BY ELEAZAR BARRICK PETER
KUCHING: It was a sad and solemn moment as family members, relatives and comrades of the late Major (R) Michael Riman Bugat laid him to rest at the Heroes Memorial Park here yesterday.
The late Riman from Saribas served in the Malaysian Army for 31 years from January 22, 1973 until his retirement on March 8, 2004.
The last unit he served in was the 511 regiment (Territorial Army) where he held the position as quartermaster.
He stood against communist terrorists on June 1, 1979 with a combat intelligence platoon led by the late Datuk Kanang Langkau and received the Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) medallion.
Many of his friends are naturally sad that he has passed on.
SARJAN (R) RENGGA ENDAWAN, 63
(From Lubok Antu)
I am definitely saddened by Riman’s passing as he was a friend to me.
He was a cheerful person who never raised a voice to anyone. He often advised us to do our work diligently and was someone who took his responsibilities seriously.
WARRANT OFFICER (R) DALIE TEGALAN, 64
(From Kampung Soh, Engkilili, Lubok Antu)
Riman’s passing is felt by our platoon and the state government. There are only few of us who hold the PGB medallion left. We mourn him for his bravery. I’m honoured to be here with my fellow veterans to honour him. We were not in the same unit but during the times I knew him, I witnessed his dedication to the army.
MAJOR (R) UNTAI ANAK DANA, 62
(From Saratok
I was really close with Riman since we started became friends in 1981. Another close friend of ours was the late Datuk Kanang Langkau. He was a reserved man but a joker when it came to his close friends. I remember once we cooked instant noodles in a bamboo and he called it ‘mi pansuh’.”
