as it is for members of the Armed Forces. I hope the initial good intention of joining the police will be remembered by each and every member of its rank and file so they can continue to protect and serve the rakyat without fear or favour.
I pray that God would guide them in executing their duties, and may He protect them when they leave their families behind to protect us.
SeaDemon Says 