A soldier remembered, a family still held close

Major (Rtd) Hanafiah Ali and Brigadier-General (Rtd) Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman have presented RM2,000 to Maimunah Kaus in support of her family. Maimunah's cherished photographs include one from her wedding to Othman Ismail in August 1967 and a picture of three generations of her family with Othman in his military uniform. Othman, a decorated soldier and recipient of the Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) award, passed away at his home on September 7 at the age of 82, due to heart complications.

His death prompted fellow veterans, including members of the SP/PGB/PTU Club, to rally around Maimunah. Club president Hanafiah Ali and patron Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, both PGB recipients, visited Maimunah's home and presented the monetary support. The club aims to remain present in the lives of its members and their families, ensuring Maimunah's wellbeing and that of other living warrior members.

Othman's military career began in May 1965 and included service in the Second Emergency and multiple operations. A particularly memorable incident occurred in October 1974 at the Samling rubber plantation near Sungai Ruai in Raub, where Othman and his team engaged in combat with insurgents. Othman's actions earned him the PGB, the second-highest gallantry award in Malaysia.

Othman's military service instilled in him values of loyalty, discipline, and patriotism. Maimunah remembers her husband as a caring companion and devoted father who nurtured their three daughters and two sons. The family's photographs and the veterans' club's support serve as enduring tributes to Othman's life and legacy.