Live bullets in demo, training the norm

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 4 years ago · Published on 9 Sep 2019 11:00AM · 6 Comments

Paul Kiong, 75, was awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa in 1983 for his exploits, including defeating the communists. Kiong is sharing his experience with the public. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, September 9, 2019.

THE use of live ammunition in military exercises, including demonstrations and training, is normal, said retired Ranger Capt Wong Ang Peng.

“The military uses live ammunition during such exercises so that personnel get used to firing live bullets as opposed to blanks,” said Wong, who is also a member of the National Patriots Association (Patriot).

Wong said the army uses live ammunition to build confidence in personnel so that when they know how to react when they are faced with actual threats. 

“This is especially so for those in counter-terrorism as they often come into close combat threats, compared with regular army personnel,” he told The Malaysian Insight on the sidelines of a Patriot’s event at Taman Tugu in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Wong was commenting on the death of Maj Mohd Zahir Armaya, 36, who was killed after he was shot by a fellow officer during a commando demonstration at the Lok Kawi camp in Sabah last week.

“Maj Mohd Zahir Armaya was an expert in counter-terrorism and sharpshooter. I understand that the other soldier was also a sharpshooter and had hit the edge of Zahid’s bulletproof vest before hitting him.

“It’s very unfortunate for the military and everyone to have lost a hero,” said Wong.

Zahir was playing the role of a terrorist armed with a samurai sword and a gun. He had fired a live bullet in the direction of the Fifth Division team and 14th Brigade Infantry and an officer had returned fire.

Zahir, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, fell to the ground. The shot from behind missed the target and hit the upper part of Zahir’s bullet-proof vest plate.

Wong said the choice of whether to use live ammunition or blanks in demonstrations and trainings is the army’s decision.

The National Patriots Association held its inaugural meet-the-public event at the Taman Tugu nursery where veterans shared their experiences on serving the nation. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, September 9, 2019.

“There’s no right or wrong here as it has been done before. The decision whether to use live bullets or not is up to them. 

“There will, however, be an investigation by the army.”

The Patriot event at the Taman Tugu nursery attracted around 50 army and police veterans who shared their experiences with the public. 

It was an inaugural event for public, who got to hear first-hand from the retired servicemen of all races about their experiences defending the country.

Among those who shared stories were former Special Branch superintendent Paul Kiong, 75, who penetrated an elite Communist Party Malaysia unit in the jungles of Perak and was involved in the subsequent laying down of arms in the 1989 Hatyai peace treaty. 

Kiong, who served on the SB’s communist desk from 1968 to 1989, was awarded the highest gallantry medal, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa, in 1983.

Also there to share his story was Lt-Gen (rtd) Zaini Mohamad Said who is famous for his role in the surrender of Al-Ma’unah terrorist group leader Mohamed Amin Mohamed Razali during the heist at Battalion 304 in 2000.

Zaini was also awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa for his services. – September 9, 2019.

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Comments

  • The are spectators and guests around. I do not know whether MI is publishing the right thing since this web is related to Apandi

    Posted 4 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply

  • Ranger Capt Wong is missing the point...
    1. The very reason why live bullets should NEVER be used during training is to prevent and avoid at all costs for unforeseen incidents to happen such as that happened to Major Zahir.
    2. Peoples spectators, and other army personnel safety is of paramount importance.
    3. In oil and gas, HEALTH SAFETY Is prioritised. If you fail to meet prerequisite standards, you will never get licensed let alone contracts. This is to show how health and safety is prioritised for all employees, clients in the industry.
    4. Here, you have the army practising and training using live bullets... and the unthinkable happened.
    5. Ranger Wong, let me ask you which is more important to you... To get soldiers familiar with the use of live bullets or risk losing the life of an human being?
    I think you got your marbles all mixed up sir! Please stop this nonsense about using Luce bullets during training.. it is not worth the risk..
    Why dont you go and tell A R Badul that it was UNFORTUNATE that his son got killed. Please have some sense..

    Posted 4 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

    • I am interested to know what Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has to say about this.. He advocates health safety and the environment. MI, should get comments about the incident from Tan Sri Lee.

      Posted 4 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

  • I grieve for the unnecessarily loss of one of our heroes. Perhaps live ammunition should not be used for demonstrations in the future. I can understand the necessity for live rounds to be used in training, but not for demos to the public.

    Posted 4 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • So is the army going to continue using live bullets for demonstration after this tragic incident? And Why is the General of the Army keeping so quiet?

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • About a decade as a contract lecturer at the Defence University during its formation days from 1996, I have seen and heard everything what goes on with all the branches of the armed forces. I used to publish a monthly newsletter named AMAN where events and happenings in the different faculties of the U (electrical, civil and computer engineering and others), and branches of armed forces (Army, Navy, Air force and others) would be known before hand, to help co ordinate the happenings in all sections. We still had cadets doing drill in the afternoon sun before examinations. The armed forces culture of bullying is something that is a universal truth. Using 'live' bullet during training is 100% no, no. In this case highly trained officers can go wrong too. Some of these 'bullying' rivalry does not heal forever. Every section feels more important than the other.

    Posted 4 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply