Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Major D. Swami's memoir, Exigent Circumstances: A Soldier's Journey Down the Road Less Traveled
Tuesday, October 07, 2025
The
combination of an individual soldier's journey, exigent circumstances,
and a path less traveled brings to mind the themes of Major D. Swami's
memoir, Exigent Circumstances: A Soldier's Journey Down the Road Less Traveled
The memoir details Swami's service in the Malaysian Army, which was
complicated by institutional betrayal, difficult ethical dilemmas, and a
struggle against systemic bias.
The times I made it into the news
A soldier's unconventional journey. Major
D. Swami's account is not a standard military biography. While it
covers his rise from a recruit to a commissioned officer who saw combat
in the communist insurgency and Somalia, its central narrative is the
"quieter, crueler war within the system itself". This "road less traveled" is a path of moral integrity over institutional conformity:
Col Zulkapli with Tiger Nashar
Challenging the system:
Instead of taking the path of least resistance for career advancement,
Swami directly challenged institutional corruption and unfairness.
Refusing to "play the racial game":
In one instance, Swami refused to engage in a policy that favored
certain racial groups, which hindered his career but preserved his
integrity.
Questioning authority:
In Somalia, his platoon commander was given a chilling order not to return
fire because the attackers were "our brothers." Swami's disapproval of
this "our people" mentality, which he believed weakened security, was an
act of defiance against a flawed ideology.
Ivan during resupply
Exigent circumstances and difficult choices. The
book's title refers to the many crises Swami faced where quick and
difficult decisions were necessary, not just on the battlefield but
within his own command. These "exigent circumstances" offer a more
critical view than traditional heroic narratives.
The tragic outcome of compassion:
One of the most haunting stories in the book describes a soldier
tossing a food packet to starving children in Somalia. The
well-intentioned act led to a deadly fight, and a child was stabbed to
death. This event serves as a brutal reminder that even compassionate
actions can have fatal consequences without careful consideration—a
lesson that applies to both military tactics and broader policymaking.
The reality of systemic flaws:
Unlike legal definitions of exigent circumstances that excuse actions
like warrant-less searches to save lives or prevent the destruction of
evidence, Swami's military "emergencies" were often created or worsened
by systemic failures and ethical compromises within the army itself.
As UCIS Commander
A different view of military service. Swami's
memoir offers a powerful, alternative view of military service by
showcasing the conflict between personal values and institutional
loyalty. The narrative emphasizes:
Integrity over loyalty:
Swami's journey suggests that true patriotism lies in holding an
institution accountable, rather than blindly following its flawed
directives.
Honesty over glory: The book's brutal and honest account contrasts with more self-glorifying tales of warfare.
Conscience over command:
Swami's defiance in the face of morally questionable orders highlights
the importance of an individual soldier's conscience in military
environments.
In the context of Major D. Swami's memoir,
Exigent Circumstances,
the "'our people' mentality" refers to a corrosive form of systemic
bias and ethnic loyalty within the Malaysian military. It is a mindset
that prioritizes racial and religious identity over merit,
professionalism, and the safety of all soldiers, regardless of their
background.
Swami argues that this mentality weakened security and
ultimately betrayed the nation's principles. Roots of the mentality. The "our people" or orang kita
mentality can be traced back to Malaysia's broader racial and religious
politics. Swami's memoir suggests that these societal prejudices had
infiltrated the armed services, compromising its integrity.
Racial and religious division:
Malaysia's history is marked by ethnic divisions, and while patriotism
is officially promoted, the influence of race-based rhetoric has been a
consistent issue.
Institutional racism:
The memoir and other commentaries highlight the presence of
institutional racism within the public sector, including the military,
where promotions and opportunities are often affected by ethnicity.
My Crew In Somalia
Manifestation in Somalia. The most striking example of this mentality in the book occurred during the UN peacekeeping mission in Somalia in 1993.
Explicit order: The operations officer explicitly forbade the Platoon Commander of Swami's unit from returning fire
if attacked by certain militants, reasoning that they were "'our
brothers' (relations by virtue of them being Muslims)".
Erosion of security:
Swami viewed this order as proof of the dangerous "our people" mindset
creeping into the armed forces, a mindset that he argued dangerously
weakened security by allowing political and religious loyalties to
override military discipline.
The personal aspect:
For Swami, a non-Malay soldier, being told that his unit's safety was
secondary to a shared ethnic-religious identity between some Malaysian
soldiers and the militants was a profound betrayal.
Young Officers of 7th Rangers
The damaging effects. The "our people" mentality described by Swami had several damaging consequences:
Compromised military readiness:
The prioritizing of racial or religious affinity over tactical
necessity made the armed forces less effective and more vulnerable.
Systemic betrayal:
The mentality represented a betrayal of the multi-ethnic ideal that the
Malaysian Armed Forces were supposed to represent. It created an
environment where non-Malay soldiers could feel that their sacrifices
were not equally valued.
Damaged morale:
Such an environment can severely damage the morale of soldiers who feel
marginalized or betrayed by their own command. Swami's story shows the
quiet, cruel war fought within the system itself.
Contradiction of service:
The mentality directly contradicts the core meaning of military
service, which is to protect and serve all citizens equally.
Swami's
memoir emphasizes that true patriotism means protecting strangers who
may never know your name, a principle corrupted by the "our people"
mindset.
Contact me to buy the book here and share with your friends who might be interested, it's RM65, text me via WhatsApp at +012 4084300 if you are interested in purchasing this book, postage is free.
