KUALA TERENGGANU:The record stood at 35 communist terrorists killed and another 50 captured in the deep jungles of the country.
That was the feat of the VAT 69 police field force commandos over a span of 14 years from 1969.
The elite VAT 69 during that time was under the leadership of its first commander, superintendent Datuk Navaratnam Appadurai.
Later, Navaratnam was also appointed the first commander of the counter-terrorism’s special action unit, as an assistant commissioner, for three years until 1986.
He retired after 32 years of service in 1988 as a ‘one-star’ senior assistant commissioner after commanding the GOF’s Pahang based south-east brigade that oversaw six infantry battalions.
Today, the 84-year-old recounted the gruelling episodes which he and his men had to put up against the outlawed Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) terrorists.
“Not only were we constantly under the threat of the enemy, but we also had to endure the risks posed by deadly insects, animals, booby traps, terrain and environment in the jungles.
“Despite such challenges, men were dying to join us in operations. We were never short of recruits,” said Navaratnam, in an exclusive interview in conjunction with the upcoming 60th Merdeka Day on Aug 31.
Navaratnam recalled that he himself was one of the young officers who were bored of administrative duties, and wanted action.
“My early years saw me as an investigating officer in towns and later as an instructor to train officers.
“I was constantly craving for action as a field operative and my chance came during the confrontation with Indonesia in 1964,” he said, adding that he served one-year with the Sarawak Constabulary, alongside the Gurkha Rifles regiment.
“I learnt a lot from the Gurkhas about jungle warfare while operating along the Sarawak-Kalimantan border with Indonesia.
“It fuelled my desire for jungle warfare duties,” he said.
The man was briefly a schoolteacher in 1954 before joining the police a year later. He was then reposted as a training instructor but he expressed his discomfort to his superiors as he wanted to serve in a more active outfit.
His break came when the British Special Air Service regiment wanted to establish a squadron of local men for special assignments and deep jungle operations.
As chief instructor of the GOF’s training school in Ulu Kinta, Perak, Navaratnam was tasked with selecting the best among the 200 applicants.
Eventually, only 54 made the grade and he was made the first commander of the VAT 69 squadron in 1970.
Eight years later, he was promoted as commanding officer of the VAT 69 battalion with the rank of superintendent.
In 1983, Navaratnam was tasked with establishing the UTK as its first commander as assistant commissioner.
“Like the VAT 69, the UTK’s existence was cloaked in secrecy and our movements strictly undercover. This was to safeguard the interests of its members and their families.
“Our team members operated as a close-knit family and we were tasked for dangerous missions including armed robberies, kidnapping, hijacking and other notorious crimes.
“Some of our members were also involved in providing dignitary protection,” he said.
Both the VAT 69 and UTK have since been amalgamated as the special operations command (Socom).
Among the major tasks undertaken by VAT 69 during his time were the 1985 siege by Islamic extremists in Kampung Memali, Baling in Kedah; and the hostage dramas at the Pudu Prison in Kuala Lumpur in 1986 and in Kuantan, Pahang a year later.
His services and that of others led to the Haadyai Peace Accord on Dec 2, 1989, with the CPM laying its arms.
Navaratnam was conferred with the Panglima Jasa Negara in 2012, 24 years after his retirement.
To date, he has penned the book “The Spear and The Kerambit: The Exploits of VAT 69, Malaysia’s Elite Fighting Force (1968-1989).