When Lt-Col (Rtd) Mohd Idris Hassan joined the army, it was Capt Mukhtiar Singh who taught him the ropes. “He was my instructor – and a darn good one at that. Very inspiring,” said Idris, 67, who first met Mukhtiar in 1962. Which is why Idris believes that Mukhtiar’s situation stems from the lack of “proper presentation”, and that the case was never brought up in its “totality”. “If presented correctly, I sincerely believe that it would not have come to this,” insists a hopeful Idris, who has been trying his level best to locate that ‘proper channel’ since 2003 to redress the situation.
Idris has painstakingly compiled a 50-page report – commendation certificates, Press clippings, letters, photographs and all – entitled ‘The Story of Police Inspector/Captain (Courageous) Mukhtiar Singh s/o Saudagar Singh’. “Regulations are there and, rightfully, they must be followed. When Mukhtiar’s application was brought before the Armed Forces Council, I believe it adhered to the regulation that one had to go for the Young Officers ‘Tactics’ and ‘Weapons’ courses before being eligible for regular commission (pension), as there was no one to plead his case. “I am sure no one realised that a mistake had been made. It happens,” said Idris.
Mukhtiar’s name had apparently been left out from the list of those required to attend the courses. “He was never informed. In fact, he was even told that it was not necessary, given that he had been in service for so many years. Mukhtiar was also an amazing sharpshooter and has tons of trophies for his acumen.” explained Idris. Idris vouched that all of Mukhtiar’s superiors highly recommended him for a regular commission regardless.
“Frankly, anybody who knows him will say Mukhtiar was undoubtedly lebih daripada layak (more than qualified) to have been granted those few more years. Mukhtiar’s life is soldiering.” Idris had written to the Armed Forces Veterans Council and a few other authorities but the replies cited the “failure to attend the courses” regulation. He even wrote Letters to the Editor in the Press, hoping to gain an insight as to which would be the correct channel to redress this matter. Last week, his story on Mukhtiar’s plight was posted in the Seventh Rangers (Mechanised) blog (7rangers.blogspot.com) which came to the attention of Malay Mail.
“Mukhtiar’s is a special case and it should be treated as such. It is the right thing to do. Armed Forces men are thinking men and while there are regulations, discretion can be applied under such exceptional circumstances when a simple mistake causes such injustice.” Idris said it was unfathomable to allow such an illustrious career in loyally serving the country to "fizzle out' in such a manner. “He is not just an ex-officer and a gentleman – Mukhtiar is an exemplary citizen who put his life on the line numerous times for all of us. We must honour this hero.” The Malay Mail
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