KD Sri Rejang veterans meet up for reunion in Sibu

SIBU (Aug 28): The Sarawak branch of Ex-Royal Malaysia Navy Association hosted 44 veterans and their spouses from Peninsular Malaysia for an annual gathering at the former naval base, the KD Sri Rejang, here today.

According to tour leader First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Rosli Yoob, the annual veteran reunion which has entered its fifth year aimed to gather, connect, and create cherished memories amongst its members.

“We had to postpone the activity during the Covid-19 pandemic and our activities involved visits to our former base and place of duty, as well as visits to our other friends residing here,” he said.

“We have about 250 KD Sri Rejang veterans in our group and we are still in contact with one another,” said Rosli who travelled all the way from Perlis.

“We’re all very excited to come back to Sibu. Last time, it was only a small ‘kampung’ and now it has turned into a much developed town,” he added.

Rosli first joined the navy in Dec 1975. He was last appointed as the Naval Region 3 Commander with its headquarters in Langkawi, prior to his retirement in Jan 2017.

Having served at KD Sri Rejang from 1981 to 1983, he shared the significance of its establishment, stemming from the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1964 to Nov 1991.

“The base was then decommissioned in 1991 after the surrender of the communists, and now has been taken over by the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Royal Malaysian Navy Veterans Association Sarawak president Unyou Dasi, meanwhile, said the annual gathering was timely held during this National Month celebration where it could further build rapport between group members from Sarawak and the Peninsular Malaysia.

Also present were Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council member Syed Hamzah Datuk Wan Hamid Edruce.