MALAYSIA would not be what it is today without the sacrifices of our people in uniform, who dedicate their lives to protecting their beloved homeland.
Here are the stories of several courageous military and police personnel who served the country in its times of need over the last few decades.
“Soldiers are like the air we breathe. You do not see them, but you need them.”
For Leftenan-Jeneral (Rtd) Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng, those words reflect a lifetime spent in uniform, of comrades lost in the battlefield, families left waiting at home and “brotherhood” that has never recognised race or religion.
After 41 years in the army, Lim urged young Malaysians to remember that the peace they enjoy today did not come easily.
“It was built and protected by generations prepared to put their lives on the line for the country,” said Lim, the first Malaysian of Chinese descent to attain the rank of lieutenant-general in the history of the Armed Forces.
The Melaka-born veteran had been drawn to the military from his school days as a cadet, but his military journey began with a decision that terrified his mother.
After completing Form Five in 1984, a then 18-year-old Lim turned down an offer to pursue Form Six and applied to join the Royal Military College (RMC) instead.
“Fearing for my safety, my mother prayed day and night that I would change my mind. But I knew that I wanted to serve the army,” he said.
The rising star’s determination soon took him to the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom after he excelled in academics and military training at the RMC.
Upon returning home two years later, Lim reported to his first posting in the infantry with the 2nd Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment.
Within two months, the 21-year-old second lieutenant was in the jungles of Gubir, Kedah, deployed with his battalion of more than 400 soldiers for Ops Thaksin to track down and neutralise communist terrorists (CT) at a hideout known as the Flower Garden Camp.
It was his first experience of combat, which he described as a “baptism of fire”.
“The jungle was riddled with booby traps. One of our soldiers were killed and about 10 were seriously wounded during the operations.
“Watching helicopters winch away the dead and injured shook me up. I was just 21.
“My thoughts were on my mum and I was worried I would let her down. She would never forgive me if something happened to me,” the 60-year-old said in an interview recently.
But Lim overcame his fears, thanks to his battalion commander at the time, Lt Kol Mohd Amin Salleh, whom he described as a courageous officer who led by example.
Two months later, Lim and his comrades returned to base. His service in the jungle continued even after the communists surrendered in 1989 when he was deployed to North Kalimantan, where hardline CTs remained active for another year.
Through the years, Lim steadily rose in ranks, becoming a brigadier-general in 2017 and lieutenant-general last year.
But for Lim, the stars on his shoulders were never his greatest reward but the men and women in green who stood by his side through more than four decades of service.
When his wife fell gravely ill before her death in 2023, his army family of all races and religions took turns caring for her when he had to be away on duty.
“When my wife died, I was devastated but my colleagues stood by me, shared my grief and helped me pull through one of the toughest moments of my life.
“We are like brothers and sisters. There is no skin colour, race or religion that differentiates us. We are soldiers first and nothing else mattered,” he said.
It is a lesson of multiracial unity that Lim hopes Malaysians will never forget.
Having travelled widely during the course of his duties, he said people abroad are often amazed by how Malaysians of different backgrounds can live together peacefully.
As the country celebrates National Day, Lim’s plea to Malaysians is to remain united.
“Unity is our greatest strength. We must fight tooth and nail to never allow anything or anyone take it away from us.
“Do not stir hate and racial sentiments. Always cherish the peace we enjoy every day.”
