Second edition of Misadventures with Coco–Oscar released on Malaya and Borneo Veterans Day
Today, 31st of August, is Merdeka Day, Malaysia’s Independence Day. It is also Malaya and Borneo Veterans Day, commemorating those who served in the Malayan Emergency and in Borneo during ‘Konfrontasi’.
This year, Malaya and Borneo Veterans Day also marks the release of the second edition of my memoir, Misadventures with Coco-Oscar, which recounts my experiences as National Serviceman serving in the latter part of the Emergency. In response to feedback regarding the original version this new edition has been updated and enhanced with a map showing where the events described took place.
The Emergency
Declared in June 1948 following the murder of three planters near Sungei Siput in Perak State, the ‘Emergency’ was a guerrilla war fought between the communist-led Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) and the forces of the Federation of Malaya and Britain supported by other Commonwealth countries.
The conflict lasted 12 years before the ‘Cessation of Hostilities’ was declared on 31 July 1960. During this time the Federated States of Malaya achieved full independence in 1957 and Singapore became an independent self-governing state in 1959 with Britain initially retaining responsibility for foreign affairs and defence.
Konfrontasi
In Borneo Konfrontasi began with Indonesia’s support for the Brunei Revolt in December 1962. This was followed by cross‑border incursions into Sarawak and Sabah. Subsequently, hostilities intensified with sustained raids and infiltration along the Borneo frontier.
Following the formation of Malaysia, incorporating Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and initially Singapore in September 1963 the conflict intensified and only wound down following the fall of Sukarno in 1965, The conflict formally ended with the August 1966 peace agreement under new President Suharto.
Those who served and those who died
In total, 40,000 British and Commonwealth military personnel were deployed to Malaya during the Emergency including 7,000 Australians. Of these almost a thousand lost their lives before the declaration of the cessation of hostilities on 31 July 1960, including 613 British, 309 Gurkhas, 39 Australians and 15 New Zealanders.
The total number of British and Commonwealth military personnel who served in Borneo during Konfrontasi is estimated to have been between 15,000, and 20,000 when rotations are included. The cost of this conflict in terms of lives lost was 175, mostly British and Gurkha personnel but including 23 Australians and 15 New Zealanders.
Malaya and Borneo Veterans Day
August 31th is the day set aside to commemorate the service of those military personnel who served in Malaya, Singapore and Borneo and more especially to honour those who lost their lives in these conflicts. It is in no small part due to the service of these veterans that both Malaysia and Singapore are the thriving democracies they are today.
