GERIK: Tears well up in Mohamad Sarif Long's eyes whenever he thinks of his colleagues who were killed while working on the Jeli-Gerik Highway in 1974.
"Our lorry was among the first to enter the site and was shot at by the communists.
"Until today, I cry when I think about the friends I lost – Husin, Ali and Ismail.
"I was particularly close to Husin and Ali. Just minutes before we were shot at, Husin said he was excited to apply for leave as he was about to get engaged," he said in tears.
The 76-year-old Mohamad Sarif is among 87 former Public Works Department (JKR) employees and family members who will receive a total of RM87,000 from the government.
The allocation was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Works Ministry’s MyJalan Campaign launch at Jeti Awam Pulau Banding here on Thursday (Aug 24).
"This is to appreciate their contribution in constructing the road in the midst of a communist insurgency in 1974, which killed three of the department’s staff," he said.
In addition to conducting sabotage operations, communists shot dead the three JKR workers in August the same year.
Despite the hardship and deaths, the 123km highway connecting Jeli in Kelantan and Gerik in Perak was finally opened to the public on July 1, 1982.
Mohamad Sarif added that he was thankful for the recognition he received on Thursday.
"All this while, I wondered if anyone would talk to us and ask us to share the story. But I am proud that the road is now widely used by fellow Malaysians.
"I have worked on many road projects but the one that I will remember the most is certainly this one," he added.
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