Kalabakan tragedy: Memories in the formation of Malaysia

The incident witnessed for the first time the unity of security forces from Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsula – four months after the formation of the Malaysian Federation on Sept 16, 1963.

At that time, the 3rd Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) Battalion from Peninsular Malaysia, police field force, Sabah Home Guard and the villagers in Kalabakan united and fought off the attacks of the intruders who were dissatisfied with Sabah and Sarawak joining the Malaysian Federation.

The incident at Kalabakan resulted in the deaths of an officer and seven personnel from the 3rd Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD), while 18 other personnel were injured when defending the military base in Kalabakan that was situated at the border of East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Former Sabah Home Guard personnel Dewan Husin, 74, said today's generation should be thankful that they were born when peace and harmony had been secured, inheriting a safe and developing country.

"The formation of Malaysia motivated people from numerous races in the country to work together in upholding its security. Thus, I urge Malaysians to always treasure the peace enjoyed from the sacrifices made in the path to Independence and assuring the formation of Malaysia," Dewan, who now resides in Kampung Kalabakan, told Bernama.

Sharing his experience of the incident at Kalabakan, he said he and his colleagues at the Kalabakan police station were shocked by the sound of a hand grenade explosion and gunshots from the military camp which housed the RAMD battalion that was located about 400 metres away from the police station.

"As we were about to help the RAMD battalion, the police station itself was ambushed by the TNI.

"The police field force and Home Guard were not prepared for TNI's attack at the police station and at that time our chief who feared that we would run out of ammunition had instructed us to only shoot at enemies," he said, adding that it was a blood bath and bodies were scattered everywhere.

Dewan, who was already married and had a four-year-old son at that time, said following the incident, a curfew was immediately imposed and the residents of Kalabakan were instructed to hide in dugouts and to shut all lights at night.

Retired teacher Imran Omar, 71, said there were many lessons to be learned from the history of the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, particularly the tragedy in Kalabakan.

"Following the formation of Malaysia, RAMD personnel were dispatched to ensure that the border at Kalabakan and Wallace Bay (Pulau Sebatik) were not intruded."

Meanwhile, for former Tawau district head, Salleh Sallabi, 79, said the confrontation tested the combined strength of Sabah, Sarawak and the Federation of Malaya against Indonesia who launched the 'Ganyang Malaysia' war campaign and the Philippines who claimed Sabah as its territory.

"The Malay Regiment who were assigned in Sabah were ready to sacrifice in protecting the country's border and sovereignty from intrusion," he said and urged Sabahans to join in enlivening the 2017 Malaysia Day celebration at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex on Saturday.