KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — Despite being maimed by booby traps, shot by communists and injured in operations, many members of the Malaysian Armed Forces continued to serve the nation.

Colonel Zulkifli Tahir, 56, who is an Army Headquarters Intelligence Branch officer at the Defence Ministry here, lost his right leg when battling the communists in Operation Tak Sin 8601 with the Thai army on Feb 8 1986.

"My right leg was severed after stepping on a booby trap. After the incident, I was transferred to the Army Headquarters and was sent for further studies in the United Kingdom and came back with a master’s degree,” he said when met by reporters at a gathering of injured officers and men of the Division Four at Wardieburn Camp.

Relating the incident, Zulkifli who began his service on Jan 2 1980 said he was with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD).

"Our team was the reconnaisance group to clean up booby traps and pave a safe route for other teams,” he said.

Zulkifli said during the operation, one of the 15 members stepped on a booby trap causing nine other members including him to be severely injured.

For Salmah Ahmad, 60, wife of Sergeant Kamaruddin Mohd Kayat, 66, who lost his right leg while serving in an operation almost 40 years ago, she was proud of her husband’s sacrifice in defending the country from the communists.

Kamaruddin who is on a wheelchair, is unable to speak following a stroke 18 years ago, and was also caught in a booby trap during Kota Echo operation near Grik, Perak in 1977.

"My husband was injured by a booby trap after serving five years in the army. At that time, we were living in Terendak Camp in Malacca and had two children. The incident took place about two weeks after my husband entered the jungle, his team was ambushed by communist terrorists,” she said.

For Corporal Elias Ibrahim, 35, he could not forget the incident when he lost a kidney after a Nuri helicopter he was in crashed during Ops Jagakawan in Ba’kelalan, Sarawak in 2004.

Recalling the incident, he said his team of 10 men was looking for the wreckage of a helicopter which crashed in the area.

"About an hour after departing, the helicopter engine suddenly stopped when passing through Mount Mulu before crashing in thick jungle at 2.45 pm.

"Three members died including two pilots...while seven more were injured with broken arms and legs while I sustained internal injuries,” said the father of two.

"While at the hospital, it was discovered one of my kidneys was damaged,” he said and was given a three-month recuperation rest.

Elias said he missed joining rugged training such as operations with his colleagues but accepted his fate that he no longer had the capability.

A total of 50 officers and men of various ranks including 40 retired members and 10 serving personnel were entertained at a ceremony which was attended by Division Four commander Major-General Datuk Sheikh Mokhsin Sheikh Hassan and 12th Brigade commander, Brigadier-General Nazri Abidin. — Bernama