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Thursday, September 13, 2018

Farewell to a Malaysian Hero

Back in 2009 I penned:


Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa Nation's highest award for gallantry

... the two men who virtually crippled the Malayan Communist Party and silently won the war for Malaya-Malaysia against the insurgency were two police officers, Paul Kiong and Sia Boon Chee.


Both were awarded Malaysia’s highest bravery award, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) in 1983, but they weren’t generals. Kiong eventually reached the rank SP (roughly equivalent to the military Colonel) whilst Sia retired as a DSP (= Lt Colonel).

You can read more of them in my February 2018 post Not all CT were Chinese, not all heroes were Malays in which I had also written (extracts):

... archetypal Malay belief is that communist terrorists (CT) were Chinese and victims were Malays. In my post listed above, you will discover the many Chinese heroes of Malaya-Malaysia.That post of mine rebutted the somewhat racist accusations of A Kadir Yassin, formerly a big timer in the NST group and one of Mahathir's staunchest supporter and at times mouthpiece. Despite his literary and journalistic knowledge and memories he painted Chinese Malaysians as reluctant to serve in the police or military.

The truth has been the military and police until very recently but since 1981, did not want Chinese in its midst, as has been highlighted by veteran organisations recently.

As I've often written, Malaysia's war against the CT could and would NOT have been won without the sterling and daring role of the police special branch (SB).
It should also be noted that two Special Branch police officers who are still alive today were awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), namely SP Paul Kiong and DSP Sia Boon Chee.


Superintendent of Police Paul Kiong, SP


Deputy Superintendent of Police Sia Boon Chee, SP 

Without exaggeration, I would consider these two officers’ contributions (presumably still under secret classification) as pivotal to the defeat of the communist terrorist movement in Peninsula Malaysia.

However, I am very sad to now say one of these two Malaysian heroes has left us for a "better" place. he is Sia Boon Chee, awarded by HM Majesty the Agong with Malaysia's HIGHEST bravery award, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP).


SP - awarded for act of extreme bravery and valor

Nation's highest award for gallantry

We have been informed of his sad demise by Malaysiakini's IGP extends condolences to family of former narcotics deputy chief.

Sia, 65, passed away at the Cardiothorasic Intensive Cardiac Unit of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital in KL following a stroke.


NOT at the battle front,--writ of in story;
Not on the blazing wreck steering to glory;

Not while in martyr-pangs soul and flesh sever,
Died he--this Hero new; hero forever.

No pomp poetic crowned, no forms enchained him,
No friends applauding watched, no foes arraigned him:

Death found him there, without grandeur or beauty,
Only an honest man doing his duty:

Just a God-fearing man, simple and lowly,
Constant at kirk and hearth, kindly as holy:

Death found--and touched him with finger in flying:--
Lo! he rose up complete--hero undying.

Now, all men mourn for him, lovingly raise him
Up from his life obscure, chronicle, praise him;

Tell his last act, done midst peril appalling,
And the last word of cheer from his lips falling;

Follow in multitudes to his grave's portal;
Leave him there, buried in honor immortal.

So many a Hero walks unseen beside us,
Till comes the supreme stroke sent to divide us.


- extracts of a poem by Dinah Maria Mulok Craik


Rest in Peace, Sia Boon Chee, you have done more than your duty to your country and fellow citizens.

6 comments:

  1. I consider the loyalty of the majority of Chinese in the country highly suspect.

    Not only are they unwilling to serve the country, they could be dangerously suspect if a future conflict involved China.

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    Replies
    1. maybe you're right though I wonder what might have driven them to such alleged and strange disloyalty?

      OTOH, we have numerous Chinese Heroes as I had blogged in https://ktemoc.blogspot.com/2018/02/not-all-ct-were-chinese-not-all-heroes.html - I also wonder whether there have been more Chinese policemen-soldiers with SP and PGB than any other Malaysians

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    2. Similar question can be asked of the ketuanan freaks about their loyalty to the COUNTRY or to their f*cked race identity!

      When a future conflict involving the GOOD/FUTURE of the M'sia, these mfers CAN be the sure fighters for the race rather than the country.

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    3. Warrior has forgotten Malaysian History of conflicts and is perhaps trying to justify loyalties of Malaysians by their race and religious origins when serving the Malaysian Armed Forces, Police and other armed services involved in the defense of the Country.

      Lets review the 3 most historical conflicts involving foreign countries after Malayan independence in 1957 and formation of Malaysia in 1963.

      1. Malayan Emergency (1948 - 1960) and Communist Emergency (1968-1989). Malaysia already had it's war with China during the Emergencies via it's proxy of the Malayan Communist Party. So many Malaysian Chinese besides other races died from the Malayan Armed Forces, Police, Homeguards etc. Did they all fight and died or injured in vain? Was race or religion a factor to those who died?

      2. Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation (1963-1966). So many Malaysians of Moslems and Malays and other races died in this confrontation also. Did they also die in vain? Was race or religion a factor?

      3. Lahad Datu Incursion (2013). The Filipinos Suluk invasion by Jamalul Kiram III. Was race and religion a factor to those who died in the fight?

      Raising the question of loyalties of members of the Armed Services, PDRM or other defense agencies by race and religion by politicians, racists, religious bigots in past and future conflicts just shows their own bigoted perverted view of what actually loyalty to King and country means to them.

      The question one must ask Malaysians of all races and religions honestly (whether serving or not serving as members of the Defence forces) to judge their loyalty or patriotism in future conflicts should be:

      "Would Malaysians be loyal to protect their own homes, fellow Malaysians and country in the event of a war, whether it be from China, India, Indonesia, Phillippines, Thailand, US, Singapore or any other country which have races and religions similar to some of fellow Malaysians?"

      I think it would be a resounding "Yes" from all Malaysians except to those who are willing to sacrifice their own homes, land and country and live under the rule of another foreign country based on race and religion as their patriotism."

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    4. "...I wonder what might have driven them to such alleged and strange disloyalty?"

      Well, here's one feedback from an anon which might give some clue ?

      "AnonymousJuly 13, 2018 at 10:10 PM (excerpt )

      Right from the beginning BN governed by accentuating our differences instead of celebrating it. Before independence UMNO insisted the Chinese be Malaysians first instead of Chinese first. They said they were Malaysians first. Before Malaysia was formed they also insisted on the same condition. The Chinese obliged. NO objections to that. But in the early 70s UMNO made a turn around. Now they said they were Malays and Muslims first and second. Being Malaysian was last. (Read Road to Putrajaya).

      So what happened ? The Malays played out the Chinese. So for 60 yrs, the government was happily going along with NEP/ketuanan melayu and islam while the Chinese had to slog along as Malaysians. The whole gang(led by Dr M) and later Najib slid down the slippery slope of corruption, abuse of power and just plain stupidity(Accountant General's words).

      The result now can be seen by everyone - rot so deep it pervades all sectors of society. Now Bakri Musa had given up coming home"

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  2. A true Malaysian hero.

    Rest in Peace.

    ReplyDelete