KUCHING: Four Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) parachutists leaped from an altitude of 6,000 feet to land at Padang Merdeka here in a ceremony commemorating a World War II event on Thursday.
Their feat was a reenactment of the parachute landing of Australia’s Z Special Unit in Bario under Ops Semut in 1945.
Air Warrant Officer I Mohd Shah Rizal Md Zahid landed first, bearing the Jalur Gemilang, followed by Capt Shahrurizal Sabri with the Australian flag, Flight Sergeant Ahmad Riduan Nordin with the Sarawak flag and Cpl Muhammad Fikri Azizi Faizul with the Armed Forces flag.
Capt Shahrurizal then handed over the Sarawak flag to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, who was the guest of honour at the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of Ops Semut.
Abang Johari said Ops Semut was a historical event that should be remembered by Sarawakians.
He said it not only marked the beginning of Sarawak’s liberation from the Japanese occupation but also a new era for Bario and the state after the war.
“The engagement between the locals and the security forces opened a new chapter in Bario for the Kelabit community, with the setting up of a school and other changes,” he told reporters after the ceremony.
Organising committee adviser Datuk Gerawat Gala said Ops Semut involved the dropping of commandos behind enemy lines into Bario on March 25, 1945 to gather intelligence and train the local Kelabit community to fight against the Japanese occupiers during World War II.
He said the Kelabit community and Sarawak Tourism Federation initiated the first commemoration in Bario in 2013 by installing a memorial in honour of the Z Special Unit and local fighters.
“Since then, the event has been celebrated annually in Bario except during the Covid lockdown years.
“The 80th anniversary was commemorated in Bario two days ago (March 25) with a reenactment of the parachute landing.
“We are grateful to the Premier for requesting the reenactment to be done in Kuching, elevating the local event in Bario to state level,” he said.
The parachute landing was followed by a military band performance and a traditional Kelabit dance.
Also present were state and foreign dignitaries and members of the Kelabit community.
-TheStar