PONTIAN: The scars from three gunshots on the body of L/Kpl (Rtd) Samin Parlan bear witness to the sacrifices and sufferings that he had endured battling communist insurgents in a shootout 46 years ago.
Samin, 82, was a member of Troop 5C of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) and was a 36-year-old constable when the shootout occurred.
He also said he can never forget the gunfight that took place in the compound of a house in Jalan Prince, Pasir Pinji, Perak at about 5pm on Aug 25, 1976.
During the shootout, Samin said he was hit twice in the stomach and one in the chest.
Speaking to Bernama, Samin said at that time, he and two friends - known as Yam Yam Fong and Mohamad Salleh - were assigned to help a Special Branch Inspector, Mat Zin, to a house which was believed to be a communist hideout.
"As soon as we reached the house, we caught a glimpse of a man, believed to be a communist agent coming out from the jungle nearby and he went into the house. We immediately detained and checked him.
“Not long after, we were shot at but we were not able to confirm where the shots were coming from. It happened too quickly and we immediately returned fire. But I fell to the ground and realised I had been shot. I laid injured with Mohamad, while Yam was safe," he said when met at his house in Kayu Ara Pasong recently.
He said Inspector Mat and a communist agent were killed in the incident and police managed to seize the gun, some ammunition and communist-related documents at the scene.
Tears swelled in his eyes when he recalled that he had to be treated for about four months at Kuala Lumpur Hospital due to the injuries, especially when remembering his wife Azizah Sohadi, 72, and his two children who were still small at the time.
According to him, the pain did not stop there and he had to suffer for 10 years due to injuries he suffered, especially the gunshot wound to the right side of his stomach.
He said this affected the nerves, thus making it difficult for him to walk and had to use a cane until now.
"The shot in the chest did not go through and only resulted in a wound; one bullet in the left side of the abdomen was surgically removed, but one bullet hit the nerve.
"The doctor at the time informed me that removing the bullet was very dangerous, for that reason, I had to endure pain and suffering for 10 years until I received Islamic treatment around 1986, and the bullet fragments were finally removed,” he said.
Samin served 31 years with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and retired in 1995. Despite the incident happening years ago, it remained fresh in his memory.
His only wish now is to meet Yam and Mohamad whom he had lost contact with after the incident.
"Yam and Mohamad were transferred out after the incident and we lost contact. I did not know where they were transferred to,” he said.
Samin, who still remembers Yam's identification number, which was 6030 and Mohamad's 41915, said he always prayed for the well-being of his two friends and hoped to be able to meet them one day.
A recipient of the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara (PJPN), Samin also reminded all national heroes to always be steadfast in carrying out their duties, be trustworthy and loyal to the country, religion and race.
"To all the heroes and heroines in uniform, Keluarga Malaysia will always pray for you.
"And at the same time, do not forget our brothers who had served the country as they are now old and weak and also not forgetting the widows and their children who have lost their husbands or fathers who sacrificed their lives for the freedom we have now,” added Samin, who received the PJPN award early this year. - Bernama
