BETONG (Southern Thailand): Although 40 years have passed, former members of Malaysia’s VAT69 police unit retain vivid memories of battles during the Malayan communist insurgency.
Recently, 23 former personnel of VAT69, now aged 68 and above, returned to visit and recall scenes of a series of historic attacks in the Betong salient of southern Thailand, where members of the security forces sacrificed their lives and limbs in order to maintain peace in the country.
The visit was organised by the PDRM VAT69 Veterans Welfare Association.
The president of the association, Abdul Aziz Bakar, 68, said that he himself was unable to forget some of the heartbreaking events when troops were ambushed by the communist terrorists.
Abdul Aziz recalled helping to carry a security personnel wounded in an ambush by communist insurgents when monitoring security at the border area. The man later died.
“We will never forgive the communists’ brutality because we worked for peace while they created chaos by killing civilians and attacking the security forces,” he said.
Abdul Aziz said there were now 3,500 members of the association, created three years ago. The membership is open to all former members of VAT 69 and other personnel of the Royal Malaysia Police.
“The association’s aim is to look after the welfare of the members and their families,” he said.
A former member of VAT 69, Mohammed Nor Bahari, 68, who now resides in Kluang, Johor, said he had to face four communist ambushes at the border area and in the vicinity of the operation area here.
He served in the police force from 1969 until 2004. Among his experiences was cradling a friend who was hit by a bullet in a terrorist ambush.
“I can still see clearly the scene of the ambush in a village in the vicinity of Betong here that killed Inspector Yusof Talib, and wounded constable Mohd Yassin,” said Mohammed Nor who was shot on the right thigh.
He said today’s young generation should not to be complacent about their responsibilities to the nation and to love the country so that such tragic incidents would not recur.
Throughout the visit, the VAT 69 veterans kept recalling memories of participating in operations at specific locations here. They also visited the village where former communist terrorists lived here.