Press
Sitting L to R: Brig Gen Dr Leong Weng Foon (Rtd), LAC Joe Pie Chong Seng RMAF (Rtd), Maj Tan Pau Son (Rtd), Laksma Datuk Kay Hai Thuan RMN (Rtd) and Brig Gen Dato Lau Kong Cheng RMAF (Rtd). Standing L to R: Maj Lee Kong Kok (Rtd), Lt Col Wong Ah Jit (Rtd), Capt Tien Sen An RMAF (Rtd), CPO Chen Ka Kim RMN (Rtd), Capt Tong Lye Heng (Rtd) and WO 1 Sebastion Too RMAF (Rtd).

Berita Harian and MINDEF PR Interview MACVA
7 Aug 17
In conjunction with Merdeka Day, Berita Harian and MINDEF PR conducted an interview on MACVA. The event took place at MACVA office at the Boulevard, Mid Valley City. MACVs which related their heroic stories and contributions while serving the Malaysian Armed Forces includes:-
MACVA President Maj Tan Pau Son (Rtd),
MACVA RMN VP Laksma Datuk Kay Hai Thuan RMN (Rtd),
Capt Tong Lye Heng (Rtd) and
Capt Tien Sen An RMAF (Rtd).

MACVA would like to express its sincere gratitude to Berita Harian and MINDEF PR for highlighting the services and sacrifices of Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans (MACV) for the nation and thanks to Maj Lee Kong Kok (Rtd) for the coordinating work.

Nostalgia Pelihara Kedaulatan Tanah Air
Bekas pegawai tentera kaum Tionghua ditembak komunis ketika cari, musnah kubu musuh
Artikal Berita Harian
21 Aug 2017 Oleh Nur Afiradina Arshad bhnews@bh.com.my
Kuala Lumpur

Lye Heng menunjukkan peta yang ada kesan darahnya akibat ditembak komunis ketika menjalankan operasi ketika berkhidmat dengan RRD 44 tahun lalu.

Menjelang Hari Kebangsaan Ke-60 hujung bulan ini, nostalgia ketika berjuang menjaga kedaulatan negara turut diimbau tiga bekas pegawai tentera berketurunan Tionghua.

Bagi Kapten (B) Tong Lye Heng, beliau dan pasukannya pernah ditembak pengganas komunis ketika menjalankan operasi 44 tahun lalu bagi mencari dan memusnahkan kubu musuh.

“Pada 9 Jun 1973 pasukan saya dikehendaki meninjau kawasan operasi. Hampir 10 jam meninjau, saya jumpa kawasan bukit yang ada kesan komunis seperti susunan batu kecil dan besar serta dahan pokok dipatahkan." Seluar hampir terlucut kesan ledakan.

“Tidak lama kemudian, satu letupan berlaku. Saya hanya sedar tercedera selepas terpelanting sehingga seluar yang dipakai hampir terlucut kesan ledakan,” katanya yang bertugas dengan Rejimen Renjer Diraja (RRD)."

Katanya, beliau cedera parah di pinggang dan berserah kepada takdir, malah menganggap ajalnya sudah tiba sebelum berjaya diselamatkan dan dibawa ke hospital di Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Sementara itu, Kapten (B) Tien Sen An, berkata kerjayanya bersama Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) didorong semangat apabila sering melihat pesawat mendarat membawa mayat pejuang negara dan anggota komunis.

“Saya minat menjadi tentera kerana rumah berhampiran Balai Polis Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Ketika kecil, banyak mayat tentera dan komunis dikumpul di balai terbabit,” katanya yang bertugas sebagai juruterbang Nuri."

Katanya, menerbangkan pesawat berkenaan bukan mudah, malah beliau banyak menempuh saat getir yang mengancam nyawa ketika operasi menyelamatkan tentera yang cedera di hutan. “Bayangkan kami terpaksa berhadapan tembakan komunis yang bertalu-talu. Malah pada 16 Januari 1991, pesawat dinaiki kira-kira 12 tentera hampir terhempas di Bukit Gambir, Johor,” katanya.

Pengalaman berbeza dilalui bekas Timbalan Inspektor Jeneral Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), Laksamana Pertama (B) Datuk Kay Hai Thuan yang ditugaskan bersama pasukan pengaman Malaysia ke Mindanao, Filipina.

“Kami masuk zon perang, dengar bunyi tembakan dan bom tanpa henti. Nyawa ibarat duit 20 sen, sangat murah dan bila-bila sahaja boleh ditembak,” kata yang kini Naib Presiden Persatuan Veteran Kaum Cina Tentera Darat Malaysia (MACVA).

2017 © BH Online | New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad (4485-H) | Hak Cipta Terpelihara

Malaysian Digest Interview Capt Tong Lye Heng (Rtd)
28 Jul 17
In conjunction with Hari Pahlawan 2017, En Azzam Syafiq from Malaysian Digest interviewed MACV Capt Tong Lye Heng (Rtd) for his services and sacrifices to the nation while serving in the Malaysian Armed Forces. MACVA would like to express its sincere gratitude to Malaysian Digest for highlighting the sacrifices of Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans (MACV) for the nation while serving in the Malaysian Armed Forces and kudos to MACVA Hon Secretary Lt Col Wong Ah Jit (Rtd) for the coordinating work.

En Azzam Syafiq and Capt Tong Lye Heng (Rtd)

Remembering Our Nation’s Heroes On Hari Pahlawan
Malaysian Digest Article
Published on Monday, 31 July 2017 08:51 Written by Azzam Syafiq

Out of nowhere, a gunshot came from a distance and hit Captain Tong’s left hip.

“I would come to learn later after the incident from my sentry that the enemy was already walking to a claymore mine, but since it was installed improperly, it did not explode," he recounted being shot by a Communist insurgent.

Tong Lye Heng, now a 71-year-old army veteran was reliving the moment when he was fighting the communists in the dense forests of Grik, Perak during the 1970s and nearly lost his life defending his country.

Now a proud member of the newly formed Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans (MACVA), Captain Tong's story is but one of the thousands of wounded and fallen unsung heroes who have put our nation's security first ahead of their personal life.

Throughout the country’s 60 years of independence, the country has survived through many threats thanks to the sacrifices of our warriors, such as the communist insurgency during the 1970s, the Konfrontasi with Indonesia and recently, the invasion of Lahad Datu by the self-styled Sulu Sultanate challenging Malaysian sovereignty over Sabah.

In conjunction with Warrior's Day, Malaysian Digest is putting the spotlight on our brave soldiers have been wounded and to honour those who lost their lives in the line of duty throughout the country’s history.

Veteran Shares His Experience Fighting The Communist During The Emergency

Capt Tong Lye Heng (left), army veteran and Lt Col Wong Ah Jit, secretary of MACVA.

“I was assigned as the leader for 7th Ranger Platoon in the Sungai Petani camp. The 26 soldiers in that platoon were newly assigned to me at that time, so I did not know them very well.

“The boys who I was familiar with, whom I spent three months in the jungle, were assigned to other posts,” recalled Captain Tong,” who joined the army on 6th March 1969.

On 10th June 1971, his battalion established a base in the forest, and has placed claymore mines and other defenses around the outside perimeter of their base.

After his boys has finished placing the mines and gun placements, Captain Tong decided to conduct some reconnaissance at the south of the base to check whether his boys did them perfectly.

“My sentry actually spotted the enemy much earlier, before the enemy shot me, and he tried to shoot him first with his light machine gun. However, he was panicking, and could not realise that his safety catch was on the ‘Safe’ position and not in ‘Rapid Fire’ or ‘Automatic’ position,” the captain shared his brush with death with Malaysian Digest.

A safety catch is a mechanism in all guns that is designed to prevent accidental discharge of the bullets. When a safety catch is put in the ‘Safe’ position, a gun cannot shoot.

He said he did not know that the soldier he picked as a sentry was an inexperienced soldier, since he was not familiar with the new platoon. Had it been if he was with his old platoon, he would know who would be more suited for sentry and other roles.

“There were two enemy soldiers, one of them saw me first and immediately shot me.

The trousers Capt Tong wore when he was shot on 10 June 1971. The hole in the right is where the bullet hit him in the hip, while the stains near the hole are blood stains from the wound.

“We only saw two soldiers, but in the thick of the forest, we could not know if there were more of them behind the two soldiers,” he recalled. The communists often send groups of two soldiers as scouting parties to scout the area before sending in the main fighting force.

Captain Tong’s soldiers immediately returned fire and ordered artillery strikes to hit the area around the enemies, while his second-in-command contacted the nearby headquarters and asked for a helicopter to lift the captain out of the forest.

Two hours later, the Nuri helicopter arrived but received heavy fire from the communists. However, an army medic managed to rappel down to temporarily treat Captain Tong, before the helicopter retreated. “The medic gave me shots of morphine and IV, and that helped save my life,” he said.

After some time, the Nuri helicopter returned to the scene and this time an Alouette helicopter followed as well, to provide covering fire while Captain Tong was being rescued.

“The whole thing was reminiscent to that of the Vietnam War,” said Captain Tong.

He was lifted to Klian Intan and then to a hospital in Penang. He was immediately taken to an operating theatre for an operation. According to the doctor, the bullet missed his spine by half of an inch.

Captain Tong was treated at the Penang Hospital for three months, and then spent a month at the Terendak camp. Four months after he was shot, he returned to the Sungai Petani headquarters to resume his duty. However, he was not assigned to the frontlines and instead handled the administration and tactics of the war effort.

“Later on, I was assigned as an intelligence officer and I helped devise an operation to strike the communists in Gunung Bongsu.

“We managed to kill some communists in that operation,” recalled the captain, who managed to use that chance to strike back at the enemy who almost took his life from that operation.

Captain Tong did not stay long in the army, and was honourably discharged on 9th October 1976. His disciplined life in the army has taught him incredible lessons that have helped him adapt to the civilian life.

Capt Tong's discharge papers.

“After the army, I joined the plantation industry as a manager. When I was in the army, I had valuable lessons in team management as a captain and head of a platoon.

“That experience translates perfectly to managing a plantation,” he said. After 18 years in the plantation industry he switched places to work in the cargo shipping sector. Now, he runs his own cargo shipping company.

Capt Tong (right) during a training session in Sungai Petani.

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Penugasan Negara
Dalam masa berapa hari lagi Negara akan menyambut Aidil Fitri sekali lagi, saban tahun anggota keselamatan seperti Polis dan ATM akan bertugas seperti biasa dan meninggalkan keluarga mereka semua untuk menjaga dan menjamin keselamatan dan keamanan Negara kita. Mereka ini akan menentukan keselamatan dan kedaulatan Negara terjamin pada musim perayaan ini.

Pengorbanan mereka tidak sia sia, baik daripada semua anggota beruniform keselamatan dan juga yang lain seperti bomba dan anggota hospital semasa rakyat jelata menyambut Syawal dengan makanan dan minuman yang lazat bersama sama keluarga tersayang diseluruh Negara di kampung masing masing.

Negara ini aman damai adalah kerana warga ini lah yang sanggup berkorbankan masa dan peluang untuk bersama keluarga mereka dan bertugas seperti biasa diperbatasan demi untuk Negara dan tanahair tercinta. Mereka hanya akan dapat peluang bersama dengan keluarga apabila rakan yang lain mengganti mereka secara bergilir gilir selepas bercuti.

Rakyat Malaysia amat berterima kasih kepada semua warga beruniform yang sentiasa mementingkan penugasan Negara lebih dari segala galanya, demi untuk kesejahteraan seluruh Rakyat Negara. MACVA mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan SELAMAT HARI RAYA – MAAF ZAHIR & BATIN kepada semua warga ATM, PDRM serta anggota beruniform yang lain di seluruh Negara.


向辞世老兵致追思祭文
当大马社会某些层面可能仍停留在各种自設的藩篱之际,大馬华人退伍軍人協会自豪地排除各种差異,体现出战友之间出生入死的親密情怀。卡玛奥馬上校日前在吉隆坡玫瑰天主教堂,为已故战友安德鲁上校举行的葬礼追悼仪式上致追思祭文。

卡玛奥馬上校在天主教堂追思致祭不同肤色,宗敎战友的举措,体现了同袍战友们共同出生入死,互相尊重和友爱的情怀。这足以作为大马年轻一代解除种族隔膜的典范。

卡玛奥馬在敎堂悼祭已故同袍安德鲁上校的温馨场面,引証大馬年轻一代必须放棄种族肤色的色彩。这也是刚成立不久大馬华人退伍軍人恊会的期望,以不分种族,宗敎,阶级及信條,以国民团结为先的信念。

卡玛奥马上校是以大馬皇家裝甲部队指揮官的職称结束他的戎马生涯;退伍后,在国际红十字联合会及红新月会服务,曾在阿富汗,巴基斯坦及印尼展开人道救援活动。


Duty Before Self During Festivals
We are comforted and reassured to know that there will be enough Police and Armed Forces personnel on duty during the coming Hari Raya festive holidays to ensure the nation’s continued security and safety. (The Star Friday, 9 June 2017) We are certain that staff and personnel in other emergency and essential services will be doing the same.

Such servicemen, servicewomen and similar personnel in other services are unique; they serve beyond the normal call of duty to allow others to enjoy the nation's auspicious festivals in a peaceful and secure environment.

It is no small contribution as they, like many of us, have families and would also be looking forward to be with them during such important festivals. However call of duty and sense of service to King and Country takes precedence over personal interests for them.

Every member of MACVA (Malaysia Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association) empathise with them as we, too, shared this experience of personal sacrifice during our active service days; there is even a member among us who was recalled for operational duty on the day of his wedding dinner! We therefore know and value and hold such dedication to duty in high esteem. Let us, each in our own way, honour them by offering them our hopes and prayers for the safe and successful completion of their duties. May Blessings be upon them and their families.

MACVA say “Thank you” and wish every comrade be it on active duty or on the festive leave and their families “Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri”.


President and Committee Members
MACVA
11 Jun 17

Website Release On 11 June 17 By Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (MACVA)

The Eulogy For A Military Veteran
11 June 17
While some quarters may remain shrouded by the myriad of reasons best known to themselves in the Malaysian society today, the MACVA takes pride to share how comradeship takes precedence over any differences and is treasured amongst the King's men who served side by side.

This is exemplified in the accompanying photograph, with Col Kamal Omar (B) delivering the eulogy during the Funeral Mass at the Holy Rosary Church in the final send off for the late Col Andrew Boudville (B). The act represents the mutual respect, comradeship and love amongst those who fought together so that the generation today may be free from the encumbrances threatening the young Malaysia.

This scene is exactly what Malaysia needs and to witness more often; the coming together of color blind Malaysians. It is the hope of the newly formed MACVA (Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association) that the differences Malaysians have are set aside in the interest of national unity irrespective of religious faith, race, class or creed.

PS: After his retirement as the Director of the Royal Malaysian Armoured Corps Col Kamal Omar (B) served in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and saw humanitarian and disaster relief work in places such as in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia.

President and Committee Members
MACVA

Website Release On 11 June 17 By Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (MACVA)

大馬華裔退伍陸軍協會理事合影,前排左起為王亞日、陳保山、梁永寬及張高飛;后排左起為葉福財、蔡榮來及黃裕財。

微薄退休金養不了全家 退伍軍人日子難過
MACVA Exclusive Interview With China Press On 28 April 2017


獨訪:葉麗儀
(吉隆坡3日訊)英勇的戰士們為保衛國家獻出畢生辛勞,當他們手握鋼槍,以鮮血換取我國60年來的和平時,有多少人知道,華裔軍人在退伍后,沒有工作只依靠微薄的退休金,根本難以維持退休生活。除非他們能靠本身專業維持生活。

大馬華裔退伍陸軍協會會長陳保山少校說,大部分退伍軍人因沒有生意經驗,在退伍后選擇創業時,面對許多困難,大部分最后都宣告生意失敗,面臨破產危機,而只有10%人創業成功。

一般上軍人服務合約約20年,若一名55歲的退伍軍人是醫生或會計師,當他退役后不會有太大問題;但若他已年屆60歲以上,是非專業人士,經濟上將面對很大困難,只能束緊腰帶過日子,因為以他們的年齡,很難找到工作。

協會申請換名
“普通兵士退休金每月可獲約2000令吉,中士退休金每月可獲約3000令吉,不足以應付退伍后的全家開銷。”

他接受 《中國報》 專訪時指出,若軍人合約是短期的,退休年齡介于30至40歲,他們在經濟上不會面對問題,還能及時轉換人生跑道。

陳保山說,大馬華裔退伍陸軍協會是于去年8月31日成立,近期內將改名為“大馬華裔退伍軍人協會”,可以吸納海、陸、空三軍華裔退伍軍人為會員,幫助那些即將退伍的軍人,讓他們去上課,不至于與社會脫節。

他指出,協會已向退伍軍人實務軍提出換名申請,但還未獲得批准。

“我們希望不只是為華裔退伍陸軍服務,也希望為其他華裔退伍軍人服務,而選擇更改名稱。"

出席者包括華裔退伍陸軍協會創會會長梁永寬準將、總秘書王亞日中校、總財政張高飛(譯音)少校、理事葉福財少校、蔡榮來中校及公關黃裕財。

張高飛:生意失敗差點破產
其中一名退伍運人張高飛就指出,創業絕非易事,當時他退伍后曾嘗試創業,但在5年后因為缺乏經驗而導致生意失敗並差點破產。

“我生意失敗后,很沮喪,也從事了不同工作,包括公司經理、策劃員及職員等,累積經驗后,再次嘗試創業當老闆,終于成功以維持退休生活。”

他本身育有2名孩子,在軍隊服務19年6個月后,需要轉型的機會,因此他選擇創業。

此外,陳保山指出,他比較幸運,因為他擁有專業會計文憑,也通過土地買賣,獲得人生第一桶金,后來他用賣地賺到的錢發展建築生意至今。

陳保山(73歲,軍階退役少校),14歲就讀大馬皇家軍事學院(Royal Military College),他退役前是隸屬軍需部少校,也是第一位考獲會計師資格的在職軍人,70年代拉曼學院成立初期,他也被軍方外借給拉曼當講師。

陳保山:缺升職機會華青不當兵
對外界的“好男不當兵”刻板印象,陳保山就認為,現下華青不當兵的原因,是因為華青認為當兵看不到事業未來前景,加入軍隊及軍人生涯沒有能吸引他們的地方。

他強調,不是因為工資問題,而令到華青不肯加入軍隊,而是華青缺乏很好升職機會,讓他們能加入軍隊為民服務。

“早期陸軍大部分皆是華僑及印裔,而非馬來人,人數大約佔30%,他們當時不計報酬為國服務;反觀現今,大馬華裔軍人則少于0.5%,而印裔還多于華裔,這是因為現今生活水平上升,華裔著眼更好的薪酬福利。”

陳保山透露,協會日前與董總開會,希望董總能鼓勵更多華青加入軍隊服務,以增加華裔軍人數量。

政府資助深造鼓勵華青加入
陳保山透露,一旦華青加入軍隊后,他們將獲得政府資助以繼續深造,以獲得更高的學歷及經驗,同時能藉此提升軍階。

他說,一些貧困華裔子弟,家里沒那么多錢能資助他們繼續深造,導致他們在經濟情況不允許下,必須放棄學業,因此他鼓勵華青加入軍隊服務,可獲得更多機會深造。

他說,以前當兵可不講究學歷,薪水也比現在少,但很多華人還是願意加入軍隊。

“很多人不了解,其實現在軍人要求提高了許多,加入軍隊需至少擁有學士學位,它是一門專業領域。”

他指出,在軍營里受訓,可獲得很多機會,也能塑造個人素質,將來提早退休后,更能容易融入社會,繼續服務社會。


Published On 4 May 17
中国报版权所有 Copyright © The China Press Berhad

Several tombstones found broken (The Star Online 5 Jan 17)

Vandalisation Of Taiping War Cemetery
MACVA view with disbelief that a heritage of our national history, Taiping War Cemetery, has been vandalised by unknown persons as reported by The Star on 5 Jan 17.

War Cemetery is the final resting place for war heroes who gave their lives for the liberation and sovereignty of the Country, therefore it must be treated with utmost respect by every citizen of the Country. The vandalisation of War Cemetery is most distasteful and akin to cultural meltdown displaying disparaging disrespect.

We, MACVA's veterans are very disappointed with the vandalisation since being veterans, we can appreciate how these heroes gave their utmost, their life for others to live in peace. Similarly we have veterans who lost their limbs, being incapacitated defending the sovereignty of the country. Thus we, MACVA hold dearly our departed heroes including un-named heroes being comrades-in-arms. Every war hero and veteran served the King and Country with pride and valour, thus War Cemetery is liken to be a national heritage, a piece of national history.

MACVA urge the local authorities to do all it can within its power to apprehend the culprits and mete out commensurable punishment to deter future incident of vandalisation of War Cemetery. MACVA wishes to reiterate that a War Cemetery must be accorded the highest respect, what the nation enjoys today is in no small part contributed by those men and women resting in their final resting place. Let us accord these heroes our highest honour and respect.

President and Committee Members
MACVA

Press Release On 6 January 17 By Malaysian Army Chinese Veterans Association (MACVA)