KUALA LUMPUR: They may not be present at the Police Day parade today, but certainly, their spirit will.
The valour and fighting spirit of eight members of the security forces who were killed in action against terrorists who intruded into Sabah, will live on in the hearts of their colleagues.
In fact, the Royal Malaysian Police will fly 93 members of the frontline forces in ‘Ops Daulat’ for the 206th Police Day parade at the Police Training Centre here today.
The group, comprising 50 men and 13 officers of the VAT69 Commando and 30 CID personnel, is expected to join the parade.
Inspector-General of Police Secretariat assistant head (public relations) ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the group was the frontline team involved directly in the gunbattle at Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu on March 1, and the ambush in Kampung Simunul, Semporna, a day later.
The shootout between security forces and the terrorists from southern Philippines who intruded into Sabah on Feb 12, in Kampung Tanduo left two police commandos and six policemen dead in a coastal village in Semporna.
The slain security forces in Kampung Tanduo were ASP Zulkifli Mamat, 29, and Sgt Sabarudin Daud, 46.
Those killed in Semporna were ACP Ibrahim Lebar, 52, Cpl Mohd Azrul Tukiran, 27, DSP Micheal Padel, 36, Sgt Major Baharin Hamid, 49, Sgt Major Abdul Aziz Sakirun, 48, and Sgt Salam Togiran, 42.
Ramli said at the parade, the seven widows and a next-of-kin of the slain policemen would collect the promotion of ranks of the personnel involved.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, in a special interview in conjunction with Police Day, said the security forces had displayed perseverance, commitment and valour of the highest order in battling the intrusion in Sabah.
“I was at the frontline for about two weeks to observe the bravery shown by our security forces,” he said.
The Police Day celebration, themed ‘Community Wellbeing Our Commitment’, will among others, highlight the revolution of the national police from the Malay Sultanate to the present security forces, towards a world standard community service.
The three eras of police services were from the Malay Sultanate until the country gained independence; the post-independence period to the communist era; and, the police era towards international standard.
The three eras to be presented during the Police Day parade will cover police equipment and uniform.
Also on display today will be a pantomime to present the respective police eras.
For the first time, a Police Day parade theme song will be performed for the occasion. — Bernama