BATU GAJAH 2004
Every year on the Saturday immediately before 16th June, the anniversary of the
killing of three planters at Sungei Siput in 1948 which resulted in the
declaration of a State of Emergency, a remembrance service and wreath laying
ceremony is organised by the Malayan Palm Oil Association (MPOA), Perak Branch.
This is held at God's Little Acre - the chapel and cemetery attached to Batu
Gajah Hospital.
A brief service was held in the chapel, where the congregation was so large that
the service had to be relayed by loudspeaker to those who had to remain outside.
According to one of the local newspapers there were about 280 local and overseas
servicemen, war veterans and planters who attended to honour their comrades and
the civilians who were killed during the Emergency. This year's gathering was
the largest since former Batu Gajah OCPD R.Thambipillay organised the first
ceremony in 1980. An Honour Guard was formed by a police unit and four stood at
each corner of the cross resting on arms reversed. They must have held their
position for well over an hour and a half whilst the service took place in the
chapel.
The Guest of Honour was Tuan ACP Wee Beng Gee representing the Chief Police
Officer of Perak. After he had taken the salute, inspected the guard and met the
dignitaries, the Last Post was sounded by police buglers and he laid the first
wreath. Two Gurkha pipers, who had come from Brunei, played a lament. The wreath
laying continued with Malayan Infantry, Police, the Malaysian Palm Oil
Association, Perak Branch; the High Commissioners of Australia, Britain and Fiji
laid wreaths on behalf of their nations. Group Captain Mary Cox laid the wreath
for New Zealand and Colonel N.S.Ahamed laid a wreath for the Indian High
Commission.
It is not only people who served in Malaya that attend this ceremony. I was
delighted to see the younger generations there as well. In one Australian group
that had extended a particularly warm welcome to me, was Fred who, I discovered
later had had the pleasure of travelling on the t.s. Oxfordshire as I had done
on my way home from Malaya. With Fred was his ex-RAAF son and his serving member
of the RAAF grand daughter. Another was the daughter of Federation of Malaya
Police Lieutenant who had been based around the Tapah Road, Bidor
area, south of Ipoh from 1952-57. She laid a wreath from her family for her
father who sadly died in 1982. In all about 80 wreaths were laid. I laid a
wreath on behalf of our Association. Other wreaths were laid on behalf of many
Australian and British Regimental and ex-service Associations. Last year I met
Graeme (Woody) Woodford the President of the NMBVA (Western Australia) and Max -
ex-RAArtillery. After they returned home last year Max insisted that Daphne
Woodford came with her husband, Woody, and Max to this year's ceremony. Max died
this February but, having promised to attend, Daphne laid a wreath for Max.
After the ceremony everyone got into their transport to go to the Kinta Golf
Club, Batu Gajah for a breakfast given by the MPOA(Perak Branch). Having gone to
the ceremony by taxi, I had to scrounge a lift. For once I made the right choice
and remained a part of that group until the end of the programme.
After breakfast the next event was to go to the Gurkha cemetery at what was
called Sulva Lines. Here 100 Gurkha and family members are buried. A Hindu and a
Christian priest held short services. Some Gurkhas who had settled at Rawang had
been invited to the ceremonies where the Gurkha pipers played laments.
From here we boarded our group's Big Red Bus and taken to the Royal Ipoh Club
for lunch and a few beers. Members of MPOA and others made speeches generously
thanking and praising the efforts of all involved in the Emergency. What
remained of the afternoon was free time and as I was staying at the nearby
Majestic Station Hotel I decided to walk back.
That evening was 'Troops Night'. Most of the Big Red Bus group were staying at
the Excelsior Hotel - a short 15 minute walk from the Station - where I joined
them for our trip to the Ipoh Golf Club, the venue for the night's
entertainment. As it happened, because my information about the 'Troops Night'
had not been updated, I had already turned up at the Golf Club the night before
where I met two guys from the High Commission and a couple of Gurkha pipers and
enjoyed a pleasurable 'dummy run'! Afterwards I was to learn that the event had
been switched from Friday to Saturday to spare us the shock of Saturday's early
start for the Batu Gajah ceremonies.
Having picked up others on the way from the Excelsior we eventually arrived at
the Golf Club where the event was being held and sat around large round tables
set up at the poolside. 'Troops Night' is hosted and paid for by Colin McDonald
and a group of local businessmen. You were seldom without a glass of beer in
your hand, and the food was superb. The first dish was called 'Four Seasons'
although I have no idea why but, like the rest of the dishes - which I lost
count of, was really delicious. A DJ provided the entertainment: some dance,
some karaoke, some accompanied, some not, some excellent and some ...! But all
good things have to come to an end and so, after a marvellous evening in which I
found myself becoming more and more a part of our group, we got on our bus and
were taken back to our hotels. A long but very satisfying day.
Sunday morning and we were off on the bus again, first stop Gua Temperung - one
of the largest limestone caves in Malaysia. It is near Gopeng, about 15 miles
from Ipoh, in a limestone outcrop. Paths, bridges and staircases had been built
into the caves: quite a feat of engineering. Although it was hard enough just
walking and climbing up and down, everyone was determined to go as far as they
could even the ones, as I learned later, who had heart conditions. It was said
that the caves had been used by the CTs up to as late as 1969. 1989 was even
mentioned but I remain sceptical about that! Some cave wall drawings were
pointed out. They looked very much like pictures of service vehicles of the
time: a sort of 'your target for the month' thing. The suggestion was that it
had been a CT school. At the end of the lit area a set of stairs went down at
least 100 feet. When I arrived - at about the same time as the guide who had a
torch - we could see the distant glow of lcd camera screens below us. The guide
called out that this was as far as we could go unless we wanted to walk through
or along a river. Jess, the young RAAF airwoman came bounding up the stairs
followed by someone at a much slower pace. Everyone got out safely - although
there was some concern for the less fit. In all a very good experience [Sounds
like that security exercise to me, Tony. Good for whom? Ed.]
The next stop was Kellie's Castle, a mansion commissioned by an English rubber
planter, William Kellie Smith, in 1915. Smith left for England whilst it was in
mid-construction and died in 1926 leaving the Castle unfinished. It is believed
that the castle has hidden rooms and a secret tunnel leading to a nearby shrine.
We, however, returned to Ipoh.
Sunday, late afternoon, we were invited by the Chief Minister of Perak to his
Residence for a High Tea. As a member of his staff pointed out, the Banqueting
Hall was reserved for VIPs - an evident honour for us! Once again, the food was
superb. The Chief Minister made a very good speech thanking all of us for
everything we and our comrades had done for Malaya in the Emergency. He said we
should have great pride in helping to make Malaysia what it is today. After some
presentations we were entertained. The first performer was a 3-4 year old girl
dressed, I thought, rather like a Malaysian Shirley Temple - but much nicer.
After some problems in getting the electronics to play her music she sang
'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star', which captured all our hearts, even mine - and
that takes some doing. The other three girls had the audience ready captives in
their hands. They all sang and ended their performance with all four singing
'Rasa Sayang Sayang Eh'. For me, the day was rounded off by Don, one of the
Aussie guys, joining me at the Majestic Station Hotel for a few Tigers and a
yarn.
The next day we climbed aboard our bus once more and set off for Lumut where we
caught the ferry to Pulau Pangkor. After a short minibus ride across the island
we split up into two groups for a brief tour by speedboat to take in sea views
of the sort of resorts you'd have to take out a mortgage to stay in. Others at
more affordable prices - like one for 10 ringitts a night but with absolutely no
facilities - seemed distinctly over priced. Afterwards we were shown rocks that
were said to look like elephants, whales, crocodiles, you name it - even trees
called Romeo and Juliet. Having fed the fish by tossing scraps from the boat, it
was our turn. Back to the shore where we lunched on local seafood and other
delights and then back to the ferry, Lumut, the Big Red Bus and, finally, our
hotels.
One honour remained. We were invited by the Lord Mayor of Ipoh to a reception in
Ipoh City Hall Banqueting Chamber. By now our numbers had depleted somewhat:
some having prior engagements, some being unable to extend their hotel
reservations. Those of us who remained were greeted personally by the Lord Mayor
who went round to every table and shook hands with everybody. Again, the food
was plentiful and very good. In his speech the Lord Mayor thanked us for having
helped to make Malaysia the great country that it is. Presentations were made to
and from the Lord Mayor and the Australian groups. We were each given a
commemorative Ipoh City Hall pen nicely wrapped in Ipoh City Hall paper. And, to
end it all, for the first time our Big Red Bus failed to arrive. After a short
while the Lord Mayor appeared anxious to know what the problem was. Within
minutes a City Hall People Carrier turned up and did two trips whilst two West
Australians travelled to their hotel in the Lord Mayor's car. Having got back to
the Excelsior with what was now my group, I said farewell to those who were
heading south - drinking at a bar which, noticeably, had no alcohol on the
shelves - just packets of cereals. Others, me included, were off to Penang for a
few days.
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