UNSUNG HEROES

THEY, TOO, DESERVE RECOGNITION

The New Straits Times recently published an article on Sybil Kathigasu, Malaya's only female recipient of the George Medal for courage. The article highlighted calls for the wartime nurse, who was held captive and tortured during World War 2, to be included in our history books. Writer highlights other unsung heroes who deserve a spot.

It is time to start recognising unsung heroes who have contributed to the nation without seeking money or glory.

Badan Warisan Malaysia president Elizabeth Cardosa said it was imperative to recognise individuals or communities that have contributed to the development of Malaysia, its people and its way of life.

"We should celebrate all of them, not just confine our history books to personalities who are primarily from the political or economic arenas."

She said these included personalities in the fields of teaching, science, medicine, sports as well as community leaders.

Cardosa said it was time that the Education Ministry's Curriculum Development Division reviewed how the History subject was taught in scholls to make space for these heroes.

"It should not only be people or things that promote the official national narrative.

"Students should be given the opportunity to learn about local heroes, too."

Cardosa said schools could implement history projects on local leaders by collaborating with heritage or history societies.
She said people of significance could be traced back to names of buildings and roads.

ABDULLAH HUKUM

Abdullah Hukum

Abdullah Hukum was one such person. He was one of the pioneers involved in the development of Kuala Lumpur in the 1880s. 

He was also responsible for opening up areas such as Pudu, Bukit Bintang and Sungai Putih, which is now known as Bangsar.

He was honoured by then Sultan of Selangor Sultan Abdul Samad with the title of Tuk Dagang Dianjuk.

Abdullah Hukum, or Muhammad Rukun from Sumatra, was of Kerinchi descent.

He came to Malaya with his father in 1850 when he was only 15, and lived in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor until his death.

Hedied at 108 in 1943, leaving behind 18 children, and is remembered for his service to the community. 

Today, many structures - a village, mosque and LRT station in Bangsar - are named after him.

DR ERNEST ASTON OTHO TRAVERS

Dr Travers Aston Otho Travers

Dr Travers was responsible for the building of the Sungai Buloh Leprosarium as a humane way to care for and treat leprosy victims who were ostracised in the early 20th century.

The leprosarium, believed to be the most modern of its time and then second largest in the world, opened on Aug 16, 1930. Countries like Brazil even modelled theirs after it.

Dr Travers, a former Selangor state surgeon, was drawn to the care of leprosy patients late in 1922 when he was tasked to take charge of a leprosy asylum in Setapal, Kuala Lumpur.

Leprosy was incurable at that time. Many tried to run away, and those who could not relied on government-supplied opium to ease their pain. Seeing that, he proposed that the British government build a more humane leprosarium in Sungai Buloh, at a place then called the Valley of Hope.

Jalan Travers, a short stretch behind Jalan Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur, honours his contribution.

TAN AIK HUANG AND DATUK NG BOON BEE




Tan won the 1996 All England Open Badminton Champions by defeating Japan's Masao Akiyama in the finals.This came during a run of four straight appearances in the All England finals from 1965 to 1968.

Tan was a member of four Malaysian Thomas Cup teams, including its world champion team of 1967.

He won numerous international singles titles during the mid-to late 1960s, including the Danish Open, US Open, Canadian Open and Malaysian Open. He also won both singles and doubles titles at the 1966 British Commonwealth Games.

Ng is widely recognised as one of the greatest doubles players in the history of the sports.

He won the All England Open Badminton Championships men's doubles title thrice, twice with Datuk Tna Yee Khan in 1965 and 1966 and once with the late Datuk Punch Gunalan.

Feared for his speed, power and anticipation on the court, he was also a member of the 1967 Thomas Cup winning team.

In the 1960s, Ng and Yee Khan formed one of the most successful men's doubles teams of the time, winning titles including the All England, Asian Games and the Badminton Asia Championships.

S. KULASINGAM

S. KULASINGGAM

Kulasingam was a former Johor Criminal Investigation Department chief and Kuala Lumpur deputy CID chief.

Kulasingam was often described as being married to the job due to his dedication to the force. He died a bachelor at 77 in 2007.

He was conferred the Pingat Gagah Berani, Malayisa's second highest award for bravery.

A New Sunday Times report stated that the mere mention of Kulasingam's name would send shivers down the spine of criminals.

He was best knwon for capturing the infamous "Botak Chin", who carried out many robberies in the Klang Valley in the 1970s.

He was also captured "Kepong Chai", a rapist with a penchant for scarring the faces of women with a blade.

He was labelled as the toughest co ever after he survived attempts on his life.

In once such incident in 1975, he was reportedly at a traffic light when 11 shots were fired at him. One of the bullets shattered his right rib, pierced his liver and grazed his lungs.

Kulasingam has been quoted as saying: "How could I die of anything but old age?" 

Written by : Veena Babulal
Source : New Straits Times - September 10, 2017
Link : https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/09/278254/these-unsung-heroes-too-deserve-be-included-history-books



WIRA DI SEBALIK TABIR

INDIVIDU-INDIVIDU INI HARUS TURUT DIIKTIRAF 

Baru-baru ini New Straits Times menyiarkan satu rencana mengenai Sybil Kathigasu, satu-satunya penerima wanita Pingat Keberanian George. Rencana itu mengutarakan permintaan agar jururawat tersebut telah ditahan dan diseksa ketika Perang Dunia 2, harus dinyatakan dalam buku sejarah kita. Penulis mengutarakan wira-wira lain di sebalik tabir yang harus diiktiraf juga.

Sudah tiba masanya kita mengiktiraf wira-wira di sebalik tabir yang menyumbang tenaga mereka untuk negara kita tanpa mengharapkan duit atau kepujian.

Presiden Badan Warisan Malaysia Elizabeth Cardosa berkata penting untuk mengiktiraf individu or komuniti yang telah menyumbang ke arah pembangunan Malaysia, pembangunan rakyat Malaysia dan cara hidup rakyat Malaysia.

"Kita harus meraikan kesemua mereka ini, tidak hanya terkongkong kepada mereka dari segi politik atau segi ekonomi sahaja."

Beliau berkata ini termasuk personaliti daripada bidang perguruan, bidang sains, bidang perubatan, bidang sukan dan juga pemimpin komuniti.

Cardosa berkata sudah tiba masanya Bahagian Pembangunan Kurikulum Kementerian Pendidikan mengkaji bagaimanakah mata pelajaran sejarah boleh diajar di sekolah bagi memuatkan pengajaran hero-hero ini.

"Ia tidak harus terikat pada individu atau barangan yang mempromosi naratif rasmi kebangsaan.

"Pelajar harus diberi peluang mempelajari mengenai hero-hero tempatan ini."

Cardosa berkata pihak sekolah boleh melaksanakan projek sejarah mengenai pemimpin tempatan dengan berkolabrasi dengan persatuan warisan atau persatuan sejarah.

Beliau berkata individu-individu penting seperti ini boleh dikesan dengan hanya melihat nama-nama bangunan atau nama-mana jalan raya.

ABDULLAH HUKUM

Abdullah Hukum merupakan contoh terbaik sebagai wira yang tidak diiktiraf. Beliau ialah salah seorang yang terbabit dalam pembangunan Kuala Lumpur pada tahun 1880-an.

Beliau juga bertanggungjawab pembukaan kawasan seperti Pudu, Bukit Bintang dan Sungai Putih, kini dikenali sebagai Bangsar.

Beliau dianugerah dengan pangkat Tuk Dagang Dianjuk oleh Sultan Selangor Sultan Abdul Samad ketika itu. 

Abdullah Hukum atau Muhammad Rukun berasal dari Sumatra berketurunan Kerinchi.

Beliau tiba ke Malaya bersama ayahnya pada tahun 1850 ketika berusia 15 tahun dan menetap di Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor.

Beliau meninggal dunia pada usia 108 pada tahun 1943, meninggalkan 18 anak dan sentiasa diingati akan jasa beliau terhadap komuniti.

Hari ini, banyak struktur bangunan - sebuah kampung, masjid dan stesen LRT di Bangsar dinamakan sempena nama beliau.

DR ERNEST ASTON OTHO TRAVERS

Dr Travers bertanggungjawab pembinaan bangunan Sungai Buloh Leprosarium lebih mesra pengguna bagi menjaga dan merawat pesakit kusta yang dipulaukan pada awal abad ke-20.

Pada ketika itu, pusat rawatan kusta ini dipercayai paling moden dan kedua terbesar di dunia apabila dibuka pada Ogos 16, 1930. Negara-negara lain seperti Brazil membina pusat rawatan seumpama pusat rawatan ini.

Dr Travers, bekas pakar bedah negeri Selangor tertarik untuk menjaga pesakit kusta pada akhir tahun 1922 apabila beliau ditugaskan menyelia pusat rawatan kusta di Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.

Pada masa itu, penyakit kusta tidak dapat dirawat dan ramai pesakit cuba melarikan diri dan juga mereka yang tidak dapat bergantung kepada ganja yang diberikan oleh kerajaan bagi mengatasi kesakitan yang dialami.

Melihatkan keadaan ini, beliau mencadangkan kepada kerajaan British agar membina pusat rawatan kusta mesra pengguna di Sungai Buloh. Pada ketika ia dinamakan Lembah Harapan.

Jalan Travers, di belakang Jalan Bangsar di Kuala Lumpur dinamakan sempena memperingati beliau.

TAN AIK HUANG DAN DATUK NG BOON BEE

Tan memenangi 1966 All England Open Badminton Championship's dengan mengalahkan pesaing dari Jepun Masao Akiyama pada suku akhir. Kemenangan ini dirangkul setelah menyertai empat pertandingan secara berterusan dari tahun 1965 hingga 1968. Tan salah seorang ahli pasukan Thomas Cup Malaysia termasuk dalam pasukan peringkat dunia pada tahun 1967.

Beliau banyak memenangi peringkat perseorangan antarabangsa dari pertengahan kepada akhir tahun 1960-an termasuk Danish Open, US Open, Canadian Open dan Malaysian Open. Beliau juga memenangi kedua-dua peringkat perseorangan dan bergu pada Komanwel British 1966.

Ng dikenali sebagai salah seorang pemain bergu dalam sejarah sukan.

Beliau memenangi All England Open Badminton Championships bergu lelaki tiga kali, dua kali bersama Datuk Tan Yee Khan pada tahun 1965 dan 1966 dan sekali dengan mendiang Datuk Punch Gunalan.

Digeruni dengan kepantasan dan daya saing dalam gelanggang badminton, beliau juga ahli dalam pasukan yang memenangi Thomas Cup 1967.

Pada tahun 1960-an, Ng dan Yee Khan membentuk salah satu pasukan bergu lelaki yang berjaya sepanjang masa, memenangi piala  termasuk All England, Asian Games dan Badminton Asia Championships.

S. KULASINGAM

Kulasingam ialah bekas ketua Bahagian Siasatan Jenayah Johor dan Timbalan Ketua CID Kuala Lumpur.

Kulasingam dikenali sebagai berkahwin dengan pekerjaan beliau disebabkan dedikasi yang ditunjukkan olehnya. Beliau yang tidak berkahwin meninggal dunia pada usia 77 pada tahun 2007.

Beliau dikurniakan Pingat Gagah Berani, pingat keberanian kedua tertinggi Malaysia.

Satu laporan New Straits Times pernah melaporkan bahawa hanya dengan menyebut nama Kulasingam sahaja cukup untuk membuatkan para penjenayah merasa gementar.

Beliau menjadi terkenal kerana berjaya menangkap "Botak Chin", penjenayah yang melakukan banyak rombakan di Lembah Klang pada tahun 1070-an.

Beliau juga berjaya menangkap "Kepong Chai", perogol yang suka mencederakan wajah wanita dengan sebilah pisau.

Beliau dilabel sebagai polis yang tabah setelah  terselamat daripada cubaan membunuh beliau.

Pada tahun 1975, beliau telah ditembak sebanyak 11 kali di lampu isyarat. Salah satu peluruh telah menusuk tulang rusuk kanan, menusuk paru-paru dan menggeser hatinya

Kulasingam pernah berkata: "Bagaimana saya boleh mati kecuali sakit tua?"

Diterjemah oleh: Teratai Melur
E-mel: terataigenius@gmail.com