Third Battalion Royal Rangers ready to be re-deployed to Lahad Datu

It was a simple but emotional home-coming at the Sibu Airport here Tuesday for 14 officers and 300 men of the Third Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment who had completed their two-month mission in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

They had participated in Ops Daulat in Tanjung Labian to get rid of the gunmen from southern Philippines who intruded there in February.

Family members from their Oya Military Camp in Oya Road here, state assemblymen Dr Annuar Rapaee (Nangka) and Abu Seman Jahwi (Jemoreng) and Ninth Infantry Brigade Commander Brig-Jen Datuk Stephen Mundaw were on hand to welcome them.

They were led by their commander, Lt-Kol Wan Ednin Wan Mahsin, who told reporters that it was a great relief for him that all his charges had came home safely.

He said the greatest challenge for them was a directive to avoid any more death or injury at all costs after the deaths of eight policemen and two soldiers.

"We were the first group to arrive. The country was in the midst of celebrating the Chinese New Year festival.

"We were fighting experienced gunmen who were used to difficulties. But we also knew we were fighting to guard the country's sovereignty," he said.

Wan Ednin said they had, among others, secured the SK Tanjung Labian, the village mosque and community hall and a kindergarten from being used or destroyed by the gunmen and also provided security for the villagers who regrouped in a temporary restlement centre there.

"The people are still traumatised but with the presence of our soldiers and police there, they are returning to their normal activities and the schools are now open," he said, adding that a lot of reconstruction was need.

He also said that deputy PAS president Mohamad Sabu's ridiculing of the patriotic song which was often aired in praise of the security forces for defending the nation in the Lahad Datu incident had motivated them instead of weakening their spirit.

They also took great comfort in the fact that the majority of Malaysians were with them, supporting them and praying for their safety and were ready to be re-deployed there, if needed, in view of the coming general election, he said.