Reservist a hero at just 21, an inspiration ever since

Life on the line: Ielias (bottom) recalling his younger days serving as a reservist (left).

IELIAS Ibrahim is a 60-year-old man who spends most of his time educating youngsters and promoting Malaysians to join the military reserve force or Wataniah.

“Our country needs more reser­vists. Participation from all ethnicities in the country will not only ensure the safety of the nation but also instil patriotism among the citizens,” he said.

He should know. As First Warr­rant Officer, Ielias became the youngest and only reservist to be awarded the Panglima Gagah Bera­ni medal of valour for killing three communist terrorists 39 years ago.

An inexperienced army private then, 21-year-old Ielias had just completed his one-month basic training at the Territorial Army Training Centre in Ipoh.

His first assignment was to guard the Public Works Department (JKR) contractors along East-West High­way in Gerik, Perak, who were facing threats from the Communist Party of Malaya.

“It was a day before Ramadan and we were asked to collect our rations from another post located a few kilometres from my base. The sound of monkeys whooping could be heard from far that day.

“Suddenly, we saw a pile of monkey skins on the side of the pilot track made by bulldozers for the highway construction,” said Ielias, who knew immediately something was not quite right.

“We continued walking for another 200m when suddenly a loud blast of automatic rifle fire came from higher ground on our right. We were right in the middle of a killing zone,” Ielias told The Star in an interview at his daughter’s house in Setiawangsa recently.

Young Ielias and his friends were facing battle hardened communists who outnumbered them six to one.

Life on the line: Lelias recalling his younger days serving as a reservist.

“I was the most junior. My four friends were all married and in their 30s,” Ielias recalled.

It was 8.05am. From his hiding place, he could hear his mates Pvt Tajuddin and Pvt Ali in pain just a few metres away.

From his cover, he tried to spot the enemy who was cheering.

“Oi askar, serah diri, kalau tak lu mampus! (Oi soldiers, surrender, or you will die!),” shouted one of the insurgents.

Ielias yelled for his friend, Zaki. “Corporal Zaki!,” he shouted.

Ielias’ voice exposed his concealment. A rain of bullets followed.

Then, it was raining mortar shells as security forces started firing.

“It was scary. I was glad I was not hit by the mortar shells because some of them dropped very close to me,” said Ielias, who thought he was going to die.

“I was only a private, fresh from my basic training. I did not know much. If I were going to die, I would be satisfied to be able to kill at least one of them,” he said.

Ielias had anticipated that the insurgents would send a search party for him and his four mates.

“I could not move much and I was lying on my back. I heard two people coming towards me. I was ready,” motioning his hands like he was holding a 7.62 SLR rifle.

Ielias heard a thud. What he thought was a grenade was actually a rock. Not far from him, Tajudin was grunting in pain. He had been shot. Pvt Ali was dead.

At about one 1pm, Ielias saw his first enemy. The reservist took aim. A double-tap shot hit his enemy in the knee and stomach. From the same spot he killed two more communists.

Ielias was conferred with the Panglima Gagah Berani medal in August 1977 by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Yahya Petra. He was later awarded the Pingat Kebe­ranian Handalan by the Sultan of Perak Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah in December 1977.

He was later absorbed into the 9th Royal Ranger Regiment in 1977 before retiring in 1998 as Regiment Sergeant Major from the Universiti Sains Malaysia Reserve Officer Training Unit.