The hidden price and unseen scars behind Malaysia’s peace

Malaysia's peace has faced challenges long after gaining independence in 1957. Major Salehuddin Abd Muttalib, now 77, witnessed the struggle firsthand before turning 21. In 1969, racial unrest and communist insurgencies erupted, leading him to join the Royal Military College and later the Reconnaissance Regiment in Port Dickson. After the May 13 riots, he was deployed to Malaysia's northern border to combat communist insurgency. In 1971, he joined Military Intelligence Special Branch, stationed in East Malaysia.

During his time serving, Salehuddin encountered the human cost of war. In 1972, he found a photograph of insurgents posing with weapons taken from fallen soldiers - a stark reminder of the lives lost. He later encountered former insurgents who had assisted him, leading him to understand that, despite their opposition, they were driven by conviction.

Operation Teliti II, a mission to capture a top communist leader and his pregnant wife, resulted in the execution of both. Salehuddin received the Panglima Gagah Berani in 1973 for his role in the operation, but the memories of Fam and his wife haunted him. He later suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and left the army in 1983.

Despite the emotional toll, Salehuddin remains proud of his service and hopes the sacrifices of those who served in Sarawak are not forgotten. He believes that peace, like the multiracial harmony of his childhood, should be earned and fostered among Malaysians.