The ‘communist’ role he played to protect Malaysia

 Special Branch veteran Paul Kiong’s memoir offers a gripping account of the six years he spent undercover during the Second Malayan Emergency.

Paul Kiong hopes his new memoir will encourage Malaysians to remember the courage and service that helped preserve the nation’s peace. (Sheela Vijayan @ FMT Lifestyle)

PETALING JAYA:

It was March 4, 1981. Under the cover of darkness, a Special Branch team lay in wait as part of a high-risk covert mission known as Operation Catfish.

Their target was the Communist Party of Malaya’s (CPM) Fifth Assault Unit in Perak, a formidable group reportedly held in high regard by CPM leader Chin Peng.

Among the Special Branch officers was Paul Kiong. Acting on intelligence that five communist insurgents would emerge from the jungle, the team embarked on an audacious mission to capture them alive.

Against the odds, they succeeded.

From about 1am until 5.30am, Kiong and his colleagues sat with the five insurgents, speaking to them not as enemies but as fellow human beings. They patiently persuaded the men to leave the CPM and, by the end of the conversation, all five had agreed.

It remains among the memories closest to Kiong’s heart – one of many recounted in his newly released memoir, “The ‘Communist’ Role I Played: Undercover During the 2nd Malayan Emergency (1968-1989)”.

For six years, Kiong risked his life while working undercover against communist networks during the Second Malayan Emergency. (Paul Kiong pic)

Launched on July 26 at the Subang National Golf Club, the memoir provides a gripping and intimate account of Kiong’s experiences during the communist insurgency.

Born in Ipoh, Kiong joined the police force in the 1960s before serving in the Special Branch. During the Second Malayan Emergency, he spent six years living a dangerous double life, infiltrating communist networks, disrupting food supply lines, intercepting communications and transporting insurgents.

“The peace we enjoy today is the result of the sacrifices made by our veterans. Whatever security threats may arise in the future, I want to remind Malaysians to stay alert and not be swayed by emotions,” Kiong told FMT Lifestyle in conjunction with Warriors’ Day today.

“I wrote this memoir because the Second Emergency was part of our nation’s history. If it is left unrecorded, I fear the younger generation will not understand what we veterans went through,” the 81-year-old added.

For Kiong, serving the country was never about recognition. Those who accepted missions despite knowing they might not return were driven not by glory or fame, but by love for the country and its people.

“When the country calls, you answer the call. You don’t ask why. You just do the job the best you can, and you try to come back alive.”

Through his memoir, Kiong hopes younger Malaysians will better appreciate the bravery and sacrifices of the country’s veterans. (Sheela Vijayan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Today, Kiong is among the few living recipients of the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa, the nation’s highest award for bravery.

Yet he believes the honour belongs not to him alone, but to every member of the security forces and all who sacrificed for the nation.

“The medal carries the weight of those who did not return, the mothers who waited for their children and the wives who waited for their husbands who never came back. I am only holding it in trust for them,” he said.

Behind every successful operation was a source of strength waiting quietly at home, and Kiong credits his late wife, Veronica Low, with giving him the courage to keep going.

Although she lived with fear and uncertainty, she never asked him to transfer to a safer unit. Her quiet support, he said, strengthened his resolve to continue serving the nation.

More than 250 people attended Kiong’s book launch, including retired lieutenant-general Johnny Lim. (Sheela Vijayan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Having spent years facing danger and the constant possibility of death, Kiong emerged with a deeper appreciation for life.

“It taught me not to take life for granted. Treasure life. Every day is a good day.

“Do your best for yourself, your family and others,” said Kiong, who retired as a superintendent in 1998.

As Malaysia prepares to celebrate another Merdeka, Kiong hopes his memoir will serve as more than a record of covert operations.

“Malaysians must know our history, how we achieved Merdeka and how we progressed to where we are today, living in peace. Treasure what we have built, remember what we have sacrificed, and preserve it,” he concluded. - FMT

To purchase a copy of Paul Kiong’s book, contact him at 012-571 1517. The book is priced at RM50, excluding delivery charges.