PAYING LAST RESPECTS: Zulkifeli (second left) leads (from left) Mohd Zaki, Zulkifli, Rodzali and Mohammed Nordin (right) in paying their final respects to the late Kanang at the Kuching Civic Centre before thes body was brought to St Thomas Cathedral for the funeral service. — Bernama photo
War hero Kanang Langkau laid to rest at Heroes’ Grave in Kuching
KUCHING: Temenggong Datuk Kanang Langkau, the nation’s most decorated war hero, was laid to rest at 4pm in full military honour yesterday at the Heroes’ Grave in Jalan Budaya here.
About 300 people, including family members, friends, high ranking army officers, state dignitaries and senior government officers, witnessed the solemn ceremony.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, representing the state government, and Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Seri Peter Chin, representing the federal government.
Also present were Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Dato Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, Army commander Gen Tan Sri Dato Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, Air Force chief Gen Tan Sri Dato Sri Rodzali Daud, and Navy deputy chief Rear Admiral Datuk Mohammed Noordin Ali.
Others included Armed Forces 1 Division Infantry commander Mej Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar, Malaysian Ex-Army Association president Admiral (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor and Lieutenant Gen (Rtd) Dato Sri Zaini Mohd Said who represented the recipients of the Sri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) and Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB).
The casket bearing the last surviving recipient of the (SP), the nation’s highest gallantry medal, was draped in the Jalur Gemilang and Malaysian Armed Forces fl ag and brought to the burial ground by eight pall-bearers made up of first warrant officers (PWI) representing the three services in the Malaysian Armed Forces at 3.25pm after the funeral service at St Thomas Cathedral which started at 2pm.
The burial ceremony started at 3.30pm with Jabu, Chin, Zulkifeli and senior army dignitaries paying their last respects to Kanang.
Jabu later presented the Jalur Gemilang to Kanang’s widow Datin Brawang Chunggut.
Reverend Father Michael Buma Galami performed the last rite in the Iban language before the casket was lowered down at 3.45pm.
Although there was a slight drizzle, the funeral ceremony went on smoothly and peacefully.
Brawang then led family member s in paying their last respects to the national hero before Jabu led other dignitaries in the laying of wreath ceremony.
Kanang among the very few conferred SP and PGB gallantry awards
NATIONAL HERO: Jabu presenting the Jalur Gemilang which was used to drape over the casket to Brawang at the ceremony at the Heroes Grave. — Bernama photo.
Kanang, 68, died suddenly last Thursday morning when he collapsed while watching television at his home at Sg Apong here, shortly after complaining of chest pains. An ambulance rushed him to the Sarawak General Hospital but he was pronounced dead at around 1.45am.
He was a retired Warrant Officer One (WO1) and among the very few people to be conferred the SP and PGB gallantry awards while still alive.
He had served in the Eighth Royal Ranger Regiment until his retirement in 1983 after serving in the military for 21 years.
Kanang was honoured for his bravery during an encounter with communist insurgents at Tanah Hitam in Perak in early 1980 during which he was shot three times. Five insurgents and a soldier were killed while another was seriously injured in the battle.
SOLEMN CEREMONY: Personnel from the Malaysian Army, Royal Navy and Royal Airforce fold the Malaysian Armed Forces flag. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi.
He was then tasked to lead Unit Combat Intelligence Platoon of the Eighth Ranger Battalion to seek and destroy a group of communists in February 1980.
For his bravery in battle, he was awarded the SP and PGB medals by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ahmad Shah on June 3, 1981.
Kanang was born in Julau on March 2, 1945. He joined the Sarawak Rangers, which was then part of the British army, as an Iban tracker on April 21, 1962. He was absorbed into the Malaysian Rangers following the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
He was married to Helen Latai Ini, and they were blessed with six children and eight grandchildren.
After her demise, he married Brawang in 2011.
On Sept 24, 2011, he was conferred the Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang, which carries the title ‘Datuk’, in conjunction with the Head of State’s birthday.
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