ARTICLES

The Siege of Bukit Kepong (Kepung): The Malayan Alamo

by A L (Paddy) Bacskai

Kampong Bukit Kepong Police Station, lay at the SW apex of a big bend in the Muar river at around the 65km mark and upstream from its mouth on the west coast of the State of Johore in Malaya. The village itself was small and isolated - consisting of about twenty shops and groups of accompanying houses - and by early 1950 the area had became a hive of CT activity. From the month of January onwards, there had been a noticeable increase in the tempo of contacts & incidents - both road and river ambushes amongst other - but the most disconcerting of all, was the discovery of blazed trail markings showing the way towards the town. The nearest township of note to BK was Lenga, about 10km to the south along a rough enemy controlled dirt road in a vehicle or a 2 ½ hour foot patrol, but apart from this, it was just a few other like kampongs scattered about. The station was commanded by OCPS Sgt Ray Dancey - an old Palestine hand and away at the time and a point not missed by the CT - and manned by a mixed platoon of 15 Malay Regular and Marine Police Constables under the stocky and redoubtable Sgt Jamil Mohd Shah. At the time this force was complimented by three Special Constables (SC) and four local Auxiliary Police (AP) as needed by the post to assist with the guarding and other duty. A force of 22 all told. Thirteen police wives and children were also lodged in the married quarters at the rear of the compound. Communications in and out of BK were poor - hence the marine police attachments and the station’s launch service down to Muar - and signals to and from its nearest neighbour Kampong Java at about a kilometre away, as with kampongs Gek & Tui further on, was by the use of gongs. Even the outpost’s name was ominously translated as 'Siege Hill’- but this was historically believed to have originated from it’s 186m namesake 5km to the east. Now in the early AM darkness of the 23rd of February 1950, the 200 strong 4th Independent Coy under the joint leadership of one of the few Malay CTs within the MRLA called Muhammad Indera AKA Mat Indra from Muar (the main leader was believed the tactical mastermind & Commissar Goh Peng Tun), well armed with a full compliment of infantry weapons, began its move in towards the BK compound (for layout see map). The CT’s aim was to teach the police post a comprehensive lesson and to use it as an example to others and Mat Indra - who wore a talisman around his neck and so believed bulletproof by some - was contemplating a quick and easy straight forward job. As February the 23rd 2000 was the 50th Anniversary of the Battle at Bukit Kepong - an epic by any standard at arms - the following is a reconstruction of the phases of the battle which followed:

0400hrs - after some difficulty in the darkness, the CT Coy deploys to complete the encirclement of BK. The group is accompanied by some of the wives and children and these are to act as medical staff and to carry away the CT KIA (mainly in gunny sacks provided). Half the force is deployed to the front and main parts of the compound (Group 1), with the other half in Pl group lots (Groups 2 & 3), deployed to the other three sides. At this point, there is only L/Cpl Jidin bin Omar and SC Abdul Kadir Jusoh within the Charge Room, and two APs in Samad Yatin & Osman Yahya on guard in the compound backed by SC Jaffar Hassan with a Sten. There is also every indication, that the latter had become aware of the CT’s movements,

0430hrs - SC Jaffar challenges and fires on a CT who is seen to fall and the attack on the wire begins and builds up to the accompaniment of screaming and bugle blasts and although all forward sides are attacked simultaneously, the CTs mainly concentrate on the penetration of the front of the installation and where the post’s main strong-points are housed. They had expected to totally surprise the station - but are in turn! Caught completely by surprised by the volume and intensity of the return fire. This particularly from the two Bren Guns embedded underneath the Charge Room - it being a raised structure on posts - but also as from within the C/R itself as well as from the back and sides of the compound. Around this juncture, AP Osman is KIA and SC Jaffar is wounded, with the wives and children of the policemen fully noted assisting their menfolk with the defence of the base,

0450hrs - the initial CT assault is beaten back after a protracted exchange but at the loss of Sgt Jamil who had been manning one of the Brens under the C/R, and who is now seen slumped lifeless over one of the weapons. There were trapdoors in use for access down to the Bren guns. Command is now assumed by the junior NCOs like the youthful and diminutive Cpl Mohd Yassim and the much larger L/Cpl Jidin bin Omar (later fatally WIA)and combined casualties for both sides at this time, are placed at a dozen plus. The police wives and children left sheltering in the flimsy walled and also elevated married quarter building behind, make up a good portion of this. Also as such, at around this period. Four of the wives and five children manage to make their escape out of the compound,

0500hrs - Auxiliary Police and small groups of citizen volunteers are mobilised around Kampong Java under the headman Penghulu Ali bin Mustaffa, and these react to the attack by going to BK’s aid. They’re expected by the CT rearguard however and in turn ambushed and held engaged in skirmishes and suffering casualties. About this time the defenders main firepower in the two Bren guns back at the station, are knocked out,

0530hrs - the CTs continue a number of assaults on the wire and lighting and which provides them with a small breach at the front side and with which they attempts an envelopment of the C/R but are still held and beaten back from within and from the interlocking fire from the married quarters. Some of the weapons are at this point wielded by the wives remaining. Mat Indra is reported frantic at the lack of progress after an hour and wary of the approaching daylight, calls for an all out bayonet charge at 0600. Both the compound and CT casualties had mounted and are being treated in situ by the wives and children as before. The CT casualties had been retrieved under fire, and it was noted how the police would not fire at the women and children so involved.

0600hrs - visibility is now better and the CTs hit the wire again in a frantic mass as ordered, but are again surprisingly beaten back with the exception of some further gains at the SW rear and left hand side by the married quarters. Mat Indra now calls for a pause to reconsider his options. During this period and as it had been throughout the engagement, loud hailers and personal voice addresses had been used on the defenders in an attempt to get them to surrender. But to no avail - in spite of the fact that they had suffered badly - and just as the many alternate offers of ‘safe conduct’ out of the area had been treated with defiance and derision,

0700hrs - the frontal targets are now isolated by the CTs and all efforts concentrated in the vicinity of the previous gains around the rear and SW side and this providing them with an instant result. One of the police wives captured in this thrust, Miriam Ibrahim the wife of Constable mohamad Jaafar, told her captors that only an other woman and her young child were left alive in the married quarters. The CTs force Miriam to appeal to the men to surrender but this is duly ignored. About this time, Fatimah Yaaba and her son Hassan are also taken, also asked to appeal to the men, and on refusal Fatimah is executed. Her husband Constable Abu Bakar Daud the base’s MP launch driver down at his duty station on the Muar river - perhaps aware of the personal tragedy which had just taken place - elects to fight to the death in a skirmish with the CT sent to capture and sink his launch. In the final outcome he is shot through the chest & arm. There are indicators that some others were either sent or also went to assist him with getting away for help. But this group is also assumed engaged by the CTs. And although its also believed that the MP Constable could have saved himself if he chose by starting his motors and casting off, he never ever did. At this point, the CTs consolidate their hold on the rear of the complex through the torching of both the launch (which sank) and the married quarters - with the reported wife Saadiah and daughter Simah still alive inside and refusing to come out - and throwing the executed woman’s body into the flames as well. Also about this time, the villagers of Durian Chondong a riverine kampong to the west, dispatched a boat down to Lenga to inform the police of the attack,

0800hrs - full daylight and with the rear of the compound ablaze, the CTs execute a determined grenade ‘pincer’ attack against the C/R and are finally successful. Setting it ablaze as well. Then picking off both male and female survivors attempting to get out with rifle shots - some seen with their clothing fully on fire at this point - and capturing Hassan bin Abu Bakar the young son of badly wounded MP Constable Abu Bakar in the process. Hassan was caught in the vicinity of the silenced Bren guns, with some believing that he was the last person seen standing or perhaps even attempting to fire, one of the weapon at this duty station. Perhaps he was just too shocked to leave his comatose father nearby or his dead mother Fatimah’s funeral pyre. But either way! The brave lad was thrown live into the raging flames of the C/R along with all the dead and wounded police defenders including Sgt Jamil. Also about this time, news of the attack is relayed to Police District HQ at Pagoh, and a relief force of Jungle Squad and Seaforth Highlanders is prepared for a forced march to BK,

0930hrs - Mat Indra finally declares the objective taken - five hours after the commencement of what had been considered a simple action - and stating that they the MRLA ‘had dealt a glorious blow against the Imperialists and for the Liberation of the Oppressed People’ (he would later be KIA in an ambush). Also around this time, a boatful of villagers from Durian Chondong and coming to investigate and to assist, are also engaged by the CT force as they pull out,

0940hrs - a spotter aircraft also sent out to investigate, calls back to base that there is nothing but a charred ruin - ‘with no signs of life in evidence’

1030hrs - the exhausted relief force from Pagoh led by OC JJ Raj Jr, finally arives to take charge and is greeted by scenes of massive devastation. But the refurbishment of the BK station area, at times a slow refurbishment, does now begin,

12 Regular Police, two Special Constables, all of the four Auxiliary Police and four dependants, a total of 22, fought to the death at the Battle of Bukit Kepong. AP Constable Ali Akop bin Ahmad, who had earlier been cited for a Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry for a previous action, and once out of rounds, was last seen charging the barbed wire with his parang as example. A further four constables were found severely wounded within the compound. Of these survivors, as apart from the women and children who had managed to slip out much earlier, only PC Yusof Rono and well in his seventies now, is still alive today. A further two APs were also KIA and a number of locals WIA during the relief actions as mentioned. The CTs would only ever admit to around 10 casualties, but a quadruple of this would be very much closer to the mark. From the outset, the garrison had been outnumbered ten to one yet it never slackened in its resolve to do its duty. Even after the death of Sgt Jamil, and who is credited with the setting of the tone of the resistance, no one nor at anytime, appeared to consider the numerous offers of surrender or ‘safe conduct’ held out to them by the CT. Bukit Kepong was also the first real indicator for the MRLA, that the affable layback Malay, might just not be the easy mark that had been estimated. And that they would clearly constitute an additional factor in their the MCP’s, over simplistic overview of Red independence and rule in Malaya. It was also noted how quickly the humble kampong Malays, reverted to the fatalistic strength of their Muslim faith when cornered. In the final analysis, the words of an SEP who was one of the attacking force expresses it all - ‘I admired them at the time, and admire them to this very day’.

THE 12TH ABORIGINAL ASAL (PROVEDORE) GROUP: THE FLESHING OUT OF A PHANTOM ARMY.

Preamble: The 12th Regiment’s Aboriginal Asal (Provedore) Group in North Perak, covered an area of about 2500 square kilometres and ran from the Betong Salient area of the Thai-Malay border down past the river Perak and continuing southwards to the foothills of the ‘Spine of Malaya’ ranges and overlapping the Perak-Kelantan border. At a rough guess, the Aborigines within this area - most highly transient - would have numbered at around 4000 and were made up of the primitive and fewer Negrito and the more advanced and prolific Temiar Senoi. Ladang (village) numbers in the Negrito’s case, could be a family group of thirty with an area enlargement of up to 150, while for the Temiars, this figure could be doubled. In the case of some of the tighter area clusters around the southernmost forts like Kemar & Chabai, these figures would be much higher. During the Emergency and even to this day, we tend to use the erroneous generic of ‘Sakai’ whenever talking of or about the Malayan Aboriginal jungle people. A term well meaning early Anthropologists picked up off the locals. But this word means a person of low or ‘slave caste’ and at the time ‘as back then’ intended to mean exactly this in every sense. Its also an obvious insult now known to aggrieve the Aboriginal or ‘Orang Asli’ people and so we’ll only use the last or correct titles in this segment.

General Situation: Anyone who has ever operated on the Perak side of the Thai-Malay border 1948-61 or longer, would have been aware of the local Aboriginal people. The ‘wilder’ Negrito in the north of the area and the more ‘tamer’ Temiar further down south. And would have encountered their slash & burn garden ‘ladang’ villages but above all, been aware of their undisputed support for the CTs. As a result, all Orang Asli had to be considered ‘sympathetic’ and so this indigenous CT auxiliary or ‘jungle Min Yuen’ - and which in the main they were and a genuine tactical concern, wore the nomenclature of the Aboriginal Asal Unit or Group. The Malay word ‘asal’ means the origin or ‘source of’ and in our case, it referred to their supply of food, equipment and services to the CT. Some of the Asal were rabid CTs (one was known to have had a good body count of Japanese and SF troops) while some were opportunists like many of the chiefs - playing both sides and ends - while the remainder and majority would do enough to get by and be left alone. This activity of course, had its origins back in the MPAJA’s war years. But it had also been reinforced through physical and mental pressure again (in some cases by the massacre of a ladang) over the course of the Emergency years. Our main CT protagonist in Ah Su Chey, as example, had even married thirteen of the local maidens to secure the ongoing maintenance of this system (a tough job but somebody had to do it!). But even this would have only been achieved through duress or subterfuge (payments to the chiefs) as the acutely spiritualistic and superstitious Aboriginal lifestyle, frowned on outside marriages. In general, they also disliked the Chinese. The openly condescending attitude of the fort-shop, riverine produce or rattan trading Chinese and even our own ex SEP JCLO’s, made sure of this point. But be this as it may! By the time we of 1RAR came on to the Betong Salient and Perak River scene (as it must have been for our predecessors the 1st Bn Loyals or any other unit before this) the Aborigines were well and truly in the CT’s pockets. And had been for decades! But foregoing any historical links, the fermentation of disloyalty and resistance towards an outside authority wouldn’t have been that hard to achieve anyway. As the Orang Asli naturally mistrusted any authority other than their own, and had little or no concept of outside government. The various police forts in our area; Fort Tapong, Kemar (the ‘Gardens Area’) and Chabai further south, had been partly intended for the introduction of this aspect, but in the main established for the Orang Asli’s protection against the CTs.

Race or Ethnic Grouping: There are several racial or ethnic groups and sub groupings within the Malay Peninsula Aborigines as well as a variety of traditions and language. But the three predominant and acknowledged strains pertaining however, are the Negrito of the north, the more prolific Temiar & Semai Senoi of the central regions and the Jakun of the southern tip. Although the Negrito are seen as the more ancient strain, its the Jakun that are considered the first ‘Orang Utan’ or Jungle Men occupants of the peninsula area, while the Temiar originally migrated down from the Central Highlands region of Indo China.

Physical Appearance: Most of the Orang Asli met or stayed with were small, around 5ft (152cm) or smaller and generally akin to any other pygmy race. They varied from brown to near black and depending on diet (as on additional fort rationing or on the Perak River with access to fish), could vary in muscular development from very good to lean. Those subsisting solely in the deep ulu had the aerobic leanness expected, but also the organic and skin deseases to go with it, and during which they would be anaemic. The Negritos as per name, had the distinct facial features of forehead and nose and hair common to the Negro race; akin to some tribesmen seen in New Guinea. While the more symmetrically featured and straighter haired Temiar, fell closer in line with Malay body shapes. The men wore loincloths and the women sarongs tied over or under their breasts. European shorts, shirts or some mixture was also not uncommon. The kids generally ran around naked. The women up to teenage years could be quiet attractive, but on marriage and particularly after childbirth, would metabolise to the old and ‘razor strop’ boobs stage very rapidly; again shades of New Guinea. Whenever on a deliberate move, the Orang Asli would pad purposefully in file with their two metre blowpipes at the slope and dart quivers and knives at the waist (head Penghulu with an issue shotgun) and presenting a fascinating primordial sight. But unfortunately due to fort and river trade. The odd Seiko watch which never ran or Ronson lighter (set on full foot long flame) was also beginning to make an appearance.

Language: The northern languages of Bornean Dyak (Negrito) and Mon-Khemer (Temiar) origins, were very difficult in as much as the Orang Asli would have two or three words or even sounds (tongue or nasal notes) for something, while down the road, these same ones could mean an entirely different thing. But a sample of how a Negrito might sound is as follows. Pai (you), Yek (me), Temkal (man), Mabeh (woman), Haiak (shelter), Beteu (water), Eg (give), Kemoin (tiger), Jekob (snake) and Oi? (maybe).

Habitat: Basic village or group life, evolved around the cycles of the ‘slash & burn’ Ladang gardens (from where the Orang Asli village’s get their name). As after a few cycles of jungle crops; tapioca, dry rice or corn and such, they would move on and repeat the procedure. Pigs and jungle fowl could also be seen. Each family group within a Ladang had its own Penghulu or head, but the chief Penghulu as such, was never elected and would emerge over time on the basis of character. Shelters within a Ladang could vary from rough lean-too or humpies to open sided huts and the atypical attap bamboo Malayan dwelling. The latter would also be on stilts to avoid predators. In one Negrito Ladang next to the border - with a ‘Kongsi’ longhouse as the group’s centrepiece - I noted the huts in a neat ‘L’ shape with what appeared an old parade ground in the middle, and got the distinct impression, that I was in the middle of a CT camp. And which it probably was, or had been! Or would revert to again after we had gone - or over time. The more primitive slash & burn was found along the banks of the Perak River (with Chinese squatters often ‘embracing’ many of these) as opposed to further south in the Temiar’s Temengor Ladangs, and where some European or Chinese gardening influences seemed to come through. Here it could be patches of long extended Ladangs neatly planted and weeded and taking on the appearance of rural civilisation. It was also the area where Ah Su Chey would get his main provisions from. But then being spiritualistic, the Orang Asli could abandon these very same Ladangs on short notice if one of their members died, in order to escape the destructive powers of the departed’s Spirit Alterego. In further ritualistic vein. They had no formal marriage apart from an approved courtship followed by consummation of the relationship and a feast (divorce could be equally simple). The oldest brother of a hunter away on an extended trip, also had the ‘right of night’ with the wife during this absence in some groups. Spirit dances of all ilk were paramount! Equally, ritualistic or punitive suicide could amount to self impaling by the defaulter hurling him or herself onto sharpened pangis from a bamboo platform - bum first! But a rare occurrence we were told.

Religious Beliefs: The Orang Asli lived their daily lives on the perceived whims of their departed ancestral and other important ritualistic or functional ‘Halak’ Ghost Spirits. All based on past figures and considered one with the living. In turn, they would base the future on the intense and daily interpretations of their dreams. Thus, a simple change meeting between us and them could prove a traumatic experience for an Orang Asli. Not because we might have turned on his group (as at times we should have when caught at a CT task) but because they would also attempt to ‘interpret’ the spirit implications of any encounter. Our sudden appearance could herald a Halak manifestation in their eyes, but above all, might prove a precursor to some evil event. The Orang Asli considered themselves under spirit scrutiny and influence every minute of the day. While their Shaman guides cum medicine witchdoctors, were in fact considered Halak in human form and to be treated as supernatural beings. Anyone or anything could be deemed Halak in a disguised form. But in spite of this complicated lifestyle, they were generally very happy.

Operational Policy: Our general operational policy towards the Aborigines was mainly one of ‘Hearts & Minds’ and we were to treat them well and win them over from the CT. As a result, we often gave them the benefit of the doubt; on odd occasions to the point of sparing their lives when we shouldn’t have. A most frustrating situation for any young soldiers (A Company opened fire on a group conducting what appeared a courier task in the darkness and were chastised) but in the main, we Aussies and Kiwis liked the Orang Asli. They in particular took to the Maori boys. And once they overcome their fears and apprehensions and extreme shyness - fits of nervous giggling or acute sullenness - a rapport of sorts was always established. But then, with the Negritos in particular; the more skittish of the groups and who were more closely managed by the CTs rather than their chiefs, it would remain a case of the Orang Asli being fearful of our physical size and appearance - as the CTs had always told them that we would eat them. So in the long run, I don’t believe that we ever converted too many of the Asal’s membership over to our side. This in spite of some of our Companies even living alongside at times and to great and mutual benefit. It was our overall and constant presence and anti CT activities in the AO I feel, along with the presence of the jungle forts, which brought about the confirmed Asal surrenders that did take place. And which turned out relatively reasonable. And with the main Temiar area leader in Kerinching finally surrendering his carbine to our CO Bill Weir (after an attempted entrapment of As Su Chey in which we were involved) in September 1960. Ah Su Chey - our particular one as there were many alias' amongst the CTs - carried on and was even believed wounded later but never caught.

A L (Paddy) Bacskai

NMBVAA Branch WA (Whitfords)

1st February, 2001