To mark the 20th anniversary of the Hatyai Peace Accord which ended 41 years of communists insurgency, we published exclusive interviews with the former Sec Gen of the Communist Party of Malaya, Chin Peng and one of the architects of the Accord, Tan Sri Rahim Noor who was then head of the Special Branch.
They had talked about the Accord and Chin Peng's wish to return.
This time we talk to some former soldiers and policemen who had, prior to 1989, spent a good part of their lives hunting down the communist guerrillas. They talk about their experience and what they feel about Chin Peng wanting to return.
Our first veteran is En Bahari Ismail former Squad 69 personnel attached to the 3rd Battalion Pasukan Polis Hutan (Jungle Police).
Squad 69 was formed soon after the May 13 1969 racial clash and its sole purpose was to hunt communist terrorists deep into the jungles of the peninsular as well as in Borneo, primarily in Sarawak. The PPH was also allowed hot pursuit across Thai territory on the Malaysian - Thai border.
During his career in the PPH, En Bahari has had some harrowing experiences. He has been wounded in an ambush and seen his colleagues killed by friendly fire.
