This message is especially for this Gawai. We love our country, the Melayu, the Chinaman, the Indian, Iban, Dayak, Kadazan, Murut, Eurasian, the Orang Asli, Melanau and many more. We were the Rangers, a fine unit of fighting men. There was camraderie, it is nice being amongst soldiers, their simple needs and their honest laughter. We were bound by faith and trust, the funny thing was most of our faiths were very different. We were Malaysians. We would have been proud to fall side by side. Who is ruining all this? The Politicians from the Barisan National, who have been dividing us. We did not expect our ruling politicians to create this animosity amongst races. They are not worthy of our votes. Alot of soldiers have placed their lives on the line for the love of the nation. Let me relate an experience in Somalia.

After clearing off the village, when we were into a good two hours, I come upon another "tax" collection point. I asked myself, will these never end ? I called Othman and told him that I was going to dismount alone and ask them to remove the barriers this time without shooting at them. I gave strict instructions that no one else was to dismount. That I, and I alone would negotiate and clear the barriers. I instructed Lance Corporal Shamsuddin to take my place in the turret. I also told him that if anyone fired upon me, I was going to let loose the M79, which fires a 40mm high explosive grenade. After which I will throw myself on the ground and hope for the best.

He was to, at that moment open up with all the fire power he had and decimate anyone still standing. This same instruction I gave to Othman. Before I opened the door of the Condor, I cocked my pistol, my M4A1, put in a round of the 40mm into the M79, checked the M73 grenades, put another bandolier of 40mm rounds around my neck, checked my 4 magazines on my chest, the two more magazines on my thighs and my machette. Tightened the velcro straps holding the 7.62 Nato defeating ceramic plates. Oh yes, I put on my Ranger beret with hackle and all, not the kevlar helmet. I was in other words "armed to the teeth". I was a virtual walking weapons system. I opened the hatch, one of the guys quickly shut it and locked it.I looked in front of me, there were about 15 Somalis, with weapons. I had my M79 in my right hand and my M4A1 in my left hand.

There were another 20 odd Somalis further back, high probability of them being armed too. I walked towards the barrier. Something caught my ears. A sound of people moving behind me. Shit and double shit ! The Somalis were moving behind me to capture me alive to be used as a hostage for bargaining purposes. I would never live it down, being captured, I pivoted, ready to fire. No ! There were no Somalis but a whole section of my soldiers paper potting (moving tactically, one group moves and another group covers) in the the fire and manoeuvre formation, heavily armed.

I was angry that my orders were deliberately disobeyed, I shouted at them :"Hey you arseholes, who asked you to dismount ?"(Dey @#$#@#$$ , siapa suruh kau orang turun ?). The answer I received from the youngest soldier in the platoon was : "Hey, sir, you don't want to die alone, do you ?" (Tak akan tuan mahu mati seorang ?). He was a young Malay, accompanied by members of other races who wanted to protect their ethnic Indian Malaysian Ranger Officer. I have done many things. I was from the rank and file. I have been promoted so many times.

Did I have satisfaction ? That day was a day of awakening for me. I felt goose bumps forming on my neck, in reaction to the answer given by a very young soldier. I knew then and there that my soldiers accepted me as their leader and willing to do anything for me. Even die for me ! I knew from then on, that my soldiers and I could take on anything. Many an officer would give his all to experience a moment like that. I was elated. I approached the Somalis while a whole section of men were on the ground to support me, with others covering me from the Condors. All my boys meaning business.