Jill menanti di rumah, suami berjuang demi keamanan

Jill Lawrence, a 81-year-old woman, always kept an eye out for her husband, Desmond Godfrey Lawrence, who served the country for more than three decades in the Special Branch. She remembers the pride she felt seeing him in police uniform, a service that was not often taken up by her husband. Desmond served in the police force for over three decades before retiring as a superintendent and had previously been the deputy head of the Special Branch Perak.

While the country's independence was declared in 1957 by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the fight to ensure safety continued. During World War II, members like Desmond risked their lives to thwart communist guerrillas and preserve the safety enjoyed post-independence. During those times, families had their own struggles. They waited at home without knowing when their loved ones would return, or if they would return safely at all.

Jill was one of those who went through it. Desmond, who was once a young member of the police force (seen third from the right), spent more than three decades serving in the force. Despite his service, he rarely shared details about special operations, though sometimes he would ask Jill to pray and tell her, "Jill, I don't know when I'll come back.

I might die." Jill, 81, told FMT Lifestyle about this. The dangers of such operations were also detailed in the memoir of veteran Special Branch member Paul Kiong. In March 1981, for example, Desmond's unit along with Kiong and Inspector Sia Boon Chee hid in the dark while executing a high-risk mission known as Operation Catfish.

They aimed to capture five members of the Malay Communist Party. Despite facing high risks, they succeeded. Desmond was known for his humane approach in rehabilitating captured communist members, prioritizing service and respect over rank. However, at home, Jill had no idea what her husband did. She could only wait for him to return, sometimes for weeks.

When Desmond's dangerous mission took him deep into the jungle, Jill raised her children and managed the household during his absence. (Paul Kiong picture) Jill focused on her three children in addition to her teaching job she loved so much. "I'm always eager for school, meeting teachers and students. When I get home, I'm busy with my children.

There's no time for anything else," she said. However, Desmond's absence was felt most acutely during long days. There were nights she cried from loneliness, but she never talked about it to her husband. Jill, alongside Desmond, was celebrated after he received the Bravery Medal in 1983, among other honors he received during his service.

Jill attributed her strength to her faith in God. She believed, "The good will always be protected." When she finally received news that Desmond would return, her sadness turned into joy. "I braided my hair and wore the best clothes. I'm so happy that my husband is back," she smiled. However, at one point, the dangers Desmond faced almost overwhelmed his family.

When her son, Bernard, was still in primary school, one of his classmates, a close friend, suddenly disappeared. Jill then found out that the kidnapper wanted to abduct Bernard due to his father's status. "They released the child after realizing they were mistaken," she said. Despite this incident, Jill never asked Desmond to leave the Special Branch.

"He loved his work," she said. Over 20 years after Desmond's departure, Jill still remembers him with great pride and love. Throughout his service, Desmond received several awards including the Bravery Medal in 1983. He retired at the age of 55 and passed away due to a heart attack in 2002 at the age of 71. More than two decades after his departure, Jill's pride in her husband never diminished.

On another Independence Day, Jill hopes the Malaysian people appreciate the safety they enjoy today and remembers those who sacrificed to ensure that safety could be maintained. "It's a great sacrifice. I think Gurkha soldiers are very brave," she said, referring to the Nepalese soldiers serving with the British military in Malaysia during the fight against communist guerrillas.

"I see the same bravery in Kiong, Sia, and my husband. They are strong and do not let fear overpower them. I don't know if anyone like them exists today, willing to sacrifice everything, including their own families." Perhaps, on this Independence Day, those waiting anxiously at home also deserve to be remembered.