“Looking Back To Good Old Days In the Civil Service”

penned by Encik Liman Numpang

This article is written based on some of the experiences that had transpired in those good old days while Liman anak Numpang was serving in the Government Service immediately after Sarawak became a part of the Federation of Malaysia.

My first career began as a volunteer with Budu Community Development Centre. I came back to Budu in September, 1961 and worked as a volunteer at Community Development Centre rendering various types of voluntary services in that area. In normal circumstances in those days it would take about two days to paddle the longboat upriver from Saratok town to Budu Community Development Centre.

The next turn of event was that after serving as a volunteer for almost three years in Budu Community Development Centre, it was to my surprise a letter came from Kuching offering me a job in the State Civil Service. It was received with a mixed feeling and I’ve to make a painful decision whether to leave Budu or stay put since I liked the work as well as having known the people whom I worked with for the past years. It took me three months to decide and finally on 23rd January, 1965 I reported to work as a Sarawak Administrative Officer in the District Office Simanggang. At first I found the work so much different from that I had used to do and had difficult time to discipline and adjust myself to the real code of conduct of government servant. This was during the height of confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia and rightly in addition to the normal and routine administrative matters I was allocated with duties in connection with the security in nature. I could vividly remember certain events took place while serving at Simanggang District Office.

The first experience that I encountered was when a group of people from longhouse in Ulu Undup came to report that their land at Tinting Kah had been claimed by another group of Iban from the next longhouse nearby. I was advised by the Senior SAO who was sitting next to him that the initial step to be taken was to inspect the land before it could be discussed to sort out the dispute. A date was fixed for them to inform the other party for a visit to the land in dispute. I went by road up to Batu Lintang Undup and from there we walked on foot for about three hours to reach the area. When we reached the site the other party was not present at all. They showed me the direction of the longhouse which was few miles away from the disputed area. I looked at the map and to my surprise that they were on the other side of the border with the Indonesia. On realizing the danger to be around in that area during the confrontation time I directed everybody to leave the area immediately and advised them to come to the District Office the following day.

The second experience was when the local people from Upper Undup came to see the District Officer reported that the Indonesian soldiers came to their longhouses one evening and informed them that they would come back one day to attack the Malaysian Army Camp at Batu Lintang Undup. They were told that the Indonesian soldiers would gather all the able men from their longhouses to join them to attack the camp. On realizing the danger, the local people have to vacate their longhouses and constructed the temporary longhouses behind the bazaar at Batu Lintang Undup where they put up as their shelters.

The District Officer asked me to visit the area and to assess the whole situation. There was no vehicle available at the District Office so he has no choice but have to go by bus to Undup. On arrival at Batu Lintang I met one local, who was an interpreter with the army. We walked all the way through footpath from one longhouse to another at Rampu Wee, Temiang, Ijok and Munggu Ruan. Except for one longhouse at Temiang all the rest had been abandoned and also apart from the domestic animals there was not a single soul was found in the longhouse.

The other experience that I could remember very well was when Tuan Resident told me to investigate a claim by the owner of the rubber garden which was destroyed by a fire resulting from the firing of artillery towards the Indonesian Border by the Malaysian Army at Sungai Tenggang. Barely after ten minutes walk towards the border the guide who was behind me shouted informing me to stand still and not to make any move. Looking down to the front I noticed one bobby trap being planted on the footpath only about one foot away.

It was in November, 1970 having served in Simanggang for almost five years, I received a Posting Order informing me of my transfer to Bintangor District. It was a tall order and as a civil servant there was no alternative choice in those days but have to adhere to the directive. At that time Bintangor, Sarikei, Kanowit, Kapit, Mukah and Sibu districts were still under the then Third Division with Divisional Headquarters at Sibu. The whole of Third Division had been declared as Black Area of communist dominated.

On the right – travelling by Nuri helicopter together with the officials from RASCOM on physiological warfare mission into the area dominated by the CTs

Having served for barely few months at Bintangor District Office I was instructed to do relieving duty at Matu/Daro Subdistrict leaving behind the family at Bintangor. After a couple of weeks working at Matu, the District Officer called me to come back urgently to Bintangor. There was no reason stated . When I reported upon my arrival the District Officer only hinted that there would be urgent matter which needed the full participation of all the staff. Later that evening an announcement came out from Radio Malaysia that the Government declared the Third Division was under twenty- four hours curfew. Everybody was told to remain in door.

The next morning the Police vehicle turned up at his house to pick him up and brought him to the Police Station. There were two SAOs, Peter Siburat and Peter Ling already in the office. The District Officer gave a quick briefing on our immediate tasks to be carried out during the curfew hours. The most urgent job was to inform the people not to come out from their houses and at the same time to make sure there was sufficient food supply kept in the houses. This was 9th August, 1971 an operation code named “Operation Ngayau” was launched in all – out effort to curb the increasing threat that was posed by the communist terrorists in the Third Division. To facilitate the operation, a round the clock curfew was imposed in parts of Sibu, Sarikei and Bintangor districts.

For the next three months I was involved in the security operation. At first I was attached to the First Battalion of Malaysian Rangers. His mission was to carry out the physiological warfare work and to meet as many people as possible that could be found while the Armed Forces combing the area to look for the suspects.

The Operation Nganyau was extended further into the interior of Pakan Sub-district. I was flown by helicopter from Bintangor to Nanga Kedup in Ulu Wak where I was supposed to team up with the army from 8th Battalion Malay Regement who had come all the way from Wong Padong Camp, Sri Aman. The area assigned to them was the whole length of Wak area commencing from Pakan town right up to Ulu Julau to carry out security operation for one month..

The communist terrorist (CT) threat in Sarawak, particularly in the Third Division became a matter of grave concern. The militant CTs committed acts of atrocities and intimidations on innocent civilians suspected of working for the Security Forces. The worsening security situation compelled the Government on 26th March, 1972 to declare the then Third Division a “Special Security Area” code named Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM). This was to ensure that the Government machinery was fully geared and mobilized towards the objectives of maintaining public security and safety. It was therefore a joint Civil, Police and Military Command with its Headquarters staffed by Civil, Police and Military personnel. RASCOM covered Sibu, Kapit and Sarikei Divisions.

The next security operation I involved was under code named “Operation Sarak”. The area covered by this operation was the whole of Kanowit and Song districts. I was attached to one Company of Police Field Force from Lanang Camp and I was appointed as the leader of the Civic Action Group. Came together with the team were representatives from the relevant departments such as Agriculture, Welfare, Cooperative, Medical, Information and Police (Special Branch).On the day we were flown by Nuri helicopter right into the interior, to the last longhouse of upper reaches of Katibas. Their mode of movement from Upper Katibas down river was by longboats from one longhouse and then to the next one. In term of security coverage for the movement of the team, the security personnel had to walk few hours ahead of them on both sides of the Katibas river as the protection party while the Civic Action Group (CAG) members travelled by longboats and were closely escorted by the Security Forces personnel.

The mission of the CAG Team was to carry out the physiological warfare works. The team would like to meet the local people and during the meet the people session talks were delivered to explain to them not be entangled with futile activities carried out by the CTs. Where possible the CAG members organized the gotong royong by working together with the longhouse people as heart and mind project.

The entire operation lasted for six months to cover all the longhouses in Katibas area with intention to neutralize the influence upon the local people who were found to sympathize with the futile activities carried by the communist terrorists. .

Having been involved with the security operation for almost one year it was decided that I should be posted to Rajang Security Command (RASCOM) to carry out full time work with security matters. I had served in the Operation Nganyau and Operation Sarak and I knew the RASCOM area well. It was in June, 1972 I was appointed as the Assistant Staff Officer (Public Relations). In January 1974 I was appointed as the Staff Officer to take charge of Food Denial Exercise and also the Tenants Registration Exercise.

Standing – speaking to the Penan Community in connection with the Public Awareness Campaign on Bakun Hydroelectric Project

In 1978,s I took over the job as Staff Officer responsible for regrouping and resettlement in RASCOM area where the local people found threat from the communists had been on the increase and endanger the safety of their daily life. Those from Oya, Ngemah and Tada made an appeal to the Government to seriously look into their plight. Thus the regrouping and resettlement schemes were established in those areas. It was intended as the security protection as well as to provide the development for them.

The first Regrouping and Resettlement Exercise code named “Operation Empuru” was launched as a result of the wanton murder of the late Pengulu Imban at Rumah Balang, Ulu Oya on 26 January, 1971. Due to fear, insecurity and harassment by the CTs, entire population of a number of longhouses in the general area flocked into Nanga Sekuau to seek protection under the Area Security Unit (Border Scout Post).

The Government had to come and launched another operation code named “Operation Bebatak”. It was to avoid further harassment and intimidation by the CTs in Kanowit District where the people from Sungai Kabah abandoned their longhouses and farms to seek refuge near the Area Security Unit Post on 12 December, 1972 at Nanga Tada. Similarly the people in Sungai Ngemah flocked into the Area Security Post at Nanga Jagau on 2nd April, 1973 while at Nanga Ngungun took place on 12th July, 1973.

My last and most memorable experience was when he was posted to Belaga on January, 1996 and assigned to carry out the relocation of the local people affected by the Bakun Hydroelectric Project (HEP). The implementation of Bakun HEP prompted the Government to resettle 15 longhouse-settlements living within the reservoir area of Batang Balui into Asap and Koyan area of upper Belaga river. The relocation programme involved the moving of a total 1,639 families with a population of 9,428 people comprising five ethnic groups of Orang Ulu, viz: Kayan, Kenyah, Lahanan, Ukit and Penan. Apart from the 15 longhouse-settlements, there were 7 primary schools, 6 Medical Clinics, 3 Agriculture Stations and 2 Up-River Agents Stations were also affected. In complying with the directives the relevant Government agencies had to play their roles with full dedication to carry out their responsibilities such as:

i. Planning and implementation of the Resettlement Project;

ii. Conducting the public awareness campaign;

iii. Surveying works at the reservoir area and resettlement site;

iv. Documentation of materials culture and inventory survey of cemeteries and the graves; and

v. Relocation of the affected communities.

The relocation exercise was not the only the biggest task but was also the most difficult one ever carried out by the Government in terms of communication and logistics. The effected people had to travel by river for about 150 kilometres in the case of the farthest longhouse at Long Jawe, gone through dangerous rapids such as Giam Naha, Giam Kromo, Giam Ayu and Giam Daha and then by overland through another 80 kilometres of rough logging tracks and climbing the steep hills. The journey was terrifying and tough, rough and dangerous.

The lives of the displaced communities were affected in very painful way. They have been uprooted from their original place – place that they have lived and loved for ages. The longhouses, the land and gardens were left behind. The familiar beautiful green forest and the hills where they used to go for hunting and gathering food were also left behind. Their ancestral graves and sacred place were also abandoned . One day, all of this would disappear under the water when the Bakun Dam is implemented. It is realized that the single largest social impact by Bakun HEP was upon human settlements living within area that would become the reservoir while most unavoidable impact upon population of the middle and upper Balui was their relocation. Hence resettlement was integral part of the project as the dam construction itself.

It is for this reason, the State Government drew up the plan very carefully so that Bakun Resettlement Area is equipped with the socio-cultural and economic environment not completely dissimilar from what the affected communities have in their original places.

There was, of course, no guarantee that the settlers would be happy upon their arrival at the relocated site with the availability of all the modern social amenities. This was not because the Resettlement Area was inferior to their original place of abode in term of physical setting and the provision of amenities and facilities. It was just that they have a strong feeling of attachment to their old place, particularly the old folks. This was normal and would take quite sometime for them to adjust themselves to the new situation.

The Government on its part has to play its important role in assisting to adjust their lives stress-free and productive one in the Resettlement Area. The relocation of the communities was not only enable the country to tap the renewable source of power and energy but also induces the development right to the interior of Sarawak which acted as the main catalyst to the improvement of their standard of living. These were for the betterment of their future generations. These were the measures taken by the State Government to bring the communities into the mainstream of development.