This post is rather dated but I was recently contacted by Paul. He asked me to google him and I found this article about him. Just thought I republished here to share about his experiences. - Jan.
Cops of Yore
By Revathi Murugappan
Sunday March 25, 2007
To mark the 200th anniversary of the Royal Malaysia Police today, StarMag talks to three retired officers who served in earlier times, in different capacities but under the same oath to put nation before self.
Copping communists
FOR three years, he led a double life during which the slightest mistake could mean his death at the hands of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).
Fortunately, Paul Kiong managed to keep up the pretence so well that he successfully completed his mission and emerged from the jungle unscathed.
For this immense act of bravery, he was awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) or Grand Knight of Valour, the country's highest medal for gallantry. Only 27 other people have been awarded the SP – often conferred posthumously – for acts of extraordinary courage or sacrifice for the nation.
At 63, Kiong still cuts a dashing figure. He has an unmistakable "policeman aura" about him – he still walks like a cop with his head held high and a ramrod straight back.
But as a young man fresh out of school, he wasn't sure what career path to take. So he applied to the Customs Department, the air force and the police. As luck would have it, the police were the first to respond and after a series of interviews, offered him a job in 1964.
Kiong was presented with the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) after a dangerous covert operation against the communists.
He started off as an Inspector with Special Branch (SB), investigating underground activities in urban areas before being reassigned to investigate militant groups operating in the jungle.
"SB work involved looking after the internal and external security of the country. A number of underground activities were surfacing then and my work was to concentrate on the militant groups operating in the jungle. It was a high risk job," he recalls.
In 1981, due to good intelligence, Kiong and his team received a tip-off. This led to a "Q" operation (i.e. secret) and he disguised himself as a food supplier to go into the jungle in Chemor, Perak.
He then joined the communist terrorists to learn their inner workings and communicated with his base team using wireless devices. The objective was to capture the CTs (communist terrorists) alive, brainwash them and make them divulge information so it was imperative that Kiong won their trust. The whole operation lasted three years.
In his dealings with the CTs, Kiong found that the women communists were better fighters because they had been indoctrinated to believe that they would be raped if caught by the police.
"There was one woman who fought so ferociously that we had to use grenades against her. It was unfortunate," he reveals, adding that he learnt plenty of guerrilla warfare tactics during his jungle spell.
Kiong was conferred the SP on June 1, 1983. He was also awarded Perak's highest bravery award in 1988 for three other operations. He is probably the only person from the police force, retired or serving, who has garnered that many awards.
During his career, he (and his team) helped to capture 54 CTs, reform them and return them back to society. He still keeps in touch with former CTs who visit him every Chinese New Year.
"They are grateful to me for giving them a second chance. If you heal their minds and convert them, they'll do anything for you. I gave them my word and never played them out," he says.
On Dec 2, 1989, the MCP signed the peace agreement with the Malaysian and Thai governments to lay down arms and Kiong – as he jokes – "lost" his job!
"I was posted back to Bukit Aman and work was not as exciting anymore. I was handling forged passports, work permits and illegal immigrants. White collar crimes," he sighs.
Kiong took optional retirement in 1997 with the rank of superintendent. He joined Resorts World Bhd and, after a number of years, quit to become a farmer. Yes, on most days you can find him and his wife happily planting vegetables and rearing chickens and fish on his farm in Tambun, Perak.
Busting crime
IT was post-Merdeka and Malaysia was developing fast after the British left. Manpower was needed in most fields and young John Raj, then 18, decided to follow in his dad's footsteps.
"He was a policeman and so was my uncle (Datuk Seri J.J. Raj). I thought the cops were doing something good and I felt being one was the right thing for me to do. It was in my blood. My family would have preferred it if I became a doctor or lawyer but I wasn't interested," says the 60-year-old.
A strong sense of patriotism existed among the policemen then, Raj feels. The towns were not so busy, traffic was minimal and citizens trusted the police. It's a different ballgame today.
"It is not an easy job – it's a thankless one! There are endless complaints and nothing seems to meet public expectations. You've got to be tough to be able to survive in this field. It takes time to improve, sometimes more than a generation," he says.
Throughout his career, Raj considers himself lucky that he was able to experience a variety of tasks. In his early days, he remembers walking through an area near the Thai border full of booby traps laid by the communists. Luckily, he didn't step on any but a number of his comrades fwere wounded.
When he was OCPD of Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Raj was in charge implementing new policies and brought about changes to improve the unit.
Raj with some of his well-earned service awards.
"I was a strict disciplinarian and it took time for the staff to adjust. But, once they caught on, they supported me wholeheartedly. It was a rewarding experience to see the fruits of my labour taking effect," he reminisces.
During his long career, Raj served in 15 postings, his last was as Penang state Criminal Investigations Department (CID) chief before he retired in 2001 as Senior Asst Commissioner II.
For his dedication, Raj has been awarded numerous service medals and state awards such as the Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN), Darjah Johan Negara (DJN, Penang) and Johan Setia Makhota (JSM).
Raj has left behind his crime-busting days and is now employed with a glove manufacturing company doing operational audits.
"It's not the same like working with the police. I miss the friendships, the wonderful managerial styles and the clockwork precision with which things were run. If there's one thing the force has taught me, it is discipline and maintaining principles. I still apply that in my daily life," Raj shares.
Driving force
Zakaria Ahmad joined the police force at 19 because choices were limited for school leavers then. That was 56 years ago.
"It was during Emergency and I wanted to help fight the communists," he says, adding with a smile, "Okay, I confess, I also thought the uniform looked smart so I sent in my application and was accepted. "
After training, he was assigned to general duties at the Alor Star police station before being transferred to a special squad to fight the communists.
"Armed with my Sten (a submachine gun widely used by the armed forces at that time) I shot at the communists in the jungles in Kedah. We managed to capture 22 of them," says Zakaria, 75.
Zakaria with his keepsakes from his police days.
Thereafter, he had stints in different divisions, including serving as a traffic cop and as a member of the Federal Reserve Unit before he was reassigned as a driver when he turned 45.
He recalls, "The job was light but it was my favourite. All I had to do was ferry people, especially the CPO, to their destinations."
Work was never mundane, though, as Zakaria was constantly on the go, transporting the bigwigs around from state to state. After 10 years of chauffeuring duties, it was time to retire.
"Initially, I had terrible withdrawal symptoms. I missed the camaraderie and cried for days," says the widower, whose wife passed away 18 years ago.
These days, Zakaria leads a quiet life at his Alor Star home, sipping tea with his chums or visiting his kids who are all over the country, including one son who is a chief inspector in Kajang. But if he could turn back the clock, he would be back in the force in a jiffy. -- The Star Lifestyle
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