Bold and fearless veteran

Indang: ‘I feel very happy and proudbecause the Government still remembersand recognises my services’

KUCHING: Army hero Indang ak Engkas, who gunned down several communist terrorists in the deep jungles of Sarawak, has no fear of ambushes. 

“I am never scared. I always wanted to fight and kill them as they were the nation’s No. 1 enemy,” said the veteran soldier. 

Although he had lost his comrades in communist ambushes, the former Warrant Officer II said their deaths did not dampen his spirit. 

Indang’s biggest victory came in 1969 when a six-men ambush group led by him killed seven communists, including five in a follow-up operation, in Tanjung Junyit, Sibu. 

“We were then using M16 rifles. None of our men were killed or injured in the encounter,” he told The Star after receiving a scroll of honour at a special memorial service at the warriors’ monument here yesterday. 

Indang was among 13 veteran soldiers (all of them recipients of the Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB) from the King) who received the certificate of bravery from state Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Michael Manyin. 

The others were Mejar Michael Riman ak Bugat; Lt-Muda David Fu Chee Ming; WO Bellang ak Bali and Mileng ak Kilpong; Sjn Dajai ak Anggie and Sjn Mering ak Imang; L/Kpl Bajau ak Ladi; Kpl Nyopis ak Noyeat, Kpl Lan ak Gima, Kpl Unggek ak Antin and Kpl Sigai ak Nawan; and Lt Kol Robert Rizal Abdullah.  

Former WO I Kanang ak Langkau, who did not attend the ceremony is the only soldier in the country who was awarded both the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa – the highest federal honour for servicemen – and the PGB. 

Indang, a medal recipient from Queen Elizabeth II, said he had killed a woman communist in another operation in Pakan, and two other communists in separate operations in Julau and Ulu Ketibas. 

During his 30-year military career, Indang served as a survival instructor in jungle trekking for 14 years in Johor. 

“I feel very happy and proud because the Government still remembers and recognises my services to the country although I retired a long time ago,” said Indang, who now owns three school buses.