Mohammad Noh (right) receiving a certificate of appreciation for his 36 years of service from SAC Abd Khalid in Seremban on March 20. – BERNAMApic
SEREMBAN: Former Police Field Force (PFF) member Mohammad Noh Mansor, 73, is overcome with emotion whenever he recalls a tragic incident from his days in the service.
"I feel tearful and sad whenever I remember my platoon leader being shot in the head during an ambush by communist terrorists," he told reporters after the Negri Sembilan contingent-level 216th Police Day parade here on Monday (March 20).
The PFF is now known as the General Operations Force (GOF). Malaysia faced a communist insurgency in the 1960s and 1970s.
Recalling that horrific moment, Mohammad Noh, who was 19 at the time, said he was rooted to the spot after seeing "Sergeant Lee" shot dead during a break from patrolling in Sibu in the early 1970s.
"It is an incident that I have never forgotten. Our platoon leader collapsed right in front of my eyes.
"At that time he wanted the platoon to rest for a while in a safe area but did not expect to be attacked.
"It was really heartbreaking," he said.
After the parade, Mohammad Noh received a certificate of appreciation from state police chief Senior Asst Comm Abd Khalid Othman for his 36 years of service to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
Apart from the death of his platoon leader, Mohammad Noh also cannot help but recall a communist ambush whenever Hari Raya Aidilfitri nears.
The father of two said the ambush took place a day before Aidilfitri in Jakar, Sarikei in 1972.
In that incident, he and 29 members of his platoon had just completed their Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom) duties for two months guarding a security force base there.
"It was the last evening of Ramadan and we were on patrol.
"The team was ambushed on the way back. Fortunately none of us was killed in this incident when we responded quickly to (the ambush)," said Mohammad Noh, who retired in 2005.
Even at 73, Mohammad Noh is still active as an executive committee member of the Welfare Association of Former Members of PDRM Squad 69 to help veterans in need.
He said the association looks after the welfare of about 4,000 police retirees including those in Sabah and Sarawak who need help for health matters, among others. – Bernama
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