Association intensifies efforts to trace ex-Iban jungle trackers

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A group photo during the handover of cash and food items to representatives of the late Tuai Rumah Unah Dukong in Lubok Antu.

A group photo during the handover of cash and food items to representatives of the late Tuai Rumah Unah Dukong in Lubok Antu.

KUCHING: Efforts to trace former Iban jungle trackers will be intensified after Sarawak Rangers Veteran Association Baru (SRVAB) found five more trackers at Lubok Antu last weekend.

The demise of one of the five, namely Tuai Rumah Unah Dukong at Lubok Antu, three days ago has motivated SRVAB members to find the between 400 and 500 former Iban jungle trackers or scouts across the state.

The most famous Iban scout is Awang Raweng, who is holder of the George Cross—a medal for valour from the British government.

When met yesterday, SRVAB secretary-general Capt (Rtd) Mohd Johari Ibrahim said Ibans who were good at scouting and jungle tracking were further trained by and attached to the British Army in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s.

The first batch of 60 trackers was sent to then Malaya in late 1948, and the number surged to more than 400 from 1950 to 1952.

Most of these Iban trackers served in Johor and Perak, helping the British army against insurgents.

“In 1951, we were still under the British colony, yet we were fighting in a ‘foreign’ country (then Malaya). At that time, there were two groups fighting insurgents and also the Japanese alongside British troops. One was the (Sarawak) Rangers, the other Force 136.”

“But how many of us have heard of Force 136? The group is a force to be reckoned with, yet not many of us have heard of them. This is because nobody documented their services, and moreover, people did not bother to publicise them.

“Personally, I do not want Sarawak Rangers to fall into the same fate as Force 136. They are almost forgotten.”

When asked on the bravery of Awang, Mohd Johari said: “All trackers are equally good and brave when executing their duties. British Armed Forces was on record to say that Iban trackers were the best in the world.”

Johari stressed that efforts to trace these ex-Iban trackers started at Lubok Antu last weekend, thanks to a philanthropist who helped SRVAB to get things going.

He said the philanthropist requested anonymity.

SRVAB now needed to regroup these ex-Iban trackers under the association and ensure they get their welfare assistance and entitlement in their capacity as registered army veterans.

There are numerous government assistance army veterans are entitled to but ex-Iban trackers might not be aware of, he said.

There are also assistance given to family members should they depart, he pointed out.

He believed most of these ex-Iban trackers live in Kapit, and some in Lubok Antu and Betong.

“There are probably 400 to 500 ex-Iban trackers all over the place, and I believe they are still alive.

“Slowly and surely, we will find them. Unless we publicise them and their past services and sacrifices, nobody will know they exist.”

In their efforts to trace these almost forgotten soldiers, SRVAB started their mission by visiting Rumah Sukong in Ulu Lubuk Antu.

Last weekend’s entourage was led by SRVAB deputy president Major (Rtd) Walter Ted Wong.

Accompanying him were Johari and the philanthropist.

One of the five they met in person is ex-Iban tracker Anyang Ujet.

Johari said: “The visit helps to recollect the memories of the past during which in late 1950s, these Iban trackers and Sarawak Rangers were serving in the British army at the beginning of Malayan Emergency.

“The trackers mostly served as leading scouts of the British troops operating in Johor and Perak.

“Serving in Malaya at that time was considered as serving overseas, where the trackers considered themselves serving the cause for world’s peace.

“That pride remains with them, even up to this day.”

As a token of goodwill, SRVAB handed over some food items to Anyang.

Cash were also given to the veteran and representatives of the other three ex-Iban trackers.

Walter Ted was himself commissioned into Sarawak Rangers in 1960 and served as the first Iban officer in the regiment.

This was followed by the commissioning of two other Ibans: Major (Rtd) Wilfred Busu and Major (Rtd) Edmund Abit.

Thereafter, the commissioning of the first Malay from Sarawak – Johari.

“It is not a surprise that until today, these officers, after almost half a century, are still grouped together in the spirit of ‘Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban’ (fight till the end),” said Johari.

According to Wikipedia, Sarawak Rangers were a para-military force founded in 1862 by the second Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke.

They evolved from being fortmen, which were raised to defend Kuching in 1846.

The Sarawak Rangers were first commanded by William Henry Rodway, briefly in 1862 and again from 1872 to his retirement in 1881.

They were highly skilled in jungle warfare and general policing duties, being equipped with various western rifles, cannons and native weaponry.

They were based in a number of forts constructed at strategic locations in towns and at river mouths.

Aside from protecting Sarawak’s borders, they were used to fight any rebels and were engaged in a number of campaigns during their history.

In times of emergency or war, they could be depended upon as support for the local population and tribal people.

The Sarawak Rangers were disbanded for a few years in the 1930s, only to be reformed and mobilised for the Second World War, in which they attempted to defend Sarawak from Japanese invasion in 1942 at the start of the Pacific War.

After the abdication of Charles Vyner Brooke in 1946, Sarawak Rangers became a colonial unit under direct British control and saw action in both the Malayan Emergency and the Borneo Confrontation.

In 1963, after the formation of Malaysia, the Sarawak Rangers became part of the Royal Ranger Regiment.