JELI: As he carried his M-16 assault rifle and walked among the undergrowth near Sungai Golok, the officer's mind was focused on his surroundings.
But on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Lt Mohyeddin Mohamad Amin may be forgiven if his thoughts strayed from the task of patrolling the Kelantan-Thailand border.
For, along with watching out for smugglers and illegals trying to sneak across the river into Malaysia, Mohyeddin's thoughts at times traveled thousands of kilometres to Kota Belud, Sabah.
The 27-year-old would be thinking of his wife Nurulhuda Abdullah of barely three months.
"She converted to Islam to marry me, and the week after we were married, I returned to my battalion and was assigned to Ops Merpati. I wanted so much to be with her but duty beckoned," said the platoon leader.
Mohyeddin is part of the 302 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army stationed at Pos Renap, a tactical base on the banks of Sungai Golok.
They are tasked with maintaining security along the 83km border between Kelantan and Narathiwat province of Thailand. Three of the battalion's companies have spent the fasting month in the jungle.
For Prebet Abdul Majid Abdul Pulis, this was the first time the Semporna native was spending Hari Raya away from home.
"I am sad that I won't be with my daughter and wife, but I am also proud to be tasked with protecting our borders," he said.

(published: 26/10/2006)