Joy turns sour for Sarawak border scouts

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has still to fulfil his pledge to pay RM3,000 each to the Sarawak border scouts.

KUCHING: Former Sarawak border scout Gatung Anak Nigak was full of joy when he heard Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak declare that the government had allocated RM600,000 in recognition of the services of border scouts in defending the Sarawak-Indonesian border up until the 1980s.

It meant that he and many of his peers and seniors, some deceased, would receive a princely sum of RM3,000 each.

But that delight has turned sour four months on.

Najib’s announcement in Ba Kelalan on April 14, two days before the state election, was aimed at wooing voters.

But the bid failed and Barisan Nasional (BN) lost the Ba Kelalan constituency to PKR’s Baru Bian.

And with that, it appears, ended Najib’s promise.

Now Gatung, 62, who works as a security guard in a cargo company, and his peers want to know what happen to the money. He is blessed with seven grown-up children and more than 10 grandchildren,

“I was happy when the prime minister announced that each border scout was to receive RM3,000 in recognition of our services and for those who have died, their family members may receive the amount.

“Now four months have gone, and still nothing has come out of the announcement… we are still waiting for the ‘durian runtoh’ and each border scout should receive some RM3,000.”

Gatung joined the border scout in 1965 and stayed on until 1981 when his services was terminated.

He is among those who do not enjoy any pension.

He had taken part in military operations against the communist terrorists and Tentera Nasional Kalimantan Utara (TNKU or North Kalimantan National Army) forces.

Forgotten heroes

Recalling an incident in Gumbang in 1968, he said there was a combat between his platoon and a group of terrorists.

Three terrorists were killed, while none of the border scouts suffered any casualty, Gatung said.

After peace had been achieved, the border scout battalions were abolished.

Some of the personnel were either absorbed into the police force or had their services terminated without any pension.

“Many of them have been neglected, forgotten and abandoned… border scouts are the most neglected of the security forces,” said another former border scout officer, ASP Wilfred Gomez Malong.

Speaking of the history of the Sarawak border scouts, Gomez said the battalion was modelled after the famous Iban trackers and was in the frontline in the battles against the terrorists and TNKU.

He said that two battalions of the border scouts of more than 1,000 men were formed during the “Indonesian confrontation” days, one of which was stationed in the Rascom (Rajang Security Command) area and the other in Kuching.

According to Gomez, the border scouts scored many major successes against the enemy, and have killed the most numbers of insurgents.

Backing up the scouts were the Police Field Force (now known as General Operations Force) and the Malaysian Rangers.

“I received a trophy on behalf of the Sarawak border scouts for the most (number of insurgents) killed in the 1970s,” said Gomez.

Several border scouts including Gomez received bravery medals. Gomez received the “Pingat Gagah Berani”.

Reminder to Najib

Unfortunately, the tales of bravery were rarely heard in Putrajaya.

Yesterday, Gatung took his woes to the DAP, seeking its assistance to remind Najib of his pledge.

“We have not heard anything… it is now four months. So I have to approach Sarawak DAP for help,” Gatung said, adding that the money was much needed.

State DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen, who was present at the press conference, said that he had written a letter to Najib enquiring about the promise of RM600,000.

“The prime minister made the announcement two days before the state election. I think the intention was clear. These were election goodies.

“I urge the government to fulfil the promise to the border scouts. Don’t wait for the coming general election to make another promise,” he said.

Chong, who is also the Kota Sentosa assemblyman, urged all border scout personnel who had not been paid to come out.

“DAP is ready to help you, and we will send a friendly reminder to the Prime Minster’s Department to remind it to honour its promise,” he said.