Penang Remembrance Day




(L to R) Lt Col EL Chua (Rtd), Lt Col Raymond Goh (Rtd), Lt Col Fabian Wong (Rtd), Maj HS Lee (Rtd) and Capt Norman Chong (Rtd)

The Cenotaph, Esplanade, Penang
27 Nov 2016
1. The Penang Veterans’ Annual Remembrance Day for year 2016 falls on 27 November, and MACVA were invited by the President of Penang Veterans’ Association to attend the ceremony in Penang. This will be the 15th Annual Remembrance Day Ceremony. The High Commissions and Embassies who also attended the Ceremony are; UK and Ireland, Australia, Fiji, Nepal, India, New Zealand, Canada, Rhodesia and Malaysia.

Other parties that attended the ceremony are, PERKIM, MACVA, Gurkhas Association, local veterans groups, some corporate companies and interested families. Our Navy provided the Master of Ceremony and the flag raiser, whilst our local Army unit provided the buglers. The Catafalque party was provided by the 19 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force.

2. Lt Col Fabian Wong (Rtd) from Kuching, Lt Col Raymond Goh (Rtd) from Kuala Lumpur, Lt Col EL Chua (Rtd) from Ipoh, Maj HS Lee (Rtd) and Capt Norman Chong (Rtd) from Penang represented MACVA for the Penang Veterans’ Remembrance Day Ceremony. MACVA members not from Penang arrived at Penang on the 26 November 2016. Maj Lee HS (Rtd) and Capt Norman Chong (Rtd) played excellent host.

On completion of the ceremony, the Deputy President, Lt Col EL Chua (Rtd) and Capt Norman Chong (Rtd) drove to Sungei Petani to visit Maj ST Leong (Rtd), who hosted a great lunch. Kudos to all MACVA members of the Northern Chapters. We all could feel the spirit of MACVA.

3. The Penang Veterans Annual Remembrance Day Ceremony started right on the dot at 0730 am with the arrival of Penang Chief Minister. This is followed by the mounting of the Catafalque, National anthem and State anthem. The Penang Veterans President, Maj Sivarajan KM Ramanathan(Rtd) gave the welcoming address. The Defence Advisor of the British High Commissioner, Col Stephen Hall was next to address the crowd and followed by the Chief Minister’s Address. The reading of the ODE was done by Group Captain Wendy Horder of Australian High Commission.

Following a dedicated song for the Fallen Heroes, the last post was played. After 2 minutes silence, the rouse was played. Wreath Laying Ceremony was then conducted by the High Commisions and Embassies, Veterans Associations, Corporate bodies, and interested families. MACVA was the 19th group to lay the Wreath. The function ended at 1000 am with tea.

4. Overall the Ceremony can be described as simple, elegant and full of military tradition. The occasion is well organize and kudos to the Penang Veterans Association for a successful function. We should continue to subscribe yearly to this ceremony. We should also subscribe to other Remembrance Day Ceremony such as the Little Acre in Batu Gajah, and others if and when invited.

Lt Col Chua Eng Lye (Rtd)

30 Nov 16




(L to R) Maj Leong Swee Teng (Rtd), Maj Wong Kwai Yinn (Rtd), WO 1 Ang Kee Lam RMAF (Rtd), Lt Col Chua Eng Lye (Rtd), Maj David Chow (Rtd) and SAC Kok Ching Huat RMAF (Rtd).