Veteran regrets nothing despite losing leg
Recalling the unfortunate incident that led to the loss of his right leg up to the knee, Corporal (Rtd) Sulaiman Maaraof said everything happened in an instant while leading a patrol in an area believed to have been occupied by the enemy.
SEREMBAN - Despite losing one leg and depending on a prosthetic limb for the rest of his life, Corporal (Rtd) Sulaiman Maaraof, 72, harbors no regrets; instead, he views it as a point of pride for having defended his country.
He considers the consequences of stepping on a booby trap set by communist terrorists during Op Bersih in Grik around 47 years ago as insignificant compared to the suffering that would have occurred if the country had lost its freedom and independence and returned to colonial rule.
Recalling the unfortunate incident that led to the loss of his right leg up to the knee, the father of nine said everything happened in an instant while leading a patrol in an area believed to have been occupied by the enemy.
"During the patrol, I stepped on a booby trap and was thrown away. Only God knew what I felt at that moment; I thought my life was coming to an end due to severe bleeding as my right leg was shattered.
"However, God still loved me and gave me the chance to live and enjoy my old age with my wife, children and grandchildren," he told Bernama when met at his home in Taman Panchor Jaya here.
The senior citizen from Port Dickson expressed gratitude to his friend, known as Haji Dollah, for helping him survive after being injured in the incident.
His friend’s quick action in bandaging the wound with the medical supplies he had, before evacuating him from the enemy area, played a crucial role in saving his life.
"We were willing to fight to the last drop of blood to defend this country. Even though I am now a person with a disability, I am proud of what I did for the nation," he said.
Sulaiman added that the struggle against the communist terrorists was driven by the responsibility to defend the country and young generations who are the future of the nation should recognise this sacrifice.
"It’s not easy to gain and maintain independence; many people sacrificed their lives. Therefore, don’t waste their sacrifices," he said.
Today’s youth need to be exposed to various stories of the struggles of previous generations who fought for independence to instill a spirit of patriotism, he said. - BERNAMA
