What 20 years of border duty taught Corporal Wan
At 74, the retired serviceman still recalls sleepless shifts, armed smugglers and the friendships forged during two decades of guarding Malaysia’s northern frontier.
Corporal Wan, a 74-year-old veteran, spent 20 years serving on Malaysia’s northern border. Starting in 1979 at age 27, he guarded the border, known as Corporal Wan, through several hotspots in Kelantan, including Rantau Panjang and Bukit Lata. Conditions were basic, with posts often being makeshift structures. His duties included guarding against smuggling, primarily of rice from Thailand, which he recalls chasing and stopping.
However, not all encounters were straightforward; some smuggling groups threatened personnel with pistols. The Golok River, part of his border years, saw patrols and smuggling routes as well as occasional explosions. Despite the uncertainty, Wan cherished the camaraderie of his fellow soldiers who shared these challenging experiences.
Now running a grocery store in Kampung Sri Kulim for 25 years, Wan still honors his service by flying the national flag on National Month, recalling both the hardships and the bonds forged with his comrades during those two decades of border duty.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- What 20 years of border duty taught Corporal Wan freemalaysiatoday.com
