REPORT BY WIRA ASSOCIATION KINTA ON REMEMBRANCE CEREMONIES IN JUNE 2010

1. On 11^th June 2010 (third anniversary) a Remembrance ceremony (thir was organised at the Cenotaph opposite Ipoh Railway Station. About 250 persons attended. Y.Bhg Dato Veerasingam Advisor to the Chief Minister of Perak represented YAB Dato Seri Dr Zambry b Abdul Kadir, the Right Hon. Chief Minister. Chief Police Officer Perak’s representative ACP Zulkapli b Ahmad inspected a guard-turn-out by Royal Malaysia Police Perak. Prayers were offered by five multi-racial priests, namely a Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist. Two Gurkha bag-pipers from Brunei sponsored by the British High Commission K.L sounded the last post followed by wreath-laying ceremony. Refreshments with cultural show followed, sponsored by Lord Mayor of Ipoh.  Other VIPs present were H.E. Mr McCleary High Commissioner for UK, H.E. Mr Miles Kupa High Commissioner Designate for Australia, and Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah, Brigadier-General Dato Pahlawan Zulkifli bin Mansor, Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng former Commissioner of Police and former Chief Police Officer Perak, Dato (Dr) Leong Chee Woh, Maj Gen Dato Zulkiflee b Mazlan Director General Malayan  Armed Forces Veterans Affairs Dept, Mr.Reg Knowles Royal British Legion Thailand, Mr.Ernie Bradley NMBVAA, Lt.Col. Campbell S.W Paine Commanding Officer 2^nd/30^th Training Group RMAK Base Butterworth, Capt (Rtd) Kunalan Veterans Association Penang and members, Dato R. Thambipillay Organising Chairperson, President Wira Association Kinta Perak, supporters of Commonwealth Forces and voluntary services, family members and friends. The event ended with high tea, cultural show at the City Council Hall  sponsored by the Mayor of Ipoh City and Michalean School Band entertained.

 2. On 12^th June 2010 (sixth anniversary), 28 Gurkhas buried at 2 Royal Ranger Regiment Tambun  were remembered. This is the 7^th anniversary. There were about 250 in attendance. The British High Commission in KL provided two Gurkha Buglers/ Pipers whom they brought from Brunei. H.E Dr Rishi Raj Adhikari Ambassador of Nepal to Malaysia, and H.E Mr.Craig Chittick Acting High Commissioner for Australia, Col Jacques Lemey Defence Adviser High Commission for U.K, Lt.Col  Firdaus Quah bin Abdullah, Commanding Officer 2 Royal Ranger Regiment, whose support Dato R. Thambipillay solicited as  Organisng Chairperson in his capacity as President Wira Association Kinta Perak, Mr. Robert Ditchburn Royal British Legion Thailand, Mr. Ken McNeill NMBVA Tasmania on behalf of NMBVA Australia, Mr Harold Speldewinde Advisor Veterans Association Penang, ex-servicemen from NMBVA UK, Australia, members from Royal British Legion Thailand, local ex-servicemen, veterans Association Penang, members and supporters of Commonwealth Forces and Voluntary services were present. Prayers were conducted by Gurkha and Christian priests. Two Gurkha bag-piers sounded the last Post, followed by wreath –laying,

3. On 13^th June 2010 (sixth anniversary) a remembrance was organized for a hundred over Commonwealth servicemen who gave their lives in the “Battle of Kampar” in WW 2 at the Kampar Sector. About 500 Japanese died in this battle. This is the 6^th anniversary and  and Dato R. Thambipillay, President Wira Association Kinta Perak with the support of Mr. Santokh Singh President Khalsa Diwan  Malaysia, Jalan Tun Abdul  Razak Ipoh who provides his Cultural Hall, a Sikh priest and  refreshments. The Khalsa Diwan invites the local Sikh community, while Wira Association plans and deals with administrative matters relating to invitees from overseas, such as  ex-servicemen, family members and supporters including local ex-servicemen, High Commissioners and other Embassy senior staff from Commonwealth High Commissions and the two Gurkha Pipers through the good office of the British High Commission Kuala Lumpur. About 150 attended. Present were H.E Mr Craig Chittick High Commissioner Designate of Australia, Col. Jacques  Lemey Defence Adviser of British High Commission Kuala Lumpur, Veterans from overseas and locally, family members and supporters, including a Hindu and Muslim priests to offer prayers for the fallen.

Special thanks to  group organizers from NMBVA Australia, NMBVA W.Australia, NMBVA Queensland, the Royal British Legion Thailand, Veterans Association Penang and Wira Association Kinta Perak. They are the main supporters. Keep it up guys!

The participation and moral support given by the State, Lord Mayor of Ipoh, the Police, Army and His Excellencies and senior Embassy officials is most commendable. Wira Association Kinta takes this opportunity to wish His Excellency Boyd McCleary, H.E Mr Ashok Kantha and Her Excellency Miss Penny Williams on their new posting. To Col. P.K.Siwach and W.O 2 Chris Hardman we wish them farewell too. To their successors we welcome them on board.

This information will further increase the awareness, bring in more visitors and promote tourism.

For any further details please contact Dato R. Thambipillay at 05-5276636 or H/P 012-2352557. You could also log onto: www.tpillay.com

Prepared by Dato R. Thambipillay, President Wira Association Kinta Perak & Liaison Officer National Malaya Borneo Veterans Association (NMBVA) UK