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The Royal Malaysian Police
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December 8th, 1962
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| At 2.am on the morning of the December 8th, 1962, Inspector Adbul Latip Besah was woken up by their sound of gun fire coming from the Limbang Police station and Police barracks. The TNKU had begun their attack on Limbang. Besah grabbed his Sterling submachine gun and ran out side his house towards the Police station. He'd only taken a few steps when before he came under fire from several directions. Besah returned fire but was hit in the arm. He took refuge in the near by jungle. At dawn he hid his weapon in the river back and surrendered to the TNKU. |
| The TNKU confronted stiff opposition at the police station. Six constables under the command of Corporal Kim Huat were defending the police station against approximately 200 armed members of the TNKU. After two hours 4 policemen lay dead leaving only PC Bishop Anak Kunjan and another constable who was wounded to defend the building. Using a Bren Gun Bishop hold the attackers at bay for another two ours until he finally surrender when he realized that continued resistance would endanger the lives of DO Mr. Morris and his wife. |
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| In the police barracks behind the police station were PC Essa Bin Meratim, PC Ensol, PC Wan Jamaluddin and PC Bujang Mohammad When the TNKU attacked PC Zaini rushed to the prison were PC Muling was on duty. Both policemen ran the help defend the police station. Muling shot and killed a rebel on the way. Zaini and Muling were unable to join their comrades in the police station and continued to engage the enemy until they were ordered to surrender along with the other surviving policemen by Mr. Morris. PC Essa Bin Meratim evaded capture in the most remarkable way. Essa hid in the roof space of the police barracks undetected by the TNKU for four days. He survived by using his hands to capture water dripping through the roof. |
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Four policemen were killed during the attack. They are remembered on our Memoriam page The survivors were held by the TNKU until L Coys attack four days latter. All were highly praised for their courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds.
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The Police Veterans Today
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| Since 2001 local Limbang resident Chua Eng Hin has been working with Brush Fire Films to track down some of the heros of that fateful night. Chua has traveled the all over Sarawak in his search to find the police veterans. |
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Sgt. Zaini Bin Titun
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One of the first men Chua was able to locate was Zaini Bin Titun. He is now 67 years old. The TNKU attack one month after he was transfer from Miri to Limbang. Zaini served at the Limbang station in 1974. He is now retired and become permanent resident of Limbang. The only policeman in 1962 live in Limbang. Since finding Zaini, Chua has struck up a excellent friendship with the police veteran.
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PC Essa Bin Meratim
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| In late 2002 Chua, tracked down Royal Malaysian police constable Essa who now lives in Miri at "cable 9"now known as Kampung Lereng Bukit (meaning village surrounding hill.). Mr. Essa is the forma Limbang Police Constable who evaded capture when the TNKU attacked the police station on the night of December the 8th. He concealed himself in the roof of the police barracks until L Company retook Limbang 4 days later. |
| I found the village where I was told Mr. Essa now lives and began questioning the local people to see if they knew Essa.( there are many houses in the surrounding area) no one seemed to know him. As I parked my car I saw a village shop and asked the shop keeper if he knew the Ex policeman Essa, Here I got lucky, the shop keeper knew Essa, in fact I'd just parked my car out in front of Essa's house. The gate to the house was locked and signed hung on the gate saying "NO SALESMAN". I rang the bell and finally an old man walked out. I ask him are you Essa ? to which he replied yes! I quickly said I had came from Limbang to talked to him about the 1962 battle He was happy to talk to me and invited me in to the house where I meet his wife. We talked for several hours about the past. |
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| I was surprise to see that he had kept copies of the Newspaper from 40 years ago. At the age of 65 he still looks healthy and had a large of family 6 children and 9 grandchildren. I gave him the website address and asked his daughter to show him the Limbang Reunion web site. |
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PC Bishop Anak Kunjan
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| In January of 2003, while on a visit to Kunchin, Chua took a detour on his journey to meet Bishop. We had to drive about 870 km to reach the longhouse where now Bishop lives. I was surprised to see how very healthy his is for his age. I arrived at his house is about 6.00pm and saw him standing and waiting for me.We were made very welcome welcome and served with hot spicy laksa.We chit chatted about the past, he still remembered my older sister in Limbang. For his bravery on that night in 1962 Bishop was awarded the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry. |
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| Bishop is now 62 years old, a very healthy man (he quit smoking but still 'drinks' ) He lives with his wife and mother and has 3 children working at Kuching and Bintulu. He has 11 grand children. He goes hunting, farming his own few fish ponds, fruits trees, planting pepper and rice. After well prepare dinner we finally leave the house at 9.00pm and continue to drive for another few hours and reach Kuching at 1.30am due to the heavy rain and flooded road which slow down our journey. |
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Inspector Abdul Latif
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| Sadly Chua has discovered that Inspector Abdul Latif bin Besah passed away in 2002. For his actions on the night of the TNKU attacked Latif was awarded the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry. |
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