LUNDU: The Kampung Jangkar Memorial Monument will be gazetted as a historical heritage site, said Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said the area was the site of a bloody event on March 26, 1972 where15 soldiers of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) were killed in an ambush by the communists. Hence it should be gazetted to commemorate the services and struggles of the nation’s heroes.
“I will arrange with the Sarawak Museum Department for it to be gazette because this is where the bloody event happened 51 years ago that saw so many of our warriors died in one battle.
“Hence this place is very historic. This is where the blood of the country’s fighters flowed. I will make sure it is gazetted,” he said.
He was speaking at a press conference after unveiling the monument at Jalan Biawak-Lundu, here, yesterday.
Abdul Karim added that the incident should be made known to Malaysians, especially the younger generation – about how painful it was for the soldiers to defend the country and ensure that we achieve independence.
He also stressed this place should be known by the people and for them to visit and to know what had happened here during the communist insurgency.
“The effort is important so that the new generation appreciates the struggle of our armed forces in ensuring that the country is peaceful and free from enemy threats.”
He reminded the Lundu District Council (MDL) to take care of the place as best as possible and ensure that no vandalism occurs.
For the record, the 7th Royal Ranger Regiment (7 RRD) based in Sungai Petani, Kedah was mobilised to Lundu at the end of 1971 to combat the threat of communist terrorists from the Sarawak People’s Guerrilla Force (PGRS) which was increasing in the First and Second Divisions of Sarawak.
On March 26, 1972, while the team was conducting counter-insurgency operations in Padawan, the 7 RRD headquarters in Lundu was ordered to provide cover for the maintenance team to the Biawak Border Coalition Post.
A convoy consisting of a Land Rover type vehicle and two three-ton trucks carrying 20 members led by Sergeant Basha Sulaiman was assigned to provide protection to the team.
While on the way back from Biawak, at approximately 3.30 pm, the convoy was ambushed by a group of communist terrorists with a strength of 60 to 80 people.
The Land Rover leading the convoy escaped the ambush and sped to Titiakar Camp for help, while two three-ton trucks were trapped in the killing area.
A total of 15 members of the Malaysian Armed Forces were killed and four others were injured in the ambush. Operation BELLA was launched where the armed forces managed to eliminate a total of 15 terrorists (11 killed, 2 captured and 2 surrendered) before the team returned to Sungai Petani in December 1972.
Apart from commemorating the fallen heroes, the monument is also a symbol of the support and cooperation of the local residents towards the security forces and government agencies leading to the eradication of communist terrorists in the area.
