KUCHING: The tombstone of a national hero, the late Temenggong Datuk Kanang Langkau, will be built.
Temenggong Datuk Kanang Langkau
Revealing this to The Borneo Post here yesterday the chairman of Veterans Association of Malaysian Armed Forces (VA-MAF) Sarawak, Spencer Birai, said they had been informed that the state government had approved an allocation for the project.
“As a sign of honour and recognition to Kanang’s sacrifices and contributions to the nation the state government has agreed to allocate some funds for the project.
“We have been informed that the allocation has already been approved and it is now just a matter of implementation. A big thank you to the state government,” he said.
Kanang was one of the very few recipients of the country’s highest gallantry medal (Sri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa) who died on Jan 3, 2012 at the age of 68.
The retired Warrant Officer One was among the very few people conferred the Seri Pahlawan Gagah and Pingat Gagah Berani awards when he was still alive by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ahmad Shah on June 3, 1981.
He served in the Eighth Royal Ranger Regiment until his retirement after a service of 21 years. During his service he was given the recognitions after he managed to survive a direct encounter with the enemy in Tanah Hitam, Perak in the early 80s although he personally took three rounds during which five communists and a soldier were killed while another was seriously injured.
He was then tasked to lead the Unit Combat Intelligence Platoon of the 8th Battalion Ranger to seek and destroy the insurgents following the death of a soldier in Tanah Hitam in Feb 1980.
Kanang was born in Julau, in 1945 and joined the Sarawak Rangers which was then part of the British army as a tracker on April 21, 1962.
He was absorbed into the Malaysian Rangers when Malaysia gained its independence on Sept 16, 1963 until his retirement.
For his bravery and heroic acts to safeguard the country and her people the late Kanang was buried at the warriors’ cemetery at Jalan Budaya here.
However, until today his grave and that of the late DSP Michael Padel, who died during the terrorist intrusion in Lahad Datu last year are still not done.