Downfall of Chong Chor

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All was forgotten, our Police somehow or rather got wind that there were Communist sympathizers around the Batu Caves. So the sympathizer’s house was watched 24/7. Surrendered Enemy Personnel (SEP’s) were used. Soon Chong Chor was identified. He was tracked to Jalan Tengku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur, in an eatery. The Police made it look like a robbery gone wrong and he was captured and whisked away.

Comrade.. . From Communist Brigade.... Hotbed in Slim an area to carefully wade.... In jungle but none as they made escapade..... They made a clean getaway to call a spade a spade..... But little did anyone know that his craving for bak ku teh led to arrest situation selfmade.... Letting his guard down for a bowl of stew his luck to fade.... As he forgot to wear lucky charm amulet made of jade.... Tasting bak ku teh got him a taste of his own medicine which is ambush the enemy as renegade. -  By Loganathan Kondiah

So finally, a big pain was caught in the future. Unfortunately, for us, we had to endure the pain for many more years. That was in 1988, the 6th Assault Unit become defunct. Which many an idiot interpreted as surrendered. It became official in 1989 called it cessation of hostilities. Back to the operations in Cameron Highlands we were dropped off in dark along the road on a steep incline.

Of course the sand flies came to feast on us. We did not know the exact spot, where we were dropped off at. We did not have the luxury of global positioning systems at that time. It was basic map reading, when daylight came, amazing I told myself there were a bunch of Orang Asal all around us. If they were Communists Terrorists, we would all be dead.

We were actually hunkered down wearing balaclavas and wrapped in ponchos against the elements. Shit, getting killed like that would have been a bloody disgrace. We quickly got up and greeted them. I approached an older person who looked like the headman, shook his hands and offered him a cigarette, he took one cigarette and placed it behind his ear and was observing my cigarette pack.

He took another one and placed it in his mouth which I lighted. I gave him a whole pack which he shared with others. The remaining he kept for himself. I explained to him that we were looking for bad men armed with weapons. He said he and the others had not seen anyone like that. He pointed behind us and said maybe there. After a while after discussing with Sergeant Wellington and the three others.

I roughly estimated where we were. I plotted the route and estimated where to head to. After saying goodbyes to our new found friends we headed towards the destination I had plotted. We made good progress climbing a steep incline. Once we made it to the top of the hill, as our water bottles were filled, we decided to cook for lunch and have our breakfast.

Usually cooked the rice. Whatever food carried by the signaler was to be consumed first. So as to lighten his load, he carries the radio set. The dynamo for the radio set we take turns to carry as it was heavy, which is also known as “baby elephant” (anak gajah). Cooked rice to be packed and carried so as not to waste time and use resources at hand as there was a clear little stream.

The combat rations we just needed to heat up or eat them cold. We had coffee and hard biscuits, which even though unappealing we ate. I also carried five packs of instant noodles, which were considered, contraband. I gave two packs to be cooked and shared amongst all of us.

Actually, all of us had five packs of instant noodles. While one person cooked, we took up defensive positions all round.