SEREMBAN: The current relaxation accorded under the National Recovery Plan (NRP) for fully vaccinated individuals has been a much welcomed relief since it has been a while social gatherings had been allowed due to the various Movement Control Orders (MCO) brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A few Armed Forces veterans and their civilian friends recently gathered to usher their belated birthdays and celebrate Deepavali at the "Military Happy Hours - Big Bang 2021" at the Sappers Swing clubhouse of the Fort High Valley - Veteran Rendezvous resort in Seremban.
Playing host was retired Royal Engineering Regiment officer and resort owner Major (Rtd) M. Kamalanathan.
Also present were reunion facilitator Lt-Col (Rtd) S. Arumugam from the Royal Service Corps and clubhouse president of the mess committee Major (Rtd) A.R. Ramachandran Iyer from the Royal Artillery Regiment.
Ramachandran said the members had engaged in a gotong-royong a day earlier to spruce up the clubhouse and surrounding premises.
"We had to do this after the premises was left unattended during the strict MCO.
"Hopefully, the clubhouse and resort - tailored for their recreational activities since 2018 - will be alive once again with visitors," said Ramachandran.
The event saw the celebration of belated birthdays from May till October for Arumugam, Lt Col (Rtd) Kirpal Singh (Royal Ranger Regiment) and civilian guests Patrick Puvanendran, T. Chandra Segaran, P.K. Kuna Sagar.
They blew out candles on a specially prepared birthday cake, while Kamalanathan's wife Ambigah Suppayah prepared hot curry meals.
Others present at the event were Col (Rtd) Munraj Singh from the Royal Malaysian Air Force and Major (Rtd) M. Sangaran from the Royal Ranger Regiment.
Kamalanathan said that the "Sappers Swing" was a term derived from soldiers negotiating the rope swing (like Tarzan) at obstacle courses.
"A sapper, or combat engineer, performs a variety of military engineering duties such as breaching fortifications, demolitions, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, preparing field defences, and working on road and airfield construction and repair during war-time or emergencies.
"We also provided support services to other agencies, with heavy machinery during natural disasters," said Kamalanathan, whose family owns the 1ha resort.
The Royal Engineering Regiment was founded on April 22, 1953 at Balaclava Lines in Kluang Garrison, Johor, before it went through various transformations and developments.
It was bestowed the "royal" title on June 6, 1992.
Kamalanathan said the clubhouse was in the process of having recreational and sporting facilities for darts, billiards, pool, snooker and indoor games.
"The plan is to eventually include a military museum in the clubhouse, which perhaps is the only such facility for veterans to foster greater camaraderie.
"The museum will augur well for military tourism in the region, with the Army township of Port Dickson not far away," said Kamalanathan, who is also upgrading the resort to include a fruit orchard and animal farm.
He added that the resort, an ideal getaway for reunions, also doubles up as a home-stay, bed-and-breakfast and social garden functions, since six years ago.