KUALA LUMPUR: Six years after going into the jungle to infiltrate the Communist Party of Malaya, the children of retired Special Branch officer Datuk Paul Kiong couldn't even recognise him anymore when he came home.
That is one of his strongest memories in fighting the communist insurgents. He was accorded the nation's highest gallantry award – the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) – for his services to the country.
Kiong and his colleague, Corporal Etim Anak Bijam, who was also awarded the SP, were recalling their experiences in fighting communists to safeguard the country's peace.
"It is my sincere hope that sharing our story will inspire the younger generation to appreciate and honour our contributions," Kiong said.
Between 1968 and 1989, Kiong and Ejim had participated in numerous operations.
When infiltrating the enemy's unit, Kiong described the strategies and tactics he used until the country defeated the communists with minimal bloodshed.
He explained that his strategies had "multiple layers" and could be simplified into two phases.
"The initial phase is used when they are unaware of my identity, and once my cover is compromised, the second phase begins.
"I immersed myself in the enemy's environment, adopting their mannerism, speech and habits in the forest. This ensured that I blended in seamlessly, minimising any suspicions.
"By understanding their mindset thoroughly, I gathered valuable information during the infiltration. Once the operation was deemed successful, we formulated a plan to apprehend them."
His efforts were not merely about confrontation, but also involved strategic planning and psychological warfare.
Kiong's infiltration strategy, combined with his aim for dialogue over violence, proved effective in dismantling communist operations.
"I cut off their food and medical supply, leaving them to engage in combat on empty stomachs and without proper medical care.
"This move not only undermined their physical strength, but also sapped their morale, making them more vulnerable to our operations," he added.
Kiong recounted a close call in the forest when he was nearly betrayed by his team members.
"Two of my team members approached me the night before an ambush, cautioning me against sending them to Kelantan due to the heightened risk of enemy attacks in that area," he said.
Etim encountered a significant communist presence during his service in Sarawak.
While escorting a group of Public Works Department (PWD) officers to a quarry, he and his colleagues were ambushed.
Despite being outnumbered, they engaged in a half-hour firefight and emerged victorious after eliminating two to three assailants and causing the rest of the enemy to surrender.
Etim's daughter, Linda Nacha, added that the PWD vehicles that her father was escorting were fully loaded with dynamite when the enemy ambushed them to seize the explosives.
Retired Royal Malaysian Navy First Admiral Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, who was accompanying the veterans in the interview, said the battle against communist insurgents was not solitary.
"The police and military all contributed in combating the communist threat.
"Malaysia stands out as one of the countries that successfully eradicated the communist threat with minimal bloodshed through successful implementation of our operations. Internal development and security must go hand-in-hand," he said.