Aaron (second from left) and Kanowit OCPD Deputy Supt Tega Bilong (right) with the flowers to be placed at the monument.
In a solemn and meaningful ceremony, 23 fallen warriors whose names are etched on the plaque of the warrior monument were honoured in Kanowit, Sarawak.
The Warriors Day celebration on July 31 saw Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang leading a group of well-wishers, including army veterans in laying flowers at the warrior monument.
“We could not do this during the Covid-19 pandemic in the past two years.
“Before that, I used to celebrate here with others to recognise the sacrifices of our fallen warriors who had fought against the communists during the 1970s insurgency,” he said.
He added that this warrior monument was the second one in the state after the one in Kuching.
“Our military was formed in 1931 before the Second World War, which was from 1941 to 1945.
“Our forces fought during the communist emergency.
“We have been celebrating Warriors Day since July 31, 1960,” he said.
The occasion, he said, was also to recognise the soldiers and the police personnel who were helping the health authorities curb the spread of the coronavirus during the pandemic.
The Kanowit warrior monument was built in October 2016 by former Machan assemblyman, Datuk Gramong Juna, to honour warriors who were killed by the communists.
The fallen warriors included Emba Garing, Numbu Kele, Lat Gangga, Pantau Baro, Kanchin Ligan, Gelau Sumor, Emba Garing, Senang Bajai, Skudan Dampak, Jantom Jalong, Jantom Narok, Brayin Balit and Luyoh Jaul, who were all border scouts.
There were also First Malaysia Rangers who died in Kanowit and Song, namely Lenggu China, Umok Ngumbang, Fabian Engkayau Tindin, Mathew Medan and Henry Ubong as well as the sole Chinese police corporal of Special Branch Kanowit, Kong Siew Long, who was killed by communists while on duty in Lukut in 1971.
