GLAD TO BE HOME: A Marine Operation Force personnel involved in operation in Lahad Datu, Sabah, Zakaria Ismail happily hugging his children Nurarisha Afreen Zakaria, Daniel Aiman Haikal Zakaria and wife Muzdalifah Mohd as soon as he arrived at Sultan Ismail International Airport, Senai. — Bernama photo
BOOSTING MORALE: Mokhtar (right) greets Marine Operation Force personnel involved in Ops Daulat in Lahad Datu on their return. — Bernama photo
JOHOR BAHARU: After 10 years of serving the Marine Operations Force (MOF), the most memorable experience for 31-year-old Corporal Mohd Shahrizan Abd Ghani was serving in Lahad Datu, Sabah, recently.
He was one of 21 members of the MOF Region Two Combat Unit involved in Ops Daulat against Sulu terrorists in Lahad Datu.
Recounting his experience, Mohd Shahrizan, who left for Lahad Datu on Feb 20, said the sound of explosions always reminded him of the danger he faced while guarding the coast along Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Tanjung Batu.
“I initially thought the situation there wasn’t so bad. Things were actually much worse than I imagined,” he told reporters at a reception welcoming members of the force who joined Ops Daulat, at the Sultan Ismail International Airport in Senai, here, on Monday evening.
Also present were Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff and MOF Region Two commander ACP Zainul Abidin Hasan.
Another unit member, Lance Corporal Mohd Hafizi Abdullah, 31, said he was proud to have joined others to defend the country’s sovereignty.
They were stationed in Sabah for eight days after the intrusion by Sulu terrorists in Lahad Datu.
Meanwhile, Mohd Mokhtar congratulated the personnel involved on behalf of Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.
He said the strong spirit of the policemen was exemplary. — Bernama