Former soldiers express regret communism getting support

(Bernama) – Former soldiers who were involved in the fight against the communists today expressed regret that there are young Malaysians who support communism.

One of them, Sgt (Rtd) Rosli Mohd Amin, attributed the situation to a lack of knowledge among the younger generation on the country’s history.

“The younger generation does not know how difficult it was for the country to achieve its independence. And then, in the struggle to form Malaysia, we were faced with the Confrontation,” he told Bernama after the launching of the state-level Fly the Jalur Gemilang (National flag) campaign and Warriors Day Appeal Fund by Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan here today.

He said despite the signing of the Bangkok Treaty which ended the communist insurgency in Malaysia, there were still attempts by certain quarters to threaten peace and stability in the country.

A former member of the Third Rangers Regiment, L/Cpl (Rtd) Alwi Ibrahim, who left the service in 1987, said youths should learn more about Malaysia’s history so that they could understand the situation in the country better.

He believed this could avoid outside quarters from “poisoning” their minds easily.

Abdul Rahim Md Nawi, 52, a former Warrant Officer 2, said parents should encourage their children to join the army, as he did to his son.

“I encouraged my son to join the army, not in pursuit of comfort or for a better life, but for a direction in life,” he added.

Recently police uncovered a plot to revive communism in the country. The Confrontation was a conflict between Malaysia and Indonesia after Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined Malaya to form the federation of Malaysia in 1963.

Indonesia under President Sukarno then was opposed to the formation of Malaysia.