KUCHING: Sarawak is mulling the re-birth of its Sarawak Rangers.
However, this can only be done after the amendment of Article 1 (2), Article 46 and Article 160 of the Federal Constitution where Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia are treated as equal partners.
In supporting the idea, Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) chairman Datuk John Lau said with the reactivation, Sarawak Rangers could perform its duties at official residences, government offices and buildings, and tourist spots.
“Sarawak has 1,500 km of land border, bordering Brunei and Kalimantan Borneo, and these rangers can be placed to look after the borders,” Lau told New Sarawak Tribune on Sunday.
He also said Sarawakians know their borders very well and know better who to defend them.
“Although defence comes under the federal government, with strong political will, we can revive Sarawak Rangers where members may be drawn from the present members of the Royal Ranger Regiment,” he stressed.
Lau, however, said there might a need to request the Royal Ranger Regiment to form a unit called the Sarawak Rangers and appoint competent Sarawakians to head it.
“Sarawak has the expertise to train the rangers because many Sarawakians have been military trainers,” he pointed out.
He said there is also a need to enact a legislation to empower Sarawak to do that with financial support as it has competent manpower.
“The private sector can definitely assist in the realisation to revive the Sarawak Rangers through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions,” he added.
Sarawak Rangers was a para military unit founded in 1862 by the second White Rajah Sir Charles Anthony Brooke.
According to the book titled “War and Memory in Malaysia and Singapore”, the rangers comprised manly Ibans and Sarawak Rangers was constituted as a military force in 1941.
Highly skilled in jungle warfare, their roles were to protect the borders of Sarawak including fighting rebels. They also fought against the Japanese in Sarawak in 1941.
Sarawak Rangers was disbanded in 1963 after the formation of Malaysia, with its members joining the Royal Ranger Regiment.
Today, there is a Sarawak Rangers Veterans’ Association (SRVA) Baru and its aim is to look after the welfare of former rangers.
