Malaysia Answered Call to Help Congo Alan Teh Leam Seng

A Friend drops by early in the morning — grinning like a Cheshire cat — and proclaims success in securing a new item for his already burgeoning medal collection.

While handing over the United Nations (UN) Congo medal to me for closer scrutiny, the well known phalerist expresses satisfaction, for the timing of this latest acquisition could not have been better.

It has been six decades since the first batch of Malayan peacekeepers returned from their tour of duty in the African nation.

He recalls the time when the former Belgian colony gained independence on June 30, 1960. A string of unfortunate events eventually led to a chaotic power transition, threatened by foreign troop intervention, regional secessionist movements and, worse of all, a civil war. Conditions quickly went on a downward spiral just a week later.

To prevent a state of anarchy, the newly formed Congo government pleaded for UN intervention on July 12, 1960.

The next day, then UN secretary-general Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld addressed the Security Council during a night meeting where Resolution 143 was adopted to establish a peacekeeping coalition called the UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC) in support of the post-colonial government.

United Nations medals were given to our troops in recognition of their services in Congo.

Malayan Involvement

Malayan security forces, noted for their vast experience in peacefully winning local hearts and minds over extremist communist terrorist ideologies, were among those given the honour to help maintain Congo's territorial integrity.

On Aug 4, 1960, then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, via a telegram, offered a force of 120 men to Hammarskjöld. Upon request for further support, Tunku generously agreed to increase the size of the force.

Further negotiations ensued, and 42 officers and 571 men from the Federation Army's 4th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, and "C" Squadron, 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment, were selected for the peacekeeping mission in Congo.

Emotions ran high when the men departed on Oct 4, 1960. Members of the public packed Jambatan Suleiman that overlooked Platform No 4 of the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station as soon as dawn broke, to witness soldiers and their loved ones gather quietly.

Shortly after 7am, troops strode up to the platform with the tramp of their boots providing a ringing background to the Federation Police band's triumphal march from Verdi's Aida.

The band then promptly switched from the jaunty Begawan Solo melody to the Royal Malay Regiment's slow march, Taat and Setia, marking a change in the prevailing mood as family members surged on to the platform to say their goodbyes.

Tears flowed freely as the sea of green uniforms was engulfed by colourful kebaya and songket as sobbing mothers hugged their sons, while siblings and sweethearts bade reluctant farewells.

An order was given at 8am to board the special train destined for Port Swettenham (Port Klang today).

The heart wrenching sound of mournful sobbing rose above the spirited march, Berbuat Jasa, as the final departure bell tolled. As the train pulled away westward, emotion-filled soldiers craned their necks out of every train door and window with hopes of catching lasting glimpses of those closest to their hearts.

A Grateful Nation Bids Farewell

The wharf area was already a hive of activity when the train finally came to a halt at Selangor's primary harbour. Waiting ministers and diplomats were lost in a sea of more friends and relatives attending the official send-off. The overwhelming sadness even brought tears to Tunku's eyes. Everyone fell silent as the Kedah prince made four wishes during his speech.

With eyes trained on Malaya's finest, including his own flesh and blood, Lieutenant Tunku Ahmad Nerang, Tunku bade the men, "Selamat berlayar, selamat berjuang, selamat kembali and panjang umur". The band then broke into Auld Lang Syne as the soldiers boarded Windham County and Whitefield County, two United States landing ships entrusted with their safe passage to Africa.

The Malayans struggled to find stable footing upon arrival at Congo. Except for a few officers, the rest of them had never been abroad. It did not help their seasickness and longing for home when they had arrived at a time when the situation was at its most dire.

The numerically superior troops loyal to Colonel Mobutu Sese Seko were launching their second attack on Leopoldville (Kinshasa today) and the UN Command Headquarters there was on the verge of collapse.

Surmounting Challenges

To make matters worse, their path to Leopoldville was fraught with challenges and danger. Train derailment, a rail workers' strike and a stolen camera served as harbingers of things to come. Further along the road, a Malayan platoon was besieged at an eating place after sabre-rattling Congolese soldiers surrounded the area in an intimidation attempt. Fortunately, the Malayans kept their cool and walked past the roadblocks to safety.

The sparse welcome received in the Congolese capital was miles removed from the rousing farewell back home. Morale remained high despite the absence of the usual band reception and welcoming committee. High spirits were, however, brought back down to earth when the much looked forward to three-week rest and acclimatisation schedule was cancelled.

Our troops were immediately pressed into service as Ghanaian soldiers had begun pulling out of Leopoldville to rejoin their brigade headquarters in Kasai, while their Tunisian replacements were not due for some time.

In the interim, Malayan Special Force members had to take up arms and protect strategic installations while conducting road patrols. Our travel weary soldiers took things in their stride, mindful that they were there for a reason and not just to make up the numbers.

UN personnel heaved a sigh of relief after catching sight of Malayan infantry and Ferret armoured car patrols roving Leopoldville streets and its suburbs. Mobutu, however, was unperturbed. In a deliberate show of force and defiance, he ordered heavy weapon carriers to hit the road. Fortunately, potential skirmishes were averted as paths did not cross.

More praise was to come as Malayan troops carried out their duties without fear or favour. In one incident, a private stuck to the rules and refused entry to a high-ranking UN official when he failed to produce his area admission permit.

The enraged official threatened the private with deportation, but in the end, the latter was cleared of all charges, as rules were made to be followed for the safety of all.

During the many incidents in Congo, the language barrier proved to be a serious stumbling block.

Fortunately, patience and levelheadedness, wielded to the brink of exhaustion on our side, went a long way in preventing serious harm and bloodshed.

Soldiering On With Purpose

Moving on to the lighter side of things, my friend produces a folder filled with documents and photographs.

The collection paints a compelling picture about life in UN military camps where, despite the constant threat of danger, our servicemen managed to find solace in daily routines that were taken for granted in the past.

With living costs skyrocketing beyond their 65 Congolese francs daily allowance, Malayan soldiers leaned hard on their talented peers who rose to the occasion to cook up a storm in the kitchen.

Well armed with ingredients and spices brought from Malaya, the cooks prepared nasi lemak, rendang, sambal tumis and ayam percik that helped soothe many homesick hearts and provided them unwavering determination to see their tour of duty through before returning to the waiting arms of their loved ones.

Lack of sports facilities and public entertainment venues forced the men to spend their leisure hours writing letters home and re-reading those received dozens of times over. Scant reading materials from home like newspapers and entertainment magazines, such as Majalah Filem and Hiboran, were perused from the first page to the last. Even the usually overlooked stock market reports were studied to such an extent that several remarked in jest that they could qualify as investment consultants when time came to return home.

At the same time, many were visibly heartened by news that the Straits Times (the New Straits Times today) and Berita Harian Congo Cheer Fund, launched in January 1961, had received overwhelming response from all segments of society back home.

The strong show of national support for their sacrifices encouraged our troops to serve beyond the call of duty and, in the process, place Malaya prominently on the world stage.

Global prominence was also achieved through crucial ambassadorial roles that helped foster new friendships with fellow peacekeepers, as well as reassert ties with former colleagues who came from all corners of the British Commonwealth to answer Malaya's call for assistance during the height of communist threat in the early 1950s.

Exemplary Service

Working hand in hand with their multinational colleagues, the Malayan Special Force members gave their all to the task at hand. UN officials were so impressed by their exemplary attitude and performance that the scheduled three-week duty in Leopoldville was stretched to nearly four months.

It was only after deadly skirmishes broke out in February 1961 that four armoured Ferret cars and 100 Malayan servicemen were rushed to Kivu province in aid of the embattled Nigerian peacekeeping force there. Days later, more of our soldiers left Leopoldville to help bring order to Equator, Kasongo and Kindu provinces.

By then, the situation in Congo had deteriorated to such an extent that several countries decided to pull their troops out.

Tunku, however, stood firm. Instead of giving the order to withdraw, he showed nerves of steel by sending 800 more men to bring the Malayan Special Force to brigade strength by April 1961.

Although Tunku's unprecedented move initially received brickbats from political opponents, his brave decision was justly vindicated when Congo pulled back from the brink and prospects that looked bleak just months ago began to brighten considerably.

Many Congolese knew that all would have been lost had Tunku and his close Indian prime minister friend, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, not stood by the UN during that crucial hour of need.

With the country on relatively better footing and the road to normalcy considerably clearer, time came for the pioneer batch to bid Congo farewell and hand over their duties to their much better prepared colleagues.

Tunku's four wishes, made some nine months earlier, were fulfilled when the servicemen returned to the loving arms of their loved ones at Port Swettenham on July 29, 1961.

With heads held high, the men had done Malaya proud. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, their exemplary determination had made it plain to the world that our young country was all for world peace and supported its pledges to the UN with such magnificent deeds that would echo in eternity.

This article was published in The New Straits Times dated 5 December 2021.

Republished with permission from the author (Alan Teh Leam Seng) and The New Straits Times.