A Dive into the Past in Sabah

Confrontation Monument Tawau

I knew that my father served in Sabah during Konfrontasi but I knew little else. Recently, he asked if I would take him on a trip to see the places where he deployed over 50 years ago. I agreed, and the elaborate road trip turned out to be an education and an appreciation of Sabah.

In 1963, Sukarno vehemently opposed the formation of the Federation of Malaysia for reasons that is truly only known to him, and launched Konfrontasi.  Outwardly, it was to oppose the consolidation of the British influence in the region. Others believed that it was to create an external issue to distract from rising opposition at home. Thus began the undeclared war between Indonesia and Malaysia, primarily focused along the border area between Indonesia and East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. The conflict was characterised by small group guerrilla action and isolated light infantry ground combat.

The Garrison in Tawau today

My father was sent as part of a Brigade rotation to protect the infant Federation in Sabah. Newly commissioned in 1962, he was notified that he would be sent on a six month rotation which would begin in Oct 1964.  My mother insisted that my father marry her and leave her with child, just in case he did not make it home. He married her in May, she became pregnant in June, and my father left in Oct 1964, returning only in March 1965, thus missing the birth of his first son.

Tawau Golf Course Today

2nd Lieutenant Albert Tan was platoon commander of Platoon 7, Bravo Company of the 1st Malaysian Infantry Regiment (1MIR) the unit that would revert to become the 1st Battalion of the Singapore Infantry Regiment. 1MIR had the pioneers of the military in both countries after separation. The Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel Mohd Ghazali Mohd Seth, affectionally known as Gary, would go on to become the Malaysian Chief of Defence Force.  For the Singaporeans, Battalion Signal Officer Captain Winston Choo would go on to be Chief of General Staff of the SAF, Battalion Intelligence Officer Captain Edward Yong would go on to become Chief Infantry Officer, Platoon Commander 2nd Lieutenant Clarence Tan, would go on to become Chief Commando Officer. (My father would become the equivalent of Chief Armour Officer.) At independence, British officers continued to serve in the newly formed armed forces. Bravo Company Commander was Maj Brian Whitworth - whom my father has memories of - and the 2i/c was Captain George Mitchell, a Singaporean. 

Garrison Photo 1964

1MIR was deployed in the south eastern tip of Sabah to prevent infiltration of Indonesian KKO (Korps Komando Operasi) or Special Forces. The Battalion HQ was based in Tawau, the Tactical HQ in the island of Pulau Sebatik in Wallace Bay with forces deployed in Simpang Tiga on the same island, and further afield in Semporna and Lahad Datu.  Any look of the map would show the impossibility of the task of that single battalion to prevent incursions across the sea and land borders. As such, the presence was more to bolster confidence in the locals, and the frequent patrols in the jungle used to conduct surveillance and deter infiltration. These were the days of Alouette helicopters, SMG rifles and pistols.

   

Map of Sebatik

Pulau Sebatik was his main place of operations. It remains a curiousity. The island, even today is divided on a straight line along the 4deg 10min latitude between Indonesia and Malaysia. This was the wisdom Colonial masters employed in dividing up the spoils amongst each other - in this case between the British and the Dutch - using straight lines to divide islands and communities.  This made for undefendable borders. The curiousity is that even today, there is no border control on the island.  My father recalled a logging company with elaborate operations on the island - probably the North Borneo Timbers Company -  with an expatriate community and a sawmill in Wallace Bay, where the wife of the manager would provide tea and coffee to troops.  Today, this is all gone, and there is a remnant of a British house which locals are unsure who it belonged to.  Pulau Sebatik is today not easily accessible with only one boat ferry per day from the mainland.

Airport 2018

Airport in 1964

The more important town was Tawau, the major population centre. The old airfield where the DC3 would land troops there is today abandoned, but sits next to the Army garrison, unrecognisable because the original buildings have all been demolished. The old British Army golf course remains and so does the Yacht Club. Curfews were imposed during the confrontation period. My father recalled a mortar attack killing a fellow Major and soldiers in the transit camps. This meant that the KKO forces, probably with 60mm mortars, was within 2km of the camp, probably using the hill just behind the camp Someone must have been sacked for such poor security. A monument lies in the centre of town to remember those that gave up their lives during confrontation. 

Tawau suffered badly during the Second World War - with the belfry being the oldest surviving building - meaning it was flattened. But today, it has developed to become the third biggest town in Sabah with a population of 300000 with dual carriageways and modern malls. I was authentically surprised to find such a jewel in an isolated corner of Sabah, a place worth spending a relaxing weekend simply because of the food and laid back feel.

Kalabakan Today

We also made the detour to a village called Kalabakan. It is immortalised in folklore of Konfrontasi as the location where 8 soldiers from the 3rd Malay Regiment lost their lives to Indonesian assailants on 29 Dec 1963.  

Hills of Sabah

The long drive to visit multiple cities along the ring road around Sabah allowed us to talk, eat good food and appreciate the scenery - mountains, valleys and beautiful seas.  The road conditions were not the best but was good enough to make it a pleasant drive - no need for a 4 x 4. . And although the towns of Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Semporna were disappointing, there is always something there that would make you smile. As a human being the drive made me sad.  Sabah has seen incredibly large swaths of the rainforest give way to palm oil plantations. I can imagine what the pristine rainforest used to look like. We can only hope that the forest that remains gets preserved for posterity and that we protect the precious wildlife in there that continues to call it home.