Questioning honour given to Kanang like disrespecting the king – Wan Junaidi
Posted on January 8, 2013, Tuesday
KUCHING:
Those questioning the rationale for the amount of honour given to war
heroes such as the late Temenggong Datuk Kanang Langkau are indirectly
showing disrespect to the Yang di-Pertuan Agung who conferred them the
Sri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) award.The state funeral with full military honours given to the only recipient of the SP and Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB) on Sunday had become a subject of controversy when an online blog belittled the recognition.
On this, Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the public should not disrespect these heroes who had sacrificed much for the country.
The Santubong MP, who is also the state Ex-Policemen Association chairman, stated that all war veterans were deeply disappointed
and dismayed by those who had questioned or belittled the honour and recognition given to the country’s patriots.
“People used to say that when Datuk Kanang entered the jungle, he could acclimatise himself until he became part of the jungle. Which means to show how good he was in the jungle. The same goes to the country’s sole George Cross Medal recipient Awang Raweng who was my instructor when I joined the Field Force.
“I know them well. Once they entered the jungle, they became one with the forest. Such is their jungle surviving skills and tracking ability. Under these circumstances, we do not want any member of the public to simply put down these patriots.
“It is because of these war heroes, their sacrifices, spilling blood during combat that we can enjoy the peace and prosperity that the country enjoys today. It is not easy to see your fellow comrade fall in battle. So please, don’t look down or disrespect our war veterans,” he told a press conference held at the VIP lounge of the Kuching International Airport yesterday, before boarding a flight to the nation’s capital Kuala Lumpur.
He was commenting on the act of certain quarters who had questioned the level of recognition given to ex-police and army personnel in the wake of the passing of Kanang on Thursday.
He added that the nation’s most decorated war hero deserved the utmost respect and military honour.
Meanwhile, Unimas Social Science Faculty dean Dr Neilson Ilan Mersat reminded that the sacrifice made by the police and army to defend the country was not something that should be made fun of.
“The online blog writer should have thought it thoroughly. What if we do not have warriors like Kanang and the rest? Maybe our country would not have achieved peace and prosperity today. If the blogger understood the customs and principle of respect, the
person should apologise to Kanang’s family members,” he told The Borneo Post.
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