INDEPENDENCE, NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY TOO PRECIOUS TO LET GO, SAYS FORMER VAT69 MEMBER

BY NUR AIMIDIYANA ZUHER AND NURADILA ABDUL WAHAB

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- For someone who used to be at the
frontline in safeguarding the country from enemy threats, nothing can ever shake the
spirit of patriotism in the heart of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)
A.Navaratnam.

For the love of the country, the former member of the Royal Malaysia Police's
69th Commando Battalion, better known as the Very Able Troopers 69 or VAT69,
even turned down requests from his three sons to live with them overseas.

Now aged 77, Navaratnam has vowed to spend the rest of his life with his wife
Kanga Ambujan, 69, in Malaysia.

Relating his experience as a VAT69 member in an interview with Bernama, he said
all the challenges he faced in line of duty had taught him to appreciate the
meaning of independence and the importance of defending the sovereignty of the
country.

He said when VAT69 was formed in 1969 (hence the 69), the communists were very
active in terrorism and threatening the lives of the people in the country and
the government felt the need to have a combat unit to counter the tactics and
techniques of the communist guerillas in the jungles.

Hence, after undergoing intensive commando training for three and a half months
in Ulu Kinta, in northern state of Perak, Navaratnam was among 34 men qualified
to form the nucleus troop of VAT69.

"Most of the trainings involved physical obstacles where you must use your
common sense. If not, you will be kicked out. It was very tough because we
needed quality, good people who could withstand the training," he said.

During their operations to track down communist guerillas in the jungle,
Navaratnam said the VAT69 members also had to face other challenges including
threats posed by wild animals as well as dangerous snakes and insects.

"One of my bitter experience was tracking the guerillas in the jungles of
Pahang. They were reported to be heading to Raub to create chaos and the
situation was very critical.

"We were ordered to move very fast but the 'Tok Batin' (leader) of an Orang Asli
community refused to give us a lead and cooperation.

"After 29 days moving in the jungle, we finally managed to locate the 53
communist guerillas and killed them before they reached Raub," he said.

Asked why the existence of VAT69 was never made public, he said it was the
government's intention to keep the unit a secret.

"We never gave press releases. So that's why a lot of reporters, journalists and
people out there never knew about our existence. Everything was a secret. We
didn't want anyone to identify us so that the enemy will not know that we
existed," he said.

Navaratnam said the existence of VAT69 was only publicised when they created one
success after another in combating communist terrorists.

Until now, he said, VAT69 still existed, but its role had probably changed since
the communist insurgency ceased.

In appreciation of his service, Navaratnam was conferred the Ahli Mangku Negara
(AMN) award in 1973 and Ahli Mahkota Pahang (AMP) award in 1980.

He has also authored a book entitled "The Spear and The Kerambit" which tells
about his experiences as a member of VAT69.
-- BERNAMA