For Bhakta, now 73 and a founding member of the Malaysian Gurkhas Association, it had all been part of his duty.  "I was 17 years old when I joined the police force after the Emergency was declared in 1948.  The Government had called for people to defend the country against the communist guerrillas.  I remember we spent only five weeks training at Tanjung Keling, Malacca before we were sent into the jungle to search for communist terrorists.  Other Gurkhas and I would often fight alongside the 2nd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles regiment.  So many of us died, but none of us felt any fear" he said when interviewed.  Bhakta said this was because fearlessness was already in the blood of every Nepalese soldier or Gurkha as they were known.

On Sunday, Bhakta was among 150 war veterans and country representatives to attend the first remembrance cemeromy held for Gurkhas killed Perak during the Emergency at the Syed Putra Camp in Ipoh, with accompaniment from bagpipes from the Second Gurkha Regiment in Brunei.  After observing a minute's silence, Napalese Hundu priest Hari Mistra and Rev Canon Charles Fraser offered prayers, following which wreaths were laid on the graves.

National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Liaison Officer R. Thambipillay, who organised the event said it was fitting that the Gurkhas were remembered fro their sacrifices as they had contributed immensely towards Malaya's independence since World War Two.

For Bhakta the ceremony was a bittersweet moment as he found himself overwhelmed with emotion reminiscing the past.  He hoped the Government could do more to recognise the sacrifices of others who had laid down their lives for the country.

"Although I am gratetful for the one-time RM1,000 gratuity for those who had served during the Emergency, it would be better if we could also get a small allocation of money or rice every month.  Many of us are finding it hard to support ourselves and a monthly contribution would go a long way  towards helping us" he said.

Earlier about 280 local and foreign servicemen, war veterans and planters attended the largest  gathering at he God's Little Acre cemetery in Batu Gajah to honour comrades killed during the Emergency.

On June 16th 1948, communists guerillas shot dead British Planters John Allison, Arthur Walker and Ian Christian at the Elphil Estate near Sungai Siput, sparking off the Emergency which lasted until 1960.  Among those who laid wreathes during the Batu Gajah ceremony were the High Commissioners and representatives from Britain , Australia, New Zealand, India and Republic of Fiji. 

The Batu Gajah cememony was organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Association.  The first ceremony was held in 1980 by Thambipillay who was then district OCPD.

by Christian Koh